Logan Chapter 88

-Logan-

Emory emerges from her “getting ready” room, and I’m waiting for her in the hallway. I think I was supposed to wait for her in the dining room with her family and the Triple Threat of elders, but I just had to be the first to see her. Terri discreetly sneaks around the two of us while I stand rooted to the floor.

Her smile is a little more subdued than I thought it would be- I recommended Hazel and Liza to help her get ready because they’re already friends and have a tendency to bring a party to whoever they’re around at the time- but she is an absolute vision. Her hair is bunched up and curled at the crown of her head, with a braid wrapping around like a natural tiara, and the dress looks like something a tree spirit would have worn to her wedding. There are all kinds of leaves and flowers in the lace that makes it look like the dress grew on her instead of her stepping into it. Her heels are as tall as ever, but they’re in a nude color instead of the white I expected, and her jewelry is made up mostly of sapphires. It looks like she’s dripping water from her ears and throat, and I immediately picture her as a nymph, frolicking through the forest, playing with the other naiads and dryads.

“Little rose, I might be the wolf shifter, but you look like the mythical creature tonight.” I smooth the front of my button down. Usually I’m in a full suit or gym shorts, so this line between- with formal gray pants, dress shoes, and an ivory shirt- feels a little strange. I’ve felt both under and over dressed since I got ready this morning. Now that I’m next to Emory, though, we match perfectly.

I finally get the full smile I was waiting for, and it makes her shine so that she almost hurts my eyes. “Well, thank you. We all already knew how well you clean up, so I had to bring my A game.” She chuckles at her self-deprecating joke, but I can’t let it go.

“No, I mean it. You look absolutely ethereal. You’re going to make mating ceremonies formal affairs from here on out. All of the men are going to want you, and they’ll have to deal with the fact that you’re all mine.” I place kisses down her neck and nip at my mating mark on her shoulder. The closer we get to the ceremony, the more possessive my wolf becomes. I’m not sure how I’m going to share her company for this luncheon.

“Logan!” She scolds me as I start to smell her arousal, “we’re about to go in there and those little ol’ ladies are gonna know exactly what we were doin’ out here!” I love when her accent comes out, but I must acknowledge the point.

“Fine, fine. The blush adds the perfect touch to your makeup, little rose, but you win this round. Take some deep breaths and get ready to tell your brothers to shut up a million times.” That dials back her embarrassment with a rueful laugh.

“I’ve been training for this my whole life, then!” She replies with a grin.

We’re both still laughing when we walk into the formal dining room. All of Emory’s male relatives stand as they see her for the first time all dolled up. Bill gets misty eyed before he clears his throat. Bryan and Hunter both look almost insultingly surprised, and Elliana claps her hands while bouncing on her heels.

“Oh sis you look amaaaaazing! You’re like a fairy princess! Oh my God, are you going to glow or do something magical? I can’t wait! I bet werewolf weddings are soooo cool!” Elliana practically squeals, and every shifter in the room flinches at the pitch and decibel level.

Terri makes it around to her youngest and rubs her back, half in affection and half to get her to simmer down. “They prefer to be called wolf shifters, honey. Mind your mouth.” Elliana shoots me an apologetic glance before she forgets about me again in her ardent perusal of Emory’s look.

“Look at you, my little girl. I remember you the day you were born, with your hair like a little campfire on top of your head. I never thought I’d see you…” Bill manfully clears his throat again and lets it drop. I catch myself getting a little choked up.

Nanette, not one to be forgotten, pipes in as well. “Absolutely perfect, Emory dear. You look just as beautiful as any Luna could.”

Emory blushes at all the attention while she tries to thank everyone individually. I lead her around the table to the right hand of my seat at the end and hold her chair out for her. Once I get her situated, I stand in front of my chair and look around at our families. Emory’s family sits, not quite comfortable yet but accepting me and the pack with open arms. Landon smiles up at me, the only blood family I have left. The Triple Threat, all respected ladies in our pack not only because of their wisdom, but because they helped raise most of the adult wolves today. We’re maybe not the most likely of families, but we’re a good one. We will be, anyway, from tonight onward.

“I’d like to thank all of you for coming to celebrate my mate and I. The full moon ceremony will bind us for the rest of our lives tonight, but there’s no reason to make that our only celebration. It’s a momentous occasion, and I think that deserves some excellent food. Ladies?” I raise my voice just slightly at the end, and the apprentice chefs walk out with carts that have all of our plates on them. The blonde speaks while the brunette disperses servings.

“We’d like to present you with some of the classics tonight. We decided on a good roast beef over a bed of mashed potatoes and a vegetable medley in au jus on the side. We’ve also included side salads, but don’t fill up because we made dessert, too.” She ends the last with a small smile and the traditional bow to me. The brunette finishes handing out food and bows as well before they both push their carts back toward the door. “Just let us know when you’re ready for dessert and we’ll bring it right out!”

We all look at each other for a minute before Landon, Bryan, and Hunter attack their food like it’s going to run away. I only refrain from doing the same by making sure everyone else is settled in and playing nicely. I turn to see Emory is already starting on her mashed potatoes, sure to skip the vegetables and salad entirely.

“You know, Emory, just because it’s green doesn’t mean the salad is poisonous. Plus, I think there are some good vitamins in those carrots. You’ve got to keep in top shape to keep up with us wolves, baby.” I tease, and Emory rolls her eyes at me before she replies.

“I have limited space in my stomach if I want this dress to look right, and I’m not wasting one inch of that space on vegetables. I seem to keep up with you just fine.” Nanette and Blanche laugh uproariously at that, and I just shake my head as I laugh too.

It’s not the formal affair that Terri was probably picturing for her baby, but the luncheon passes surprisingly smoothly. I shouldn’t be surprised that everyone behaved, because Terri would’ve cheerfully eviscerated anyone who ruined her little girl’s big day, but it’s an early evening full of laughter and tightening bonds. All too soon, sunset passes us by and it’s time to head out for the ceremony. I can feel the tug of the full moon under my skin, my wolf practically pacing inside of me. Finally, it’s time to claim my mate.