Poppy
"Hold still," Neve commanded, her fingers working with practiced precision as she tightened the corset's silk ribbons. "You're fidgeting like a cat in a thunderstorm."
"You most definitely are." Neve's voice carried that particular brand of exasperation reserved for her oldest friend. "What's got you so wound up? You've been mated to the man for a year."
And it was true. Every cell in her body hummed with excitement. Today wasn't just about declaring their love publicly and permanently—it was about celebrating everything they'd built together.
Havenwood Retreat sprawled around them, a testament to what wolves and lions could accomplish when they chose cooperation over conflict.
The retreat had exceeded every projection they'd made.
Bookings were solid for the next eighteen months, with a waiting list that grew longer each week.
Wolf packs and lion prides from across the continent came here to relax, collaborate, and forge new alliances.
Not to mention, the monthly cross-species meetings they hosted had rendered the old Accord Table obsolete—who needed formal diplomatic structures when shifters were already working together naturally?
"There," Neve said, securing the final ribbon with a satisfied flourish. "Now for the finishing touches."
As Neve applied the last touches of makeup—a subtle enhancement that made Poppy's blue eyes even more striking—Poppy's thoughts drifted to the financial transformation that had accompanied their personal one.
The five million in debt that had once threatened to destroy her pride was now a distant memory.
Keiro had insisted on paying it immediately after their engagement, and while she'd initially resisted, she'd eventually agreed to let him help.
She was already paying him back through their shared ownership of the retreat, the revenues flowing in faster than either of them had anticipated.
"Put it toward our children's future," she'd told him when he'd tried to refuse repayment. "College funds, trust accounts, whatever you think is best."
The memory made her smile. They were actively trying to start a family, and the thought of raising children with him filled her with warmth.
Through their completed bond, she could feel his emotional state so clearly now.
His excitement thrummed alongside hers, but there was an undercurrent of impatience that made her lioness rumble with amusement.
Her Alpha was great at many things, but being patient had never been his strong suit.
The door burst open without warning, and Poppy's head snapped toward the entrance, ready to deliver a sharp rebuke to whoever had the audacity to interrupt her preparations. But the words died on her lips as a familiar figure swept into the room like a ray of sunshine wrapped in designer fabric.
"Gerri!" Poppy gasped, her face lighting up as the petite woman in a brilliant yellow pantsuit strode forward with her characteristic confidence.
Gerri Wilder looked exactly as she had that first day at the auction—immaculately styled white bob, statement earrings that caught the light, and heels that clicked against the hardwood floors with authority.
Her eyes sparkled with that mysterious mix of blue and gold that hinted at depths Poppy had never quite understood.
"My dear Alpha," Gerri said, opening her arms wide. "Look at you! Absolutely radiant."
Poppy rushed forward, enveloping the older woman in a fierce embrace. The scent of vanilla, citrus, and something electric—like the air before a storm—wrapped around her, bringing back memories of that pivotal morning in Keiro's office building.
"I can't believe you're here," Poppy said, pulling back to study Gerri's face. "I wasn't sure if you'd received the invitation."
Gerri's laugh was rich and warm. "As if I'd miss the wedding of one of my most successful 'accidental' matches. Though I have to admit, when I orchestrated that first meeting between you two, I never imagined it would lead to all this. An entire retreat for shifters and a hot romance?"
Gerri gestured toward the window, where the retreat's grounds stretched out in carefully planned harmony with the natural landscape. Poppy smiled at the older woman, because without Gerri's meddling, she never would have met Keiro and never would have discovered what partnership truly meant.
"We had some growing pains along the way. Learning to let go of our old coping mechanisms wasn't easy. But we figured out how to lean into our shared strengths instead of fighting each other's methods," Poppy said, the words ringing with warmth and truth in equal measure.
"The best partnerships always do," Gerri said knowingly.
Through the bond, Poppy felt a sudden spike in Keiro's impatience—along with something that felt distinctly like determination. Her lioness responded with a rumble of amusement. Her mate was clearly reaching the end of his patience.
