(Ryan POV)
Three days.
That was all Lucifer gave us before the wedding.
Three days before Hazel became mine before every realm.
Human.
Wolf.
Infernal.
Witch.
Three days—
and somehow that made me more restless than war ever had.
Because battles I understood.
Love…
was chaos.
The pack was unbearable.
Bella and Klara had transformed the mansion into ceremonial madness.
Flowers everywhere.
Witches chanting over fabrics.
Ancient wedding sigils painted in silver.
Nick supervising warriors as if we expected invasion during a wedding.
Which—
with my life—
was not impossible.
Hazel had been stolen from me by the women since dawn.
Apparently grooms were forbidden.
Ridiculous law.
I intended to break it.
Repeatedly.
I was on my way to do exactly that when Lucifer appeared.
Naturally.
"Walking toward your bride?"
"Yes."
"No."
I stared at him.
He stared back.
Even devils enjoy torture.
Then he motioned me aside.
"There is something unfinished."
I frowned.
Lucifer rarely sounded solemn.
He placed an old black blade in my hand.
Ancient.
Cold.
Runed.
"The Eclipse Oath Blade."
Recognition hit.
This was old magic.
Older than packs.
"When you wed the Eclipse's Heir," Lucifer said, "you swear not merely as husband…"
"…but as protector of prophecy."
Heavy words.
He looked almost… fatherly.
Disturbing.
"If you break that oath," he added,
"it breaks you."
I met his gaze.
"I would die first."
Lucifer actually smiled.
"I know."
For once—
he approved.
That evening I found Hazel anyway.
Rules be damned.
She stood alone on a moonlit terrace in her pre-wedding gown.
And for a second—
I forgot language.
Forgot breathing.
Forgot I was Alpha.
She turned.
Caught me staring.
And smiled.
"Well?"
I managed—
"This may be the first time I have truly feared death."
She laughed softly.
"Because I look terrible?"
"Because if anyone else sees you like this…"
I stepped closer.
"…I may kill them."
She blushed.
Always my undoing.
I reached for her hand.
Touched the engagement ring.
Tomorrow it would become more.
Everything.
Hazel looked at me carefully.
"You're nervous."
I scoffed.
"I've led armies."
She smiled.
"So yes."
Annoying woman.
Then her voice softened.
"Ryan…"
"If fate had never forced us together…"
"Would you still have chosen me?"
The question cut deeper than any blade.
I lifted her chin.
"No prophecy could have kept me from choosing you."
And meant it.
Entirely.
She looked shaken by that.
Then whispered—
"I would have chosen you too."
Something inside me almost broke.
I leaned down—
so close our mouths nearly touched—
and again…
I stopped.
Hazel made a tiny frustrated sound.
Interesting.
I smirked.
"You're impatient now?"
Her glare was lethal.
I enjoyed it.
Then—
a rustle.
Bella.
Of course.
Spying.
She gasped dramatically.
"NO KISSING BEFORE THE CEREMONY!"
"We weren't kissing," Hazel protested.
Bella pointed.
"You were spiritually kissing."
Klara emerged too.
Traitors.
Hazel hid her face.
I considered exile.
Later that night, before sleep, Hazel and I met in the old sacred garden one final time.
No witnesses.
No chaos.
Only moonlight.
She stepped into my arms.
Head against my chest.
And for a while…
we simply existed.
Then she whispered—
"What if I'm not ready to be Luna… wife… all of it?"
I held her tighter.
"You already are."
Silence.
Then—
I took her hand and placed it over my heart.
"This beats because of you."
Her breath caught.
And I knew—
there was no world where I survived losing her.
Then the wind changed.
Cold.
Ancient.
Lucifer's power stirred.
Ceremony wards awakening.
It was time.
Tomorrow—
Hazel McCall would walk toward me.
And everything would change.