Alyssaand I both sob through her vows and no amount of spells keeps either of our mascaras in place. Darika, for her part, can’t take her eyes off Alyssa long enough to read off the little card in her shaking hands and fumbles her way through her vows, which only makes Alyssa’s tears fall faster.
It’s the most joyous occasion I’ve ever been a part of, so unlike the society wedding between Willow and Tom or Claire and Aspen’s elegant and well-attended mating ceremony. And it’sfun.
Ellie’s our DJ for the night and the moment the vows have been said, she starts up the music. Darika and Alyssa share their first dance, swaying beneath the moonlight and magical lights above.
“They look so happy,” Luca whispers in my ear. “And you did that. You gave them this party.”
In truth, I can’t take my eyes off them. “It’s just a party. They’d be just as happy without it.”
“Still, they’ll remember this forever.”
“I hope so,” I say with a smile, not knowing if I’ll ever see either of them again after I leave Fairhaven. If my father gets his way, I’ll only see my closest friends and the alpha and beta I love at alumni balls. My only friends will be the other omegas in my affluent social circle, and there will be no love between me and the alphas he chooses for me.
“I know what you’re thinking. I know what that frown means, and Juniper, we have years,” Luca promises.
I find his hand and slip mine into it. “I want forever.”
“You’d make me the happiest alpha in existence.”
“After I bring my father down, we’re running away.”
“Afterwebring your father down, we won’t have to.”
I swipe at my eyes, smudging my mascara even further. “Dance with me, my alpha?”
He winks and grins and my heart overflows, warmth rushing through my veins. “I thought you’d never ask, princess.”
Simon joins us after a song and a few dumplings and we dance just like we did on All Saints’ Eve, me between the both of them. Their hands roam my body, their lips find my jaw, my throat, and we dance like the rest of the party isn’t watching, like our chaperones for the night aren’t watching. For one perfect, blissful playlist, there’s no one else in the world but the three of us.
My little not-quite-pack.
Finally, Alyssa, Bitsy, and Ellie steal me away from them for a dance and, laughing, I follow, throwing my hands up in the air, twirling beneath the twinkle lights.
* * *
Simon catchesme glancing up at the bell tower as we’re folding the chairs back up.
“Meeting someone beneath the bell tower tonight?”
“Cassian,” I admit. “He said he wanted to talk.”
Simon starts, lips parted. “Tonight?”
I fidget with the cuff of my dress and nod. “Tonight at midnight.”
“Well, what are you waiting for then? Luc and I can finish cleaning up. I’ll make Ellie and Bitsy help.”
“Are you sure?”
I’m not just asking if he’s sure they can handle the cleanup. I’m asking if he’s sure he won’t mind me talking to the first boy I ever loved beneath the bell tower on the Feast of Saint Valentine.
He pulls me in for a tender kiss and then twirls me away. “Go get ‘im, kit-kat. Or give Bits or me a shout and we’ll hex his dick tiny for you.”
“My knight in shining armor,” I laugh, before tugging on my coat and stepping out of the warming wards around our little party space. I take the winding path up the hill, sensing Marcus at my heels. Always watching out for me.
I’m beneath the bell tower by 11:55.
Anticipation buzzes through me. I didn’t let myself mourn Cassian and I haven’t admitted, even to myself, that I hoped there would be an explanation, just like there was with Luca. That once again, an alpha I loved would tell me the impossible and I’d end up in their arms.
