Chapter 13
JUSTIN
“Isn’t it supposed to be bad luck for the people getting married to see each other right before the wedding?” Scott nervously adjusted his sleeves. He wore a sports jacket and a collared shirt over dress jeans.
“Pretty sure that’s from the days where they didn’t spend the night before together fucking like bunnies.” Justin hoped to jolly his partner out of last-minute jitters. He wore a similar dressy casual outfit, since neither man wanted to deal with the fuss of tuxedos.
“I guess that’s true.” Scott blushed a bit at the memory.
Justin leaned in for a kiss and jumped when a knock came at the changing room door.
A month had passed since the attempt on Scott’s life. It seemed like a whirlwind between giving testimony about the Mob’s involvement with the mine and the attacks on Scott and getting him moved from Albany and settled in Fox Hollow.
Scott gave a deposition about the attempts on his life, but the case never got to court.
Santoro and both hitmen died under mysterious circumstances, and the Witch Tribunal took Wilmot for sentencing.
Since no one new tried to kill Scott, they took it as the Mob’s way of closing out a troublesome chapter and ridding themselves of problematic associates.
Justin was glad that Scott was saved from the ordeal of a long, drawn-out trial.
Justin saw it as an awkward truce, especially since an unexplained explosion destroyed access to the mine, ensuring its permanent closure.
He figured that the land would be tied up in legalities for years, but the threat of the mine being reopened was over.
Thanks to folks from the Fox Institute and the town’s magical community, the restless ghosts had been sent on, and the mine had been magically sealed to keep any dangerous creatures inside so they couldn’t hurt anyone again.
That hadn’t left a lot of time to plan a wedding, but both men agreed that they cared less about the ceremony than about making the vows. He felt almost a superstitious urgency to settle the matter and make Scott his legal mate, and Justin suspected Scott felt something of the same.
Technically, acknowledging each other as fated mates and exchanging a mating bite was a binding marriage among shifters and the paranormal community, and was recognized as such in Fox Hollow.
But Justin and Scott had talked about it, and they wanted a version of the traditional ceremony as well as a reason to celebrate with their friends.
“It’s time.” Justin took a deep, steadying breath and reached for Scott’s hand. “Let’s do this.”
Scott and Justin had decided to get married at the Fox Hollow Justice of the Peace’s office with just a few close friends as witnesses. Liam had orchestrated a fire hall reception complete with a local DJ and cookie tables for afterward.
“Okay,” Scott replied. “I don’t know why I’m so nervous when I want this so much.”
Justin shrugged. “Because it’s a big deal. It’s okay to be nervous. But we’re fated mates, with or without a fancy license.” He kissed Scott again, lingering longer, until he felt Scott relax in his arms.
Scott and Justin walked out of the dressing room together, hand in hand. Justin checked the mirror to make sure they didn’t look rumpled from their last-minute clinch and smoothed his hair in the back.
Liam and Russ were waiting, along with Brandon and Riley, his mate. Everyone else would catch up at the reception, which Justin suspected might include most of the town as well as both their families, who were coming for the celebration.
“There’s the happy couple,” Liam crowed. “You both look stunning.”
Justin felt his cheeks color, but he couldn’t hide his grin. “Thanks.”
The sound of a man clearing his throat got their attention, and they turned toward where Don Conrad, the town’s Justice of the Peace, stood. He wore a blue judge’s robe over his suit, looking formal and official. “Is everyone present?” Conrad asked.
“Yes, sir,” Justin answered.
“I am,” Scott said. “My coyote wants cookies.”
“Then let the happy couple come forward.”
Justin and Scott exchanged a glance and walked up to stand a few feet in front of the justice. Liam and the others closed ranks behind them.
“Justin Miller, do you take this man to be your mate and your partner for life, forsaking all others, through good times and bad?” Conrad asked.
Justin swallowed at the nervous lump in his throat. “I do.”
“And do you, Scott Jefferson, take this man to be your mate and your partner for life, forsaking all others, through good times and bad?”
“I do,” Scott replied in a voice that slightly trembled.
“I now pronounce you married. You may kiss the groom,” Conrad told them with a grin.
