Chapter 21: Petals & Promises

They spoke their vows. The roses bloomed. The pack rejoiced. The legacy danced. And beneath the stars, the Luna stepped into forever with petals at her feet and promise in her heart.

Two weeks later, Luca and Rosa headed towards the dining room for breakfast. The last two weeks have been hectic for everyone. Today was no exception, with everyone bustling around and trying to finish getting everything ready. The day everyone had been waiting for had finally arrived. It was the Alpha and Luna’s wedding ceremony. The ceremony is to take place in the backyard. Elder Gabriel would officiate the tradition that started at five-thirty in the evening.

As everyone continued their day, Rosa was the most nervous, contemplating the event scheduled for later that evening. Luckily, the weather was warmer but was cooling down for tonight’s celebrations.

Luckily for Rosa and Arianna, Gianna, who had agreed to stand up with the other women when she returned to the pack and became the Beta female, had found their outfits when Emma had taken them all shopping three days beforehand. They all had entered the specialty wedding boutique store next door, where they had previously bought dresses for the Luna ceremony. They looked around at the dresses. None appealed to either of them.

Rosa saw herself in a mirror behind her. She gasped at the dress and said to Emma, Gianna, and Arianna, “This is the one.”

Emma and the others looked where she was pointing and saw the dress. Then, nodding in agreement, they replied, “Definitely, it is gorgeous and breathtaking. Try it on,” they said to her.

Rosa heads towards the changing rooms, with Emma and the others following her. Rosa arrived at the large fitting room. She tried on the dress after going as Emma, and the girls stayed outside, waiting for her to come out. A few minutes later, she came out and put the dress on to show Emma and the other girls, whose eyes widened when they saw Rosa in it.

Emma then said to her, “Yes, that’s the one. The Alpha won’t know what hit him when he sees you in that dress!” she exclaimed.

Rosa looked into the mirror and loved the long, elegant, soft, off-the-shoulder dress in ivory, nude, and blush, embellished with delicate beaded appliques and a sheer neckline. It was perfect, and it even came with a matching veil.

Rosa nodded her head in agreement with her friends. Then she returned to the changing room to take off the dress and put on her regular clothes. Rosa and the girls then went to find their dresses.

They finally found dresses with a beautiful lace bodice and embroidered lace applique over a sheer mesh, forming the off-the-shoulder bodice that flows over the waist and hips—a sweetheart scalloped lace neckline, made from jersey fabric and featuring a long skirt that flares into a classic floor-length mermaid silhouette, ending with an elegant train. After the girls had tried on their dresses, they all went to the cashier to pay for them.

They all spent the rest of the day searching for Rosa’s shoes and other personal items, getting lunch, and then heading home. Rosa was exhausted when they returned from their three-hour shopping trip, and with Emma’s help, they put everything away in Rosa and Luca’s room.

She said, “Thank you” to Emma and the girls for their support today, and said she would lie down and rest for a few hours before dinner.

The girls replied, “No worries, and you’re welcome.” They left her to relax until dinner was ready.

Everyone did their regular duties three days later, except for Rosa, who helped finish any last-minute details for the upcoming ceremony. There were no training sessions that day, so all ceremony attendees had sufficient time to attend to their morning duties and were ready for the ceremony.

The florist had delivered the flowers earlier in the morning and kept them in the refrigerator until needed, which would be in a few hours.

The kitchen staff were equally busy, if not more so, preparing the food for the big feast that would follow the ceremony celebrating the newlyweds. The kitchen team could get everything ready by five in the late afternoon.

Someone carefully cooked and sliced roast lamb and pork, keeping them warm until the photographers had finished the ceremony and taken the photos. The roast vegetables stayed warm in the oven, the beans were waiting to be blanched, and someone would make the gravy before serving.

The cake makers then took the wedding cake into the hall before the reception. The cake itself was round, with four tiers covered in ivory icing. Pink roses surrounded each level. The sides of the cakes had unique patterns.

Someone had put the multiple bottles of pink champagne on ice to chill, and the bottles of ice-cold water in the refrigerator.

Everyone helped with the decorations that someone had done earlier in the day. It looked spectacular with everyone helping. After helping the others with any last-minute details, Rosa was in awe of what they had achieved in organising the wedding.

Someone had organised three separate areas for the wedding and the reception. In the first sectioned-off area, someone had decorated gold chairs with pink chiffon for the ceremony.

