Star Zaraki
October 30, 2025
19:30 EST
Norton Creek Resort
Gatlinburg, TN
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Stepping out of the shadows into the glow of the lantern-lit clearing, I froze for just a moment, my gaze trailing down the aisle. It stretched out before me, flanked on both sides by faces I knew—and faces I didn’t. Most of them were wolves, their gazes sharp, their presence a quiet reminder of the traditions that bound us here tonight. Among them, I spotted a few members of Mr. Bracton’s old motorcycle shop. The tall, broad-shouldered man and his wiry, red-haired counterpart sat together, both dressed in dark suits that looked slightly uncomfortable on them. Their names hovered just out of reach in my memory.
At the front row, I found Mrs. Bracton. Her hands were clasped tightly in her lap, her expression soft but thoughtful, like she was holding herself together by sheer will. I swallowed hard, my nerves tangling into a tighter knot.
Then my gaze caught on him.
Dr. Bracton.
The glint in his eyes sent a cold shiver racing up my spine, a predator’s stare that had haunted me more than once in the past. He didn’t belong here. None of us wanted him here. And yet, here he was, seated calmly as if he owned the place.
The warmth of my father’s hand on my arm brought me back to the moment. I turned my head to look up at him, and he gave me a reassuring smile.
“Don’t worry about him,” he said softly, his voice low enough that only I could hear. “He can’t do anything here.”
I nodded but couldn’t suppress the quiet sigh that escaped me. “I wish the crew was here,” I murmured, my voice small.
“They’re watching,” my father replied, tilting his head slightly. “Scuzball is streaming the wedding for them.”
Of course he was. A flicker of amusement passed through me despite my nerves. Even when trapped in a drone, Scuzball wouldn’t miss a chance to make his presence known.
I forced myself to look ahead, to focus. And then I saw him.
Cayro.
The sight of him standing at the altar nearly stopped my heart. The dark charcoal suit with emerald accents was perfectly tailored, and the trimmed beard I’d come to love made him look every bit the strong, steady man I’d always known he was. For a second, I forgot how to breathe.
He radiated strength in a way that wasn’t overbearing but quietly powerful. It was the kind of manliness that made me want to melt where I stood—and I might have if it weren’t for all the eyes on me. I bit down on my lower lip to ground myself and forced my feet to move, one step at a time.
Lyra and Aura led the way, their movements smooth and precise. My father and I followed closely behind.
As we moved, a haunting melody began to fill the air. It started low, a hum that seemed to rise from the earth itself, but as I took another step, the sound swelled. I glanced around, realizing it was the wolves.
They were singing.
It wasn’t just a song—it was a hymn, rich and layered, carrying a weight that made the hair on my arms prickle. The melody wound its way through the clearing, vibrating through the air and into my chest. I didn’t know the words, but I didn’t need to. It was ancient and deeply significant, a sound that resonated with something primal inside me.
We passed Dr. Bracton, and his gaze lingered too long, sharp and unyielding. My father let out a low growl in response, his tension vibrating through the air between us. Without thinking, I elbowed him lightly, a silent reminder to keep his composure. He stopped growling, though I could feel his simmering anger just beneath the surface.
We reached the altar, where purple fabric and evergreen accents swayed gently in the breeze. The setting was beautiful, but I couldn’t bring myself to fully take it in. My nerves felt like a storm inside me, tugging me in too many directions at once.
I hadn’t imagined this moment. Not really. I’d never pictured myself getting married. And yet, here I was, standing at the altar about to marry my best friend.
The thought brought a rush of warmth, chasing away some of the nerves. Cayro. My anchor, my partner, my constant.
Reaching out, I sent my thoughts to him, letting my mind brush his. His presence met mine instantly, and I felt flickers of unease and worry bouncing through his mind, mirroring my own. But beneath it all was something far stronger—love. Awe.
He was as overwhelmed by the sight of me as I was by him.
This was us.
We’d been through silence, through separation, through pain. And yet, we’d found our way back to each other. With my memories returned, I knew there had never been anyone else for me. There never could be.
Tonight, I would become a Bracton. I would become his wife. His partner.
And I couldn’t imagine it any other way.
As I stopped at the altar, my eyes swept across the small gathering of faces waiting for me. Zak stood tall beside Cayro, his smirk softened for once, though a glint of mischief lingered in his eyes. Beside them, Mr. Bracton stood with his usual quiet intensity, a presence that anchored the moment with its steadiness. Hovering nearby, a drone with a glowing screen displayed Scuzball’s smug feline face, his digital gaze flicking between the proceedings as if critiquing every detail.
On the opposite side, Lyra stood with Aura, the two of them forming a protective, steady presence. Lyra’s sharp gaze briefly met mine, a flicker of approval passing between us, while Aura gave me a subtle nod of encouragement.
