A knock at the door interrupts whatever Fern was about to say. Luna pokes her head in, her face bright with excitement.
“They’re ready for you,” she announces. “Everyone’s gathered, and the moon is almost at its peak. It’s time.”
My heart kicks against my ribs. This is it. The moment I’ve been waiting for ever since Fern told me she loved me in that tiny examination room at the medical center. The moment I get to stand in front of my pack and claim her as mine—not because I have to, but because I want to more than I’ve ever wanted anything.
“Ready?” I ask Fern.
She takes a deep breath and squares her shoulders. “Ready.”
We walk out of the room together, side by side, with our daughter nestled between us. The path to the Hollow is lined with lanterns, and pack members smile and nod as we pass, some of them reaching out to touch my shoulder or squeeze Fern’s hand.
The Hollow itself is transformed. Someone has strung more lanterns through the trees, and wildflowers are scattered across the grass in clusters of purple and white. At the center of the clearing stands Nic, waiting to officiate, with Luna at his side.
The entire pack has formed a circle around the edges of the Hollow. I spot Skylar near the front, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue. Dylan stands beside her with his arm around her waist, looking surprisingly emotional for someone who usually acts like feelings are a foreign concept. Thomas catches my eye and gives me a nod of approval.
“Breathe,” Fern whispers as we approach the center of the circle.
“I am breathing.”
“You’re holding your breath. I can tell.”
She’s right. I force myself to exhale and fill my lungs with fresh air. We stop in front of Nic, and he greets us with a warm smile.
“Welcome,” he says, his voice carrying across the Hollow. “We gather tonight to witness something rare and beautiful. A mating ceremony born not of obligation, but of love. Not of tradition, but of choice.”
He looks out at the assembled pack members before continuing.
“Connor and Fern came together through the lottery, as many of us do. But what grew between them was something the lottery could never have predicted or planned. It was real. It was true. And it brought into this world a new life—a daughter who represents the very best of both of them.”
Nic turns his attention back to us.
“Connor. Do you stand here tonight of your own free will, choosing Fern as your mate, your partner, and your equal in all things?”
“I do.” My voice comes out stronger than I expected. Steadier.
“And do you pledge to protect her, to cherish her, and to stand beside her through whatever challenges life may bring?”
“I do. With everything I am and everything I have.”
Nic nods and addresses Fern.
“Fern. Do you stand here tonight of your own free will, choosing Connor as your mate, your partner, and your equal in all things?”
“I do.” Her voice catches slightly, and I see tears glistening in her eyes.
“And do you pledge to trust him, to support him, and to build a life together founded on love and mutual respect?”
“I do. Always.”
Nic reaches out and places one hand on my shoulder and one on Fern’s.
“Then by the power vested in me as Alpha of the Silvercreek pack, I recognize this bond as true and binding. You are no longer mates by lottery. You are mates by choice. May your union bring strength to each other, joy to your family, and pride to this pack.”
The Hollow erupts in cheers and applause. Pack members rush forward to congratulate us, and suddenly, we’re surrounded by smiling faces and warm embraces. Someone claps me on the back so hard I nearly stumble. Someone else is crying openly, though I can’t tell who through the crowd.
Through it all, I keep my arm around Fern and my eyes on our daughter. She’s awake now, blinking up at the lanterns with those blue eyes that mirror my own. She doesn’t cry or fuss; she just watches the celebration unfold around her, as if she knows something important is happening.
“She’s going to be a handful,” Fern observes as the crowd finally starts to thin out. “I can already tell.”
