Page 66 of Unforgivable Fate
All of her sisters stared at her as she laughed and tried desperately to hold her fingers under her eyes to catch the tears that slipped free before they destroyed the makeup they’d all painstakingly helped her apply. She saw them exchange looks that clearly questioned if she was okay and she only laughed harder. It took her a moment to get herself under control and when she did she shook her head.
“They’re not sad tears. I promise.” She unceremoniously wiped her damp fingers on the bouquet of flowers and ignored the way Luna’s lips pursed. “I’m just happy. I’m really happy.”
“So you don’t need a getaway car?” Maya smirked, moving quickly to avoid another smack from Zoey.
“No. I do not need a getaway car.” Nova laughed. “But I do appreciate that you’re always prepared for the worst.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Luna studied her face.
“I’m sure. I was just thinking about Mom, and about how, when she was killed, I thought I’d lost her for good but… I realize now that I haven’t. She’s here with me, with all of us. Not just because I get to wear her dress and have her be a part of my wedding ceremony either. She lives on in you, Luna, in the way you lead your pack with love and generosity, just like she did. She’s in you, Maya, in the way you question everything and would fight for everyone you love without us even needing to ask. She’s in Leo when he puts the pack ahead of his own needs and how he can be strong for them but soft with the people he loves. She’s within all of us and I think I only just realized that means she’s within me too.”
“Oh, sweetheart.” Luna looked like she was on the verge of tears herself by the time Nova finished speaking, “Of course she is.”
“You look the most like her.” Maya offered a watery smile of her own.
“And you’re just as stubborn as she was.” Luna sniffed. “You’re so much like her that sometimes I forget you had less time with her than any of us instead of more. You’re the best of her, Nova. The best of all the DeLuca’s really.”
“Thanks, sis.” Nova blinked back more tears and hugged her oldest sister.
Another set of arms wrapped around her and Maya harrumphed, “I’m not getting left out of this.”
Nova smiled and then laughed as another set of arms wound around them and when she glanced around she saw Zoey had been crying too, “I love you guys.”
“We love you too.” Nova managed to grip Zoey’s hand and squeeze as they all hugged for a moment longer.
“Okay. Okay. That’s enough.” It was Maya of course who pulled back first, breaking the circle. “We’re all going to ruin our makeup if we keep this up.”
Zoey dabbed at her eyes with a tissue, “Speak for yourself, mine is already smeared.”
“Oh come here.” Luna sighed, pulling her sister-in-law to the side and helping her to fix her smeared mascara. “There. Now it just looks like a smoky eye.”
“Perfect.” Zoey smiled. “Thanks sis.”
“Don’t mention it.” Luna blew her an air kiss and then turned back to them, shoulders straight and chin up, going back into Alpha mode. “Now, we better get out there before they really do start to wonder if we made a getaway out the back.”
Zoey chuckled, “I think I’m first.”
“Yes. You and then Maya and then me and then Nova.” She turned to her youngest sister, “If you’re ready…”
“I am.” Nova confirmed with a deep breath. “I’m ready to marry the man I love and I’m so thankful I get to do that surrounded by my family.”
“You got this girl.” Zoey winked before stepping out of the house.
With the door open, the music was louder. It also helped that all of the dozens and dozens of voices that had been creating a steady buzz went quiet at the sight of the first bridesmaid. It wasn’t the usual way for a pack ceremony but this was how Nova had wanted it. She hadn’t wanted to be left alone in the house so instead of having her whole family and the pack waiting for her outside she’d decided to take from popular culture and have her sisters walk ahead of her like bridesmaids. This way they could stay with her until the last possible second and maybe she would feel a little less like the spotlight was centered completely on her.
A wolf whistle went up and Maya rolled her eyes, “I’m guessing Zoey just got close enough to Rafe for him to grab her and haul her into a very obvious display of PDA.”
“Some things never change.” Luna giggled slightly. “Go. It’s your turn.”
Maya kissed her younger sister’s cheek and then stepped out of the house to make her way through the crowd and find her own husband on the front row.
When it was just Luna and Nova standing inside the house, she turned to her sister, “Thank you.”
“For what?” Luna tilted her head curiously.
“For helping shape me into the woman I am today. For always being so strong but also so understanding. You set an amazing example for me of the kind of woman, and wolf, I wanted to grow into and I hope every day that I make you proud.”
Luna bit her lip and fluttered her lashes, “You do, Nova. I’m so proud of you. You’ve overcome so much and you didn’t let it make you hard or cruel. You deserve every happiness in the world and I’m just so glad that you found and accepted the man fate knew could give it to you.”