Wedding Preparations

"Ella!" Cora shouted from the closet, her voice frantic. "Ella, help! Please!"

I turned quickly, biscuit and coffee in hand, Rafe strapped to my chest. "What's wrong?" I called, hurrying towards her.

The problem was immediately apparent. Cora was entangled in yards of fabric, a stylist tugging at the buttons on the back of her dress.

"It doesn't fit," Cora said, her face worried.

"What?" I exclaimed, my eyes widening. "But we had a fitting two days ago. Did you—"

"I guess I got bigger," Cora sighed, looking down at her baby bump. "I don't know—it's ridiculous with a human baby, but with how these wolves grow? In leaps and bounds?" She looked up, shaking her head. "I'm sorry, Ella. What are we going to do?"

"We're going to use the backup dress," I said, grinning and shoving the rest of my biscuit in my mouth. I set down my coffee, then retrieved a large white box I'd hidden under others.

"Oh, thank god," the stylist murmured, making me laugh.

"Can you call the seamstresses?" I asked the second stylist, who nodded and made a call. "We might need last-minute alterations."

"I can't believe you planned for this, Ella," Cora sighed as I revealed an identical gown, just a size larger. "How did you foresee this?"

"I had a wolf pregnancy too!" I said, lifting the dress. "I remember how unpredictable it is. At least you aren't being flown to another country during a war."

"True," Cora said, beginning to remove the first dress as I hung up the second and started steaming it. "This is slightly less stressful than that. But only barely."

I laughed, glancing at her. "So, are you excited?"

"Um," Cora said, her voice hesitant. I gasped. "You're not excited for your wedding!?"

"Ella!" she laughed, stepping out of the dress. "You know this hasn't been important to me. Roger and I already had the mating ceremony to end all mating ceremonies. So," she shrugged, "this makes me more anxious."

"Aww," I said, approaching her, steamer in hand. "Don't be anxious, Cora. It's going to be beautiful!"

Cora smiled, kissing Rafe. He gurgled, kicking his legs, making her laugh. "You're more comfortable in the limelight than me, sis," she said. "The way you handled the coronation yesterday—"

"I was a mess at the coronation! I ran backwards! I cried!"

"It was perfectly you," she said, smiling. "Everyone loved it. I loved it."

"Well," I grinned, "just be perfectly you! It will be great."

"If you say so," she grinned, crossing her arms. "Actually, do you have a robe? I'm chilly."

"Here," I said, pointing the steamer at her. A burst of steam made her jump and laugh.

"Get away from me, demon," she said, swatting at me.

I turned back to work, pointing to a robe. Even as Cora put it on, I felt excited. This day, I had a feeling, would be wonderful.

The wedding was in the great hall, where we'd had the coronation. It had been beautifully transformed. I'd been hesitant, not wanting it to look the same, but it was the largest space, and crowds waited outside the palace, in addition to the hundreds of invited guests.

"Wow," I said, spinning in the hall with Sinclair at my side, Rafe in a chic tuxedo (he refused his crown). "It's incredible, Dominic—beyond what I imagined."

"How's that possible," he laughed, "when you planned it?" Sinclair was dressed to match Rafe—a surprise that made him laugh. They were already so alike. I wore pale green, complementing my hair. We chose not to wear crowns, preferring to be siblings, not King and Queen, but we looked nice without them. My family looked wonderful.

"I don't know how it's possible," I said, awestruck. "I told them my ideas, but this team—they really ran with it!" I wasn't exaggerating. I'd wanted white—roses, satin, candles—but this room looked like a fairytale. The sunlight brightening the space was magical.

"It really is incredible," my mate said, pulling me close. "You did beautifully, trouble."

"I didn't do it, the aides did!" I laughed, kissing him. Sinclair kissed me lightly before turning to an aide bustling down the aisle.

"Are we ready, sir?" she asked, holding an iPad. "To let the guests in?"

Sinclair raised an eyebrow at me. I nodded eagerly. "I think so. Let's get this started!"

The aide grinned and rushed off. Sinclair and I went to the front to greet guests. We wouldn't greet everyone, but I'd try.

"Ready, little prince?" I asked Rafe, who squealed happily.

"We're lucky he likes crowds," Sinclair murmured as the aides opened the doors. "If he were shy, it'd be harder."

"He knows how much we love him!" I said, kissing him. "How could they not love him? He's a cutie."

"Just like his mama," Sinclair murmured, kissing my head.

Before we could say more, the doors opened, and the crowds poured in.

"Welcome!" I called, stepping forward.