“I just felt like telling you first.” Salem touched his lower lip as if deep in thought. “I’m glad you’re happy. Krys shared details about what happened in Arkansas with the lab, and Atticus seems like a packmate we can depend on. I was wrong about him.”
I had asked everyone to keep those details from me. Thinking about their trip gave me anxiety, and I didn’t need to know anything more than the fact Atticus and Krys were home alive.
Salem drew in a deep breath and sighed. “I’m sorry about everything.”
“You mean saving my life?” I cupped his face in my hands. “Salem, you’re an angel. Maybe a fallen one, but we’ve all made mistakes in life.” After straightening his sweater, I smiled up at him. “We’ve come a long way since that first night.”
“That we have.” He flashed a tight smile—a familiar one he’d given me on a number of occasions where he didn’t know what to say.
I took his arm in mine. “Will you escort me?”
“It would be my honor.”
He shepherded me to the dining room, and a wistful feeling came over me when I remembered how we were once a team who’d depended on each other and kept secrets. Salem still remained a mystery to me. He didn’t open up about himself or his feelings, and perhaps that was part of it.
Atticus was the opposite. While he came across as superficial to some, he was one of the deepest thinkers I’d ever met. He expressed his emotions. He loved making others happy, and his club was an extension of that.
I hugged Salem’s arm tighter. “You’re my brother now.”
As we crossed through the kitchen, I noticed Virgil leaning against the dining room wall up ahead. Before we entered, he began singing “At Last.” It put goose bumps all over my arms.
My heart lurched when I entered the dining room. The pack, who was gathered by the windows ahead, watched expectantly. They had kept me out of there all morning, but I thought they were just moving the tables around and setting them up for lunch.
Sheer white curtains bordered the window edges, and twinkle lights were strung across the high wooden ceiling. The small square tables had been moved out, and one of the long tables was pushed against the wall to serve as a buffet table. There were silver warming trays, food, and drinks. I stood frozen, taking it all in.
The faux trees around the room were decorated with tiny white lights. They were the ones from the living room, and I hadn’t even noticed they were missing this morning.
White linen, gold-trimmed plates, candles, and crystal glasses adorned the main table. The vases were filled with different-colored roses. It was a fairy tale come to life.
“You’re going to make me cry,” I said, tears already spilling down my cheeks.
Atticus handed the baby to Robyn, who was closest to him. Montana wasn’t wearing his hat today, and almost everyone was dressed up. Even Krys had pulled back his long hair and wore a black blazer over his T-shirt.
Virgil found a stopping point in the song and cleared his throat. “That was the groom’s song choice.”
“That’s because you were going to sing ‘Bootylicious,’” Lakota said quietly.
Virgil crossed his arms. “No, I was going to sing ‘I Want It That Way,’ and I had a whole dance routine.”
Melody snorted. “FromMagic Mike?”
When we reached Atticus and Eden, Salem gently patted my back before taking a spot by the Packmaster.
Eden clutched her small book. “Atticus and Joy wanted me to make this mating ceremony brief. The abbreviated version is a promise and a signature, but I’d like to add my own thoughts if you don’t mind.”
Atticus put his arm around my waist and nodded.
The Councilwoman flashed a warm smile at us. “Love is full of surprises. I’ve officiated a number of these, as some of you here already know. Some are elaborate ceremonies, and others have been a private union between the couple alone. Each one is special for different reasons, but when two people from different worlds find love in all this chaos and choose to build a life together despite the challenges they’ll face, they’re an inspiration to us all.” She stared down at the book for a moment. “Some of us will never experience that kind of devotion and love, so we should always take a moment to recognize the blessings others receive.”
Violet burped, and everyone collectively stirred with laughter.
Eden rocked on her heels. “On that note, do you two have anything you want to say to each other?”
Atticus faced me and held my hands. “You once told me you’d spent your adult life alone—no friends, no family, no one by your side. From this day forward, I’ll be your protector, your friend, your biggest supporter, your lover, and a role model for our child. You’ve given me not only the greatest gift of love but also of fatherhood. I’ve waited a hundred lifetimes to find you, and I would have waited a hundred more, beloved wife.”
My cheeks flushed. “Gosh, I didn’t plan on a speech.” I nervously shifted my stance. “When I was a little girl, I used to dream about growing up and falling in love. We would live in aperfect little house and have a perfect little family. Then I grew up and worked in a profession that would give me a perfect life. I don’t think I ever had any idea what perfect really meant. It’s someone loving you unconditionally. It’s not feeling like an outcast in your own home. It’s about realizing we’re flawed and messy, but we still deserve happiness. Atticus, you make me so happy, and every day I wake up, I can’t wait to spend it with you. I can’t wait to travel and play our first game of charades, and I can’t wait to see what life has in store for us.” I gripped his hands tighter to keep from crying all my makeup off. “My beloved husband.”
“I couldn’t have said it better.” Eden smiled. “You may kiss each other or sign the book. Or both!”