Someone else had scattered pink and gold-coloured rose petals along the aisle, starting at the chairs and heading towards the pink-draped, rose-covered pergola.

Someone had transformed the second area from a bare backyard into a beautiful, remarkable sight.

Someone decorated the tables with pink tablecloths, napkins, and gold place mats. Tall, pink-coloured pillar candles in gold candelabras adorned each table. Someone had placed small, clear vases on the tables filled with pink roses, while another had set the tables with gold cutlery and pink, gold-rimmed bread-and-butter plates, along with teacups and saucers. There were also pink-and-gold-rimmed salt-and-pepper shakers and a matching sugar bowl. The glassware was pink and had a gold rim.

Someone would light all the candles before the wedding ceremony and before everyone arrived for the reception.

Guests would receive personalised pink, gold-rimmed champagne flutes and miniature bottles of pink champagne, each engraved with the wedding couple’s names and wedding date.

Rosa then noticed the time before rushing off. It was time to get ready. She rushed to the guest bedroom and found Emma and the others waiting inside. Rosa had locked away their dresses and belongings to keep them from prying eyes. She quickly entered the shower, washed herself, then stepped out, dried, and moisturised her body with rose-scented body lotion. Rosa promptly put on her wedding undergarments, then the bride’s robe, so she could have her makeup and hair done.

There was a knock on the door, and Emma and the others entered the room. The girls saw that Rosa was ready and waiting for them to dress. Each girl rushed into the bathroom, put on the bridesmaids’ robes left behind the door, and had their makeup and hair styled.

Rosa thought about Luca and his groomsmen as they were finishing getting ready. They were getting ready in their room with Gabriel. Giovanni would come soon to escort her down the aisle.

The girls then toasted Rosa with non-alcoholic champagne before putting on their dresses and placing miniature pink roses with a touch of gypsophila in their flower crowns. They picked up their pink and ivory rose bouquets.

Rosa put on her rose-gold tiara with pink crystals before her veil, after Emma had curled and pinned up some of her lengthy hair, leaving the rest down. Emma had done the other girl’s hair, as well as her own.

Rosa looked at them in admiration; she had to get dressed quickly. She went to put on her dress and came back out for help with the back zipper. After putting on the veil, she picked up her matching bouquet.

When the girls saw her in her entire wedding ensemble, they told her she was the most beautiful bride, and they could not wait to see the look in their Alphas’ eyes when he saw his bride.

The videographers and photographers they had hired, who belonged to the pack, were busy taking photos and recording them from the moment they were ready to go, before Giovanni escorted them down.

Thirty minutes later, there was a knock at the door, and Rosa said they could enter. It was Giovanni. He escorted her to Luca, who was waiting for her to arrive at the altar. When he saw her, his eyes widened at how beautiful she was, and he told her so.

Rosa blushed at the compliment before taking his left arm with the three girls trailing behind them.

As they got to the French doors near the back door, the three girls went first, and in order, it was Rosa’s turn before long. With Giovanni’s support, she could walk toward her future husband and their future together.

The videographers and photographers captured photos and footage from the moment they left the bedroom, as they slowly and carefully made their way to the ceremony.

Before she walked down the aisle and everyone stood up, Rosa looked towards the altar and saw Luca and the other men grinning next to him. The look on their faces said it all, especially on Luca’s. It was priceless. Someone had also included Elder Gabriel. He was like a second father to Rosa and part of her family.

Rosa was so happy that he agreed to officiate their ceremony. They reached the end and placed mats from her hand into his Alpha’s after kissing her cheek and then stood behind them, waiting for Gabriel to start the ceremony.

He came forward and waved his hands. The congregation then returned to their seats. Elder Gabriel then talked about the couple and how far they have come. He was proud of how they managed the situation and emerged victorious. The Elder then started saying the vows to them both, “Do you, Luca and Rosa, take each other as husband and wife, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, in trust, faithfulness and with honour until the Moon Goddess calls you home?” he asked them both.

Luca and Rosa looked at each other before turning back to the Elder and declaring in unison, “We do,” thundering so the pack could hear them.

The Elder said, “I declare by the Moon Goddess, I now pronounce you as husband and wife. Alpha, you may now kiss your beautiful bride,” he said.

