novelraw Chapter 58
Chapter 58
Cherry
I admired the window display. “This is stunning work, Maisy.” The fall dresses in oranges and browns rested in the store window, and my assistant had made sweeping sculptures of leaves in red, orange, and yellow tones as if gusts of wind carried them around the clothes.
She glowed with pride under my notice, her long red hair and rosy cheeks looking just perfect with the fall collection colors around. I knew on the opening day tomorrow, she’d appear to great advantage here and no doubt make loads of sales. I turned my attention to the perfectly laid out store with just the right amount of railings, space, and displays peppered throughout, and only then did I try on the shimmering silver dress in the large client dressing room.
Maisy gawped at me as if I was one of our A-lister clients back in Berlin. “I don’t think I need to do anything to this, Cherry. You look stunning.”
I had altered much in size since the last time I’d worn it. The only difference was that the line of my breasts and hips showed more through the fabric, but it suited me. I beamed at Maisy and admired my reflection in the mirrors all around me. My long blond hair spilled over my shoulders, and my gray eyes were complimented by the dress. A squeeze of excitement wound through my chest as I realized Dylan and I were finally going to be bonded together in two days.
The next day, the store launched without a hitch, and both Dylan and I were there to help Maisy a little before leaving her to run the show. I persuaded my mate to take me around the Chihuly Exhibition, and as dusk fell, I felt the wistfulness of the past with memories of walking around these gardens at dusk fill me. But as I walked hand in hand with my mate, admiring how the burnt colors of the sculptures played on his handsome face, I felt giddy for all the future had to bring.
The next day, as the crisp fall day opened with bright sunshine, I found myself at the vanity table in Dylan and my bedroom. I’d already put on my silver dress, and Heather helped me with my make-up. She brushed a light dusting of powder over my skin, then applied some dewy eye makeup and lipstick.
“I think you’re perfect, my dear.” She declared, eying her handiwork in the mirror.
“Thank you,” I said, my face spreading with another smile I knew would be the first of many today.
But then, Heather tapped her nose and said, “One last thing, though. Nipping out of the room, she came back with a delicate silver hair vine. “I know you wanted to wear your hair loose, but I brought these silver stars that I got on my Bonding Day as a gift. I’d love you to have them.”
As my gaze misted, she shook her head. “Absolutely not. You’re not ruining my hard work.”
I laughed, my tears disappearing as she dressed my hair with the silver vine studded with stars, which I admired in the side mirrors of the vanity table.
Soon, I met my dad outside our old Luna and Alpha’s house. I heard the hubbub of voices belonging to the whole pack gathered in the second-floor reception room where Dylan’s Alpha Ceremony had been.
My heart hurtled with joy as my dad led me up the stairs. Fern was waiting at the top with a big bag of petals. She scattered them up the aisle and I leaned on my dad’s arm as he escorted me down the aisle. My heart felt as if it stopped as I caught sight of my mate on the stage. Dressed in the fitted blue suit I’d made him, the one that had brought him to Berlin, I thought with a smile, his muscular body and broad shoulders were shown off to perfection. And as his strong features and dark eyes turned my way, I didn’t think I’d ever seen him look more handsome.
As I joined Dylan on the stage, I basked in the sight of my mate drinking me in. His dark stare roved over my dress, lingering at my bust and hips in such a way that had my insides fluttering.
The old Alpha’s voice rang through the room as the whole pack took their seats to watch our ceremony. “We are gathered here today to finally celebrate the bond between Dylan and Cherry.” Chris smiled, and a few titters fell from the crowd.
“I believe you’ve prepared your own vows,” Chris said.
Dylan nodded, his dark eyes locking onto me and making me feel as if I were the only person that mattered. “Cherry, I swear to nourish and protect you, our family, and our pack with everything that I am. My wolf and my heart belong to you completely, my mate, my Luna.”
Again, for the second time, I fought back tears, and then with a deep breath, I said, “Dylan, you are the love of my life. My one and only mate. I promise to always nourish and fight for you, our family, and our pack with everything I am. You make me complete, my mate, my Alpha.”
Dylan’s stare sang with tenderness and heat, and I needed his lips as we sealed our vows with a kiss. As shouts and applause erupted around us and I took Dylan’s hand, Chris’s voice boomed through the room. “I give you the new Alpha and Luna of Starsmoon.”
We descended the stage, and the pack showered us with confetti as we walked back down the aisle, descending the stairs, and out into our new lives as the Starsmoon Alpha and Luna. That day, the champagne and food flowed freely, and we celebrated the promise of our blossoming future with our family and pack. I felt secure in the knowledge that Dylan and I would keep our vows faithfully. We’d both proven that we would do anything for the Starsmoon Pack and each other. We were fated mates who would always be at one another’s side.