George blushed. “Sorry. I’ve only seen this done in the movies.”
The scene looked ethereal from behind my veil. The sun was crowning the tree line, dipping the world in a magic of golden fire.
Ivy resumed singing, and Jericho joined in from his spot in the front.
George walked me down the aisle and alleviated all my fears. Each step closer to Austin was a step in the direction I wanted to go. Trevor sat in the front row next to William, with Travis on his lap, who was standing up and squawking at his mommy.
It was so enchanting that I wanted the moment to last forever, like one of those magical snow globes that April kept in her collection. I felt nothing but love from these people who weren’t just a part of my past, but a symbol of my future.
When Austin finally turned, he stepped back as if in disbelief.
My beautiful bridesmaids looked exquisite in their blue dresses. Even Izzy had pinned up her hair for the occasion.
My mother reached out and patted my hand as I walked by. Finally, there was the awkward moment when George had to give me away.
He backed up a step and said to Austin, “She’s all yours!”
A few people chuckled as he hurried to his seat.
Austin sidled up to me and whispered, “I’m going to marry you.”
I kept a straight face and peered up at him through the veil. “You’ll just have to wait for my answer.”
Ivy and Jericho’s singing faded, and I glared at Turner nervously, unsure if he was going to officiate this as instructed.
Turner cleared his throat. “We are gathered here today to witness the union of Austin and Lexi, two Shifters I already mated years ago, but… here we are again.”
Lorenzo barked out a laugh, and it quickly died.
Turner gripped his little black book and addressed the crowd. “I’ve taken some liberties with the speech because this isn’t in my comfort zone. They put dearly beloved in the script, but I have a bone to pick with you, Maddox, so not everyone here is beloved until you get on my good side.”
Austin cleared his throat and threw him a baleful look.
Turner raised his brows. “Fine. We are here to witness the union of Austin and Lexi in holy matrimony, which is an honorable estate that is not to be entered into lightly, but reverently. If anyone can show just cause as to why these two shouldn’t be lawfully joined, you better speak now or forever hold your peace. Although it hardly matters since they’re already mated.”
I snorted and peered up at Austin. We knew going into this that Turner was going to be a card. We could have gotten a preacher, but it would have opened up too many questions, and we wanted to keep this among Shifters.
Turner tapped his fingers on his black book and centered his eyes on Austin. “Repeat after me: I, Austin Cole, take you to be my lawfully wedded wife. Tell her you’ll love her for the rest of her life and you’ll be a good man who doesn’t philander around and mistreat her. And make sure you bring her flowers just because. Women like that. Just don’t do it a lot, or she’ll think you have a guilty conscience and you’re trying to cover up something.”
Austin’s jaw set, and he turned to me. “I, Austin Cole, take you to be my lawfully wedded wife. To have and to hold for as long as we both shall live. You’re my heart, my soul, and my life mate. I’ll honor you all the days of my life and promise to protect and cherish you.”
Yeah, he embellished a little, but I liked it.
Turner swatted at a gnat. “Repeat after me: I, Lexi Cole, take you to be my lawfully wedded alpha. Tell him you’ll love him forever and won’t yell at him for leaving the toilet seat up. And let him go out with the boys and do stupid things like mudding or racing lawnmowers. Sometimes men just need to do dumb shit.”
A few chuckles overlapped around us.
I held Austin’s hand, struck by the love reflecting back at me from his blue eyes. “I, Lexi Cole, take you to be my lawfully wedded husband. I promise to love you for the rest of my life, just as I’ve been doing since I was five. You’re the man I’ve always dreamed of having by my side. My only regret is that we’re up here alone.” I turned to the audience. “If anyone wants to join in and be a part of this, nothing would make me happier. A pack does everything together.”
The first person who shot to his feet was Maddox, and he pulled my mother out of her seat.
William handed Travis to Rosie, who was sitting behind them, and coaxed Trevor to stand beside him. I felt proud knowing that if Turner went ahead with the ceremony, then their union would become official since a Councilman had acknowledged it. The best men crossed over to where the bridesmaids were, and each found his mate. Even Ivy had tugged Lorenzo to his feet by the back of his collar.