When I was young…just an unforgotten maid washing dishes and mopping up the floors of the old Caedmon mansion, people used to ask me if I would ever get married. I’d tell them, ‘No, never. Boys have germs. They’re rude with no manners, and some of them even pick their nose.’

I could remember as far back as eight when the other maids in the house told me that I’d escape the Caedmon life and marry a handsome King. They were partly right. I married an Alpha and a King.

There had to have been hundreds of people here. I had no idea where they all came from. Caedmon-kind. Arnou-kind. Human-kind. Witch-kind. Members of COBRA. Anyone Tristan had ever dealt with or made friends with in the past. I had like twenty close friends, maybe less. And I could only hope they were here too. Everyone was anxious to witness the union of Tristan Vasilije Arnou and Elisa Caedmon.

I was nervous as hell, as evidenced by the way my heels shook as I walked across the white-blanketed aisle to my future husband. Taking a deep breath, I silently prayed to the gods to give me the strength to walk the distance without tripping over my own two feet.

One of the gods had definitely answered my prayers because when I looked up again, I saw the spirit of Roman Caedmon standing right next to the officiant. My heart slammed in my chest and I swallowed. The apparition of my great-uncle stood there, grinning proudly, reminding me that I, too, was supposed to be smiling. While carrying the secret of Roman's spirit with me, I felt the corners of my mouth lifting upward.

---

“One day you will guard this pack.” Roman DeSantos pushed a small journal in my hand.

“I can’t fight. I’m too young,” a ten-year-old Elisa said, shaking her head and refusing the journal.

“Oh, but you will grow old.” Roman took her hands and dropped the journal down in it.

“I don’t want to grow old!”

Roman laughed, a joyful noise that lit up the room. “We all grow old, Elisa. You will grow wiser.”

“Who told you that I'd be a Seer, like you?”

“No one has to tell me anything.” Roman tapped his temple. “This is what I know. You’ll be more than a Seer, Elisa. You’re special. You’ll be a Guardian.”

“I don’t know if I can do it. Will you be there to help me?”

“Oh, yes, I will. I’ll be there every step of the way.”

---

When I looked up again to the right of the podium, Roman’s spirit was gone.

I looked at my mate, Tristan. He was all I had left in this world who understood me. He held my hands and talked me through whatever Caedmon puzzle I was trying to solve. He calmed my nerves whenever something was troubling me. And despite the extent of my gifts, he never pushed me to use them for anyone's gain. Not even his own.

Tristan Arnou was still the most misunderstood wolf in the history the Caedmon. But that didn’t matter. I understood him just fine.

We shared a brief glance just before I came to a stop in front of the officiant. I blushed when his eyes danced up and down the length of my dress. I’d had it custom-made. An impeccable, white shoulder-baring crystallized mermaid gown with a face-bottomed veil and princess tiara. By the looks of it, he loved the dress. As always, Tristan was handsomely dressed for the occasion.

“Who gives this woman?” The officiant spoke up, bringing me back to reality.

Devin gave my arm a reassuring squeeze before stating, “Devin Tomas Caedmon.”

The wedding ceremony went by in a breeze and before I knew it, I had a big rock on my ring finger and a loving mate and husband at my side.

Mate and Kingdom indeed. But I was going to honor Tristan with more than that. I was going to give him the world.