35. Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Five
Z oya
“No, no, no!” I mutter under my breath, peering into the oven. The scent of vanilla and sugary sweetness fills the kitchen, but underneath I detect a whiff of something darker. Blin! Is the cake burning?
I grab the oven mitts and yank open the door, wincing as I prepare to inspect the damage. I wave away non-existent smoke and gingerly extract the cake pans. The tops are more than golden brown, a shade too dark to be called perfect.
“Everything okay in here?” Lash pokes his head into the kitchen, his brow furrowed in concern. “Did I hear my bride-to-be yelling?”
I set the pans on the cooling rack with a heavy sigh. “It’s ruined. The cake, it’s all wrong. Too dry, too dark. It has to be perfect, Lash. It’s our wedding cake.”
He crosses the kitchen in two long strides and gathers me into his arms. I burrow my face into his chest, breathing in his comforting scent of loam and musk.
“Hey, hey, Starlight. It’s just a cake. The only thing that needs to be perfect tomorrow is you, and that’s a given.”
I tilt my head back to meet his eyes, those stunning silver pools that still make my heart flutter. “But it’s our wedding. In front of all our friends, our new family, my parents. I want everything to be amazing.”
Lash cradles my face in his hands, his touch infinitely gentle. “Zoya, my love, it is already amazing. We’re getting married. Me, the wolven warrior who never thought he’d find a mate. You, the bravest, strongest woman I know. That’s what matters. That’s the only thing our pack cares about. Your parents will be there on video call.”
Hot emotion wells in my throat. Not only did I stumble into this tender, loving male who somehow loves me back with all his heart, but I have a family here in America. More than a family. A pack.
“No Other will care about the cake, and your parents will be on video call. They won’t be able to taste it.” He slashes me that sexy smile where all four of his canines show.
“How did I get so lucky?” I whisper, stretching up on my toes to press a soft kiss to his lips.
Lash grins against my mouth. “Funny, I ask myself the same thing every day.”
We sway together for a moment, content in our little bubble of joy. It’s hard to believe that just a few short months ago, I was trapped in a nightmare with Max. Bruised, beaten, hopeless. And now here I am, on the eve of marrying the love of my life, surrounded by a community that’s welcomed me with open arms.
The Wolven Warriors have been incredible, rallying around us to make sure our special day is truly magical. Dare and Fang spent hours yesterday stringing twinkling lights around the Naga Community Center, transforming it into an enchanted wonderland.
Bold’s mate Jasmine and Courage’s mate Candy managed to arrange for flowers. They said lots of brides donate their wedding flowers when the event is over. They’re breathtaking.
Courage even rigged up a clever pulley system to suspend a temporary dance floor over the naga pool so I can walk down the aisle.
Marissa loaned me her wedding dress. It makes me feel like a princess, all lace and rows and rows of pearl buttons and flounces of lace.
And Lash… my wonderful, thoughtful mate. He’s been my rock through all the chaos of wedding planning. Just last night, he presented me with a small wooden box, intricately carved with symbols I didn’t recognize.
“For weeks, I’ve been carving the box with the help of one of the elders,” he announced proudly, then proceeded to explain each symbol before popping it open to reveal a ring with a stone unlike any I’ve ever seen before.
“It was Loosh’s,” he explained, his voice rough with emotion as it always is when he speaks of the woman who raised him after he dropped to Earth. “One of the few things that survived the journey from An’Wa. It was her mating ring. I’ve always been fascinated by its starlike sparkle, and now my Starlight, my mate, will be wearing it every day of her life.”
Happy, emotional tears threaten for a moment, but I manage to hold them back. I can’t wait for him to put it on my finger tomorrow. It will be a constant reminder of the unbreakable bond we share. Maybe he’s right. Perhaps the Goddess had this planned all along.
Lash takes a step back, mischief dancing in his eyes. “You know, if we’re aiming for perfection, we should probably do a trial run. We should practice our wedding kiss, make sure it’s up to snuff.”
I laugh, the sound bubbling up from some effervescent well of happiness in my chest. “Is that so? Well, far be it from me to stand in the way of perfection…”
He captures my lips with his, the kiss soft and sweet and full of promise. I lose myself in the delicious slide of his mouth on mine, the rasp of his stubble against my skin, his fangs against my lips.
A sharp bark from the living room breaks us apart, both grinning like love-drunk fools. Miska scampers into the kitchen, her little paws tap-dancing on the tile.
“Alright, alright,” Lash chuckles, scooping her up. “Message received. Your wolven dad is neglecting his ball-throwing duties.”
My heart clenches at the thought that this male loves not only me, but my little ball of fur. Of course he does. He’s the best male on the planet.
He presses one more quick kiss to my forehead before heading for the door, Miska scrambling behind him.
“Try not to stress too much, Starlight. No matter what, tomorrow will be the best day of our lives.”
I watch him go, my heart so full it feels like it might burst. And as I turn back to my slightly overdone cakes, I realize he’s right. The details don’t matter. Let the cake be lopsided. Let the flowers wilt.
All that matters is that tomorrow, I get to pledge my life and my love to the most incredible male I’ve ever known. The male who saved me, who cherishes me, who looks at me like I hung the moon and stars.
Everything else is just icing on the (possibly burned) cake.