Page 196 of Crystal Luna
“So you still classify yourself as pretty, huh?” The smirk forming on his lips was so fucking cute she couldn’t help but smile in return. “I’ll take that bath after all.”
He nodded and leaned in to kiss her cheek before disappearing upstairs. She stole a moment to herself before following him, taking a sip of the piping hot liquid and letting it warm her from within. The air was already filled with lavender when she stepped into the bathroom. Asher had placed a small stool next to the tub for her to have her drink within reach, as well as stacking a few fluffy towels for her to dry with. The silence between them was somewhat calming as he helped her into the tub and left once she was settled.
She played with the water, letting it relax her muscles until it was no longer warm to her. She followed the smell of baked cheese down the stairs, dressed in nothing but a towel with her hair thrown into a messy bun.
Isaiah had returned, flashing her a bright smile as she curiously approached the dish on the counter. “What a gorgeous sight.”
“I was too lazy to get dressed only to have to put that stupid dress on,” she mumbled, pulling over a plate stacked with some kind of baked noodle dish.
“I thought you liked it in the end?” Asher asked, shoving a forkful of his own lunch in his mouth.
“Yeah I just love sparkling like a disco ball,” Velora deadpanned.
“You are the crystal luna after all,” Asher teased with his mouth stuffed.
They ate silently, neither of them forcing her to talk or do anything until Carrie and Gemma arrived. Carrie glowed, her bump showing even under the thick jacket she was wearing.
“That’s our cue to go,” Isaiah said, rinsing the last dish in the sink.
“What a shame,” Asher frowned, pulling Velora into a tight hug.
“Where I’m from, seeing your bride the day of the wedding is bad luck,” Carrie giggled.
“But we aren’t human and this isn’t a wedding,” Asher protested.
“Close enough, bye!” Gemma chimed in, all but shoving Asher out the door.
“We better get going then.” Isaiah pulled her into a hug too and kissed the top of her head. “I can’t wait to see Gemma’s magic.”
Isaiah followed his brother out the door and Velora was left to her own misery—though Carrie and Gemma did everything they could to make her feel comfortable. The topics of conversation ranged over various levels of irrelevant gossip as they tried to keep Velora distracted.
To keep her warm as she stood before the pack as human, Velora slipped on a fleece-lined bodysuit that matched her skin tone. The sleeves were decorated with see through lace that blended seamlessly with the dress. She then slipped her feet into her white boots that had a cosy fur interior.
They kept her hair simple, braiding it away from her face in a way that still exposed her neck. To top it all off, she was wearing studded diamond earrings and a matching necklace that draped perfectly over her cleavage. Once she was dressed and made up, she stood before the mirror and took in her appearance. Velora ran her hands over the diamanté corset of the dress, feeling the crystals as they faded into the sleek skirt that hugged her hips and flared slightly at her thigh.
“You look stunning,” Carrie gasped.
Velora added a smile to her lips and stared at the woman in the mirror that looked nothing like the one she’d wanted to become. “Thank you.”
“I think we’re ready to make our way over,” Gemma added.
Velora nodded again, tearing her gaze away from the mirror, to see Gemma holding up a leather coat with white fur inlay that matched her boots.
With the two women by her side, she walked out and into the dim light of the evening. The snow had stopped falling and with the whole pack already at the riverside, the village was eerily quiet. The only sounds that echoed around them were the ones of their boots crushing the snow. Trying to fight her anxiety, she concentrated on the steam from their breath swirling in the air in front of her.
When they reached the end of the path, they stopped just out of sight.
“Thank you for coming with me.” Though she tried to hide it as well as possible, her voice shook with anxiety.
They both bowed their heads. “You’re welcome, Luna.”
While Carrie left to join Luka, Gemma stayed behind to take her coat once it was time for Velora to reveal herself.
The buzz of the crowd just feet away quieted and Asher’s voice filled the air. “The day has finally come where we officially welcome the mother of our pack.”
“Chosen by Isis herself, she found her way back to us,” Isaiah continued. “Her journey of finding herself didn’t come without challenges, some known to the people surrounding her, others she fought herself.”
“Even before this day, she showed true strength and love to not just us but all of you. She fought by our sides when the rogues attacked and was at the bedside of our wounded when they returned from battle.”