Chapter 86

Alex’s POV

Was this just another one of his manipulation tactics?

I stood up, crossing my arms. I really didn’t even know what to say. I never expected an apology from Christopher of all people, I didn’t think he was capable.

“I’m sorry I caused so many problems for you,” Christopher continued, his eyes brimming with tears.

I looked away. It was honestly uncomfortable to watch.

What had gotten into him? He had been trying to break through my clan’s defences all year, launching attacks right on my territory.

And he kidnapped Grace. And crashed her welcome party. And our wedding.

But here he was, crying his eyes out in front of me.

I narrowed my eyes at him, glancing at him out of the corner of my eye.

Was this all just an act to get me to forgive him? Or was he truly sorry, only after I tore his guts out?

I swallowed uncomfortably, finally turning to face him.

“Since you technically saved my clan from extinction, I will let you live. But once your wounds heal, you are to leave my territory and I never want to see you again. Do you understand?”

I leaned over his bed, baring my teeth at him. Christopher nodded frantically, squinting as if he was prepared I would bite.

Good. He should be scared.

I had no interest in killing him anymore, but sometimes a show of force had to be done to someone who refused to learn.

Maybe he had finally learned.

I stood back up again and crossed the room, my hand on the door handle.

“Thank you,” I said, without turning around.

Christopher was quiet, but I could feel his eyes on me.

“For helping Grace. And me. You didn’t have to be such an ass about it, though.”

And I shut the door behind me.

I took a deep breath. Good god, I never wanted to deal with him again. Every time I saw him I swear he made my blood pressure rise.

Now, I could finally get to that meeting. The Elder Lycan must be punished for his sickening crimes.

Grace’s POV

Time for round two. Or round three, I guess.

I stood in front of the mirror, back in my wedding dress. It was a brand new wedding dress of the same style, as the last one was lost and dirty from my run through the forest.

I strongly objected to buying a whole new dress, but Alex wouldn’t hear it. He insisted on making everything perfect.

If I didn’t know any better, it seemed like he was trying to make up for last time. Was he nervous? I couldn’t tell.

But he was being extra strict on the workers, triple checking the setup, the food, the schedule, and making checklists of everything he wanted to be there.

He was meticulous last time, but nothing like this.

Alex was making Enzo work just as hard as him, and I couldn’t help but stifle a laugh as I watched him rush past my door, his face red and sweaty, his arms full of bundles of flowers up to his head.

I looked back at myself. I looked… different somehow. Maybe not in the way that I looked really, but the way I held myself.

I looked… stronger. More confident.

My eyes had a brightness to them I didn’t recognize. Maybe being trapped under Liam’s critical glare for years brought me down further than I realized.

I stood up straight.

Everything finally seemed to be going my way. For the first time, I felt… at peace with myself.

I wasn’t worried about the wedding, even with how things went last time. I knew Alex, and if someone came out to tell me what crazy things he’s been hiding from me, I would still stick by his side.

I trusted Alex as a ruler and a partner. Even if he’d done some unsavory things in his past, he was never a bad man. And he’s changed for the better, now.

I trusted that he would always be a good man, and I would be a good partner to him.

A knock on my door pulled me out of my thoughts. It was time.

It was a cool, overcast day. I recognized most of the people here, it seemed to be most of the same people that came last time.

Liam and his mother were in the audience as well. They smiled at me, as I walked by, and I smiled back.

Every Lycan bowed their head to me as I moved past them; a sign of respect I did not expect to be shown.

It… was humbling. I bit the inside of my lip, holding back tears.

I could still see their pale, sweaty bodies lying on the floor of the main hall. Their lifeless faces. The blue under their fingernails.

I shivered. It felt like looking at people who had risen from the dead.

And I had saved them.

I could understand how they felt, as more heads bowed as I passed. I, with the help of Christopher, had saved their lives, and now I would rule over them alongside Alex.

It had been a heavy blow–the Elder Lycan’s betrayal. But his removal could only improve the Black Lycan clan.

He had been stripped of all honor and exiled from any territory under the council’s rule. It wasn’t death, but it was the strictest punishment the council could have given him, and I was satisfied with that.

His presence in the Black Lycan clan had been like a leech, draining the life and happiness out of the entire clan. It was difficult for them to “restore” the clan to its former glory when he was the one constantly bringing them down in the first place.

Now that he was gone… It felt like a new page had turned. This was a new chapter for the clan. For the werewolf world.

With the truth out that the werewolf betrayal of the Lycans had all been made up, the stigma of me marrying Alex had mostly disappeared.

I stood before Alex, a smile on my face. He smiled, too.

I met his eyes, and we knew this was it. This is where we were meant to be.

The officiant finished the ceremony, and Alex dipped me over his knee, pressing his lips gently against mine, as not to ruin my lipstick.

I couldn’t help but laugh, and I threw my arms around his neck.

I felt light as air, and my head swam with thoughts of our future together.

Alex pulled away, holding me up. He looked at me with such a fond expression, I felt tears well up in my eyes as emotions welled up in my chest.

This is the man I wanted to marry.

“Now to get rid of that mark,” Alex whispered, so only I could hear, and my eyes widened for a moment. I knew this was coming, but it still made me nervous.

No one else knew about the mark Christopher gave me, and they would never find out after Alex marked me.

Alex moved his head forward, and I felt his hot breath against my neck.

This was it, this would seal us together, finalizing our connection to each other.

I closed my eyes. I was ready.