Epilogue

I wipe my palms on the skirt of my dress and take a deep breath, grateful my sweat won't stain the deep amethyst fabric. Lifting a hand to my hair, I tuck a strand of it behind my ear, then untuck it and sigh. I gaze out the window onto the back yard below. White chairs are neatly arranged in tight rows, an aisle running down the middle. The spring grass is a bright green, and wildflowers of various colors dot the expanse of it, creating a beautiful sea of lavender, white, periwinkle blue, and green.

Resting my forehead against the cool glass, I spot the arch, crafted from obsidian mountains in Gideon's wolf's world and decorated with narcissus flowers. The wedding is beautiful, and it hasn't even begun.

"There you are," Wren says from behind me, crossing into Gideon and Adara's bedroom where I've been hiding now that everyone is outside. A smile lights her face, her black hair cut to her chin and framing her face. She wears an identical gown to my own—amethyst in color, floor length, and a strapless top with a crossover design. Coming up to me, she rests her head against my shoulder, wrapping her arms around my waist. "It's beautiful already down there."

"Yeah, it is," I say, another sigh escaping me.

Wren laughs, the sound tinkling and light like birdsong. "You know it isn't your wedding, right?" she teases. "You don't have to be so nervous."

I throw my head back, my wavy blonde hair tickling my bare back. "What if I trip walking down the aisle? What if I start laughing out of nowhere and ruin the ceremony? You know I laugh when I get nervous. What—"

She lifts her head and pulls me around to face her. "It's going to be perfect, and you're going to do everything just right." Touching her forehead to mine, she grabs both of my hands and holds them between us. "Just breathe, Julesy. Today is about celebrating and having fun."

Closing my eyes, I draw in a deep breath. "You're sure about this? Tomorrow?"

"Yeah, I'm sure." She squeezes my hands. "I want to know where I come from, who I am. My mom never really talks much about my dad or his family. Honestly, I don't even know anyone from her family. It's always been just me and her and the coven."

"Okay, then tomorrow we start searching for answers—real answers."

We tried asking her mom first, soon after Eri told us the truth about her sparrow shifter ancestry, but every small question set her mom off until she became so angry she kicked us out. Now, with us taking a year off from the academy, we're staying in Mila and Frank's spare bedroom while we figure out where to look next, Frank's house no longer empty now that Eri's moved in and officially joined the pack.

"Come on, you two," Mila says from the doorway, making me jump. Her hair is twisted up into an elegant bun, and deep sapphire gown makes the blue of her eyes pop. She smiles apologetically. "I didn't mean to startle you, but the ceremony is starting soon, and Addy is looking for you."

Wren takes my hand, pulling me to the doorway and into the hall. I stop at the top of the stairs and glance back toward Mila, adjusting her bun in the hall mirror. "I'll be right there," I tell Wren, who kisses my hand before going downstairs. "Mila?"

She looks at me as I walk toward her. "Is everything okay, Jules?" she asks, her brows furrowed. She stiffens when I wrap her in a hug, my cheek resting against her shoulder, and her arms slowly come up to hug me back.

It's been five months since everything happened, and although it's been awkward to navigate at times—not quite feeling like mother and daughter, but knowing we're more family than friends—Mila and I have become really close. "I just wanted you to know you look beautiful."

She laughs softly, brushing a hand over my hair. "So do you, love."

I pull back with a nod. "Okay, let's get my sister married."

Downstairs, Addy paces in the living room, avoiding the backdoors and the view into the back yard. Coming off the last step of the stairs, I bring my hands up to my mouth.

"Oh my gods, you're so beautiful," I say.

Her long black hair is piled atop her head, curled and pinned with perfection. A few strands are pulled free to give it a relaxed look and frame her face. Her off-white gown scoops down, offering a generous amount of cleavage, and hugs each curve as it wraps around her body. Tiny narcissus flowers are dotted over the soft lace and peppered throughout the train as it trails behind her. A black obsidian wolf—a mating ceremony gift from Gideon three months ago—rests in the dip of her collarbone below her neck.

I move toward her, gripping her hands in my own and fighting back tears.

Addy laughs, shaking her head. "You're acting like this isn't the third time Gideon and I are getting married."

I huff, throwing my hands up. "This is your first wedding. The first one was a mating ceremony, and only the pack could hear you talking because you had to be in wolf form. Then, the witch's ceremony is a private one with only the high priestesses allowed to witness it." I cross my arms over my chest. "I'm still mad about that one. The first ceremony like that in centuries for any of the covens, and I couldn't even watch a video of it? With my own sister as the bride!"

