Chapter Nineteen
Bre reminded herself to breathe as she walked down the aisle to where Jonah waited for her.
She’d made the choice to walk herself, but her family sat in the front row.
Finn, Murphy and their mates had easily accepted Rory, Enzo, and Cilia.
Even now, Cilia sat on Murphy’s lap, her hands playing in his shoulder-length red hair.
She’d pretty much claimed him as hers, and she’d even told Tah and Abby’s daughter, Regan, that Uncle Murphy was hers.
Regan had merely nodded and responded that Uncle Reno and Uncle Logan were hers.
As if that settled everything, the two girls had been thick as thieves for the rest of the afternoon.
Bre hoped they had the opportunity to grow up together.
God, what she would have given to grow up with Finn and Murphy.
To have each other their whole lives. This was where Cilia needed to grow up.
With other children, laughing and playing.
With shifters living their lives instead of fighting for them.
It was everything she wanted for not just Cilia but for Rory and Enzo, for her and Jonah, and those out there wandering and lost, broken and struggling to heal.
Tonight, they celebrated those who had healed. They celebrated love and joy and possibility. Friendship and family. She took Jonah’s hand as she finally reached him, and they turned to face Tony.
“I’ve heard it said that a shifter is never really complete until they find their mate, the other half of their soul.
I’ve been lucky enough to witness it more than once, but it still fills my heart every time.
” Tony paused as he looked at Jonah. “Tonight is one of those moments. I’ve known Jonah Conti for a long time.
As a soldier, a warrior, and, most importantly, a friend.
He’s a man I’d trust with my life. It’s been a joy watching him fall for the woman beside him.
I can’t think of any two people more deserving of love than these two. ”
Bre glanced at Jonah through a blur of tears.
She hadn’t expected Tony’s words to hit her so hard.
Her emotions were high, though. She’d never been alone, despite what she’d been made to feel.
Now, she would never feel that again. She had Jonah.
She had all the people around her, even those she’d yet to meet officially.
“Tonight, we not only celebrate the ritual of marriage as ordained by the laws of man, but the ritual of life mates as celebrated by shifters.
As a couple Jonah and Bre represent both.
As a pride, a group, we represent both. We are the representation of what could be, what should be.
A place of acceptance and harmony, one of love and hope. One that the world should mimic.
“Jonah and Bre, do you admit you’re mates? Joined in hearts, bound by spirit?”
Bre shared a look with her mate.
“We do,” they said in unison, voices strong and sure.
“Jonah, repeat after me. In the name of the creator who has blessed us, by the life that flows within my veins and the love that flows within my heart, I take you as mine for now and always.”
Jonah never dropped her gaze as he repeated his vow. Several tears spilled over Bre’s cheeks as he did.
Tony continued, “To my heart, of my spirit, as my life’s mate unto death and beyond, I shall possess you and be possessed by you, so that none may come between us. I am yours.”
Jonah didn’t falter, repeating every word in a voice that carried across the courtyard and filled her heart to bursting.
“Now, Bre,” Tony said.
She took a breath and repeated after Tony.
“In the name of the creator who has blessed us, by the life that flows within my veins and the love that flows within my heart, I take you as mine for now and always. To my heart, of my spirit, as my life’s mate unto death and beyond.
I shall cleave to you and be cleaved by you, so that none may come between us. I am yours.”
“In the name of the creator,” Tony finished. “I proclaim you mates. One heart. One soul. One life.”
She and Jonah repeated. “One heart. One soul. One life.”
“As they’ve already signed the official documents as needed by the state of Oklahoma, I now present to you Jonah and Bre Conti, cherished mates, husband and wife. From this day forward.”
Jonah reached for her, cupping her face and tilting it up as he lowered his lips to hers.
The kiss was a claiming all its own. One that set fire to the words they’d spoken and made her eager for later in the evening, when they would be alone and able to celebrate their joining with just the two of them.
Then Jonah eased back as they were surrounded by well-wishers.
Her brothers each pulled her in to hugs. Finn was reluctant to let her go.
“I’m not going anywhere,” she promised and wasn’t surprised when she saw tears in his eyes. “We’re together now.”
