“Mating ceremony?” Apollo asked. “Is that like. . .a wedding?”
“Kinda? It’s an informal thing, really, just a few words and vows exchanged to welcome you into the pack.”
Hades cleared his throat. “That’s the other requirement, by the way. You must be officially married in order for you to eat the apple.”
“Married?” Geri blinked. “Like, in front of a priest and all?”
“Or whatever type of ceremony you wish, as long as it’s binding and official,” the god of death said.
“What, you don’t want to be married?” Apollo said, and he couldn’t stop the pang of hurt that vibrated through him.
“What? Oh no, not at all.” She gripped his forearms. “I love you. Of course, I want to be married to you. But I don’t know if you want to, and you haven’t asked,” she said with a chuckle. “I didn’t want to assume—,”
He held up his hand and opened it to reveal a red velvet box, which snapped open to reveal a beautiful diamond ring.
“Apollo?”
“I was waiting for the right time,” he said sheepishly. “And I guess this is the rightest time. So, Geri, will you marry me?”
Apollo felt a surge of emotion rush up inside him, too big to hold back. It spilled across their bond, pouring into him—warmth, love, fierce devotion, all tangled together. He watched her eyes go soft, lips parting as if searching for words.
And then she whispered just one.
“Yes.”
Chapter Four
Geri
Persephone tucked the final hairpin into place with a satisfied hum, stepping back to admire her handiwork. “There,” she declared with regal flair, “now you’re finally done.”
“The Queen of the Underworld has spoken,” Geri replied with a small smirk, turning her head slightly to catch her reflection in the mirror. The updo was elegant but not fussy, soft tendrils framing her face just enough to feel like herself. But what truly struck her in the mirror was not the hair—it was the goddess standing behind her.
Persephone’s smile was radiant, the kind of smile that could make Geri’s nerves unravel, and her chest loosen with one glance. A smile that reminded her she wasn’t doing this alone.
“Thanks, P. For everything,” Geri said softly, her eyes meeting her friend’s in the mirror.
If she hadn’t run off to New York City all that time ago…If she hadn’t walked into that quirky plant shop owned byPersephone and Demeter, desperate to breathe again outside the shadow of her pack…She wouldn’t be here now. She wouldn’t have found her place, her voice, her best friend.
And she never would’ve met Apollo.
Who could’ve guessed that leaving home to figure out who she really was would lead her to a true mate and a family that happened to include the most powerful beings in the cosmos? Gods and goddesses who made her feel seen. And a future she never imagined for herself.
The Queen of the Underworld rested her chin lightly on Geri’s shoulder and said, “You ready?”
Persephone caught the flicker of hesitation in Geri’s expression. “Don’t worry about the bombing of the barn; no one was hurt.”
Geri gave a half-smile, still staring at her reflection. The barn—the grand, hulking structure that had been part of their territory for generations—was supposed to be the venue for their wedding. But earlier that day, it had exploded in a fiery blast that rattled the pack and sent emergency protocols into overdrive.
Persephone waved a hand dismissively and added with a smirk, “It’s nothing a little magic…and Artemis can’t fix.”
“Oh no,” Geri groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. Her sister-in-law was terrifyingly enthusiastic when it came to getting things done. Their chef and event planner had already threatened to quit. But one thing was certain—Artemis got results.
The ceremony had been moved outside, near the community center. It wasn’t what they planned, but the meadow, with the towering pines and view of the mountains, had its own kind of magic.
Just then, the door creaked open, and her brother, Cade, stepped inside. The Alpha was dressed in formal clothes—simple, dignified, and just a little uncomfortable, judging by the way he tugged at the collar.
He stood beside her and glanced at her reflection in the mirror. “Let’s get this over with,” he muttered.
