The rest of the evening went off without issue.


    Before the rest of the party arrived, Axel took a moment to pull Ashleigh aside. He apologized for his behavior while still reminding her of the boundaries that should exist between mates before marriage.


    “Thank you for checking in, Axel,” Ashleigh said. “It means a lot.”


    Axel nodded.


    “There’s something else going on with you, isn’t there?” she asked.


    Axel sighed.


    “Ash, today and tomorrow, let’s just be here for Bell,” he said. “Anything else going on, will still be there after we make sure she gets the wedding she deserves.”


    Ashleigh nodded.


    “So, are you admitting that Galen is good enough for Bell?” Ashleigh smiled.


    “Oh…no,” Axel replied with a shake of his head. “No, but… she wasn’t given a choice in her life before. He’s the one she’s choosing. I’ll respect that.”


    “And Caleb and I… will you respect that too?” she asked.


    Axel sighed again. He grabbed Ashleigh’s shoulder gently and leaned forward to kiss her head. He said nothing else and walked away.


    Ashleigh was left feeling disappointed until she saw the two people walking in the door.


    “I knew it!” she whispered so no one else would hear.


    She ran over to greet the new guests.


    “ra!” Ashleigh called._.


    “Ash!” ra called back.


    “Miss Stacey,” Ashleigh smiled at the woman by ra’s side.


    “Ashleigh,” Miss Stacey smiled back.


    “We’re gonna go find our seats,” ra smiled nervously.


    “Mmhmm,” Ashleigh smiled back.


    As they walked away, ra looked back over her shoulder, mouthing the words ‘be cool’ Ashleigh gave her a thumbs up andughed.


    “What has you smiling so brightly?” Caleb whispered behind her ear.


    “Caleb!” she shouted in surprise. Of course, she hadn’t felt himing, which was expected after he took the suppressant. But it was unsettling to her now after getting used to feeling his presence.


    Heughed at her surprise and quickly apologized for startling her.


    “Everything ok?” he asked, ncing towards Axel.


    Ashleigh took a breath and nodded.


    “Seems to be,” she said. “He apologized for how he reacted and then lectured me on the traditions of Winter.”


    Calebughed.


    “I’m surprised,” he said


    “Why?”


    “I didn’t expect him to apologize.”


    “Oh, he won’t apologize to you,” Ashleigh said nonchntly.


    “Why not?” Calebughed. “I was in trouble for the same reason you were. If you got an apology, shouldn’t I?”


    He crossed his arms, pretending that he was offended.


    Ashleighughed.


    “I didn’t get an apology because he was wrong to stop what was happening or because I wasn’t doing something wrong,” she said. “I got an apology because he’s my big brother, and he knew that his reaction was too strong.”


    “Oh, I see,” he said. “Still… I wasn’t the one who jumped someone… I still feel like I should get an apology.”


    “Do you feel wronged by my actions?” Ashleigh said with a pout.


    Caleb smiled.


    “I was rather pleased with your actions, actually.”


    Ashleighughed and then sighed.


    “It was good that you took the suppressant,” she said. “I wasn’t fully in control of that decision.”


    “I got that feeling,” he smiled. “What happened?”


    “It was weird,” she said. “I saw you take the pill, and then you told me what it was. I remember that I thought of missing you, of not wanting our bond to be suppressed. But then, it was an entirely different sort of thought. Like I needed to mark you as mine before our bond disappeared.”


    Caleb leaned close, whispering in her ear as he spoke.


    “Is it wrong that I find that incredibly sexy?”


    Ashleighughed and blushed.


    Caleb chuckled, enjoying her reaction.


    “Our bond does seem to be quite strong,” he said, pushing a stray hair behind her ear. “Even now, after taking the suppressant. I still feel the thrum of you. It feels far away, out of my reach. But it’s there.”


    “I feel it too,” Ashleigh said looking up at him, “I noticed it earlier. It isn’t the same as when you were with the Alphas. Then it was like you had disappeared from the world. But now you just feel far away.”


    ***


    The first meeting between Fiona and Bell was a sess.


    Fiona was delighted by her. Especially by the way she made Galen blush and squirm. She couldn’t say it out loud but seeing them together reminded her of the early years with Cain.


    And though Caleb and Ashleigh did not present themselves quite so yfully in public, she had seen enough between their nces to know that they also shared a simr rtionship.


    She wasn’t ready to give her blessing to Ashleigh just yet. Although Caleb’s decision to pretend to be paralyzed had certainly softened her resentment towards his mate.


    But it was about more than them now.


    Caleb, like Cain, was the type to attempt to pull the stars from the sky for his mate. If he had his way, Ashleigh would never face a challenge for the rest of her days.


    Fiona wanted to see Ashleighe into her own within Summer, and she knew that wouldn’t happen without someone to challenge her.


    And Fiona intended to be that someone.


    But Bell? Bell she could openly adore.


    ***


    All in all, the pre-wedding family dinner was a sess.


    Everyone was enjoying themselves andughing together. There were no fights or arguments about Winter versus Summer or who the better Alpha was.


    Just a peaceful evening of celebration for Bell and Galen.


    The only surprising turn of events was when Caleb and Galen offered Axel their apologies. Which led to many questions from their respective parents and many more giggles from Bell and Ashleigh.


    ***


    The day of the wedding was spent on all the finishing touches,st-minute adjustments, and perfecting every detail.


    Bell was pampered and fussed over, while Galen was congratted and reminded to breathe.


    Axel had made good on his promise, spending hours braiding and knotting, twisting, and pinning. Her hair was pinned and pleated like a Viking queen by the end of it.


    With the cement of her moonstone circlet, the look waspleted, and Corrine was brought to tears.


    “Are you ready for this?” Ashleigh asked.


    Bell smiled at her friend. She looked out the window as thest of the sun’s rays were fading from the sky.


    “I’ve never been more ready for anything in my life.”


    “I should have been recording that….” Ashleigh smiled.


    “Shut up,” Bell growled yfully.


    “No! You were like so cool,” Ashleighughed. She pouted her lips and fluffed her hair out dramatically. “I’ve never been more ready for anything in my life.”


    “Shut up!” Bellughed, hitting Ashleigh’s arm.


    “Mom, Bell’s hitting me!” Ashleighined sarcastically.


    “Now, girls,” Corrine said as she entered the room, “don’t do anything to ruin Bell’s hair. Axel worked very hard on that.”


    Bell and Ashleigh bothughed.


    “Bell, darling,” Corrine said, smiling. “It’s time to get your dress on.”


    Corrine and Ashleigh lined up to pull open the closet doors.


    “Isn’t this a bit dramatic?” Bellughed.


    “Just go with it. Mom has been waiting for this moment since Galen asked to marry you,” Ashleigh replied.


    “You girls are ruining this for me….” Corrine sighed.


    “Sorry, sorry,” Bellughed. “Please, continue.”


    Corrine cleared her throat. She and Ashleigh pulled open the doors.


    Bell stared at her dress in awe. She brought her hands to her mouth.


    She didn’t know what to expect when she agreed to let Corrine surprise her with the dress. But never in her wildest dreams did she imagine this.


    “It’s amazing…” she whispered.


    “Wait until we get it on you, darling.” Corrine smiled proudly.


    “What are we waiting for!” Bell shouted excitedly.