I blinked at the veiled peace offering. As much as he'd changed, it surprised me that he would be willing to live in the same compound with his ex.
"We'll see." Dad kissed my temple, shook Mika's hand again, and followed Ross back into the kitchen. I passed Jett to my omega dad for cuddles, my chest still tingling. I'd expected to be nervous about our sunset nuptials, or worried about my dads' interactions with each other. I hadn't anticipated being charmed by how cordial my family would be. The neighboring forest, our house, and the meerkat compound was special, indeed, if it could bring my broken family back together.
22
MIKA
Some would saywe were strange for having the reception before the wedding, but our meerkat family thrived in the daylight, and Gabe wanted a sunset wedding. We'd also had a baby before we exchanged vows. We both considered it appropriate to continue doing everything backward for the win.
As the sun dropped over the mountains to the west, a beautiful lavender twilight filled our backyard, matching the lavender and navy garland wrapped around the same driftwood arch Becca and Bruce had used for their wedding. In the shadow of the forest, I was glad we'd chosen to get married at home. It wasn't Bruce and Becca's beach wedding, but it was perfect for us. Our back yard overlooked the reserve I had protected with my extra research.
Mom had offered to bribe the state if my efforts failed, adding to Gabe's insistence she was a mafia queen. Thankfully, it wasn't necessary. No money would exchange hands until the state paid the folks around a coastal lake to the north for eminent domain.
In the seat nearest me, Mom held Jett, who had gone down for a nap with the sun. My family was so big, they filled most ofthe seats on both sides of the aisle. At this point, they knew both of us so well, they didn't have to pick a side.
Becca and Bruce sat on my side, too, because it was nearest their house, which was next door to ours. Dr. Ostref sat beside Becca, monitoring her contractions. She had gotten pregnant within a month of Gabe. Now, she was a week past her due date. We all hoped the wedding would bring about the right amount of excitement to encourage their wolf pup to enter the world. All day, we'd been plying her with spicy food between walks around the yard.
From where I stood beneath the arch, I could read her discomfort from the way she sat holding her belly to the way she tapped her feet on the patio stones. Feeling my gaze, she glanced my way. "How are you?" I mouthed. Instead of responding, she raised both thumbs in the air.
Beyond the time, place, and temporary tattoos, we hadn't put much effort into planning the wedding. Mom and Becca had done most of the work. Our pagan priestess had presided over Bruce and Becca's wedding, and she kept the driftwood arch in the back of her Ford truck. Mom had hauled in the folding chairs. Becca had made the silk flowers twisted around our heads like crowns.
Instead of tuxes, Gabe and I had settled on sleeveless tuxedo shirts, bow ties, and dress shorts. My accent color was navy blue, and his was lavender. With our tattoos on display, we faced each other beneath the arch. In true "We don't give a fuck" fashion, I stood on the side usually reserved for the bride or omega. Gabe would take the groom's side after walking down the aisle to better display his tattoo, though it was on his inner arm, so people would catch only a glimpse during our handfasting.
I watched in awe as my gorgeous mate walked between his two dads. Carl hulked over him, while his dad was a few inchesshorter. They looked like a downward trending bar graph as they made their way toward me.
Gabe's curls, which had gotten frizzier as the day progressed, were now slicked back and dark with gel. His blue eyes sparkled beneath the purple crown and glistened with unshed tears. He was the most beautiful omega I'd ever seen, and he was all mine.
The mark on the left side of his neck glowed as he approached me. While our vows meant nothing in the eyes of meerkat society, it was important for Gabe's human family to know I honored him in all the ways pertinent to my meerkat family, the state of California, and the Union.
Finally, he stood beside me, holding both of my hands in his, and the world melted away. Gazing into his eyes, I saw forever staring back at me. A life filled with friendship, love, and laughter. A partner who would weather hardships with me and expect the best from me, even on my worst days. A man who made me a better person simply by seeing me as I was, not who he thought I should be.
"I love you," I added to the end of my vows. I'd waited a long time to say it, but now it slipped out at odd times, even when it wasn't part of the script.
"I love you, too," he said, laughing through his tears.
I leaned in to kiss him, and the priestess admonished, "It's not quite time for that yet."
Instead of rings, we'd opted to do a handfast with ropes binding us together. The priestess twisted the rope over our inked arms, and I felt Gabe's meerkat tattoo squirm beneath my hand. For a moment, it felt like he wanted to break free of his ink and run off into the dark woods behind us.
The priestess uttered a prayer for our union, and the animal settled beneath Gabe's skin. After a final brush of fur against my palm, his presence calmed, leaving only the warmth of Gabe's tattooed skin.
"That was weird," Gabe whispered as we let go of our hands and pulled back, tying the knot between us.
"All right," the priestess interrupted. "Now it's time. I pronounce you husbands. You may kiss!"
I jumped on Gabe, almost knocking the driftwood arch over on its side. Gabe laughed into my mouth for a moment, and then he grabbed me by the scruff of my nape and took over the kiss.
I'd tried to show his family I would take care of him like an alpha, but this was the more honest expression of our relationship. Neither of us dominated the other. We would give and take as the relationship required, giving the same attention to our parenting roles as we did in bed. It may not have been what the traditionalists expected, but it was how we worked best.
23
GABE
We'd hireda photographer to take some candid shots during the wedding and some family photos in the lingering twilight. Becca was first up. We sat her in a chair and hugged her from behind. Though we tried to be quick, we had to stop for a contraction. We called Bruce over for a few more shots, but when we had to stop for another contraction, Dr. Ostref stepped in. "It's time. Let's get you home."
"Finally." Becca grimaced as I helped her to her feet. Then, Bruce swept her up into his arms and darted away. He was practically a blur until he unlocked their front door and carried Becca inside, the doctor on their heels.
"He ran faster carrying another person than I can run by myself."
