Page 28 of Snow’s Charming (Hope Runs Deep #7)

Definitely Happy Ever After and Then Some…Maybe

I t was coming up on the third anniversary of our battle with Jackie and the Nuri witches.

The forged paperwork Jackie tried to pass off, along with Dad’s death, finally was fixed.

It took forever to get everything out of probate.

But with Raine, Teagan, Ara, and Kiku’s help, a few friends of theirs in the magical community pushed the paperwork through the system legally.

Dad, being Dad, put the Snow estate in my name now instead of waiting for his actual death.

He wanted to be certain that no one would ever take away the legacy he’d built for me, or my happiness.

“I will never allow you to let my happiness come between us again, princess. You can have it all. It’s rightfully yours as the new Luna of the Moon Rising Pack, anyway.” My father said to me as he placed his palms on my shoulders.

“Dad, nothing will ever come between us. I promise you I will speak my truth. But please don’t address me as the Luna. It’s weird.”

My father gazed at me with knitted brows.

“What are you talking about?”

“Sylus and I agreed to wait until next week. I’ll become his Luna when we get married and perform the coronation ceremony.”

“Really?”

I didn’t expect him to look as confused as he was. Yes, I already took on the duties of the Luna. We already had a mental bond with one another, and it only strengthened after we lifted the curse.

The physical connection hindered nothing for us as a couple or even with the pack.

All was well. So Sylus and I decided we’d wait to mark each other, and we planned on doing that on our honeymoon.

Well—among other things, of course. I was no prude with intimacy.

However, I wasn’t about to talk to Dad about my sex life—or rather, lack thereof.

Yes, I was a full-fledged adult, and so was Sylus, but neither of us wanted to have sex within the brigade’s earshot.

Living with a pack made the whole intimacy thing pretty damned hard.

Their keen hearing and telepathic connection made things weird.

Plus? Who wants to do anything around their parents and uncles by choice?

Yeah, we probably could have taken an overnight trip somewhere within the past couple of years—even with all the pack duties.

But truth be told? Sylus and I were still waiting for something to break us apart again.

I know it is silly of us both to think this way, however, part of me always thought there was another test to come.

And this all came from what I’ve noticed in the past couple of years about the magical community.

Drama and jealousy are always around every corner, so it’s no wonder Jackie the evil witch wanted me out of the picture.

“Princess, are you still like? A virgin?”

“Okay, Dad, let’s stop this conversation now. I’m 24. You don’t get to ask me this stuff now—remember? We talked about this.”

I said to him as I playfully swiped at his shoulder. Dad simply shook his head.

“Sorry, I just never thought that you’d both continue to, uh, save yourselves.” He said as he put a hand to the back of his neck and rubbed the almost near peach fuzz back and forth.

He may have left the army, but the army never left him.

He got a buzz cut every three weeks. He’d always told me he did it out of habit.

I knew better; he did it as a quiet comfort.

Dad was a stickler for routine. His OCD and PTSD issues made comforts like haircuts a priority, and I completely understood this growing up.

I covered my ears.

“Dad, please stop! And it’s not like that. That’s all I will say about this very awkward conversation.”

My Dad’s lips broadened into a wide smile.

“Yes, princess, and I’m proud of you. You’ve done well as the Luna.” He said as he pulled me into a hug.

“Thanks, Dad. It feels good to be appreciated by all the loving men in my life.”

The Omegas in the pack took me to the bridal shop in town.

I was grateful for their help with planning, because I had never been good at that.

Maybe if Jackie hadn’t always told me how awful I was at picking out napkins for the hundreds of galas we had put on for Dad, I’d feel a little more confident.

But to me white was white. Who knew there were like 25 different shades of white?

I sure didn’t. And despite me always picking the alabaster white, Jackie, without fail, chose ecru.

She said the yellow undertone made the place setting warmer.

To me, they both were white, and it didn’t matter.

“Are you excited?” Asked Veruca as she palmed my shoulders.

“A little? I just don’t know what to expect, so I’m more nervous than anything else. I mean, it’s just a dress. And girls—I don’t want to spend too much on something I will never wear again. So if the salesperson gets pushy, will you help me out?”

“Nonsense! You deserve the best, princess.” Said Sylus as he entered the great room of the penthouse.

I placed my hands on my hips.

“Are you going to insist on calling me princess even after we tie the knot? ”

“Nope. Then I’ll call you my queen. And probably darlin, because that suits you, too.” He said, smirking before reaching for his wallet in his back pocket. “Take this for the dress.”

“Sylus, I have my own card and bank account, you know.”

“Yes, I am aware, but this dress is on me. Consider it one of your wedding gifts from me.” He handed the card to Veruca. “You know what to do if she tries to pay for it on her own.”