In my hands, the bouquet rested lightly—a creation I hadn’t chosen but somehow felt perfectly tailored to me. Aura and Mrs. Bracton had crafted it with an attention to detail I would never have thought to ask for. Its colors—deep purple, dark grey, and emerald—were woven together into an arrangement that was both elegant and alive, carrying its own quiet energy.
At its center, velvety purple anemones drew the eye with their jet-black centers, striking and bold. Around them, clusters of hellebores bloomed in dusky hues, the color of storm clouds gathering on the horizon, their presence grounding the arrangement with depth and contrast. Interspersed throughout were sprigs of emerald-green eucalyptus and ivy, their trailing vines adding a touch of wildness that softened the bouquet’s controlled design.
Tiny sprays of silver-grey dusty miller peeked out between the larger blooms, their frosted edges catching the lantern light like whispers of moonlight. Amethyst-hued orchids were tucked delicately throughout, their graceful forms adding an air of quiet elegance without overpowering the bolder elements.
The stems were wrapped in smooth dark grey silk, wound tightly with an emerald ribbon that spiraled toward a neat knot. Dangling just below was a single charm—a small silver star, subtle yet unmistakable, glinting softly in the light.
I hadn’t picked it. It wasn’t something I’d even thought about until now. But holding it, I felt the care that had gone into its creation.
The anemones and hellebores were strong and striking. The orchids added grace. The greenery softened the edges. It wasn’t perfect in the traditional sense, and it didn’t need to be.
It was deliberate. Balanced.
It was me.
Taking a steady breath, I handed the bouquet to Lyra and stepped forward, my eyes locking on Cayro. His emerald gaze met mine, filled with warmth and awe. He offered his hand without hesitation, and I reached out, my fingers curling around his as my father gently released my arm.
For a moment, Dr. Zaraki didn’t move, his hand lingering briefly on my shoulder. Then he leaned toward Cayro, his voice low but deliberate, words meant only for him.
“For years, I’ve watched you both grow—not just as individuals, but also together. I’ve seen the way you protect her, the way she challenges you, and the way you make each other stronger. You’re not just the man she loves, Cayro. You’re the partner she deserves.”
He paused, letting the words settle as his hand moved to rest briefly on Cayro’s shoulder.
“She’s my daughter. My greatest pride. And today, I’m not giving her away—I’m trusting you to walk beside her, to build a life with her, to be the man she can always count on. Don’t ever forget what you mean to her—and what she means to me.”
The words hit me harder than I expected, and tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. My hand tightened around Cayro’s as I looked up at my father, seeing something in his expression I rarely allowed myself to see—pride and love, clear and unguarded.
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Cayro met his gaze without hesitation, his voice steady and firm. “I will stand beside her through life no matter what it throws at us.”
The low rumble of a throat clearing drew all of our attention to Alpha Malachi. He stood at the center of the altar, his imposing frame clad in a sleek black suit that made him stand out against the gathering of wolves and friends. His expression was one of quiet reverence, though a faint smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he looked at my father.
“Those are some fine words, Dr. Zaraki,” he said, his voice calm but carrying an undertone of sincerity. “I’m sure that Cayro is up to the challenge—from what I’ve seen, he’s more than earned it.”
My father’s lips curved into a rare, heartfelt grin, and with a quiet nod, he stepped back, leaving Cayro and me standing together at the altar.
I stood at Cayro’s side, my hand in his, the warmth of his grip grounding me in the weight of the moment. My father’s words still lingered in the air, a quiet echo pressing gently against my chest. I could still feel his presence behind me, solid and steady, even as he stepped back to give us space. Pride had been clear in his eyes—unspoken but unmistakable—and for once, I let myself truly see it.
Cayro’s fingers tightened around mine, and I looked up to find his emerald gaze locked on me. There was no hesitation in his eyes, no lingering trace of the nerves I’d sensed earlier. Only a silent promise, written in the way he looked at me like I was the only thing that mattered. My heart swelled, not with fear, but with certainty. This was it.
A soft clearing of a throat pulled my attention to Alpha Malachi. He stood tall, the glow of the lanterns casting sharp lines across his dark suit. His presence commanded attention without effort, but the faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips eased the tension that hummed faintly in the air.
“Are you two ready to begin?” he asked, his voice rich and calm. It was the kind of voice that could steady a storm.
Cayro and I nodded together, the answer unspoken but already written in the way we stood side by side.
Malachi’s gaze flicked between us, his smile deepening ever so slightly before his tone turned more serious. “Before we begin, I want to confirm your choice to follow werewolf tradition over human custom. If you’d prefer the latter, now is the time to speak.”
