Chapter 36: 36. Zavier’s proposal in front of everybody
AT THE SAME TIME
MICHAEL
I was still trying to steady myself, breaths shallow and uneven, when the air in the room shifted. It wasn’t just colder or warmer, it was heavier, thicker, glowing with that unmistakable silver shimmer that made every hair on my body rise. My wolf instantly knew. Its ears shot up inside me, tail low but wagging nervously. And then... she appeared. The Moon Goddess.
Her light poured into the castle hall like liquid silver, sliding across the marble floors, wrapping around the columns, even catching in my own hair until it looked like I was spun out of moonlight. I sat frozen where I was, feeling so small, so... mortal. Zavier immediately tensed at my side, one arm circling my waist like he’d fight a Goddess if he had to. Adrian dropped his gaze respectfully. Terrence bowed so low his forehead nearly hit the floor. Even Xavier, smug bastard that he usually was, stiffened and lowered his head. Only Rose stood tall, smirking faintly, while Selene visibly tried not to hyperventilate. And Charlie... well, Charlie waved at her like they were old friends. But me? I just sat there. Shaking.
Her eyes found me. Soft. Endless. They weren’t the piercing blades of judgment I had expected. They weren’t cruel, or cold. No, her gaze warmed me from the inside, like someone laying a blanket over your shoulders after a nightmare.
"My little wolf." She said.
Tears threatened to burn at the corners of my eyes, my throat tightening. She walked toward me slowly, and gods, everyone else actually stepped back, making a path for her. I wanted to disappear. Hide under the table. Pretend I wasn’t trembling like a scared pup. But she didn’t let me. When she finally stood before me, she lowered herself, not towering, not lording over me. She bent down, leveled herself with me, and... placed her hand against my cheek. Warm. Too warm. Like starlight and fire and safety all at once. The entire hall went silent.
"You’ve carried so much pain." She whispered, voice echoing in my bones. "Abandoned, misunderstood, chased by shadows that were never yours to carry."
My breath broke. My wolf whimpered, pressing so hard against me I thought it might leap out. I blinked fast, desperate not to cry.
"I-I... I don’t know how to-"I muttered.
"Hush," she said, and pressed her forehead lightly against mine.
The world stilled. Every crack in my chest, every ache I had swallowed down since I was a boy, every doubt and every bruise... for one fleeting second, it all quieted. Like she had stolen the weight from me, just for a breath. And then she hugged me. Yes. Hugged me. The Moon Goddess wrapped her arms around me like I was nothing more than a scared child who needed holding. Gasps rang out across the hall. Selene looked like she was about to faint. Rose’s grin nearly split her face in half. Charlie clapped his hands like it was the cutest thing he’d ever seen. Adrian’s jaw literally dropped. Terrence muttered something about blasphemy, and Xavier looked like he might combust from sheer shock. Zavier? He was glaring like he’d never let her keep me for too long.
But me? I melted. Against all better judgment, against all pride, against all the embarrassment threatening to kill me on the spot, I leaned into her warmth. My wolf purred. Purred! Like a spoiled pup in its mother’s arms.
"You are not alone anymore." She whispered, so quiet only I could hear. "You were never meant to be."
My throat closed. My tears slipped free before I could stop them. When she pulled back, she cupped my face again, smiling with something like pride and mischief all at once.
"Now." She said louder, for everyone to hear. "Stop doubting yourself. If you weren’t meant to shine, you wouldn’t glow even brighter than my moonflowers."
I nearly fainted again. Charlie squealed.
"See, big brother?! Even the Goddess says you’re perfect"Charlie grinned.
I groaned, face burning, shoving my face against Zavier’s chest to hide. The Goddess just laughed, a sound so bright, so rich, even Selene flinched like she’d never heard it before.
"Oh, little wolf." She said, eyes sparkling. "You make me laugh, you make me cry, and you remind me why I still love this world. Hold on to him, Silver Alpha. He is rarer than any moonflower you’ll ever find."
Zavier’s arms tightened around me. His voice was steady, deep.
"I already know that."He said.
And gods help me, my stupid heart skipped.
I was still hiding my burning face in Zavier’s chest when the Goddess tilted her head, silver hair spilling like starlight. Her smile was... mischievous. Way too mischievous for someone who was supposed to be divine and holy.
"Ohhh..." She purred, dragging out the sound. "So the Silver Alpha already knows how rare you are?"
I groaned into Zavier’s tunic.
"Please don’t encourage him."I muttered.
"Encourage him?" She repeated, feigning innocence. "Darling, I’m about to hand him a quill and parchment so he can start writing his wedding vows."
My entire body locked. My wolf yelped inside me.
"W-wedding vows?!" I squeaked, jerking my head up so fast I nearly smacked Zavier’s chin.
Rose, of course, clapped like someone had just declared a festival.
"Oh, I like this."She grinned.
Selene looked like she was choking on her own tongue.
"Wedding? He’s barely, he’s this is not-"Selene said.
Charlie gasped, golden eyes wide with delight.
"Wait! Does this mean I get to be best man?! Or flower boy?! Or both?!"Charlie asked.
