“Surprise!”

The lights went up, momentarily blinding me. A wave of shouting and cheering rolled over me, like a great tsunami swallowing me up.

What the—

My vision adjusted. A hundred faces grinned back at me. They were all here – Ryan and Alex, Bianca and Robbie, Elinor and Eric … everyone I’d met in Crookshollow stood around the room, dressed in glittering dresses and handsome tuxedos. Past clients, vendors I’d worked with over the years, my mother’s crazy Werewolf Watch friends all grinned maniacally as they hooted and applauded. Even Ryan’s mother Clara was there, grinning like a cheshire cat and clapping like mad, her signature black hair swept into an elegant do. Behind them, several tables were set for an elegant meal, and beautiful arrangements of calla lilies cascaded from the ceiling, framing the space in tall, majestic floral arches.

“What is this?” I breathed.

“Isn’t it obvious?” a deep voice asked from behind me.

I whirled around. There stood Irvine, resplendent in his clan’s kilt and dress shirt, complete with his leather sporran and ceremonial sword hanging from his belt. Those ice blue eyes met mine, and he dared a smile. My heart fluttered.

“This is your wedding, Willow.” His deep voice coursed through me like hot chocolate in my veins. “I made it for you.”

“But—but I’m not getting married.”

“I can change that.” Irvine took a step forward. His scent swirled around me, and I lost myself in it, letting it take me back to that cabin in Crookshollow Forest, where he’d given me every part of himself.

I gasped as he dropped down on one knee. My heart pounded. Irvine fished around in his sporran and produced a small box. He opened it wide and held it out to me.

From the velvet box, a beautiful diamond glittered up at me. My breath caught in my throat. My head swam. This isn’t real. I’m dreaming and any moment now I’m going to wake up and I’ll be all alone again—

Irvine dared a slightly larger grin. The love in his eyes shone radiant, like the sun, and I ken. I ken this was real. He was asking me to marry him.

“I—I—I—”

“Before you say no and hit me in the face,” Irvine said, “just hear me out. I am so incredibly sorry that I hurt you, Willow Summers. I should have told you everything right from the beginning, including what I did to that poor man. I was stupid. I was so amazed that such a wonderful person came into my life, and that she wanted to be with me, that I didnae want to ruin it. I was afraid, and selfish, and that wasnae fair.”

Tears pooled in the corners of my eyes. I started to speak, but Irvine held his finger to his lips. “Hold your tongue, Willow Summers. There’s more to come. I am also sorry that all of the things you thought of me turned out to be true. I showed myself to be the monster that you feared. I jumped to conclusions about you, when I was the one who saw deepest into your heart. I should have seen your fear and helped you through it, but instead, I broke your trust. I nae deserve someone as bright and bold and beautiful as you, but if you accept me, I promise I’ll spend the rest of my life showing that I’m worthy of your love. Starting with this.”

Irvine pointed behind him. Lachlan stepped out of the crowd, and gave me a small wave before merging with the pack once again.

“I cannae give him back what I took from him, but I have asked Lachlan what punishment would fit the crime. He has decided that I will pay him a sum of money, which he will use to set up a scholarship fund in his father’s name for students in Aberdeen, and that I will dedicate the rest of my life to the task of helping wolves integrate into society and get out of the criminal world, so that such a crime never happens again. I have agreed to this.” He smiled. “It feels right. It feels true. It feels like something I should’ve done a long time ago. It took being with you to make me see that. Because you make me a better person, Willow Summers. And I ken you have a different name, but you’ll always be bright and warm like summertime to me.”

I reached down and squeezed his hand. The connection surged through my body, drawing me deeper into his eyes. The tears fell thick and fast now, dribbling down my face and splashing on the marble floor. “I think this is the most words you’ve ever said to me at once,” I said, laughing through my tears.

“Aye, and it’s not over yet.” Irvine took another breath, and I noticed a tear sliding down his cheek. “I should have talked to you before I went to find your Pa. Sometimes, I think I’m doing something useful, but I’m really just being a cock. I didnae respect your decision. I thought that a grand gesture would show you how I felt about you, but it totally backfired.” He glanced up then, looking around the room at all of the people gathered around us, all of the friends and colleagues he’d rounded up for me. He laughed nervously. “I guess I havenae really learned my lesson after all.”

I laughed, tear streaming down my cheeks.

“What I’m saying is, I’m a fool, but I’m a fool who loves you, Willow Summers. I’m absolutely crazy about you. I want to be by your side for the rest of our lives. I want to make a million more apologies to you … no, wait, that didn’t come out right …” He scratched his head. “I’m nae good at these kind of things. …”

“You’re doing pretty good,” I choked out. “And my answer is yes. A thousand times yes.”

Irvine’s whole face erupted with a delicious, mischievous grin. He stood and swept me up into his arms, his lips pressing against mine as the warmth of him enveloped me. The joy in my heart burst forth, sweeping through my whole body.

Irvine broke our kiss to slide the ring on my finger. It fit perfectly. I held it up and watched the facets glitter in the light.

This is real. This is really happening. I’m getting married to the perfect guy. The perfect werewolf.

Irvine leaned in, and our lips met again. Around us, I was vaguely aware of people cheering and hooting, but all that existed for me was Irvine – his kiss, his touch, his wild, beautiful heart.

Irvine broke the kiss, a wide grin spreading over his face. “The first time I saw you, you were kissing Bianca, and I was so jealous.” He pointed her out in the crowd. “Do you think she’s jealous of us now?”

“I doubt it.” Bianca was pressed up against Robbie in a slinky black dress and combat boots, and he looked like he’d won every lottery in the entire history of the universe.

