Rain took a deep breath to calm her sprinting heart as Chase stood beside Luke near the alter. She sat in the audience, on the second row next to Bekah, with little Emma situated between them.

Chase caught her gaze and winked as he adjusted the lapels of his jacket. Though her husband looked damn fine in a suit and tie, he’d be ripping at his collar by the end of the night. She bit her bottom lip as thoughts of helping him out of the confining garments danced through her mind.

They’d been married and mated for a month, living in the apartment above the bakery for three weeks. Though Chase was second in command of the pack, since he didn’t belong to the first family, his wedding hadn’t required the pomp and circumstance of the alpha line. He and Rain had taken their mating vows beneath the last full moon, and Luke’s father officiated the marriage ceremony immediately after.

She grinned. That was the first time she’d helped Chase out of an uncomfortable suit.

With her curse broken, she’d finally reunited with her parents. Though she missed them, New Orleans was her home now, and Chase’s pack had welcomed her as if she were one of them. Like family.

The organist began the wedding march, and Rain stood, along with the other four hundred or so wedding guests, to watch Macey walk down the aisle.

Emma giggled and tugged on Rain’s hand. “She looks so pretty.”

Rain smiled and put a finger to her lips, reminding the little girl to stay quiet.

Luke held his eyes wide as Macey approached. From her view in the audience, it appeared as if he fought back tears.

Rain understood the feeling. She hadn’t been able to stop her own tears from flowing when she married Chase. She’d barely been able to keep the rain from falling from the clouds that had gathered like they tended to do when she was in a state of heightened emotion. The love of a werewolf was intense, loyal, and unwavering, and she thanked fate every day for leading her to Chase. She was the luckiest witch alive.

Rain ducked out as soon as Luke and Macey said their vows, and she headed to the ballroom for the reception. Snow was putting the finishing touches on the cake display when she arrived, and Rain stood back to admire the massive wedding cake she’d created with her sister.

Frosted in buttercream, with an intricate basket-weave design, the five-layer cake was topped with an array of yellow roses that cascaded down the sides in a waterfall pattern. She’d accented her classic vanilla-almond cake with a raspberry cream filling that Chase swore was the most decadent thing he’d ever tasted.

Snow adjusted a flower and stood next to her. “It’s our best one yet.”

“We should take some pictures for the portfolio before the guests get here.”

“Good idea.” Snow ducked behind the table and pulled her phone from her purse.

As she snapped pictures of the cake, Rain turned to survey the ballroom. Dozens of tables drenched in white linen filled the space, and a band had set up on a raised platform at the end of the room. A set of wooden steps led up to a series of French doors that opened onto a balcony overlooking the French Quarter.

As the first guests entered the ballroom, the band started in with some smooth jazz. The people mingled, mostly werewolves, but mixed with the leaders and other important people from the entire magical community.

Calista caught her gaze and gave her a warm smile as she approached. “The cake is beautiful.”

“Thank you.” Rain braced herself for the questions. With her curse lifted, and her true powers revealed, the high priestess had tried to become her best friend.

“Are you sure you won’t join the coven? We could use an elemental witch in our group.”

“I told you I haven’t made up my mind yet. Until I get settled into my new life, I’ll keep paying the fee to operate a witch business.” Her acceptance into Chase’s pack increased her number of customers ten-fold. She made more than enough money to pay the rent on the shop and her new apartment, along with the fine for not joining the coven.

Calista inclined her head. “My offer stands. A seat on the board is yours if you want it.”

“Thank you. I’ll keep that in mind.” A few months ago, she’d have jumped at the chance to be on the board. It wasn’t the national council, but it was prestigious in its own right. Now though, the position wasn’t the slightest bit appealing, especially since the person offering it had previously wanted her dead. Rain had her bakery, her husband, the support of a werewolf pack, and her sister. She didn’t need anything else.

The wedding party arrived, and she sat next to Chase at the head table. The werewolves dined on filet mignon, and Rain had a goat cheese ravioli with pesto sauce.

When they finished dinner, Rain stood next to Chase on the dance floor as Luke and Macey swayed to the music—their first dance as husband and wife.

As the song ended, Chase tugged her into his arms for their own dance. He held her close, his hard body pressed to hers, his masculine, woodsy scent filling her senses, making her head spin. Would she ever get used to the way this man affected her? She hoped not.

He took her right hand in his left and ran his thumb across the small tattoo adorning the inside of her wrist—a wolf head centered on a fleur-de-lis, like the one on Chase’s shoulder. The tattoo wasn’t a requirement of joining the pack, but getting it seemed…right.

Since she’d broken ties with the Miami coven and her powers had been unbound, her magical crest had dissolved from her skin. This tattoo was made of mundane ink and would be a part of her forever. She would be a part of this pack…be Chase’s mate…forever too.

She ran her hand over his shoulder and down his jacket lapel. “This suit looks good on you.”

He chuckled. “It’ll look even better on the floor when we get home.”

“Hmm…” She leaned back to take in his form. “I think you’re right.”

They danced to a few more songs before Luke called Chase to the stage to give a toast.

Alexis stood next to Rain and bumped her with her elbow. “That cake was amazing.”

“Thanks.” Rain glanced at Alexis, but the werewolf focused her attention on something across the dance floor. She followed her gaze to what had intrigued her friend. “Macey’s partner is cute, isn’t he?”

Alexis’s cheeks flushed pink. “Bryce?” She looked at the floor. “He’s okay. He’s human.”

“There are a lot of humans here.”

Alexis nodded. “Macey grew up in the human world.” Her gaze drifted back across the dance floor.

“Bryce seems like a nice guy.”

Alexis drew her shoulders up. “I’m leaving town tomorrow. Don’t know when I’ll be back.”

Rain smiled. She could take a hint. “Take care of yourself.”

“I’ll see you around.” The toasts ended, and Alexis strode toward her sister, pulling her into a hug.

Chase hopped off the stage and met Rain on the dance floor. Taking her by the hand, he led her up the steps and out onto the balcony, where soft moonlight painted the city in a silvery glow. She leaned on the railing and looked at him, and so much love filled her heart she couldn’t help but smile. “Luke and Macey leave for their honeymoon tomorrow. Are you ready for two weeks as pack leader?”

His hazel eyes sparkled as he returned her smile and shook his head. “Five years ago, if someone had told me I’d be married to a witch and running a pack, I’d have laughed in his face.”

“And now?”

He wrapped his arms around her waist. “I’m ready for whatever fate has planned. It hasn’t steered me wrong yet.”

“Fate does have a way of leading us to the things we need most, doesn’t it?”

“That it does.”

The balcony door opened, and Bryce shuffled through. “Sorry, guys. Didn’t mean to interrupt. I needed some fresh air.”

Chase slipped his hand into Rain’s. “No worries. You going to make it without your partner for two weeks?”

“I’ll be fine.” Bryce gazed through the window into the ballroom. “I can call you if we come across anything weird?”

“You’ve got my number.”

Rain tugged Chase toward the window and followed Bryce’s gaze. Alexis stood on the edge of the dance floor, laughing at something James said. A lopsided grin spread across Bryce’s face, and a look of longing sparkled in his eyes.

Rain nodded toward Alexis. “Macey’s sister is pretty.”

Bryce’s grin widened. “She is cute, isn’t she?”

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Then, turn the page to read the first chapter of , Bryce and Alexis’s story in the Crescent City Wolf Pack Series.