Chapter 26
My bedroom doorburst open and startled me awake. I bolted up in bed with a gasp and nearly screamed at the sight of two women charging inside, with a third little lady skipping in behind them. Before I could so much as take a breath, the three of them screamed, “Happy Wedding Day!”
“Good grief,” I gasped, my hand flying to my chest.
It was a good thing Gabriel slept like the dead—literally. At least they hadn’t disturbed him.
Hardly wasting a second, Jaden seized my wrist and yanked me out of bed. “Come on, let’s go!”
Oh, thank goodness I had slept in pajamas last night. As a werewolf, nudity didn’t bother me, nor did it bother my sister or niece—our little miniature werewolf in training—but that didn’t mean I wanted them gawking at my naked ass. Especially since they’d already dressed in their bridesmaids’ gowns.
“Move it, move it, move it!” Lucy barked like a drill sergeant, herding me into the living room by slapping me on the butt.
Before I’d had a chance to rub the sleep from my eyes, she planted me in the middle of the room and started tugging at my clothes and hair.
“Give me a second to wake up,” I begged. “Maybe take a shower?”
“Nope!” Jaden announced. “No time for anything like that. Sunset is in an hour, and we have a lot to do.”
I gasped and whirled around to stare out the window. Twilight was upon us, the deep blues and purples darkening the sky. I wasn’t a vampire, but I definitely kept the hours of one. Joys of living with and loving a vampire. My clock was more nocturnal than the average werewolf’s.
“Why didn’t you wake me earlier?” I demanded.
Lucy snorted as she disrobed me. Before I knew it, my nightmare from earlier, of me standing buck naked in front of everyone, became a reality. At least Sam and Josh weren’t here.
“You didn’t get in until when, a little bit before sunrise?”
I thought back to this morning and nodded. “Last night’s hunt was a tough one. The bastard kept eluding me.”
“And then you stayed up, making sure everything was ready for tonight?”
I nodded again. “I think it was around eleven am when I finally hit the sack.”
“Exactly,” Lucy said, “So we thought it’d be best to let you sleep. I mean, no one wants a cranky bride on their wedding day.”
“I’m never cranky,” I argued.
Laughter echoed through the room as Lucy and Jaden shared a conspiratorial glance. “Sure you aren’t.”
Even Annalise, my dear sweet niece, laughed. At my playful glare, she lifted her stuffed bunny to her face, muffling her laughter.
“Traitor,” I mumbled.
“Put this on,” Lucy ordered, thrusting today’s armor—lace and silk undergarments—at me.
I wrestled myself into the lingerie, then pulled on the silk robe Jaden offered me. Barely a second later, she plopped me down onto a chair and aimed a spotlight right at my face. I winced and shielded my eyes from the light, only for Jaden to smack my hand down and continue inspecting me.
Then she declared war on my face—at least, that was how it felt. She poked, prodded, and tweezed wherever necessary. Hair and makeup came next, followed soon after by some more taping of my boobs to keep them, in Lucy’s words, “perky.” Here I thought my twenty-eight turning twenty-nine-year-old boobs were plenty perky.
“We good?” Jaden asked when she finally stepped back, allowing Lucy’s critical eye a final sweep.
“Stunning. Now, let’s get that cute butt in the car.”
I rose from my chair, but apparently wasn’t moving fast enough.
Jaden practically shoved me toward the front door. “Time’s ticking. We have to go! We were supposed to be at the venue thirty minutes ago, and we need to get out of here before your groom wakes and sees you. It’s bad luck to see the bride on the wedding day!”
I snorted under my breath. Superstitions weren’t really my thing. I slipped on a pair of slippers and pulled my robe tighter around my middle—my dress was already waiting for me at the venue. At least it was summer, so I didn’t need any other layers.
The drive took us twenty minutes, and that was with Lucy speeding. I kept waiting for flashing red and blue lights to pull us over, but it seemed fate was on our side tonight.
The moment our tires kissed the venue’s parking lot, Jaden sprang into action, yanking me from the car with an urgency that had my heart racing and my feet tangling in my robe. Did they not realize that the wedding couldn’t start without me? We had time—but try telling them that.
Lucy, Jaden, and an excited Annalise escorted me through the estate’s grandeur, a blur of lights and shadows, before shoving me inside the changing room.
Once again stationed in the middle of the room, I watched as Jaden approached my dress, which hung next to the bed. She touched the gown with such reverence I almost laughed. At least she had the decency to be gentle with something, even if that something wasn’t me. Considering the cost of the dress, I appreciated her care.
Working together, Lucy and Jaden helped me step into the gown, and then my heels. The fabric, embodying months of searching, hugged my form. Its design, boasting a sweetheart neckline combined with what the saleswoman had called a “sultry thigh split” that would show off my “great legs” and a chapel train, was perfect. When I’d mentioned that I was looking for something I could move around in and kick a little vampire ass if necessary, the saleswoman had paled. Guess she wasn’t used to slayers in her line of work.
Lucy and Jaden stepped back to admire me, both smiling victoriously.