Irvine grabbed my hand and led me across the room. “Come on,” he said. “Let’s get you looking like a bride.”

He led me down a short hall and into a tiny bedroom, with a bed covered in clothing. Makeup bags cluttered the top of the dresser. Alex and Elinor squeezed in after me, grinning from ear to ear as they took my old coat and smothered me with hugs and kisses.

“Did you guys have something to do with this?”

“Maybe.” Elinor grinned, tossing her hair over her shoulder. I noticed they were both wearing matching pale blue dresses, with flower crowns circling their heads. They looked a little like … bridesmaids.

My bridesmaids.

“I’ll leave you in their capable hands.” Irvine gave me one last, lingering kiss, before ducking back out into the hallway.

“You both look amazing.” I embraced Alex.

“Of course we do, we’ve had all day to prepare,” Alex said, sitting me down at the dressing table.

“Sorry for the presumption of not waiting for you to ask us to be bridesmaids,” Elinor said, as she cracked open a makeup box. “You spend so much time sorting out other people’s weddings, we figured the best gift was not having to plan your own. Irvine was just going to forgo the wedding party completely, but we figured, given the circumstances, you’d want your friends by your side.”

Friends. I beamed, fresh tears welling up and spilling down my cheeks. I’d never had real friends before. At least, I’d never believed I had friends. But that whole crowd of people out in the ballroom suggested otherwise. I swiped at my tears. Pull yourself together.

“Hey, quit that crying.” Alex dabbed at my eyes with a tissue. “It’s time to make you look like a bride.”

Bride. Such a magical, beautiful word. I’d never in my wildest dreams imagined it would apply to me.

“But I don’t have anything with me. I don’t have a dress, or shoes, and … oh god, my underwear …” I was wearing a sports bra and a pair of cotton granny panties. Why hadn’t I put on my nice cream lace bra?

Because when I got up this morning, I had no idea I’d be getting married. This was going to be one interesting wedding night.

“Oh, you look so panicked.” Elinor giggled.

“We’ve got you covered, and I mean that literally.” Alex reached into a wardrobe and tossed me a box. I lifted the lid. Inside, nestled in a bed of powder pink tissue paper, was a beautiful set of ivory silk lingerie, edged with delicate lace.

I ran my fingers over the delicate fabric, touching the edges. “This is beautiful.”

“I know it is.” Alex grinned. “I picked it out.”

“I’m so sorry,” I said to Alex, as I shrugged off my sweater and shirt and clasped the bra around my chest. It fit perfectly. “I get to have this amazing wedding, and yours turned into a political coup.”

“It’s okay, Willow, really it is.” Alex beamed. “I’m fine with it now. My wedding will go down in history, which is pretty rock’n’roll. I got to have my dream ceremony to my perfect guy, and Ryan says we’re going to have a big party as soon as everything calms down, so I’ll get the perfect reception, too. And it turns out, it wasn’t the wedding that was upsetting me so much, but my hormones going crazy.”

It took me a few moments to figure out what she was talking about. “You mean …?”

“I’m pregnant!” She leapt into my arms. “For real this time.”

“That’s amazing, Alex. Congratulations.”

“Thank you.” Alex’s radiant smile lit up her whole face. “But tonight is not about me. Tonight is about you marrying the man of your dreams … in this!”

She grabbed a hanger from behind the door and thrust it in front of me. My eyes bugged out of my head.

It was the dress. The Marsha Babcock dress.

My heart leapt into my throat. I reached out and ran my fingers over the scalloped neckline. They found it. I can’t believe they did this for me.

I hugged the dress to me, admiring it in the mirror. The ivory colour perfectly matched my skin. The sweetheart neckline elongated my neck and made light of my lack of cleavage. The fishtail skirt swirled around my legs.

“Go on,” Alex urged. “Try it on. Your groom is waiting.”

I glanced around the room, but couldn’t see a bathroom door anywhere. That familiar lump of fear rose in my throat. With shaking fingers, I undid the buttons on my fly.

Alex and Elinor watched me as I pushed my trousers over my thighs and sat down, bending my knee so I could pull them over my prosthesis.

Alex’s eyes widened as it came into view. But neither of them looked away in disgust. “Stand up,” Elinor commanded me. I did as I was told, slipping into the matching ivory panties. Alex took the dress from the hanger and pulled it over my head, yanking the stiff bodice over my shoulders and arranging it perfectly.

“Look at you,” Elinor breathed. Her eyes glistened with tears, too. “Don’t make me cry, Willow, or we’ll all be in here all night adjusting our makeup.”

Alex finished fussing with the dress, then pulled my head back into a high bun, leaving a few curls loose around my face. “The final touch,” she said, holding out a short veil with an unusual clasp. It was a comb that inserted into my hair, and the edge of the comb was decorated with a row of tiny, glittering crystals wrapped with silver wire.

“Do you like it?” Alex asked, positioning her handiwork and showing it to me in the hand mirror.

“I love it,” I said, grinning.

“Good, because I’ve got a matching necklace and earrings for you.”

After some quick makeup, we were ready for showtime. Alex disappeared for a moment to cue the music, then returned with a big grin on her face. “You ready for this?”

I checked my reflection one last time. I looked amazing. The dress hugged every curve and flared out around my legs, shimmering with every movement. I looked like a mermaid.

I slipped on the flat shoes Elinor had found for me, and realised that whenever I moved, the guests would be able to see the ankle of my prosthesis. I stood up, and checked in the mirror again. Yes, they would definitely see it.

I smiled to myself. Good. Let them see it. Willow Summers wasn’t hiding from the world anymore.

“I was born ready.” I grinned at my bridesmaids. “Let’s get me married to the wolf of my dreams.”