As if summoned by her thoughts, the door opened again. This time it was Dax, looking impeccable in his formal attire but wearing an expression of barely contained exasperation.
"Ladies," he said with a polite nod, though his steel-grey eyes held a glint of humor. "I hate to interrupt what I'm sure is a lovely reunion, but I've been sent to inform you that Keiro is losing his patience and threatening to make another one of his famously drastic decisions."
Poppy raised an eyebrow. "Such as?"
"Coming in here and whisking you off to some private destination for your wedding," Dax replied with perfect seriousness. "His words were something about not needing an audience to claim what's already his."
"He wouldn't dare," Poppy said, though her voice lacked conviction. "He knows how much this place means to both of us, and how important it is to our people to see us married here."
Dax's expression suggested he wasn't entirely convinced of Keiro's restraint today. "I'm just the messenger. But I will say that he's been pacing the groom's quarters for the past hour, and his wolf is very close to the surface."
Through the bond, Poppy felt another wave of Keiro's impatience, this one tinged with something darker and more primal. Her lioness responded with interest, purring at the promise of what their wedding night would bring.
"Fine," she said, smoothing her hands over the silk of her dress one final time. "Let's not keep my Alpha waiting any longer. I have a feeling his patience has officially run out."
Dax's relief was palpable. "Thank you. I was starting to worry I'd have to physically restrain him soon."
"That would be a sight," Neve murmured, earning a sharp look from the massive Beta.
Gerri moved forward and squeezed Poppy's hand. "Go marry that man of yours, dear. And remember—the best is yet to come."
As they prepared to leave the room, Poppy took one last look in the mirror. The woman staring back at her was everything she'd never dared to dream she could become—powerful, loved, and finally ready to live fully.
The afternoon sun filtered through the canopy of preserved oaks as Poppy stepped from the main lodge onto the grounds that had been transformed into something breathtaking.
Where once wild woodland stretched untamed, hundreds of white chairs now formed perfect rows leading toward a rustic wooden arch draped in cascading white silk and wildflowers.
The natural amphitheater they'd preserved created an intimate cathedral of green, with shafts of golden light dancing across the assembled guests.
Her breath caught as her gaze found Keiro standing beneath the arch, and every coherent thought scattered like leaves in the wind.
He looked devastatingly handsome in his charcoal suit, the fabric tailored to perfection across his broad shoulders.
The ivory silk tie at his throat made his eyes even more striking, and when those eyes locked on hers, the intensity in them sent heat racing through her veins.
Through their bond, she felt the precise moment his wolf recognized her in the white gown—possessive satisfaction mixed with something deeper and more primal. His emotions crashed over her in waves: fierce love, unshakeable certainty, and a hunger that made her lioness purr with anticipation.
Standing beside Keiro, Helias wore formal robes that spoke of ancient tradition, his weathered face softened by what looked suspiciously like approval.
The elder who had once opposed their union now waited to bind them together permanently, and Poppy felt a surge of gratitude for how far they'd all come.
"Ready?" Leon appeared at her elbow, offering his arm with paternal pride. The head elder had insisted on walking her down the aisle when her father couldn't, and the gesture meant more than she could express.
"More than ready," she murmured, placing her hand on his arm.
As they began their slow procession down the petal-strewn aisle, Poppy's world narrowed to the man waiting for her.
Members of both their communities—wolves and lions seated side by side—rose to their feet, but she barely registered their presence.
Keiro's gaze never left her face, and she watched his eyes darken as she drew closer, his wolf pushing close to the surface.
You're so beautiful, his voice whispered through their telepathic link, the words carrying such reverence that her step nearly faltered.
You're not looking too bad yourself, she replied, allowing a hint of playful heat to color her mental tone.
His lips quirked in that devastating smile that had been undoing her composure for over a year now. Keep looking at me like that, and I might forget we have an audience.
The promise in his voice sent liquid fire racing through her veins, and she had to focus on breathing steadily as Leon delivered her to the altar. The elder squeezed her hand gently before releasing her to Keiro, who immediately captured her fingers in his warm grasp.