Kayden waited on the platform, dressed in black Alpha attire, the silver emblem gleaming on his chest. He looked tense, his fingers clenching and unclenching, eyes darting toward the entrance.
He was waiting for me.
The music started—the traditional wedding march, melodic and solemn.
"Let's go, Mommy," Kai tugged my hand.
We stepped into the hall.
Everyone stood and turned to watch.
Kai led the way, scattering petals from his basket onto the red carpet. He did it carefully, his little brows furrowed in concentration, striving for "graceful." I followed behind, step by step, toward the platform.
Toward Kayden.
He watched me approach, his eyes filled with awe, joy, and tears... he was crying again.
I reached him. Kai handed his basket to an attendant and ran to sit in the front row.
"Hi," I whispered.
"Hi," Kayden whispered back, his voice thick with emotion. "You... you're stunning."
"You look handsome, too."
We shared a smile.
The presiding elder began reciting the traditional vows.
"Under the witness of the Moon Goddess, two souls shall unite as one..."
"Alpha Kayden Blackwood, do you..."
"I do," Kayden interrupted before he could finish.
Light chuckles rippled through the crowd.
"Uh..." The elder blinked, cleared his throat. "Then... Layla Gray, do you..."
"I do," I jumped in too.
More laughter.
The elder shook his head, but with a smile. "Then, please exchange the tokens."
Kayden pulled a ring from his pocket—platinum, set with a moonstone, simple and elegant.
He took my hand, his fingers trembling slightly.
"Layla," he said, locking eyes with mine. "In this life, the next, and for all eternity..."
"I want only you."
He slid the ring onto my finger.
I took out the one I'd prepared—same style, but set with a sunstone.
"Kayden," I said, my voice shaking. "In this life, the next, and for all eternity..."
