Chapter 20 #2
“Montclairs,” Linda addressed the gathering.
“You have long ago accepted Cole as your Alpha, trusting him to guide you and protect you. We now bring you Nia Patel, Cole’s wife and mate, and ask that you accept her as your Luna.
Nia, do you vow to guide and protect the pack, to be there for them in times of need, to listen to them, to provide for them? ”
Nia’s velvety eyes looked out over the assembled crowd, glowing with love for them already. “I do so vow.”
“Brianna Montclair, as the next Alpha in succession, do you so accept Nia as your Luna?”
She spoke loud and clear. “I do so accept.”
“Montclairs, do you so accept?”
There wasn’t a moment of hesitation, and the reply came with such enthusiasm that Cole knew he’d never again need to question how the pack felt about her. “We do so accept!”
“Then so it shall be!” Linda announced. She paused a moment and grinned, breaking the solemnity of the ritual. “What do you say, everyone? Should we let him kiss his bride?”
Whoops and shouts erupted from the crowd. Cole pulled Nia into his arms and kissed her deeply, bending her backward so that she clung to his shoulders as more cheers rose from the gathering.
She was laughing when he stood her back on her feet. “I didn’t expect that from you.”
“Maybe I’m a little more interesting than I used to be,” he suggested.
Nia dabbed a bit of lipstick from the corner of his mouth. “You’ve always been interesting to me.”
With the official part out of the way, it was time to greet their guests as Alpha and Luna.
“It was beautiful, just beautiful.” Wendy dabbed a handkerchief on her face, but she couldn’t keep her makeup from running. “I’m so glad I was here. I’ll have to tell the next young woman in my skulk who wants to get married that she could take a few notes from the way everything was done here!”
“That’s very kind of you,” Nia said sweetly as she pulled her into a hug, not seeming to worry about whether or not Wendy got her runny mascara on her dress. Nia was warmhearted and generous, qualities that would make her an excellent Luna.
“It’s only the truth!” Wendy promised. “I’m going to hit the drinks table, but let’s have some girl talk later!”
“Sorry about her,” Cole murmured. Brianna had promised him that it wouldn’t be weird for Nia to have Wendy there, but he still hadn’t been entirely sure.
“No, she’s fine. I like her.”
Deb and Bob came next. “I had some doubts about this,” Deb said in her typical abrasive way, “but you’ve changed my mind. I think you guys are great together.”
“Thank you,” Nia gushed.
“Doesn’t it remind you of when we got married?” Bob nudged Deb in the ribs.
“Oh, shut up,” she grumbled, but she was grinning as they went to get some food.
Brianna had disappeared for a while, but she stepped up next. She was so excited that she was dancing from one foot to the other. “Nia, I got you a present!”
Nia looked in confusion at Brianna’s empty hands. “What is it?”
Brianna pointed, and from out of the crowd emerged three women about their age.
“Are you kidding me?” Nia’s eyes went wide, and she ran forward to hug them. “How did you get here? I didn’t think anyone from back home could make it on such short notice!”
“Which is exactly why we had to come,” reasoned a petite blonde with sparkling hoops stacked all the way up her ears. “You had to have at least some of your coven here with you.”
Nia turned to Cole. “I should introduce you.”
“No need,” he informed her with a grin. He’d already met Colette, Iris, and Zoe that morning when he’d picked them up at the airport. “I’m just glad I don’t have to keep the secret anymore. I’m not sure I could have if I’d been able to see you before the wedding.”
“You knew? You really are full of surprises lately!” Nia pulled all three of her special guests and Brianna into a huge hug. “This is amazing! Thank you! Thank you all so much!”
“We know you’re busy, but find us when you have a moment, and we can catch up,” Iris told her as they separated.
“I will. Enjoy the food. Rachel is an awesome cook!” She waved to her friends as they left.
“Does that mean she let you test out the evening’s fare?” Cole asked.
His bride gave him a curious look. “She brought a whole sampler plate to my room to make sure I ate while getting ready.”
“I guess she likes you more than she likes me,” Cole noted.
Aunt Phyllis came up to them next. Her wrinkles deepened as she crumpled up her face and swung her head from side to side as she examined the bride and groom. “It really is a lovely night.”
“Yes, it is,” Nia agreed graciously.
Phyllis’s eyes brightened a little as she focused on her. “I know a little something about you, honey.”
A vibration of worry passed through Cole’s veins. Everything had gone so smoothly up until this point!
If Nia was concerned, she didn’t show it. “What’s that?”
“You’re a woman to be reckoned with,” Phyllis said, giving her cane a firm tap. “You know what’s right, and you stand up for it, even if people get in your way. Even if some of those people are old bats like me. You’re going to be one hell of a fine Luna.”
Tears glistened in Nia’s eyes. “Thank you. That means so much coming from you.”
“Now, now. There’s no time to be weepy. It’s a party, isn’t it?”
“That’s right,” Cole agreed. “We’ve got plenty of drinks, food, and music.”
“Pish! I want to really celebrate. The old-fashioned way. Here, hold this.” Phyllis shoved her cane at Cole and then took a step back.
He worried she might fall and instinctively put his hands out, but Phyllis didn’t need him.
She pulled in a deep breath and shook her head.
Slowly, her worn-out human body transformed.
Her muzzle had once been dark but was now rimmed in pale silver.
She didn’t have the same muscle tone as the younger wolves, and it made her fur look a bit saggy.
Her eyes, however, were still just as bright as always as she turned and raced off into the woods.
“Phyllis!” Emilia went trotting after her, setting her bag down on a nearby chair and gaining her wolf so she could go off after her charge.
Cole put his arm around Nia’s waist. They both laughed as they watched the spry old she-wolf thread in and out of the trees at the edge of the woods, teasing Emilia. “I can’t remember the last time I saw her on four legs.”
“Do you think we’ll still be running around like that at her age?” she asked, leaning against him.
He inhaled the citrus and vanilla of her perfume, blended with the sweetness of the flowers that decorated the tables and the freshness of the night. He never could’ve imagined a future like the one he was entering into with Nia, but now he couldn’t imagine doing anything else. “I sure hope so.”