I opened my mouth to respond, but Cayro’s voice cut through the quiet, strong and sure. “We are happy with werewolf tradition. It’s a part of who we are.”
The certainty in his voice wrapped around me like a steady hum, the same warmth I felt in the wolves’ hymn lingering in the distance. Without thinking, I squeezed his hand, a silent echo of his resolve.
Alpha Malachi inclined his head, the faintest glimmer of approval in his eyes as he shifted his focus to the gathered crowd. His voice rose just slightly, enough to command the attention of every soul present.
“Tonight, we gather as a pack, as family, and as witnesses to a bond that will not just unite two people, but strengthen the whole. Star Zaraki, Cayro Bracton—this ceremony is not just a vow between you, but a promise to all who stand here. A promise to honor, to protect, and to build something greater together than either of you could alone.”
His words rippled through the clearing like a low, steady drumbeat, carrying a quiet power that thrummed through the air.
I glanced briefly at Cayro, his hand still firm in mine, his focus unwavering. In that moment, I knew with absolute certainty—he was my equal, my partner. My everything.
Alpha Malachi’s gaze returned to us, his expression calm but deliberate as he began to speak again. “The vows you are about to speak are older than any of us, passed down through time. They are magic, binding your bond not only to each other but to the forces that watch over us. The words you speak will resonate in the ears of the pack, but their meaning will be felt most deeply by the two of you. Let the vows strengthen what is already forged.”
As the words settled over the clearing, I felt it again—that weight of tradition and choice, of legacy and love, pressing down on me in the best possible way. This was more than a moment. This was us, woven into something ancient and eternal.
Alpha Malachi turned to me first, his gaze steady and grounding. “Star Zaraki, speak your vow.”
The hum of the wolves’ lullaby lingered in the air, a low, vibrating current that seemed to flow through my veins. My grip on Cayro’s hand tightened, his warmth steadying me as the swirl of emotions pressing against my chest began to settle. I closed my eyes briefly, pulling strength from the bond that already existed between us, and when I opened them, my voice was clear.
“Is est mei. Nullus alius eum habere potest. Disperdam eos qui dividunt nos. Spiritus et magica arma mea sunt. Protegam eum et stabo cum illo. Ipse est mundus meus, et columna mea fortitudinis. Ante tonitru me commendo ei in vera unione.”
The Latin hung heavy in the air, each syllable ancient and deliberate, but the meaning burned in my mind as though it had been carved there long before tonight:
"He is mine. No one else may have him. I will destroy those who try to divide us. Spirit and magic are my weapons. I will protect him and stand with him. He is my world and my pillar of strength. Before the thunder, I commit myself to him in true union."
The moment the last word left my lips, the magic responded. It surged instantly, a force so powerful it stole my breath for a moment. This wasn’t new—our bond had existed long before this ceremony—but now, it was something deeper, sharper, unshakable.
The warmth of it swept through me, lifting my magic to the surface until it burned behind my eyes. A pulse of power radiated outward, rippling through the clearing. When I met Cayro’s gaze, the fire in my amethyst eyes reflected in the brilliance of his emerald ones.
Alpha Malachi inclined his head, his expression unwavering. “Cayro Bracton, speak your vow.”
Cayro didn’t hesitate. His voice rose immediately, steady and strong, the Latin rich and resonant as it echoed through the clearing:
“Uxor mea est. Disperdam eos qui dividunt nos. Dentes et pellis arma mea sunt. Eam tuebor et stabo cum illa. Domus mea et sanctificatio mea; Commendo me huic foeminae in vera unione coram lupis.”
I didn’t need the translation. I felt the meaning in every word, every note of his voice.
"She is my wife. I will destroy those who try to divide us. Teeth and skin are my weapons. I will protect her and stand with her. She is my home and my sanctuary; I commit myself to this woman in true union before the wolves."
The magic surged again, but this time, it wasn’t just a rush—it was a roar, a force that swept through the clearing like a wildfire. I felt it wrap around us, pressing against my skin and pulling me closer to him. His eyes burned brighter, the emerald light almost blinding as the bond between us solidified, unyielding and eternal.
And then, it happened.
A pull, deep in my chest.
At first, it was faint, like the gentle tug of a thread being unraveled. But as it grew, I understood.
The bond to the SkyTeam Pack.
It wasn’t painful—nothing about it hurt—but it was unmistakable. It was like a tide slowly receding from the shore, a quiet unraveling of something I hadn’t even realized I still carried.
My breath caught as the connection faded, slipping away with a finality that left a strange emptiness in its wake.
But it wasn’t empty.
Lyra.
Her presence flared bright and steady where the others had once been, as though she’d stepped forward to fill the space left behind. It wasn’t bitter—it didn’t feel like a loss. It was a shift, like saying goodbye to a chapter of my life that had shaped me but no longer defined me.
