Chapter 201: Chapter 201 Wedding Night Confessions
Caroline’s POV
Draven picked me up in his arms easily, holding me against his broad chest.
My husband carried me through the main floor of the pack house.
I felt weightless in his embrace as he climbed the grand staircase, my wedding dress flowing over his arm like a waterfall of white tulle.
"My Luna," he whispered, his violet eyes glowing with possessiveness as he carried me down the hallway toward the master suite.
When we reached the door, Draven paused, adjusting me slightly in his arms. "Would you do the honors, my love?" he asked.
I reached out and turned the doorknob, pushing the door open.
Draven stepped through with me still in his arms, then gently kicked the door closed behind us.
The sight before me took my breath away. The master bedroom had been completely changed. One entire wall was made of glass, with elegant French doors opening onto a private balcony that overlooked the moonlit forest of our territory. Throughout the room, iron lanterns of different heights held flickering candles, casting a warm, intimate glow.
In the center of the room stood a huge four-poster bed, draped with a pearl-colored canopy. The soft cream fabric hung from the ceiling in graceful swags, tied back on three sides like elegant curtains, leaving one side open in invitation. Tiny fairy lights were woven through the fabric, creating stars above the bed that was covered in soft linens and fluffy pillows.
"Eleanor," I whispered, recognizing my best friend’s touch in the decoration.
Draven set me down gently, his hands staying at my waist. "Ryan helped too, though he’ll never admit it."
In the corner stood a round table decorated with a beautiful arrangement of red and white tulips. Next to it, a tray held an ice bucket with champagne, two crystal glasses, and a plate of chocolate-covered strawberries. What made my heart squeeze was the slice of chocolate cake placed prominently on the tray because Draven remembered my sweet tooth.
"It’s perfect," I breathed, turning to face my husband. "Absolutely perfect."
Soft romantic music began playing from speakers as Draven pulled me close, one hand at my waist while the other cupped my face. He breathed in deeply, his eyes closing briefly.
"Forever mine, Caroline," he murmured, pressing his forehead against mine. "You have no idea how many nights I’ve dreamed of finding my mate, of having what my parents had. And now here you are, more perfect than I ever imagined."
He scattered gentle kisses across my face.I wrapped my arms around his neck, drawing him even closer as we began swaying slowly to the music.
"I still can’t believe how our paths crossed and recrossed," I whispered against his jaw. "That night at the masquerade ball changed everything for me."
Draven’s eyes darkened with desire as his hands tightened at my waist."You enchanted me that night. I’ve never forgotten it, though I didn’t realize it was you until recently."
"I have a box with everything from that night," I admitted. "The dress, the shoes, even the mask. And that special perfume I wore."
"The perfume," Draven said thoughtfully."I noticed when you wore it again that first day at the office. Something about it seemed familiar."
"That’s because I don’t wear it every day," I explained. "It was a special blend I found for the masquerade.I only wore it once more after starting at Thorne Enterprises, hoping it might spark something."
"When I held you that day when you stopped Ella from barging into my office, I caught a hint of something familiar," Draven confessed, his lips brushing my ear. " But Alaric couldn’t recognize you as our mate from the ball."
"And when I heard your voice on the phone that first time," I admitted, "something in me recognized it, but couldn’t place where from. It was like my memories were just out of reach."
"It was all there, right under our noses," Draven said, shaking his head slightly. "The woman who drove me wild at that ball was the same one who turned my world upside down three years later in my office." His eyes searched mine. "Why did you run away that night, Caroline? At the ball? Why didn’t you wait for me?"
"I thought you had left and just used the phone call as an excuse,"I confessed, looking down."I convinced myself you just wanted a one-night thing before disappearing. So when I went back to where Eleanor and Nate were waiting, we decided to leave."
Draven sighed, lifting my chin up to meet his eyes again. "When I asked you to dance, I didn’t even think we would end up together that night. I saw you arrive and was immediately drawn to you. I watched you for what felt like hours before finding the courage to come over. It was my father who noticed and told me that our biggest regrets are the things we don’t try."His violet eyes softened with the memory. "Everything happened so naturally, so perfectly. Before I knew it, I was completely under your spell, had lost all control, and had the most incredible night of my life. I only thought to ask your name afterward, and then came that call."
"Who called you?" I asked, curious about what had separated us for three years.
"Howard," he replied, his face darkening for a moment. "It was about pack finances, which was a bad call. I stepped outside to get better reception, but when I came back, you were gone. I searched everywhere but couldn’t find you."
His arms tightened around me. "I was already heartbroken from losing my parents, and losing you that night nearly broke me."
"I’d never felt what you made me feel," I whispered, watching his pupils grow wider as I spoke. "I’d never been so bold before."
"Now I’ve found you," Draven growled softly. "And I won’t lose you again. I can’t." He pulled me tight against him. "When I first spoke to you on the phone at Thorne Enterprises,something stirred in me.When we finally met face to face,I was completely swept away.Only then did I stop thinking about the mysterious woman from the masquerade.And that woman was you all along. It’s always been you, Caroline. My love has always been you."
The power of his words lit something wild within me. I felt my body respond right away, a strong need flowing through my veins.
My eyes grew wide with desire, and before he could say another word, I tangled my fingers in his hair and claimed his mouth with mine.
Draven returned my kiss with the same passion, his hands spreading across my back as he pulled me impossibly closer. The bond between us hummed with power and promise as mate recognized mate, Alpha claimed Luna, and husband cherished wife.