Their friends teased them with catcalls as Justin took Scott in his arms and kissed him soundly.
“Congrats on getting hitched. Is it time for cookies yet?” Brandon slapped Justin on the shoulder.
“Almost,” Justin replied.
“Soon,” Scott assured him.
Justin had already paid Justice Conrad, so he and Scott thanked the man and invited him to join them for the reception.
“Mighty tempting,” Conrad said. “I’m a sucker for good cookies. Maybe I’ll see you over there.”
By the time they got to the fire hall, everything was ready to start the party. A banner that read “Congratulations Justin and Scott” hung on the wall above the platform where the DJ was tweaking his sound system.
Scott let out a low whistle. “When you said cookies…I didn’t expect that!”
Two long tables stretched along one side of the room with heaping platters of cookies, pastries, and sweets of all types. Some were a gift from Sherri at Bear Necessities, while others were home-baked from friends.
“Congratulations.” Scott’s cousin Lynn and her husband joined them.
Lynn hugged both men while Troy gave hearty handshakes.
“I made the oatmeal scotchies you’ve always loved, along with some newer creations.
I hope you like them.” Lynn grinned and bumped shoulders with her mate. “Welcome to the family, Justin.”
“You have never made a bad cookie in your life,” Scott replied. “I’m sure we’ll love all of them.”
“Congratulations, Scott and Justin!” Scott’s mother pulled him into a tight hug and then did the same for Justin.
Justin saw her gaze linger for a few seconds on their mating bites, since as a shifter she would understand.
Scott’s father shook their hands before embracing them both as his siblings crowded around.
“We’re so happy for you both!” Justin’s mother exclaimed seconds later, as she and his father also hugged them tightly.
His brother and sister took turns with hugs and back slaps, sharing in the joy.
If anyone else noticed the bites, they chose not to ask.
Justin had decided to wait to address the reality of shifters and see if it was necessary to share the secret with his family, figuring he could do that when the time was right.
More friends came up to wish them well, even though Scott and Justin hadn’t planned on a receiving line.
Justin had grown up in Fox Hollow and knew a lot of his friends and neighbors would come to the reception, but he was impressed by how many new acquaintances Scott had made in his short time in town.
He’s settled in and made Fox Hollow his town in his own way, Justin thought, proud of his partner.
Hooray for that Scorpio-Taurus stubbornness.
Really comes in handy when the chips are down.
Maybe everything we went through to keep him safe made that bond stronger.
I guess it takes a village to beat the Mob.
Knowing that the people who threatened Scott were dead or in jail gave Justin the peace of mind and confidence to stop looking over his shoulder for a new threat. Still, he had learned just how fragile safety could be and knew he would never take a sense of security for granted again.
“Hey.” Scott bumped his arm. “No glum faces. We’re married, and it’s our party. Time to celebrate.”
“Sorry,” Justin said. “I just got lost in my thoughts.” He pecked Scott on the lips.
“I guess I need to plan more distractions,” Scott joked with a smolder in his eyes. “Challenge accepted.”
The DJ started off with a rocking playlist that drew almost everyone to the front to dance, and Justin let the music drive all other thoughts and worries from his mind.
By the time the songs slowed to give people a chance to catch their breath and grab drinks and food, Justin had already peeled off his jacket, and Scott had done the same.
“Happy wedding day,” Justin murmured against Scott’s ear as they slow danced. He surreptitiously licked the “bite” bruise on his neck from the prior night’s lovemaking and felt Scott shiver at the touch.
“Happy wedding day.” Scott pulled Justin close enough to feel his hard bulge through his jeans.
When the music wound down and the party drifted to a close, friends gathered around them again for hugs and congratulations.
“I can’t believe how much food we went through.” Justin looked at the decimated platters that had been heaping earlier in the evening and now were nearly empty.
“I did my part.” Scott patted his stomach. “I have no regrets—and neither does my coyote.”
Do you think married sex is different from unmarried sex?” Scott asked in a deep rumble that went straight to Justin’s cock.
“I don’t know. Let’s go find out,” Justin replied with a grin.