Page 97 of Accidentally Wedded To A Werewolf

“Showtime,” Luna said and beamed. She kissed Sabine on the cheek, still chewing. Then she heaved herself up, wedding dress clouding around her heels, and twined her arm in her dad’s.

“I still think you could’ve done this somewhere fancier,” he told her as they headed into the woods, Sabine scouting ahead. “Aforestwedding? Really?”

“It’s romantic,” she insisted.

“It’s right next to the inn! It’s practically a backyard wedding,” he replied, face twisting in disgust. Then he looked over at her, and his face smoothed out. “You look beautiful, though.”

Luna preened. “Thanks, Dad. I know.”

He squeezed her arm. For a moment, the only noise was Luna’s heels clicking against the wheelchair route into the forest. They were hosting the wedding near it for the mer guests and Grandmother Musgrove, who had been primarily using a wheelchair for eight months now.

Chatter drifted through the trees. The quiet tune of a harp playing over Bluetooth speakers. Luna’s dad blew out a panicked breath as chairs came into view.

“You’re not going to turn,” he said, rushed. “Right?”

Luna laughed. “Dad! Just because I’m getting bonded-slash-married to a werewolf doesn’t mean I’m going to take the bite. I like being human.”

“Okay,” her dad said,relieved. “Good.”

She nudged him. “Don’t say that in front of them, alright?”

He frowned. “Why? What’d I say?”

The chatter died as they emerged through the trees, everyone turning to watch Luna walk down the wheelchair path. It was a long walk—half of Claw Haven had shown up. Vi waved with one hand, straightening her hair ribbon with the other. Beth was openly sobbing, tears rolling into her fur. Jackson rubbed one of her arms, wings tucked tight behind him. Rubbing Beth’s other arm was Joshua the minotaur, a bright red rose in his lapel. The Musgroves were crammed into the front line, the younger kids shoving and hissing for each other to be quiet. Uncle Roy sent them a steely stare, which grudgingly softened as he looked back at Luna.

Luna’s side of the aisle would have been emptier: her mother, brother, and three of her college friends who had shown up on their own dime and were giggling excitedly in their seats—but they’d run out of room on the other side, so they’d packed more of Claw Haven behind Luna’s gang. Her brother was currently flirting with a blushing orc, only stopping when their mother grabbed his chin and forced him to look in Luna’s direction.

Clancy gave her a sheepish look, then mouthedeaten in monster country, something he’d never let go of since she announced she was moving to Claw Haven for good.

Luna rolled her eyes. Then she turned to look down the path.

Grandmother Musgrove waited at the end, smiling proudly from her wheelchair. The bond nectar sat in herlap, the blue bottle draped in bright wildflowers and drizzled in sweet oils. Sabine stood to her right, looking like it took physical effort not to close the distance and nuzzle Ben, who stood to Grandmother Musgrove’s left.

And in the middle of all of them, grinning in a way she once thought him incapable, was Oliver.

Luna’s dad squeezed her arm again, then went to take his seat. Luna hardly noticed. Her gaze was locked on her future husband.

“Hi,” Oliver whispered as she took her place beside him. “You look good.”

She giggled. “Justgood? That’s all you got?”

“There’s more,” he reassured her. “Just not in front of my family.”

Grandmother Musgrove held up the bond nectar. “Officially, the bonding ceremony is officiated by the alpha. But you two have done things unconventionally so far; why not keep it going?”

She held the bottle out. Luna took it, her fingers overlapping with Oliver’s. Oil dripped down her wrist, smudging with petals.

“The bonded pair will pour the nectar into each other’s mouths,” Grandmother Musgrove recited. “Solidifying their bond. Do you have anything to say before you are bonded?”

Oliver tugged on the bottle, bringing Luna closer. For a moment, Luna forgot about everyone watching them, only able to focus on those big dark eyes staring at her so tenderly.

“I was in a bad place when I met you,” Oliverbegan. “My family tried to pull me out. Everybody did. Nothing worked. Then you showed up. I thought getting stuck with you was the worst thing that could’ve happened. But I needed it. I neededyou. I’ve been looking for you forever, and I’m never going to let you go.”

Luna sniffed. Oliver raised his dark brows as if to say,top that.

Luna laughed wetly. “My life has been so different since I met you!I’mdifferent. I’m so glad I got stuck with you. I’m going to do it for the rest of my life.”

She raised the bottle to Oliver’s lips. He drank deeply, then lifted it to hers.

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