Chapter 387
“Better than a princess,” Leah corrected. “You look like a bride who’s
in love and so happy that you’re glowing from the inside out.”
And pregnant with your first babies, Sarah added, smiling through her own tears. “Which makes it even more beautiful.”
I turned slowly, watching the fabric move and flow. The back of the dress dipped low, showing off my shoulder blades, with small pear! buttons running down to the waist. The train wasn’t too long, just enough to be elegant without being cumbersome.
“I can’t believe this is really happening,” I whispered, placing my hand on my belly. “I’m getting married. To Tristan. The love of my life.
“Believe it,” Sarah said firmly, coming to stand behind me and meeting my eyes in the mirror. “You deserve every bit of this happiness, Athena. You and Tristan both do.”
There was a knock at the door, and Orion’s voice called out, “Everyone decent? Can I come in?”
“Come in,” I called back, still staring at myself in the mirror.
The door opened and my brother stepped in, looking devastating in his tuxedo. He stopped dead when he saw me, his eyes going wide.
“Athena,” he breathed. “You look…”
‘Don’t you start crying too,” I warned, even as my own eyes filled again. “I can’t handle it.”
“Too late,” he said, his voice thick as he crossed the room to me. “My little sister is getting married. I’m allowed to cry.”
He pulled me into a careful hug, mindful of my dress and my belly. I buried my face in his shoulder, breathing in his familiar scent–pack, family, home.
“Thank you,” I whispered. “For everything. For supporting us, for performing our mating ceremony, for walking me down the aisle today. For being the best big brother anyone could ask for.”
Jack
“Thank you for letting me be part of this,” he said, pulling back to look at me. “For trusting me with these moments. I’m so proud of you, Athena. So proud of the woman you’ve become, the mate you’ve chosen, the family you’re building.”
“Okay, everyone stop,” Kiara declared, fanning her own eyes.
We’re all going to be crying messes and we haven’t even started yet.
“She’s right,” Leah said, laughing through her tears. “We need to finish getting ready. The ceremony starts in less than an hour.”
The bridesmaids put on their dresses–the sage green looked beautiful on all three of them, and I felt a rush of love for these women who had dropped everything to be here for me today.
Sarah, who had become like a sister, Leah, who had turned from an employee to a very close friend. And Kiara, my maid of honor, who had surprised me in the best possible way.
“You all look so beautiful,” I said, and damn it, there were the tears again.
“Stop complimenting us,” Kiara ordered, but she was
smiling. “You’re the one who’s supposed to be the star today.”
There was another knock on the door, and Lily’s voice called out, “Aun Athena? Can I come in? I want to see!”
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‘Of course, sweetie,‘ I called back.
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The door opened and Lily came in, wearing her flower girl dress, a sweet white dress with a sage green sash that matched the bridesmaids. She stopped when she saw me, her eyes going huge,
‘Aunt Athena,‘ she whispered. “You look like a princess. Like an actual real princess.”
‘Come here, baby,” I said, holding out my arms.
She ran to me, and I bent down carefully to hug her. “You look like a princess too, I told her. “The most beautiful flower girl ever.”
I practiced not dropping the petals too fast,” she said seriously. “Uncle Tristan said the most important job today is mine, Liam and uncle Derek’s. Liam and uncle Derek has the rings, and I have the petals. We can’t mess up,”
“You’re going to be perfect, I assured her.
of you.”
‘Five minutes, Sarah announced, checking her phone, “The cars are here. We need to head to the venue.”
My stomach flipped. This was it. This
really happening.
The venue was about fifteen minutes away, an elegant hotel ballroom that Monica had helped us book. It had floor–to–ceiling windows overlooking a garden, crystal chandeliers, and enough space for all our guests.
When we arrived, I was whisked away to a private room where I could wait until it was time to make my entrance. Through the door, I could hear the sounds of guests arriving, the soft music playing, the murmur of conversation.
“How are you feeling?” Kiara asked, straightening my train.
“Terrified,” I admitted. “Excited. Like I might throw up. Like I might cry. Like I might do all of those things at once.”
“That sounds about right for a bride,” Leah said, smiling.
Sarah peeked out the door, then turned back to us with a grin. “Everyone’s here. The room looks amazing.”
“Okay,” Orion said, appearing in the doorway with Liam in his hand. ‘s time. Everyone ready?”
My heart hammered in my chest. “Ready.”
The bridesmaids filed out first, one by one. Then Lily, carefully carrying her basket of rose petals, walking slowly just like she’d practiced. Liam by her side, surprisingly getting it perfectly too.
Through the open door, I could hear the music change, the wedding march beginning to play.
Orion offered me his arm. “Last chance to run,” he joked.
“Not a chance,” I said firmly, taking his arm. “Let’s do this.”
We walked to the entrance of the ballroom, and I could see the aisle stretching before me, white runner lined with candles and flowers, leading to an arbor decorated with sage green and white florals. Beyond that, I could see the guests all standing, all turning to look.
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But I couldn’t focus on any of them. Because at the end of the aisle, standing by the arbor with Derek beside him and the officiant waiting.
was Tristan.
Even from this distance, I could see the moment he spotted me. The way his whole body went rigid, his eyes widening. The way his hand came up to his chest, like he couldn’t quite breathe.
“He’s going to lose it when he sees you up close,” Orion
mured in my ear.
“I’m going to lose it first,” I whispered back, my
already filling with tears.
The music swelled. Orion squeezed my arm.
“Ready?” he asked softly.
I took a deep breath, my hand instinctively moving to my belly where our babies moved, as if they could sense the importance of this moment. I looked down the aisle at Tristan, at the man who had become everything to me, at my mate, my love, my future.
I didn’t know how Tristan would react when I reached him. Would he cry? Would he be speechless? Would he be able to get through his vows without breaking down?
I couldn’t wait to find out.
“Ready,” I said.
And I took my first step toward the rest of our lives together.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
