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Chapter 15: I Do, Again

The vineyard was insane.

Ethan said backyard. This was 200 acres, grapes, white tents, fairy lights, and 300 werewolves in suits trying to act human.

Ava hid in bridal tent, in her coffee-foam dress, hands shaking.

"You okay, baby?" Her dad, in rented suit that was too big, held her hands. Her mom crying already, in dress Ethan bought overnight.

"I'm okay, Dad. I'm just - what if I trip? What if I howl badly again?"

"Then 300 wolves will laugh with you, not at you," her dad said, wise. "Just like that Boston video. 12 million people loved your bad howl, baby. We all saw."

Outside, string quartet - actual wolves who played violin, very talented - started.

Maya burst in, bridesmaid dress gold, hair done.

"It's time! Ethan is crying!"

"Ethan Blackstone does not cry," Ava said.

"Girl, he is SOBBING. Marcus had to give him tissue. He saw you in tent window and lost it."

Ava peeked. Ethan at end of aisle, under arch of roses and silver, in black tux, not turtleneck, hair perfect, but eyes red, tears down cheeks, not hiding.

Their eyes met across vineyard.

Ethan mouthed: _You are beautiful._

Ava mouthed: _You're crying._

He mouthed: _You are beautiful._

Music started.

Her dad walked her. Real slow. Every step, wolves stood, bowed heads to Luna.

Ava walked past Mr. Chen who waved tiny flag that said LUNA. Past Rosa sobbing. Past pigtail girl throwing petals too hard.

Past Liam - yes, invited, Ohio girlfriend on arm - who mouthed "sorry" and Ava smiled, forgave.

And to Ethan.

Her dad handed her to him, whispering to Ethan, "You hurt her, I don't care if you're King, I'll - "

"I know, sir," Ethan whispered back, shaking. "I won't."

Ava's dad sat.

Ethan took both her hands. His hands shaking worse than hers.

Council elder woman - officiant now - started old words in wolf language, then English.

"We gather under full moon to join Alpha King Ethan Blackstone and human Luna Ava Miller, marked by Goddess herself..."

Ethan wasn't listening to words. He was looking at Ava.

"Ava," he interrupted elder, not rude, just couldn't wait. "Can I say?"

Elder nodded.

Ethan took breath, tears still falling, in front of 300 wolves, press drones he didn't know about far away, her parents.

"Ava, first time I saw you, you were on floor at gala. Cheap dress. Everyone laughing. And you stood up. You said, 'I'm not ashamed.' I thought - I need that bravery in my life. I hired you for 30 days fake. You gave me forever real. You taught wolf who thought he had to be alone that pack can be coffee smell and bad pancakes and human t****k dances. You are my Luna, my mate, my wife. I - " Voice cracked. "I love you more than pack, more than company, more than - "

"More than black coffee?" Ava whispered, teasing through tears.

"More than black coffee," Ethan said solemnly, making 300 wolves laugh, then howl.

Ava laughed, crying now too.

"My turn," she said, squeezing hands.

"Ethan, first time I saw you, you were scary billionaire in turtleneck. You said 'do you want to make $100k?' I thought you were crazy. Then you picked me up when everyone laughed. You held my hand in coffee shop. You let me ride your wolf even though I howl terrible. You burned contract to keep me. You bought vineyard because I said backyard. You - you saw human barista and made her Luna. I love you, Alpha King, even when you are jealous of wedding planner. Especially then. I love you forever. More than oat milk latte."

"More than oat milk?" Ethan gasped, offended, making everyone laugh again.

Elder cleared throat, smiling.

"Do you, Ethan Blackstone, take Ava Miller as Luna, wife, forever, under Goddess?"

"I do," Ethan said instantly. "I do, I do, I do."

"Do you, Ava Miller, take Ethan Blackstone as Alpha, husband, forever, under Goddess?"

"I do," Ava said, clear. "I do. For real this time. No contract."

Elder: "By power of Goddess and pack, I pronounce you - "

Ethan didn't wait. Kissed her.

Not forehead. Not hand.

Mouth. Deep, real, wedding kiss, in front of everyone, gold marks exploding light, gold band on finger blazing.

300 wolves threw heads back and howled. Real howl. Perfect. So loud grapes shook.

Ava howled too. Badly. "Awooo?"

All wolves howled louder, with joy.

Then bouquet toss. Maya caught it, screamed, and Marcus - beta - caught her when she tripped, and looked at her like maybe second fated mate story?

But that's another story.

At reception, Ethan and Ava danced, first dance, barefoot in vineyard dirt, because Ava kicked heels off, and Ethan kicked shoes off to match, billionaire King dancing barefoot with human Luna while pack howled chorus.

Dad came to Ethan, hugged him, said, "Take care of my baby."

"I will, sir," Ethan said. "I have vineyard now. She can make coffee whenever."

And under full moon, with gold dust still falling from small wedding on balcony three days before, human Luna and Alpha King finally had wedding pack would talk about for 100 years.

Because human girl said I do, again.