"No one is getting married!" I yelped, hands flailing uselessly in front of me. "Absolutely no one-!"
And that’s when Zavier, damn him, reached into his coat. My blood froze. The glint of silver. A small velvet pouch. My stomach dropped into my knees.
"Oh no." I whispered. "No. Nope. Don’t you dare."
He smirked. Actually smirked.
"What? You thought I had let the Goddess beat me to it?"Zavier said.
Adrian let out a loud bark of laughter.
"Oh, this is priceless."Adrian grinned.
"This is insanity."Terence muttered.
But Zavier didn’t care. He pulled out a ring, an actual, gods-damned ring silver and simple but glowing faintly like it had been touched by moonlight itself. The Goddess clapped her hands together, radiant and delighted.
"Oh, yes! That’s the spirit, Silver Alpha! Claim him properly!"Godness smirked.
"I AM NOT A PRIZE PUPPY!" I shouted, half-standing in Zavier’s lap, flailing so hard he had to hold me down.
Charlie leaned in close to me, eyes sparkling.
"Big brother... you’d look so good in a veil."Charlie said.
I nearly died.
"CHARLIE!"I shouted.
Zavier, unbothered as ever, slipped the ring between his fingers, rolling it like he had all the time in the world. His silver eyes burned into mine, steady and terrifying. "You’re mine already. This is just making it official."Zavier said.
My wolf howled inside me, mortified, flustered, but gods, so traitorously happy. I slapped both my hands over my face.
"I hate all of you."I groaned.
The Goddess laughed, a sound that shook the very walls.
"Oh, little wolf, don’t lie. You’ll say yes... eventually. And when you do, the stars themselves will dance at your wedding."Guard said.
Rose leaned toward Selene, grinning ear to ear.
"See? Even divinity ships it."She said.
Selene groaned into her hands.
"This is blasphemy."Selene groaned.
Adrian leaned smugly against the wall.
"This is the best show I’ve ever seen."He smirked.
Charlie beamed, bouncing like a child on festival day.
"Big brother, don’t worry. I’ll organize the flowers. And Adrian can carry you if you faint!"Charlie grinned.
"I AM NOT GOING TO-" I started, before my knees buckled, Zavier caught me, and the Goddess laughed harder.
I froze as Zavier leaned back, that infuriating, smug grin curling on his lips. He held his hand out, letting the light catch the new ring he’d slipped onto his finger. It gleamed, silver twisting in the glow, catching every sparkle in the room.
"I... I finally got a better one." He said casually, as if announcing the weather, but the weight behind his words made my chest seize.
My face instantly burned. Hot, red, like my skin had turned molten under my fur. My ears flattened, my wolf whimpered inside me, and my tail thumped helplessly against the floor in protest.
"Z-Zavier... st-stop." I stammered, hands trembling as I tried to hide my face.
"Stop?" He repeated, his voice soft but teasing, eyes glinting like silver knives. "Why would I stop when my omega looks exactly like this?"
I groaned, pressing my face to my hands, but of course, chaos had a name Charlie.
"Ohhhh... big brother is blushing!" Charlie squealed, bouncing like an over caffeinated sprite.
"Silver Alpha, you’ve done it! You’ve got him melting right in front of everyone!"
Adrian leaned lazily against the wall, smirk stretching wide.
"Well... isn’t this adorable?" He tilted his head, clearly savoring the spectacle.
Terrence muttered something under his breath, jaw tightening. Xavier, usually composed and calculating, was visibly stiff, ears faintly red. Even Selene’s eyes sparkled with amusement, green orbs darting between me and Zavier. Zavier didn’t miss a beat.
"You’re mine, Michael. Always. And now... you see? The ring finally matches how special you are."Zavier grinned.
I felt my knees weaken. The words wrapped around me like molten honey, soft and binding, and I melted into him without thinking. My wolf pressed close, tail curling around his side, and I could only let out a tiny, strangled whimper. The Goddess, floating above us, let out a soft laugh that sounded like wind chimes.
"Oh, Michael." She said, her tone teasing and light, though her gaze was affectionate. "Enjoy it.
Every flustered second. You deserve this happiness... and maybe a little chaos too."
I peeked through my fingers at her. Her arms opened wide in that unmistakable hug gesture, and despite how absurd it looked to everyone else, I stepped forward willingly. When she wrapped me in her radiant warmth, I felt... safe. Complete. Even as the others muttered, giggled, or groaned at the spectacle. Charlie clapped gleefully, bouncing on the balls of his feet.
"Look at him! He’s so cute when he’s flustered!"He grinned.
I groaned, hiding my face more firmly against Zavier’s chest. My wolf let out a small, almost embarrassed sigh, clearly agreeing. Zavier chuckled low in my ear, silver eyes glinting with mischief.
"You’re adorable. And don’t even think about plotting revenge yet, you’re far too red for that."I said.
I blinked up at him, cheeks flaming, and all I could think was... somehow, this chaos, this teasing, this ridiculous, beautiful storm of love and laughter... was exactly where I wanted to be.