Page 51 of Accidentally Wedded to a Werewolf (Claw Haven #1)

One Year Later

Luna sprawled back on the bed, fingers drumming on the fine beading of her wedding dress.

“Almond,” she instructed.

Sabine leaned over and dropped a chocolate-covered almond into her open mouth. They’d started this when Luna’s nails were wet. They were desert dry now, but Sabine kept offering, and who was Luna to turn down hand-fed almonds?

“Thanks.” Luna crunched the almond, letting out a happy sigh. “God, Beth cracked the jackpot with these. I want to eat nothing but Prickles chocolate almonds for the rest of my life.”

“I’m sure Beth can arrange something,” Sabine said.

The bathroom door opened and Luna twisted to watch Vi Harper walk out, brushing down her dress. The wine spill from the prewedding appetizers hadn’t come out, but they had found a cute bow to pin in front of the stain.

“Thank you again,” Vi told Luna. “I shouldn’t have even asked, it’s your wedding day. You have bigger things to deal with than Nick Wicker being his usual oafish self.”

Luna giggled and traded a look with Sabine, who looked just as amused as she did. For all Vi’s book smarts, she was still oblivious to Nick being completely gone on her.

“Anyway, I should get back out there before Chester insults someone else,” Vi continued, her tongue looser from the wine she had been drinking before the spill. “Thanks again, Luna. You look incredible.”

“Thank youuu,” Luna drawled, waving her next chocolate almond until the door closed behind her. She sighed, crunching the chocolate almond and looking back over at Sabine. “She has to figure it out sometime. Right?”

“I don’t want to be there when she does,” Sabine admitted. “Nick’s a good guy, but he puts his foot in his mouth every time he sees her. I don’t blame her for hating him.”

“I just want him to admit it,” Luna said. “And I want him to admit what the hell was going on with the flour. You know he still won’t tell me? And on my wedding day.”

The door creaked open, and Luna’s dad poked his head in, clearing his throat.

“It’s time,” he said. “I’m supposed to, uh…”

He motioned stiffly with his elbow.

“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. “A forest wedding? Seriously?”

“It’s romantic,” she insisted. “And it’s a werewolf tradition!”

“It’s right next to the inn! It’s practically a backyard wedding,” he replied, face twisting. Then he looked over at her, and his expression smoothed out. He’d been making an effort to be more openly supportive since they reconciled.

“But I’m glad you could finally fit this into your schedule. You’ve been working so hard on this town, it’s about time you get something to yourself.”

“Thanks, Dad,” Luna said, touched.

She didn’t mention the bigger reason why it had taken a year to get married.

Work was one reason. But the main reason was so she and Oliver could be together without the bond influencing them.

One year later, they were more in love than ever, no bond required.

But they were relieved to be finally getting it back.

Luna couldn’t wait to feel Oliver’s relief for herself.

She missed his emotions flooding over her, and they would be much more powerful now neither of them were holding back.

He squeezed her arm. “You look beautiful.”

Luna preened. “I know.”

For a moment, the only noise was Luna’s heels clicking against the wheelchair route into the forest. The wedding path was for the mer guests and of course for Grandmother Musgrove, who had been primarily using a wheelchair for eight months now, just a few days after she passed the mantle of alpha over to Oliver.

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

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

Luna laughed. “Dad! I told you, 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 aisle.

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 lap and fur hanging over his eyes as always.

Next to him was Nick Wicker, wearing a bulging button-down that for once wasn’t smudged with engine oil, looking deeply awkward as Beth sobbed with joy.

The Musgroves were crammed into the front row, 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.

He gave her an awkward nod, and she returned it gladly.

That fateful full moon had been a turning point for Uncle Roy, who had been shaken that he’d almost harmed someone in his wolf form.

It led to a grudging apology, which—after a lot of coaxing and well-meaning threatening from Oliver—involved telling Luna all about his ex-wife, Georgia.

Things had improved from there. Nowadays they could even have a conversation without Uncle Roy rolling his eyes.

A flash of movement caught her eye, and Luna turned to see Hector squeezing into a row on the other side of the aisle.

He grinned when she met his eyes. He doffed an imaginary hat, and she doffed one back.

The Musgroves had been confused by her decision to invite him, but Luna had felt it was only right.

It was surprisingly good to see him. Like meeting a friend you knew back when you were a very different person.

Luna’s side of the aisle would have been emptier—Hector, 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 Musgrove side, so they’d packed more of Claw Haven behind Luna’s gang.

Luna gave her family a fond look. They had come around quickly after seeing how stupidly happy she was in the new and improved Claw Haven.

It helped that when the Stacks came to visit, everyone in town said hello as they passed.

Her dad had even grudgingly admitted he was proud of her on her last birthday, which had made Luna duck out of her own party and cry in Oliver’s arms before fixing her makeup and striding coolly back inside.

Clancy 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 grinned sheepishly, then mouthed Eaten in monster country, something he’d never let go of since she’d 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 her lap, 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’d once thought him incapable of, 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. “Just good? 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.

“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, she 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,” Oliver began.

“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 needed you. 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’m different. I’m so glad I got stuck with you. I want to be stuck with you for the rest of my life.”

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

Warm liquid poured down Luna’s throat. She pulled the bottle back, gasping as the warmth collected in a tiny coil in her chest. There was no gradual trickle like last time. Oliver’s feelings flooded into her, disbelief and delight and relief and love, so overwhelming that Luna’s eyes pricked.

“I now pronounce you bondmates,” Grandmother Musgrove said.

Luna barely heard it. She was surrounded by Oliver’s love, cradled and held by it, a hot rush she was feeding right back to him.

He nosed at her cheek. “I missed you.”

“I’ve been right here,” she whispered.

He brushed a petal off her chin. “I missed you, anyway.”

“Well. You’ll never have to miss me again.” Luna flung her arms around his neck, kissing the nectar off his lips. She was crying when she pulled back, grinning so hard her mouth hurt.

She turned to the crowd. “Let’s get this party started!”

The crowd cheered. Luna dragged Oliver in close again, sinking into his arms with a grateful sigh.

Finally warm.

* * * * *