I turned to Cayro, searching his gaze. His eyes were still bright, still burning, but beneath the fire, I saw it—the same understanding, the same recognition of what we’d both felt.
The bond between us pulsed, stronger than ever, its warmth filling every place where the ties to the SkyTeam Pack had been.
Alpha Malachi’s voice broke the stillness, his tone rising with quiet authority. “With these vows, your magic is strengthened, your bond unbreakable. Star Zaraki. Cayro Zaraki. You are one.”
The words hit me like a shockwave, and my heart stumbled.
Cayro Zaraki.
I blinked, the realization crashing into me with all the weight of the moment. My breath hitched as I turned to him, my voice barely more than a whisper.
“You took my name.”
His lips curved into a faint smile, soft and certain. “It’s our name now.”
Before I could speak, Alpha Malachi stepped forward, the ceremonial dagger gleaming faintly in the lantern light. His presence drew all focus back to him, his voice calm but commanding as he intoned, “Extend your hands.”
Together, Cayro and I held our joined hands forward, steady despite the weight of the moment. The blade’s cool edge pressed lightly against our palms, the sting brief but grounding. Warm blood welled at the shallow cut, pooling where our hands met. As our fingers intertwined, the warmth of our blood mingled with the magic that pulsed between us, the bond locking into place like a final, unbreakable thread pulled taut.
“With this,” Alpha Malachi said, his voice resonant, “your bond is complete. Your magic is whole. Star Zaraki. Cayro Zaraki. You are alphas of the Zaraki Pack. Lead with strength, with honor, and with the bond that will carry you through all that lies ahead.”
Cayro turned to me, his hand still holding mine. His smile was soft, his emerald eyes steady as they met mine. When he spoke, his voice was low, meant only for me.
“It’s done.”
I nodded, the tears I’d been holding back finally spilling over, streaking down my cheeks in warm, silent lines. My voice cracked under the weight of everything I felt as I whispered back, “It’s just the beginning.”
The air in the clearing shifted again, heavier now, alive with a magic that didn’t just belong to us—it belonged to everything. It was in the trees, the stones beneath our feet, the stars above us. My hand remained clasped in Cayro’s, our joined blood still warm as Alpha Malachi stepped forward once more. His gaze swept over the gathered wolves, his voice low but unwavering.
“With the vows spoken, the bond sealed, and the Zaraki Pack born, I now pronounce this union complete.”
His expression softened, just for a moment, though the authority in his voice remained. “Star Zaraki. Cayro Zaraki. As alphas of the Zaraki Pack, you may now seal your bond as mates.”
The hum of the wolves’ lullaby swelled again, rising into a crescendo that vibrated through the clearing. The gathered wolves leaned in, their presence a quiet encouragement, their voices threading together in harmony.
Cayro turned to me, his emerald eyes glowing faintly with the fire of our bond. He raised a hand, his knuckles brushing gently along my cheek, and the world around us seemed to blur and fade. The weight of so many eyes disappeared, leaving only the warmth of his touch.
“This is it,” he murmured, his voice soft, meant only for me.
I nodded, my throat tight with the overwhelming flood of emotions—love, pride, certainty—all swirling together into something I couldn’t put into words.
“This is it,” I whispered back.
And then he kissed me.
The bond flared instantly, a surge of warmth and power that burned through every part of me. It wasn’t just a kiss—it was the final seal on everything we’d declared tonight. It was the thunder after the lightning, the echo of our vows, the heartbeat of the magic that tied us together.
The wolves erupted in howls, their voices lifting into the night, celebrating as the bond between us solidified into something eternal. The hum of their lullaby joined the howls, a layered symphony of triumph and unity that spilled into the stars.
Cayro pulled back slightly, his forehead resting gently against mine as our breaths mingled. His smile was quiet but filled with a warmth that reached all the way to his eyes.
“We are one,” he murmured, his voice like a promise.
I nodded, my tears spilling again, but this time they weren’t from loss. They were from joy. Pure, unshaken joy.
“We’re one,” I echoed, my voice barely audible over the chorus of celebration.
Alpha Malachi stepped forward one final time, his presence commanding as he raised his hands. The howls and song softened but didn’t fade entirely, their harmony lingering in the air like an ever-present reminder of what had just been forged.
“With this ceremony complete,” Malachi said, his tone rising, “let us welcome the Zaraki Pack—Star and Cayro Zaraki, bonded as alphas, united as one. May their strength and love guide them, and may their bond honor the traditions of our kind.”
The clearing erupted into applause, a thunderous wave of celebration. The wolves’ howls rose again, filling the air with their raw, primal song as Cayro and I turned to face the crowd.
I squeezed his hand, and together, we stepped forward—not as individuals, but as something greater.
We were one.