“So they ultimately chose Gage as the High King because they respected his ideals and his honor,” Danica gushed to the three women preparing her for the impending coronation. “Once they learned what he did to save the Moonstruck Pack from Malachite, they knew he valued other people’s well-being above his own. That’s how they decided he’d make the best king.”

“Wow,” one said with raised eyebrows. “He sounds like an honorable man.”

“Not to mention he’s so much hotter than King Victor was,” the teenager, Marie, breathed with a dreamy look on her face.

Danica giggled as the head maid swatted at Marie, frowning. Marie blushed and went back to work at adjusting the poufy skirts around Danica.

The dress was beautiful. The skirts were eggshell-colored silk, which bunched in pearl clusters. The long bell sleeves were white lace dotted with tiny diamonds that sparkled every time she moved, and the corset was patterned in gold and silver whorls and filigree. True to popular belief, the corset was uncomfortable and stiff, but Danica forgave those vices because of how awesome it made her boobs look.

A diamond choker encircled her neck, and two large diamond studs shone from her ears. Her hair had been curled into dozens of ringlets and left down to trail over her shoulders and back. A few tiny tendrils curled near her face, framing it. Her makeup was light; she wore only a thin layer of powder, mascara, and soft pink rouge that matched her lipstick. It was the kind of natural look she could never seem to pull off on her own.

Marie, while being a bit of a blabbermouth, sure knew her way around a makeup kit.

The whole situation seemed like a dream as they finished preparing her. It still hadn’t fully hit Danica what was about to happen. The girls made light chatter as they wrapped up, and then they guided her to the cathedral where the coronation was to be held.

Dozens of rose vases sitting on white pedestals lined the hallway, alternating with golden candelabra. It was beautiful and romantic, though Danica thought it was a bit of an odd decoration choice for a coronation. Then again, what the hell did she know about these things? She’d never been crowned a queen before.

Holy shit, she was about to be crowned High Queen, in a freaking castle!

She almost started hyperventilating again.

“Just breathe,” the eldest maid said. They were all wearing matching dresses of red taffeta that were feminine and tasteful.

They stopped before the massive oak doors that marked the entrance to the cathedral. Much like the rest of the castle, the doors had been carved with moons, wolves, and the outline of thousands of trees and roses. It made it look more ancient and powerful.

Two guards outfitted in red dress uniforms with golden brocade bowed to her at the doors. “Ready, Your Highness?”

A nervous thrill went through Danica. She was only beginning to get used to her packmates occasionally calling her “Your Highness” back in Moonstruck. Now the phrase took on a whole new meaning.

With a nod, she gulped and sucked in a tight breath as they pulled the doors open.

The room was huge. Rows of cherry wood pews stretched to the stage along either side of a long, red velvet carpet. Rose petals had been scattered along the walkway. More roses hung from the rafters, their blossom-studded vines forming graceful arcs throughout the rounded ceiling. Long, wooden beams stretched along the ceiling, and windows of stained glass lined the walls. More golden candelabra lit with glimmering white candles dotted the room.

The sheer beauty of it took Danica’s breath away.

A large golden pipe organ stood against the back wall, its tiered pipes singing a familiar melody.

Danica blinked. Why on earth was it playing “Here Comes the Bride?”

Then it hit her.

Her eyes darted about the room, taking in the decorations again.

This wasn’t just a coronation—it was a wedding.

Danica let out a sob that was partially a laugh.

“Don’t start crying!” the head maid hissed, dabbing at Danica’s cheeks with a handkerchief. “You’ll ruin your makeup before you even say ‘I do!’”

“I just can’t believe this,” Danica blubbered through her tears. It was perfect, down to the last candlestick.

A dream wedding from a fairy tale, in her very own castle.

And at the end of the walkway stood her prince, no, her king, waiting for her with a smile on his face.

Gage looked stunning in a black uniform with golden brocade along the sleeves and a red satin sash that crossed his chest. A long cloak of red velvet outlined in white fur hung from his shoulders. He really did look like a prince out of a storybook.

One of her maids handed her a bouquet of red roses and urged her to walk. She slowly made her way down the aisle, fighting back the tears threatening to spill down her cheeks and streak her mascara.

Her heart swelled with love and joy as she met Gage at the stage and took his arm.

He beamed at her. “Is it everything you dreamed it would be?”

“I can’t believe you did this for me,” she said softly. “It’s amazing. More than amazing. It’s perfect.”

Adoration and love shone in his eyes. “How’s about we walk toward that happily-ever-after now?”

She grinned at him. “After you, my king.”

And together, they ascended the steps leading up to the priest.

 

 

The ceremony was beautiful. Though the sheer number of people present had initially freaked Danica out, she found once the silver crown had been placed upon her head, she didn’t fear them anymore. That crown made her feel powerful, more in control, like she could take on the world without regret.

Dancing in her king’s—and new husband’s—arms afterward had been even dreamier.

High up in the castle, in their gigantic private suite, Danica and Gage toasted one another. Danica still couldn’t get over the shock of her new position in this world. Everything had happened so quickly she knew she’d be feeling whiplash for at least a week, if not longer.

She and Gage were dressed in nothing but bathrobes. A bottle of open champagne chilled in an ice bucket next to their bed. They toasted one another and sipped. “I wish they could’ve figured out a way to restore our tattoos,” Danica said with a bit of sadness. “It’s the only thing that would have made this night more perfect.”

“Yeah,” Gage sighed. “It’s too bad they couldn’t find the original witch who’d done it. It’s as if she never existed, which supports my whole alias theory. Oh, well. There’s nothing to be done for it. At least we’ll get them back in a month’s time.”

Danica smiled. She couldn’t wait. “Are Nik and Alara really leaving tomorrow morning?”

“Yes,” Gage said, his eyes growing troubled. “Nik says he doesn’t mind taking over as the new Alpha of the Moonstruck Pack, and that Alara doesn’t have a problem with moving. I think she has enough bad memories of this place and needs to start over somewhere.”

Danica waited. “But?” she asked gently.

Gage sighed. “But I know how reluctant Nik was to lead. I tried pushing the Alpha role on him sooner, but he would have no part of it.”

“People change,” Danica said simply. “Look at us. You didn’t want to be High King, and now you’re excited.”

Gage’s eyes sparkled. “It couldn’t have worked out any better,” he admitted. “I was afraid this position would put you in more danger, but now I see you couldn’t be any better protected than where you are right now. And I have so many ideas I want to implement. I really think I can do our race some good.”

Danica squeezed his hand. “And I’ll be right here beside you.” She sat her champagne flute down on the nightstand and rolled over onto her back with a sigh. “Now I just have to figure out what I want to do. I can’t just sit idly by and do nothing with my power. I have to make good use of it.”

“You’ll think of something,” Gage said, curling up beside her. A mischievous glimmer caught his eyes as he slowly smiled. “You know what jump-starts inspiration?”

“Hmmm?”

He nipped at her earlobe, his voice growing huskier. “Sex. Lots of hot, pre-honeymoon sex.”

Danica felt her nipples pucker in anticipation. “I haven’t heard that theory, but I’m willing to test it out.”

She wrapped her arms around him as he began to undress her.