“You may now kiss the bride!”

A heavy guitar riff roared to life as Eric’s band struck up a thundering metal anthem. Eric himself wasn’t in front-of-stage – as he usually was, long hair streaming behind him as he furiously bowed his violin. Instead, he stood in front of the grand altar, holding his new wife Elinor in his arms. Their lips pressed together in a long sensuous kiss.

“Yay, Elinor!” I raised my hands and clapped furiously. My heart soared for my friend. We’d been working non-stop for the last few months to create the perfect gothic wedding, all while Eric was away on a European tour. As I glanced around the garden of Marshell House – transformed into a gothic wonderland in red, black and purple – I couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride that we’d pulled it off. And judging by the excited “oohs!” from the guests and the frantic click click click of the cameras as they took in all the details for the wedding magazines, everyone else thought so, too.

Elinor and Eric came up for air. They linked arms and danced back down the aisle (lined with skulls and purple garlands, of course). Elinor had never looked more radiant. She laughed as she gathered up the cathedral train of her blood-red dress so she could maneuver through the throng. I clapped and cheered louder than anyone.

“Careful, Willow Baird,” a husky voice growled in my ear. ”No straining yourself. You wouldn’t want to do the wee one any damage now.”

I turned around to face my husband. Today, Irvine looked even more handsome than usual, standing proud in his family tartan. The long sword of his pack dangled at his side. I wrapped my arms around his neck, and leaned up to kiss him.

My mind flashed back to the first time we met. It had also been at a wedding, albeit a fake one. Irvine wore the exact same outfit, complete with that kind smile and those penetrating eyes. So much had changed since then, and yet, so much was exactly the same. The members of the pack had new roles within the various government working groups or delegations, and they had already won so many rights for shifters. Irvine was working with Lachlan’s non-profit to help young shifters transition from criminal activities into active roles in the community. Now, when the press contacted us, it was usually to speak to Irvine about his charity work. No one cared about me or my leg anymore.

I didn’t have time to care either, I was too busy finishing assignments for university (I’d enrolled part time to finish my history degree) sourcing the perfect wedding dresses for my clients, and preparing for our new arrival.

“You worry too much, husband. I’m perfectly fine. And I’m not stressed at all, see?” I gave him my most radiant smile.

Irvine rubbed my stomach, which was just beginning to protrude noticeably with the growth of our baby. My heart swelled again as I sensed the love he already felt for our child. The connection that drew us together pulsed stronger than ever.

“I dinnae believe it. This is the first wedding you’ve ever delegated to someone else. You’re supposed to be relaxing and enjoying your friend’s happiness. Already today I’ve caught you straightening the garlands and trying to brief the MC.“ Irvine wagged a finger at me. “Donnae think you can hide it from me. You cannae help getting involved.”

He was right. When we first found out I was pregnant, Irvine put his foot down about the stress level in my business. Ever since word got around that I was the planner behind the infamous Raynard wedding, prominent shifter couples up and down the country were clamouring to book me for their big day. I’d been working non-stop since The Big Reveal, and Irvine had been on at me to hire an assistant. Finally, after Elinor threatened to fire me if I didn’t take better care of myself, I relented.

My assistant, Lacey, was racing around like a mad thing, making sure all the details were perfect. I cast my eye around and noticed her over by the sound desk, gesturing madly at the technician and looking utterly furious. I stepped out into the aisle. “Maybe I should—”

Irvine grabbed my arm. “None of that, lass. Lacey’s got a handle on it.”

“But—”

“I see Alex and Ryan,” Irvine yanked me through the mass of people crowding the aisle, heading away from the sound desk and whatever problem Lacey was trying to straighten out. We followed a line of guests out onto the manicured lawn, where Elinor’s train swept elegantly over the grass. She looked absolutely magnificent in her corset studded with glittering black beads. Her brown hair was swept up in one of Alex’s crystal and wire tiaras, and her skin glowed with the happiness of a new bride. Eric didn’t look so bad himself, in his tailored damask frock coat, his long dark hair streaming down his back.

Ryan had already snagged us a table, and was pulling out a chair for a heavily pregnant Alex. “Ooh,” she moaned as she collapsed into it, stretching her feet out under the table. “I wish this baby would hurry up and pop. Just standing after that kiss has killed my back. And my feet. And I need to pee again.”

“You’re just a one-stop pee machine,” Ryan kissed her cheek. “I’ll get us all some drinks.”

“No! No more drinks! This is just one of the things you have to look forward to, Willow.” Alex patted my hand. “Endless trips to the loo. I never appreciated my bladder before, until it was being permanently kicked by some ratbag that’s taken up residence in my belly.”

I grinned at her. I can’t wait.

