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Cal’s club was being used as the venue, given its location in the neutral zone of the city.

Emilio wasn’t sure how they’d set out the circular dancefloor for the wedding, but he’d been told that both he and Rocco would be walking down separate aisles simultaneously toward whoever was officiating.

Maybe he should’ve paid more attention to the details. It hadn’t seemed important at the time.

“You’re rocking it, sweetness,” Vin said, bending down to rearrange his sweeping, floor-length black jacket with a train that dragged behind him.

“And if you wanted a say in what you were wearing, you shouldn’t have handed all control over to the rest of us.

Now, smile for the cameras, and I’ll meet you inside. ”

Marco stepped up next to him as they watched Vin walk away. “Ready?”

“No. ”

“Your mate went next level with the decorating.”

“He what?”

“Did you think he opted out of all the organising like you did? He’s a renowned air witch. He was hardly going to let someone else take care of the glamours,” Marco said.

“They’re ready for you,” one of Cal’s bouncers called from the door.

Emilio took a deep breath before heading through one of the club’s corridors towards the entrance they’d be taking. All too soon, he was standing in front of a solid wooden door.

“Is it too late to back out?” he asked.

“Yes. And your wolf would never let you do it anyway,” Marco said.

The opening notes from a cello drifted to him as the door swung open.

He couldn’t help but laugh as he realised he’d be walking down the aisle to an instrumental version of ‘ Every Breath You Take .’ Trust Rocco to find the most stalker song possible with the added bonus of a nod to their recent near run-in with the police.

Emilio’s laughter caught in his throat as he got his first view of Cal’s club in all its wedding finery.

A combination of glamour and water vapour made it appear as if the aisle he would walk down was made of misty clouds.

The pole-dancing platforms that usually hung at different heights throughout the space had been rearranged to form a stepped pathway up to the celebrant, who was waiting suspended just above head height across the room.

Each platform was framed and draped by an assortment of hanging plants that created splashes of bright green across the space.

The round walls of the club had disappeared behind a glamour that made it seem like they were deep in a forest, but up high in the canopy.

Not just any forest, either. This was a recreation of one of the glades in their packlands .

“Holy shit,” Emilio whispered, sparking soft laughter from the nearest guests.

Marco had placed a hand behind his back as he stood frozen, taking it all in, gently propelling him forward so they didn’t cause a delay.

Across the other side of the room, Emilio caught his first glimpse of his mate, dressed all in white in a suit that was an inverse twin to his and walking with both his parents.

Up ahead, on floating platforms next to where the celebrant waited, stood his best men, Luca and Vin.

Across from them, on the other side, stood all three of Rocco’s siblings.

“ You look so beautiful, ” Rocco’s voice whispered next to his ear, carried by his power.

Marco left him when they reached the first floating platform, pulling him into a hug and clasping his neck tightly as he scent-marked him before stepping aside.

As Emilio took his first step up on his own, a gust of wind swept through the space, swirling the mist and blowing up from beneath him until the floor-length black Tuxedo coat he was wearing billowed into the air, sailing out behind him like a cloud of shadow as it unfurled even longer than he’d realised—a flaring train of solid darkness.

Gasps rose from the gathered guests as another illusion made it appear as if a pack of shadow wolves had pulled itself out of the fabric and raced into the forest surrounding them.

As Rocco’s winds brushed past him, each passing gust felt like it was whispering across his naked body, teasing at his skin like a thousand fingers desperate to bring him pleasure. Like Rocco was touching him everywhere. Just like he’d promised.

Given the magic hadn’t sparked an orgy among their guests, Emilio had to assume his mate had reserved that particular effect just for him.

At least he’d better have. Knowing it would drive Rocco crazy, he squeezed his internal muscles in pulses around the plug he was still wearing in retaliation as he walked.

The room faded away as all he could see was Rocco’s heated gaze on his, and Rocco’s mouth opening with a soft gasp as he felt what Emilio was doing.

With their next step, they finally reached the same platform, and Rocco held a hand out. Electric need shot through his body as they linked fingers and took the final step together to reach the celebrant.

Their vows passed in a blur as Emilio struggled to focus on anything but the feel of Rocco pressed close to his side and the satisfaction his wolf was feeling at claiming their mate this way in front of so many people.

It was just as well his animal wasn’t in charge of this wedding, or they would’ve been fucking right there on the platform for all to see.

Before he’d had time to process what was happening, he was taking Rocco’s ring from Luca and turning to place it on his mate’s finger before Rocco placed his in return.

The air shimmered around them as the celebrant announced they could now kiss.

Rocco’s fingers tipped his chin up, and Emilio knew his wolf was shining through as he gazed up at his husband.

Needing to take control, he gripped behind Rocco’s neck, pulling him down until he could crush their mouths together.

For the first time, he didn’t hold back.

Couldn’t hold back. He devoured his mate, nipping at his lips until they opened on a gasp and he could slip his tongue inside and taste the intoxicating flavour of forever.

Not forever , he reminded his wolf. The thought was instantly lost to desire as Rocco pulled him even closer and arched him back to deepen the kiss.

A clearing throat nearby was a minor irritation they ignored. Couldn’t they see they were busy?

“Ah, bro? I know you’ve got an exhibitionist streak, but maybe you could leave that for later?” Mads suggested, voice soft .

Emilio tried to pull away, but Rocco didn’t relinquish his grasp, bending down to suck on his neck right where a mating bite would go until Emilio’s eyes rolled back in his head and he couldn’t help but groan in pleasure.

“Rocco!” he gasped in protest.

“I put a screen of clouds up around us. No one can see or hear,” Rocco said.

“I’m not fucking you up here.” No matter how much his wolf was howling to.

“You’re no fun,” Rocco teased, smiling as he kept kissing a trail up to his ear in a way that had him shivering with need.

Leaning forward, Emilio couldn’t help but suck a matching hickey onto his husband’s neck. The old one had been fading.

Rocco snickered. “Your wolf will be pleased to hear I magicked the one on you. It should last until at least the morning,” he said, pressing a thumb to Emilio’s neck that sparked a delicious ache from the bruise he’d left there that usually would’ve instantly healed.

“Asshole,” Emilio said.

“You love it. Now, smile for our guests,” Rocco said, turning them to face the crowd and letting the glamour around them drop.

Applause filled the room as they made their way back down to ground level.