“Together,” he choked out, squeezing her tight again.
“You’re beautiful,” Rory said as he and Enzo each gave her a hug.
“I’m going to get mated someday,” Cilia said, having abandoned Murphy to twirl around her Uncle Rory and Enzo.
“You’ll be beautiful, too,” Enzo assured her.
“I will,” she agreed. “I’m going to tell Regan and Amala.” She took off before any of the adults could say anything.
“Amala?” Rory asked.
“She’s the daughter of the pride’s doctor, Diane Renway Ephraim, and her mate Zane Ephraim. The girls all pretty close in age,” Jonah told them. “And closely watched by everyone in the pride. She’s perfectly safe.”
“It’s a lot to take in,” Murphy added. “I hope you’ll both stay for a while.”
“Or for good,” Bre suggested. “Make this place your home, too.”
Rory and Enzo shared a look.
“We’ll see,” Enzo said, and Bre knew it would depend on the reception of the rest of the pride.
“While you’re deciding,” Finn said, putting his arm around Rory’s shoulders. “Tell me, cousin, does music run in your veins also?”
“Hell, yes,” Enzo said. “The man has the voice of an angel.”
“Perfect,” Murphy said, going to Rory’s other side. “We like to sing a little ourselves.”
“And Ariel, I don’t think you’ve met her yet, she’s got an amazing voice, too,” Finn added.
“Let’s get some drinks and fill the night with song,” Murphy said, tugging Oakley to his other side and giving her a kiss.
“Bre Conti,” Jonah said into Bre’s ear, wrapping his arms around her and tugging her back against his chest. “I’m the happiest man alive.”
She turned her head to look over her shoulder at him. “I love you.”
“I’m so in love with you,” he replied.
The sound of a guitar filled the air, then voices, rich and deep, blended and harmonized.
There was joy and laughter. She saw Enzo and Rory with Tony and Drake while Cilia danced with Regan and Amala, Tah and Abby watching over the threesome with a smile.
So many people, yet they’d built a community that thrived and continued to grow.
Jonah took her hand and spun her away from him before pulling her back in. She laughed as he danced her around. Then laughed more as others joined them. Later, when things were dying down and couples were wondering away for a private moment or to put children to bed, Bre swayed against Jonah.
“You scooped me up from the road without hesitation,” Bre told him. “Without fear for who I might be or what I might have done.”
“You were hurt. I’d think less of myself if I’d left you lying there, bleeding out,” he said.
“Even when I couldn’t speak, when I couldn’t find my voice or the words, you were there for me. You never left me.”
“I never will,” he promised.
“Jonah, you loved me when I was struggling to love myself. When I wasn’t even sure who I was.”
“You’re an easy woman to love.”
She shook her head. “You offered me comfort. Accepted everything I could give and more importantly, everything I couldn’t.
You held me when I needed it, protected me even from myself, and never once gave up on me.
Before I remembered anything, I knew I was a shifter who couldn’t shift.
One who would never be able to. It was hard to accept.
Meeting you, knowing you, I’ve never felt more connected to someone.
Watching you love and accept me has helped me love and accept myself, helped me to embrace the beast inside me, there but separate.
There’s not enough thanks in the world for all you’ve given me. ”
“Should I begin listing everything you’ve given me?” he murmured, making her laugh again.
“No need to, I feel it every time we’re together. It’s in the way you look at me, the way you touch me. The way you love me.”
“Why don’t you let me take you to our bed and show you then?” he whispered against her neck as he trailed kisses along her skin.
“Why don’t you?” she agreed. He swept her up into his arms and carried her away from the party that she had a feeling would keep going into the wee hours of the morning.
There were things she needed to focus on, but they were for tomorrow.
She still had memories to filter through.
Somehow, she needed to figure out how to persuade Rory and Enzo to stay.
She had a community to immerse herself in, a place where she’d find her place and a role, and a family to reunite with.
She and Jonah had a life to create, one filled with all the things she’d thought would never be hers.
But there was time for that. Time and love and Jonah. What more could a woman ask for?