#Chapter 446-The Wedding Ella
Even though Cora got ready in my room at the palace, we did a great deal of work to make this wedding as public as possible as public as our coronation, if not more so. In order to do that, once Cora was dressed we escorted her down to the garage-level of the palace to where a beautiful open- top vintage Rolls Royce was waiting to drive her around to the front.
“Are you serious?” she had said, rolling her eyes, but she was laughing at the same time – because, honestly, it was very cool.
Roger had his doubts about the plan, wanting to know if it was safe, but all the security details that Sinclair had put out had assured us that there were no major threats to our safety. The majority of the humans who objected to a wolf King had either been satiated by Sinclair’s sincere promises that humans and wolves would be on equal footing or have taken their complaints underground.
And, as Cora suggested to me last night, actually a great number of people humans and wolves alike are very excited about the reality of having a royal family to call their own.
Sinclair and I see the proof of this when we finish welcoming the hundreds of guests who will be inside our Hall for the ceremony and step forward towards the doors, where we can see Cora’s car turning down the road.
The crowds lining the streets in front of the palace go wild when they see us, shouting and cheering for Sinclair, for Rafe, and – I blush when I hear it – for me as well. Sinclair starts to wave to everyone so, smiling, I do too, and then –
I hold the baby up so everyone can see, and the roar goes louder.
Sinclair and I laugh at that as I tuck Rafe again securely by my side, pleased as I think any parents would be when people show affection for our child.
But my smile grows when the cheers turn towards Cora, their duchess, as she waves to them from the car that drives her down the road.
Cora’s name has been in print quite a bit lately, and this morning a huge piece was published on the two of us the two sisters who were raised human and have found themselves at the center of all of this drama. It was a flattering piece that focused the majority of its attention on my sister only fitting, as it’s her wedding we’re celebrating today – and our struggles as orphans, her time putting herself through medical school, her rather unknown and private relationship with Roger Sinclair.
I had tried to show it to Cora this morning, fawning over the pictures, but she had waved it away, not wanting to see it, I think a little embarrassed by the attention.
But that Cora is gone now, replaced by a beaming woman in a beautiful wedding gown, her long veil trailing down her back as she waves eagerly to the people who have come to see her off on her wedding day, who call her name and wish her luck.
I glance back over my shoulder to where I see Roger and Henry standing at the front of the room the place where an altar would be, were this a religious ceremony. Roger gives me a thumbs-up and Henry waves, and then Sinclair and I step forward out of the palace and begin to walk down the steps to escort my sister inside.
“This is crazy,” Cora whispers, laughing as Sinclair offers a hand to help her step out of the car.
“It’s cool, though, right?” I say, laughing too as I wrap my sister in a hug. “You look beautiful, Cora,” I add, tears filling my eyes as I take in my sister in her incredibly gorgeous wedding gown, which manages to flatter while making no secret of her pregnancy. After all, we’re very proud of the new addition to our family.
“Oh geeze,” Cora says, shaking her head and reaching a hand up to wipe at my cheeks. “Seriously, Ella, you can’t start this now we’re never going to make it through the day – ”
“If you think this is her first time crying,” Sinclair says, smirking and reaching for Rafe, “then you’re woefully mistaken, sister-in-law.”
Cora laughs then as I pass Rafe off to his father and she loops her arm through mine.
“Ready?” I say, sniffing the rest of my tears back and smiling.
“Sure am,” she says, giving me a wink.
And then, following our King up the stairs, Cora and I make our way towards the palace. When we get to the top of the stairs, we turn to wave to the crowds who all cheer wildly, and then we turn inside. The aids close the door behind us and the music begins to play.
“Congratulations, Cora,” Sinclair says, kissing her on the cheek before starting down the aisle.
It’s a very short little wedding procession for our duchess. Cora has friends, of course, but none she felt close to or comfortable enough asking to be a bridesmaid. So, we decided to keep it short and sweet, perhaps reflecting more wolf tradition than human.
Sinclair and Rafe are thus the only ones who process before the bride, and I smile to see Rafe looking interestedly around the room at all of Cora’s well- wishers.
When my mate and child reach the front of the room, the music changes, turning into the classic wedding waltz.
“I love you,” I say, standing on my toes to kiss my sister’s cheek, knowing that it’s our turn.
“Love you more,” she murmurs as she kisses me back.
And then, her arm in mine, I walk my sister down the aisle.
We had talked about this at length, of course but in absence of any real father figure, Cora asked me to walk her. And, obviously, I cried my eyes out and said yes. Henry offered but…
Well, it’s always been me and Cora, hasn’t it? We’ve been mother and father to each other, sister and best friend. So, me walking her down the aisle on the day she marries her mate and her best friend?
It’s right. It feels absolutely right.
And it gives me the most magnificent view of Roger’s face as his eyes focus on Cora, as his face falls to see how beautiful she looks, as he forgets to breathe and just…stares at her.
I bite my lip, glancing up at my sister, seeing her practically glowing with joy, speeding up with her eagerness to be at his side.
“Cora,” Roger whispers, taking three steps forward when we get to the front of the room and climb the short set of stairs to the dais. “You look…”
Unbidden, she reaches for him, wanting his touch. He grasps her hand and, shaking his head, begins to pull her close. But Cora stops for a moment, looking over at me. “Do you consent, sis?” she says, grinning at me. “To give me away?”
“To this guy?” I say, raising my eyebrows and pretending to look Roger dubiously up and down.
Both laugh, and Roger shakes his head at me. “I’m taking her whether you consent or not, Ella,” he says, grinning, Cora’s hand still held tight in his.
“Well then,” I say, smiling between the two of them. “Good thing I agree.”
My sister and I hug once again before I let her go and move to stand next to my mate, taking my baby eagerly back into my arms.
“They look good together,” Sinclair whispers in my ear, his eyes on my sister and his brother. “It’s right, the two of them.”
“They’re so lucky to have us,” I say, sighing and grinning at him. “To have brought them together.”
Sinclair laughs a little and shakes his head. “Nah,” he says. “These two? They’d have found their way to each other. Fated mates,” he says, slipping his hand around mine. “We have a way of doing that, don’t we.”
“We sure do,” I sigh, resting my head on his shoulder.
And then, a blissful smile on my face the whole time, I watch my sister marry her mate.