“Absolutely stunning,” Jaden murmured, a sentiment echoed by Lucy’s eager nod. “It’s too bad you didn’t hire a photographer.”
I shrugged. It’d seemed silly to pay thousands of dollars for someone to snap photos when Gabriel wouldn’t show up in them. One of the cons of being a vampire.
“Let me take a few pictures of you,” Lucy said, pulling out her phone. “Trust me, you’ll want them later.”
I indulged them, our laughter mingling as they put me in a series of ridiculous poses.
A knock brought an end to our revelry, and all three of us glanced up to find Anna standing in the doorway, her smile a beacon of warmth and joy.
“Is it time?” I asked.
She nodded. “Gabriel is downstairs with Vlad. Are you ready?”
I pressed a hand to my stomach to settle my nerves. “Definitely. Let’s do this.”
Arms locked with Lucy’s and Jaden’s, we left the room and started for the stairs, Annalise trailing behind me. Every step down had my breath hitching and my heart racing. I knew this was just a drop in the bucket compared to the eternity I would spend with Gabriel. But my excitement was hard to contain. I couldn’t wait to see him standing at the end of the aisle, dressed in his tux.
Since I had no father, I’d asked both Lucy and Jaden to escort me down the aisle before taking their places as my bridesmaids. And little Annalise was, of course, the flower girl, a role she’d happily taken on.
Anna handed Annalise the basket of flower petals and kissed her forehead. “Have at it, sweetie.”
Giggling, Annalise ripped through the open door and danced down the aisle, showing off her new ballerina skills while tossing the petals about. She threw them with such exuberance that most ended up on people’s laps, but no one seemed to mind. Laughter rumbled through the crowd.
I tore my focus away from my niece, my gaze jumping right to Gabriel.
God, he looked like he’d stepped right out of a storybook. Dressed in a classy tux, I eagerly drank in the sight of him. He’d styled his tousled hair, keeping the hair out of his eyes, but just messy enough to look purposefully done. His usually stormy gray eyes gleamed with excitement as he stared at me, his lips pulling back to reveal just the tips of his fangs.
“Okay, our turn,” Lucy whispered.
Together, the three of us walked down the aisle. I couldn’t believe this was my life right now. That I was walking toward my soulmate, ready to promise myself to him. And I was more than ready.
When we finally reached the end of the aisle, Lucy and Jaden stepped away from me and took their places across from Vlad and Sam, who held little Fynn in his arms. Gabriel stepped forward, took my hand, and led me the rest of the way.
The officiant immediately started his speech, but I simply stared into Gabriel’s eyes, immortalizing this moment in my memory. It was odd to think how far we’d come in our year together. To think that this had all started with me kidnapping him. It made me wince to think about it now, especially after all we’d been through, but I honestly didn’t regret knocking him flat on his back. It’d brought us together and given me a love like nothing I’d ever thought possible. Gabriel was my life, my love, my family. And I was so proud to be standing up here next to him.
When the officiant asked us to recite our vows, Gabriel stood straighter and squeezed my hands. “Maddie, standing here before you, I’m in awe. In awe of your beauty, your kindness, and your loving nature. It’s taken a great deal to get us to this moment. We’ve faced literal demons and emerged not just unscathed, but stronger and more united. I’ve known love before, and I’ve lost it. But you’ve taught me that even an immortal heart can be born anew.
“Every challenge we’ve faced, every nightmare, every cage, has proven one thing to me. You are the light that guides me home. You’ve shown me that love isn’t just about the battles fought together, but also the quiet moments in between. You are my warrior and my savior. And I vow to cherish every day with you. I am irrevocably yours.”
Tears burned my eyes, but I blinked them back. I didn’t want to ruin my makeup, not after all the effort Jaden had put into it.
My turn. “Gabriel, for so long, I was alone. Growing up, I had no one. I always felt like the odd person out. I never fit in, and I had no idea what it meant to have a family. I built walls around myself, thinking that I was better off alone. But then, my life took a turn. I found friends who became my family, and a sister who became my best friend.
“And then, I found you. Meeting you changed everything. Suddenly, there was a light in my life that I’d always known was missing. With you, I found the kind of understanding and connection I’d always hoped for, but never believed I’d find. You’ve taught me that home isn’t a place; it’s a feeling, and my home is with you. You’ve given me a sense of belonging I never thought possible, and I promise to spend every day making sure you feel as loved and cherished as you’ve made me feel. I love you, and just as you are mine, I am yours. Forever and always.”
Gabriel watched me, love pouring off him in waves. I knew he wanted to kiss me, but he had to wait until the end. He gently took my hand and slid my wedding ring on my finger, his promise to me now symbolized in a circle of gold.
I did the same with his ring, my hands trembling slightly as I slid it over his finger. Our eyes locked, and we shared a soft smile.
“By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
Gabriel did more than that. He wound his arms around my waist and dipped me backward, his kiss landing on my throat—a silent promise of what awaited us tonight. The room erupted with applause. When Gabriel helped straighten me back up, I cupped his face and kissed him properly, his lips soft against mine.
“I love you,” I whispered when we separated.
Gabriel smiled and kissed me again. “I love you too. Always and forever.”