We chatted about the ceremony while Ryan braved the crowd around the bar. He returned ten minutes later with an armload of drinks. As I sipped my Lemon, Lime, and Bitters, I gazed across the lawn at the unfolding scene. Now that shifters weren’t a secret any longer, seeing wild animals in odd locations was a pretty common occurrence. An entire pack of foxes sat grooming themselves on the edge of the marquee, and two stags had their heads in a water trough at the back of the garden. Rolf and two of his Wulfric chums stood in their human forms at the entrance to the garden, arms folded and sunglasses pulled over their eyes. They were keeping back a horde of obsessive Ghost Symphony fans who’d shown up in the hopes of glimpsing the newlyweds.

It was still completely surreal. Yet, at the same time, it felt totally normal. I no longer saw enemies and beasts who might hurt me. I just saw families and friends, people of all shapes and sizes and colours and races and species, laughing and joking and getting on together. It truly was a new world.

“—and Ryan and I have been offered the chance to do a joint exhibit at the Tate Modern,” Alex was saying to Irvine. “It’s such an amazing opportunity, but I have no idea how I’m going to find the time to paint with this little guy needing my attention all night and day. We talked about hiring a nanny, but it just seems so impersonal. I’m always worried we’ll end up with someone who’ll sell stories about us to the media.”

“Actually,” I grinned, squeezing Irvine’s hand. “We had an idea that might help with that.”

Alex leaned forward. “I’m all ears.”

“My wedding business is doing so well that I don’t really want to take so much time off right now, and apart from advising Lachlan, Irvine isn’t doing much at the moment, so we’ve decided that he’s going to be a stay-at-home wolf.”

“That’s so cool!” Alex beamed.

“It is. I can work from home most of the time, so I’ll be able to be there for feedings and to watch every breath this little guy takes,” I patted my stomach. “But Irvine thought that since he was looking after one baby, he could help anyone else out if they needed it.”

“You mean, our own drop-in shifter-friendly playcentre?” Alex’s eyes gleamed. “I love it. Count me in.”

“I’ve got two more customers for you!” Belinda piped up, her hand touching her own stomach. She and Cole had just announced they were having twins, and I knew she was worried about how they were going to manage the demands of her popular bakery around the kids.

“I just hope I can cope with all the wee ones,” Irvine said, a note of worry creeping into his voice.

“I think you’ll be great,” Belinda leaned across the table and squeezed his hand. “You're so patient.”

“Feel free to come around to our place any time you want some practice,” Robbie grinned, as he and Bianca wandered over to our table. Even behind her makeup, I could see Bianca’s eyes were ringed with dark circles from lack of sleep. Robbie looked worse, but he couldn’t keep the pride out of his voice as he spoke about their daughter. “I think you might change your mind about looking after more than one of the wee terrors at once.”

“Your Silvie is a wee darling,” Irvine told him.

“She’s the devil’s child,” Robbie shot back, but his eyes were full of love. Bianca had given birth to their daughter a few months ago. From what I’d heard, she’d never once slept for more than an hour at a time, and she had a pair of lungs on her that seemed impossibly large for such a tiny girl. She was definitely Bianca’s child.

All baby talk ceased as Elinor and Eric passed by our table, and we rushed to congratulate them. “Come on you lot,” Elinor waved her arms around. “It’s time for the group photo.”

“But we just found the booze,” Caleb complained, holding up his beer.

“My feet!” Alex wailed.

“Tough. Getting drunk can wait until after you've looked pretty for us.”

“I never look pretty,” Caleb grinned, as he drowned half his pint in a single gulp.

“I’m the bride, I get some say in what happens at my own wedding. Now up, up, the lot of you!”

With Irvine’s arm for support, I lurched to my feet again, and Alex and I waddled across the lawn toward the photographer. In true Elinor and Eric fashion, the photographs were being taken in front of the crumbling stone mausoleum at the back of the garden. We arranged ourselves in a haphazard semi-circle around the bride and groom, our arms around each other.

As the photographer fiddled with his camera, I looked around at the faces that surrounded me. Elinor and Eric stood in the middle, flanked by Alex, Ryan, Kylie, Marcus, and Belinda and Cole. The taller wolves – Caleb, Luke, Robbie and Irvine, stood in the back, and Anna, Rosa, Bianca and I stood along the sides. Irvine swapped places with Robbie so he could stand behind me, and he wrapped his arms around me, pressing his warm palms against my stomach, his chin nuzzling into my neck.

It was hard to believe that less than a year ago I’d come to Crookshollow with a new name to escape my mother. I’d spend my entire life running away from werewolves, and now, thanks to the pack, I’d found everything I’d ever wanted – family, love, friendship, people who saw me for who I was, not what I looked like. My parents were back together, and they were talking about moving to Crookshollow to be closer to their grandchild. And now, a tiny cub was growing inside me. I couldn’t believe how lucky I was.

“Okay guys, you’re all in position. On the count of three, say …” the photographer squinted at the paper in his hands. “Um … dead brilliant?”

“Dead pure brilliant,” Robbie called out, and everyone laughed.

“Right, say that.” The photographer looked into his camera. “One … two … three …”

“Dead pure brilliant!” We all yelled. Elinor and Eric kissed again. Irvine touched his lips to my neck, and I grinned so hard my face hurt.

This was family. This was love. This was my life. This was Crookshollow.

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