The reception space has been transformed while the ceremony was happening. The tables are set with beautiful centerpieces. The champagne is chilling. The catering staff is ready to serve. The photographer positions himself to capture candid moments.
I watch as guests file into the reception space and settle at their tables. Tangle Peak and the Brownbox pack enter to music, and the applause is thunderous. They dance their first dance as a bonded unit while the orchestra plays something slow and beautiful.
Jessica handles the toasts. A friend of Tangle Peak's stands up and talks about watching her fall in love with a pack of alphas and how she's never seen anyone happier. One of the alphas stands up and talks about how they knew the moment they met her that she was the one they'd been waiting for. Tears are flowing freely throughout the room.
The food is served, and it's absolutely incredible. The caterers have outdone themselves. Every plate is a work of art. The flavors are perfect. The portions are generous but not excessive.
The first course is a light salad with candied walnuts and a balsamic vinaigrette. The main course is filet mignon with roasted vegetables and a red wine reduction that's absolutely divine. The sides are perfectly prepared potatoes and a seasonal vegetable medley. Dessert is a selection of small cakes and pastries that are almost too beautiful to eat.
Almost.
The orchestra plays during dinner, soft background music that doesn't overwhelm conversation but adds to the ambiance. The lighting shifts as the sun starts to set, and the string lights that have been hung throughout the space begin to twinkle. It's absolutely magical.
By the time dessert is being served, the sun has completely set, and the venue is lit entirely by string lights and the soft glow of candles. The mountains are visible in silhouette against the darkening sky, providing a stunning backdrop for everything that's happening.
Tangle Peak and the Brownbox pack do their second dance, a more upbeat song that gets the entire room dancing. Even the oldest guests are out on the dance floor, moving and laughing and celebrating. The orchestra transitions seamlessly from classical pieces to more modern music, and somehow it all works perfectly together.
I stand at the back of the reception space with Jessica, watching everything unfold perfectly. Every detail is exactly as planned. Every moment is beautiful. Every second is exactly as it should be.
"We did it," Jessica says, squeezing my hand. "We actually pulled off the wedding of the year."
"We absolutely did," I agree.
By the time the reception is winding down and the last guests are saying goodbyes, I'm running on pure adrenaline and the kind of satisfaction that comes from knowing that you nailed something important. Tangle Peak finds me as she's heading out, and she pulls me into a hug.
"You're a genius," she says. "This wedding was absolutely perfect. Thank you for making my vision come to life."
"It was my honor," I say, and I mean it completely.
Cassian, Jett, and Pine find me as I'm doing a final walkthrough of the reception space. Cassian wraps his arm around my waist, and I lean into him immediately.
"You were incredible today," he says, pressing a kiss to the top of my head. "Did you see the way everything came together? The orchestra, the flowers, the lighting. It was like watching an artist at work."
"We're so proud of you," Jett says, settling a hand on my shoulder. "This wedding is going to be talked about for years."
As we're walking toward the parking lot, I'm expecting them to take me home. I'm expecting to go back to the house, shower, collapse into bed, and sleep for approximately three years. Instead, Cassian leads me toward a truck that I don't recognize.
"Wait, where are we going?" I ask.
"We booked a suite at the resort just outside of town," Jett says, opening the passenger door and helping me in. "We thought you deserved to celebrate properly. A night away from the house. A night where we can focus entirely on you and celebrating what you accomplished today."
"You booked a hotel suite?" I ask, not sure if I'm amazed or exhausted or both.
"We booked a really nice hotel suite," Pine corrects. "With a hot tub. And room service. And absolutely nothing to do except celebrate and relax."
"That sounds like a nice plan," I admit, settling into the seat and leaning my head against Cassian's shoulder as he drives.
The resort is stunning. It's situated on the edge of a mountain with views that stretch out for miles. The suite they've booked is enormous, with a king-size bed, a living area, a bathroom that has a massive soaking tub, and a balcony that looks out over the mountains and the twinkling lights of Pine Hollow below.
"Oh my god," I say, walking around the suite and taking everything in. "This is incredible."
"You deserve incredible," Jett says, already ordering room service. "I'm getting you food, and then we're getting you into that hot tub because you've been on your feet all day."
By the time I've showered off the day and changed into the soft clothes that someone had the foresight to pack, I'm starting to feel the exhaustion hitting.
"Are you okay?" Pine asks, moving closer to me. His dark eyes are studying my face carefully, checking to make sure I'm comfortable with what's about to happen.
"I'm more than okay," I say, reaching out and running my hands down his arms. "I just planned the most beautiful wedding this town has ever seen. I just watched people who are completely in love bond for life. And now I'm standing in a gorgeous hotel suite with three alphas who love me. I'm perfect."