"Well, you can watch this one," Addy says, brushing hair from her cheek with shaking fingers.

"It's going to be perfect," I say gently, giving her a hug.

"Yeah, it is!" Jaz says, bouncing into the living room from the kitchen. "I can't wait for the reception. Dancing and barbeque and cake!" She spins, the knee length lavender dress fanning out around her.

Addy shakes her head, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Of course you're excited for the cake."

Jaz shrugs. "I helped pick the flavor, and it's the best one. Chocolate cherry cheesecake."

"Cheesecake for your wedding cake?" Mila asks, trying to hide her giggle.

"It really was the best cake they had," Addy says, her own giggle escaping.

The backdoor opens, and Frank pokes his head in. "Ceremony's starting!"

"You got it, Mr. Head Councilman," Mila says, winking at him.

He rolls his eyes, shutting the door behind him but I catch the smile breaking across his face.

"Alright," Mila says, ushering everyone toward the door, "Jaz, you first, then Wren and Jules. Addy, you'll wait to go last, of course."

Jaz steps to the door, then spins around, fidgeting with the ends of her braids. "W-wait," she says, looking down at her feet.

"Jazelle?" Addy asks, stepping forward to crouch before the small girl. "Is everything alright?"

Jaz nods quickly, her teary gaze finally landing on Addy. "I just wanted to ask if I… I mean, I'm just really grateful that you and Gideon brought me here and…"

"We adopted you because we love you, Jazelle," Addy says, tucking a piece of hair behind Jaz's ear.

Jaz swallows hard and bites her lower lip. "I just really want to call you my mom," she whispers.

"Oh, little star." Pulling her in tight, Addy wraps her in a tight hug, kissing the top of her hair. "You can call me whatever you want to—Addy, Adara… Mom. Anything that feels right for you is okay with me."

Swiping at my own tears, I take a shaky breath and use my hands to fan my face, hoping I haven't wiped all the makeup from my face.

After Jaz walks through the door, spreading flower petals in a trail to the altar, Wren threads her arm through mine. We follow Jaz's path between the rows of chairs, people are seated all around us, spilling onto the grass beyond and even into the forest. The pack has grown exponentially, first with taking over the Bloodwind Pack after Moren's death, but then when they adopted the feral lands. We were all grateful that the feral wolves joined the pack without a fight—wanting to belong to a pack again more than they wanted to be wandering free. You could see the relief wash over them when they accepted Gideon as their alpha, the pain of being lost and packless sated.

Gideon watches as I walk with Wren toward him. He tugs at the black tie of his obsidian black tux, and I catch his eye, smiling. He's just as nervous as Addy, despite this being the third ceremony tying them together, like she said just minutes ago.

A hush falls over the crowd, and everyone stands, turning toward the backdoors as Addy steps outside, Kaylus perched on her shoulder to walk her down the aisle. The sun beams down on her as she makes her way down the aisle, and I grab Wren's hand, crushing her fingers in mine. Gods, my sister looks radiant and so happy—everything she deserves to be.

Madrona stands at the altar with Gideon, having become a licensed officiant in the last few weeks. She smiles at the couple as they stand facing each other, then projects her voice to the crowd. "We're gathered here today to watch Adara and Gideon join each other in matrimony—the human kind. I daresay they might have saved the best for last in this case." She glances between them as the crowd laughs. "Gideon, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, to honor and cherish, to trust and love, for the rest of your lives, no matter what life may throw at you?"

"I do," Gideon says, reaching to swipe a thumb over Addy's cheek.

"Adara, do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to honor and cherish, to trust and love, for the rest of your lives, no matter what life may throw at you?"

"I do," she says, her voice shaking.

"You may read your vows," Madrona says, bowing her head.

"Adara," Gideon says, his voice husky, "you are the lighthouse of my life that I have spent eternity searching for. The one who guides me home in the darkest of nights. I will chase your light for the rest of my life, knowing that the fates have blessed me with the most beautiful soul to stand beside."

"Gideon, I burn for you, like a thousand suns live in my veins. Like a wildfire in the desert when there's been no rain." She stops, sniffling and wiping a tear from her cheek. "I burn for you. For you, and only you, for the rest of my immortal life."

Maddie clasps her hands and holds them to her chest. "I pronounce you husband and wife. Gideon, you can kiss your bride."

Kaylus caws and takes off, swirling in the air above them.

Wrapping one arm around her shoulders and the other around her waist, Gideon dips Addy low as he crushes his mouth to hers, and the crowd's cheers and yips of joy are deafening.