“Yes, Alpha.”

I was about to protest, but the girls whisked me out of the packhouse and into the elevator before my mouth had a chance to form the words.

“I can’t wait to try on bridesmaid dresses and drink some champers in celebration of the two of you, Luna Sesi.” Said Reika as she bounced on the balls of her feet.

I smiled.

“Please, just call me Sesi. It feels weird for you to refer to me as your Luna. Also—thanks again for getting all the body wash stuff for me.”

“It was my pleasure.” Her smile was beaming, and I couldn’t help but feel a sisterhood forming between us.

We were at the bridal shop before I knew it, and a sea of dresses went on for miles the minute we opened the door.

“You must be Sesi. I’m Brenda, and I’ll be taking care of you today.” A woman about ten years older than me said while extending her hand out to me.

“Nice to meet you.”

“So let’s get started. Did you have a particular style in mind?”

“I love the look of the ball gown dresses,” I said to her.

“Who doesn’t? We should all feel like a princess on our big day, for sure.”

The girls and I giggled because I already was one, but Brenda didn’t know that. She motioned to the girls to sit down on the couches by the dressing room, and the girls made a beeline for the champagne before taking a seat.

Once the girls were comfortable, she led me to a back wall, and immediately drawn in, my eyes fixated on a brocade strapless ball gown, an off-the-shoulder long sleeve appliqued ball gown, and a corset bodice a-line dress.

The only one not white was the brocade. It was a silvery blue, but so elegant. The thing was, I grew up Catholic, and the dresses were traditionally white. I decided I didn’t care and tried those first three on.

I went into the dressing room and tried on the off-the-shoulder one first and then hopped out to show the girls. The dress was gorgeous, but I wasn’t all that sure if it was the one.

“It’s pretty, Sesi. But?” said Veruca as she tilted her head to one side, and then the other before responding, “It seems like it’s missing something. ”

“It’s missing the glow you get when you put on the dress and just know it’s the one—you know—like the guy,” Channe said before taking a long sip of her champagne.

“Okay, let me try on the next white one.” I said while stepping into the dressing room.

I slipped into the next one, and it was more flattering on me than the first. I loved the beaded sequins and the corset, but I definitely wanted to try on the last one before I made a decision.

“Okay, I like this one better, but do you like it, or do you love it, Sesi?” Said Reika.

“It’s nice.”

“Try on the next one. And remember—there are hundreds more dresses here. You don’t have to settle.” Said Veruca.

I nodded as I went back into the dressing room and slid on the next dress, and it was perfect. It hugged my curves, complimented my skin tone, and definitely made me feel like a princess. I bounced out of the fitting room to show the girls.

“That’s it! That is the one, Sesi! Not only do you look gorgeous, but you are beaming!” Said Channe.

The other girls nodded in unison.

“I think it is, too, girls. I can’t believe I’m going against tradition, and settling on a blue wedding dress.” I said as I smoothed out imaginary wrinkles.

“You look like Snow White—it’ s perfect!” Said Brenda.

“Sylus and Sesi, welcome to your wedding! I am amazed at the life you have made in such a short time together. No one is as happy as your fairly goddess mother to celebrate your love for one another.

Your conscious decision of commitment to not only yourselves but your pack is nothing short of beautiful, and today, we celebrate the first day of the rest of your officially declared shared life. Not only that, witnesses of the best kind accompany you.

Y’all are the dear and important people in Sylus & Sesi’s lives to celebrate their union. You know them well and are an integral part of this ceremony, for the witnesses of a ceremony are just as important to the ceremony itself.

Your love and care for your Alpha and Luna fill our ceremony with meaning.

This love creates ongoing support for these two throughout their marriage and matebond.

In this way, y’all make this ceremony bonding of the Yin and Yang Fated Mates more than just a moment.

This is a community milestone event which will be remembered for many years. ”

I tried to listen to each word Savannah Silverwand said, but I got distracted staring into Sylus’s eyes. Before I knew it, my Fairly Goddess Mother was pronouncing us husband and wife.

The reception was at the packhouse and more of an intimate affair. Just the brigade and the officers of the pack were there. Our larger and more formal reception would be during the official coronation of Sylus and me as the pack’s Alpha and Luna.

We would have done everything all at once, but after dealing with my stepmonster, the Nuri Clan, and, well, almost killing the entire pack, Sylus and I wanted some alone time.

We thought a honeymoon to Upstate New York at a place called Mirror Lake Inn, was just the vacation everyone needed.

Ciro DeLuca’s New York pack had frequented this place often.

We figured we be safe among trusted friends.