She’s not bound by her scars anymore.
Anxo helps his mate onto the stage, kissing her forehead, then springs back down the aisle, making everyone laugh.
My best friend takes her designated place beside me, and I lean in to kiss her cheek. “I’m so proud of you.”
Nevaeh gives me a teary smile and grabs my hand, knowing I’m seconds away from falling apart.
I remember how hard it was for Grace to admit that her dad wouldn’t be walking her down the aisle. The idea of doing it alone only made things worse. But Anxo, the solution man, effortlessly solved that dilemma by asking Grace if she wanted him to match his suit with her dress so they’d look aesthetically pleasing when he walked her down the aisle.
That man is always ten steps ahead. His ability to anticipate everything is borderline creepy.
Grace was over the moon by the gesture, and it took ustwenty minutes to stop her happy tears. Thoughts about how Ireallysoothed my mate fly out the window when the most adorable mini werewolf begins walking down the aisle in slow, careful steps.
August refuses to take the next step until he’s sure there are enough petals laid out for Grace to walk on.
I’m absolutely begging Grace to give me our own August.
My eyes search for my solace, and the second they find my jittery mate walking down the aisle with Anxo supporting her, the world around me stops existing. I’m like a lovesick fool when it comes to her.
Her ball gown trails behind her, and even though the fabric looks heavy, I know it’s incredibly light, so I don’t have to worry about Grace feeling weighed down by it.
Nevaeh gave me so much shit for being ‘a softy’ when I kept asking if Grace’s dress was comfortable. But once I got my answer, I let it slip before Hazel that Nevaeh had become oddly fond of chilled soda, and she did the rest.
Tit for tat, Monkey.
Seeing my beautiful bride, I finally get why August was so adamant about this suit. Grace is wearing the exact shade of red as the rubies on my sleeves.
The delicate off-shoulder straps rest against her smooth, honey-brown skin, and I silently curse myself for not leaving a trail of love bites along her slender neck.
She’smarryingyou, dumbass. The whole damn world knows she’s yours.
“How are you feeling now?” Seiji’s dad asks, patting my shoulder from behind.
“Like I’m the luckiest man alive.” I try to hide how my voice breaks, but a tear falls down my cheek anyway. Grace shakes her head at me with a soft smile, her warm caramel eyes never leaving mine.
It’s the first time I’ve seen Grace wearing a dark color. She usually prefers cool pastels, but after tonight, I’ll be begging her to wear red more often.
The moment she’s close enough, I step forward to help her onto the stage, ignoring the side eye Anxo throws my way. Her soft hand in mine is all it takes to finally untangle the tight knot in my stomach.
“Dearly beloved, we gather here today in the presence of the Sisters of Fate to witness and bless the bond between this man and this woman. As their souls link for eternity…”
I get lost in my mate’s eyes and her radiant smile that only grows brighter as the ceremony continues. I’m so wrapped up in her that I completely zone out of what’s happening around me. I could’ve missed the entire thing if Grace hadn’t squeezed my hands and laughed softly, pulling my focus back on the ceremony.
“I assume you’ve both written your own vows?”
We both nod, and Horseman Nakaya asks Grace to go first.
Panic flashes through me. What if she says all the perfect things, and when it’s my turn, I fumble like an idiot through what took me weeks to prepare?
But my spiraling thoughts fade the moment her calming voice fills the air.
“Harvey Adler, you’ve held my heart since the day we met. Something in my soul clicked in place as if it always knew I was supposed to find you… even when I didn’t let myself believe it. My poor heart never had a chance. You stole it the first time we talked, and you were so afraid to blink because you didn’t want to miss anything.” I duck my head bashfully.
And here I thought I was being cool about it.
“I promise to stand by you forever. To lock away your worries, fight your storms, and fill every crack in your armor with my sunshine.”
Carefully, I brush a tear from her cheek so I don’t smudge her flawless makeup.
