The night air caressed my skin as I took my first step onto the petal-strewn path. My heart hammered against my ribs, a wild rhythm that matched the ancient melody flowing around us. Lyra held my arm, steadying me as we began our slow procession down the aisle.
"Breathe," she whispered. "Everyone's watching."
And they were. Hundreds of eyes tracked my movement—pack leaders, diplomats, warriors, and friends alike. Their collective gaze might have overwhelmed me once, but tonight I felt only a strange calm washing over me.
The enchanted garden was more beautiful than anything I could have imagined. Fairy lights twinkled between branches like captured stars, casting a soft glow over everything they touched. Flowers bloomed impossibly bright in the darkness, their sweet perfume hanging heavy in the air. Each step I took released the scent of crushed rose petals beneath my silver slippers.
But none of it compared to the sight waiting for me at the end of the path.
