The walk back to the cemetery entrance felt lighter somehow, as if speaking those words aloud had freed something that had been trapped inside him for too long. In the taxi heading home, Camille’s hand never left his, her thumb tracing gentle circles across his knuckles.
Back at the penthouse, as they stood in the marble foyer surrounded by the trappings of his success, Leander turned toface the woman who’d given him the courage to confront his deepest pain.
“Thank you,” he said simply. “For knowing what I needed before I did. For being brave enough to take me there. It meant everything.”
Camille rose on her toes and kissed him, soft and sweet and full of the love that had transformed his entire world in the span of ten days. When she pulled back, her blue eyes shimmered with emotion.
“That’s what partners do,” she whispered. “We face things together.”
As Leander gathered her into his arms, his lion purring with deep satisfaction, he knew with absolute certainty that this magnificent woman was everything he’d never known he needed—and everything his father would have wanted for him.
CAMILLE
Camille stood before the antique mirror in the guest bedroom that had become their sanctuary over the past week, her reflection wavering through tears she refused to let fall. Three months. Three months since that fateful evening when Gerri Wilder had appeared in a museum bathroom like some fairy godmother and changed the entire trajectory of her life. Three months since she’d walked into Leander Drake’s office as his assistant and discovered that everything she’d been searching for—purpose, passion, love—had been waiting behind those piercing green eyes.
The woman staring back at her bore little resemblance to the polished heiress who’d once graced charity galas with practiced smiles and empty conversations. Gone was Camille St. James, the perfect socialite daughter who’d spent thirty-five years performing for an audience that never truly saw her. In her place stood someone infinitely more powerful. Camille Drake, fierce mate to an Alpha lion shifter, brilliant architect whose innovative designs had transformed Drake Holdings into the most sought-after development firm in the nation, and soon-to-be wife to the man who’d taught her that love didn’t have to be a cage.
The white silk gown cascaded around her like liquid moonlight, its clean lines and soft details a perfect reflection of the woman she’d become. No frills, no excessive ornamentation—just elegant simplicity that spoke to her authentic self.
“Stop fidgeting with that bodice,” Serena commanded from her position near the window, where she was adjusting the fall of Camille’s cathedral-length train.
Helena laughed softly as she fastened the delicate diamond earrings that had belonged to Leander’s grandmother. “She’s just nervous. I remember being the same way on my wedding day—convinced something would go catastrophically wrong, like tripping while walking down the aisle or forgetting my vows.”
“I’m not nervous about the actual wedding,” Camille protested, though her fingers betrayed her by smoothing the silk over her hips for the dozenth time. “I’m nervous about the fact that every society page in the city is calling this the ‘wedding of the year.’“
It was true. Ever since news of their engagement had broken, the media had been relentless. Headlines screamed about the “transformation of Manhattan’s most eligible bachelor,” “shocking career pivot of socialite heiress Camille St. James,” and “Manhattan’s power couple in the making.”
Not to mention, their revolutionary approach to luxury development—blending structural innovation with warm, livable design—had captured the attention of architectural critics and lifestyle magazines alike. Drake Holdings’ client waiting list now stretched two years, with potential clients begging for “their special touch.”
But the public’s attention didn’t really matter to her. What mattered was the man waiting for her at the end of that aisle, the pride that had embraced her as family, and the work that set her soul on fire.
“You know what I love most about all this media attention?” Serena grinned, her hazel eyes sparkling with mischief. “I’m getting invited to parties I would never have been able to crash before. Do you have any idea how many A-list celebrities want to be your new best friend?”
“I don’t care about celebrities or social media followers anymore,” Camille replied, turning away from the mirror to face her dearest friend. “I care about the fact that we just landed the Terrace Tower project, that our sustainable luxury concept is revolutionizing how people think about urban living, and that in about twenty minutes I get to marry the most incredible man I’ve ever known.”
“And that,” Helena said warmly, “is exactly why you’re perfect for my son. You see what truly matters.”
The older woman’s approval meant more to Camille than any magazine cover ever could. Helena had welcomed her not as Leander’s trophy or business asset, but as a daughter. The Drake family operated on principles so foreign to Camille’s upbringing—unconditional love, genuine support, emotional safety—that she sometimes felt like she was learning a new language.
“You’ve been part of our pride since the day Leander brought you home three months ago,” Helena continued, her voice thick with emotion.
Heat bloomed across Camille’s cheeks. “I know. It’s just... today everything becomes permanent. The name, my place in the pride hierarchy. It’s overwhelming in the best possible way.”
A commotion in the hallway interrupted her thoughts, followed by the distinctive sound of Gerri Wilder’s voice cutting through the pre-wedding chaos like a knife through butter.
“Where is she? Where’s the famous other half of the hottest couple in town?”
The bedroom door burst open without ceremony, and Gerri swept in wearing a stunning emerald pantsuit that probablycost more than most people’s cars. Her white bob was styled to perfection, her eyes bright with satisfaction, and her smile could have powered the entire estate.
“There she is!” Gerri exclaimed, clapping her hands together. “The blushing bride who’s been making headlines for months. I can’t stop reading about you two in the society pages—all good things, of course. ‘Revolutionary Design Duo Takes Manhattan by Storm,’ ‘The Love Story That’s Reshaping Luxury Development,’ and ‘From Assistant to CEO: A Modern Fairy Tale.’“
Camille laughed despite herself. “You read the society pages?”
“Darling, I live for the society pages. How else would I keep track of my success stories?” Gerri’s expression grew mock-serious. “Speaking of which, how unfortunate that your parents went bankrupt after that terrible fraud was exposed. What a shame.”
The words should have stung. Should have sent guilt spiraling through her chest. Instead, Camille felt nothing but a distant sort of pity. Her father’s embezzlement scandal had broken just two months ago—years of skimming from client accounts finally catching up with him. The St. James fortune, built on stolen money and social manipulation, had crumbled overnight.
“He should have known better than to doctor his books,” Camille said quietly. “I’m sorry it happened, but I can’t say I’m surprised. They spent so many years prioritizing image over integrity.”