Luca did just that with enthusiasm, grinning, making Rosa laugh at his antics. They then walked back down the aisle as the congregation stood and cheered and clapped for the newlyweds. They walked down the aisle and headed towards the photographer, who waited patiently for them while everyone else headed towards the meeting hall.

An hour later, the photographer and videographers finished taking their wedding photos and videos and left for the reception in the meeting hall. Luca and his wife, Rosa, spent quality time together before heading there themselves. They arrived at the reception fifteen minutes later, after Rosa had removed her veil, leaving the tiara in her hair.

Before they even entered, the Elder stood up and picked up his glass of pink non-alcoholic champagne that someone had placed around the tables, along with cold iced water in other glasses sitting on the different tables and said to them all, “Please welcome Mr and Mrs Ferrera,” as he gently tapped the side of the glass.

The congregation joined in, offering congratulations to the couple. Luca and Rosa thanked him and the others for their warm welcome, congratulating and thanking everyone who had helped make this day possible.

Luca also thanked his groomsmen for standing by his side and for their support. He then turned his head towards the girls and thanked them for standing with his wife on their special day and showing their support.

The girls smiled at the Alpha’s acknowledgment. Luca finished his speech by thanking everyone who came and then announced that dinner was ready. As soon as he sat back down, they served the food immediately, so it was still warm and not too hot to eat, unlike when someone else had done so. As dinner continued, members approached and congratulated them, including her old boss, Gianna Gallo. They both thanked them for their kind wishes and words.

Before long, it was time for their first dance as husband and wife. Luca helped Rosa out of her chair and led her towards the dance floor, where they danced to Glenn Miller and His Orchestra’s ‘At Last’ song. They drifted on the dance floor, kissing as the wolf-whistling came from all the male wolves. Rosa blushed at the attention while grinning, thinking the same thing. They sat back down when the song ended.

More members came forward and congratulated the pair as they returned to their seats. They both acknowledged the members who wished them well. Rosa was careful while eating since she had been eating for two hours. She was still nauseous with certain foods, but Rosa was eating well. Drinking ginger tea and nibbling on crackers kept the morning sickness at bay.

Rosa felt a tap on her shoulder. She saw Elder Gabriel had his hand out towards her; it was time for the bride’s father to dance, and Gabriel had offered to dance with her since her father was no longer there. Rosa took his hand as he helped her up and out of her seat and then led her back to the dance floor before dancing to Nat King Cole’s ‘Unforgettable’ song. Rosa thanked him for the dance because they had dedicated it to her parents. Gabriel then returned her to her seat, and her husband thanked her for the dance. Rosa returned the Elder’s thanks and her appreciation as he returned to his chair. As the night progressed and we took turns with Giovanni and Stefano, it was time to cut the cake.

They both headed over to the table that held the beautiful cake. They then took the knife, with ribbons tied around the handle, and cut slices before taking one and feeding it to each other. Luca kissed Rosa again. The wolf-whistling started up, also embarrassing her all over again. Luca was grinning, but he was also concerned for his mate. They then sat back down, and the festivities continued throughout the night.

Two hours later, Rosa was trying not to yawn. When Luca agreed, it was time for them to retire for the night. Luca told everyone that they could stay and celebrate. But before they left, they did the garter toss. Rosa threw her bouquet to the single pack members, while the videographers and photographers continued to record and take photos after they left.

Luca then takes her hand, leads her out of the reception, picks her up in her attire, and places her in an SUV. Their bags are in the back of the car, and Luca heads toward the new home they inherited from Rosa’s father when they mated. After a thirty-minute drive, they arrived at the house. Luca exited the car, circled to her side, and helped her. He picked her up in a marital style. Rosa hung on his shoulders as Luca walked up the footpath to the front door. They then stepped over the threshold and entered the living room, where he put her down, returned to the car, and retrieved their bags.

Rosa went to the bedroom and lit candles, remembering their last time there.

After retrieving their luggage from the vehicle, Luca entered the room and placed it on the daybed under the window Luca then heads towards her and puts his arms around her before kissing her thoroughly and taking off her dress Before long, it was in a heap on the floor, leaving Rosa in the undergarments she had bought for this special occasion Luca’s eyes widened when he saw her and what she was or was not wearing He licked his lips in anticipation as he stripped out of his clothes before picking her up and placing her gently on the bed They did not stop making love until the early hours of the morning.