Page 26 of Billy and Cord (Omega Hearts #1)

The late morning sun streamed through the bedroom windows, casting golden light across the hardwood floors of their new home.

Cord stood in front of the full-length mirror, adjusting his tie for the third time in as many minutes.

His fingers, usually steady enough to assemble weapons in complete darkness, trembled slightly as he worked the silk fabric.

“You keep messing with that tie, and you’re gonna strangle yourself before the ceremony,” Bullet said from where he lounged in the doorway, already dressed in his own suit. “And then you know Billy’s gonna kill me for letting it happen.”

Cord shot his best friend a look through the mirror. “It’s crooked.”

“It’s fine. You’re just nervous.” Bullet pushed off from the doorframe and walked over, batting Cord’s hands away to straighten the already-perfect knot. “There. Now stop fidgeting before you wrinkle your shirt.”

“I’m not nervous,” Cord protested, even as he ran his hands down the front of his charcoal gray suit jacket.

They’d decided against traditional tuxedos - Billy had said he wanted them both to be comfortable, not stuffed into penguin suits.

The compromise was well-tailored suits that they could wear again, though Cord suspected Billy just didn’t want to deal with cummerbunds and bow ties.

“Right. That’s why you’ve checked your watch twelve times in the last five minutes.”

Had he? Cord glanced at his wrist again, then caught himself and scowled. “I just want everything to be perfect for him. Him and his friends have worked so hard for this day to be right.”

Bullet’s expression softened. “It will be awesome. Just remember, Billy doesn’t need fancy. He just needs you.”

A knock on the door interrupted them, and Blade stuck his head in. “Razor’s got the rings, the caterer’s all set up in the backyard, and Mr. Brown just arrived. We’re good to go in twenty.”

Twenty minutes. In twenty minutes, Cord would be marrying his mate.

The thought sent a fresh wave of anticipation through him, his wolf practically vibrating with excitement beneath his skin.

They were already mated, already bonded, but this - this was for the world to see.

This was Billy taking his name, becoming part of his pack officially, even though Cord had considered him pack from the moment they’d met.

“How’s Billy doing?” Cord asked, trying to sound casual.

They’d decided to get ready separately, Billy insisting on some traditions even if they were ignoring others.

Cece had practically squealed with delight when Billy had asked him to help get ready, and Cord knew Tristan was probably there too, the three omegas turning a simple getting dressed mission into an event.

“Razor checked in with Tristan about ten minutes ago,” Blade reported with a grin. “Apparently, there was a minor crisis involving hair gel, but it’s been resolved. Oh, and Cece’s mom keeps trying to feed everyone. She brought enough food to feed an army.”

That sounded about right. Cord had met Cece’s parents a few weeks before, and despite his size, Mrs. Rawlings had immediately decided he was too thin and needed feeding up. The fact that he was a full head taller than her and built like a linebacker hadn’t deterred her in the slightest.

“The photographer’s here too,” Blade added. “She wants to get some shots of you guys getting ready.”

Cord nodded. Billy had been adamant about having a photographer - not for some fancy album, but because he wanted to remember every moment.

“I never thought I’d have this,” he’d said quietly one night, curled against Cord’s side.

“A mate, a wedding, a family who accepts me. I want to remember it all.”

The memory made Cord’s chest tight. His sweet mate, who’d been through so much, who’d been told he wasn’t worthy of love by the very people who should have protected him.

Cord knew from the moment he met him that he would spend the rest of his life making sure Billy knew exactly how loved and cherished he was.

“Cord?” Bullet’s voice pulled him from his thoughts. “You good?”

“Yeah.” Cord cleared his throat. “Yeah, I’m good. Let’s do this.”

They made their way downstairs, where the photographer - a perky beta raccoon shifter named Amy - immediately started positioning them for shots.

Cord endured it with as much grace as he could muster, though his mind kept drifting to Billy.

Was he nervous, too? Happy? Cord could feel contentment and excitement through their bond, along with little bursts of affection that made his wolf preen.

The backyard had been transformed. They’d strung lights through the trees, creating a canopy of soft illumination even though the ceremony would be during the day.

White chairs were arranged in neat rows on either side of a makeshift aisle, and at the end, beneath an arch woven with greenery and white flowers, Mr. Brown waited with a gentle smile.

It was simple, elegant, and perfect - just the way Billy had wanted.

“There you are, Cord!” Mrs. Rawlings appeared at his elbow, beaming up at him. She was a tiny omega otter shifter with graying hair and Cece’s mischievous eyes. “You look so handsome! Here, you need to eat something. You can’t get married on an empty stomach.”

She pressed a small plate of finger sandwiches into his hands before he could protest. Mr. Rawlings, a tall, dignified alpha who worked as a pediatrician, shook his head fondly at his mate.

“Let the man breathe, love. He’s got enough to worry about without you trying to stuff him full of food.”

“Nonsense. He needs his strength.” Mrs. Rawlings patted Cord’s arm. “Our Cece is so happy for Billy. He talks about you two all the time. It’s wonderful to see Billy with someone who treasures him properly.”

Cord’s throat tightened. “He’s easy to treasure, ma’am.”

“Oh, none of that ma’am business. You call me Mom like all of Cece’s friends.” She winked at him. “Besides, we’ll probably be seeing a lot of each other. Cece loves the double dates you all go on.”

The dates were fun, and Cord realized he’d been accepted as family well before he’d met Cece’s parents. Cece and Tristan had been with Billy well before he even knew his mate existed, and Cord would be forever thankful for that.

More guests began arriving. Anthony, Tristan’s older brother, nodded at Cord with the respect one alpha gave another.

Cord still wasn’t sure what Anthony did, but he knew the man was respected in town and he clearly cared for Tristan.

Several townspeople Billy had befriended showed up - Mrs. Johnson from the yarn shop, even though Billy didn’t knit, Joe from the hardware store who’d helped them with house repairs, and, surprisingly, Patricia, an ex-server from the Paradox restaurant who’d witnessed their first meeting.

“Five minutes,” Razor announced, appearing at Cord’s side. “You ready for this?”

Cord nodded, his heart racing. He took his position at the front, Bullet, Blade, and Razor arranging themselves to his left as his groomsmen. The small gathering of guests settled into their seats, voices dropping to excited whispers.

Then the back door opened, and Cord forgot how to breathe.

Billy stepped out onto the deck, and even from across the yard, Cord could see the shy smile on his face.

He wore a navy blue suit that brought out the warm tones in his skin, his dark hair styled but still maintaining those waves Cord loved to run his fingers through.

His glasses caught the light as he descended the deck stairs, Cece on one side and Tristan on the other.

But it was the expression on Billy’s face that nearly brought Cord to his knees. Wonder, joy, and love radiated from him, their bond singing with his happiness. When their eyes met across the distance, Billy’s smile widened, and Cord felt his own face split into an answering grin.

Mine, his wolf rumbled with satisfaction. Our mate. Our omega. Ours.

Cece and Tristan walked Billy down the aisle – proudly taking their place as Billy’s family before everyone. Cece wore a stunning emerald suit that somehow worked perfectly with his pink-streaked hair, while Tristan looked like sunshine itself in a suit of pale gold.

As they drew closer, Cord caught Billy’s scent - he smelled of home . His wolf wanted to rush forward, to pull their mate close, but Cord forced himself to wait. They had the rest of their lives for that.

When they reached the front, Cece squeezed Billy’s hand before stepping to the right, taking his place as Billy’s best man alongside Tristan. Billy stepped forward, and Cord immediately reached for him, unable to resist touching him any longer.

“Hi,” Billy whispered, his cheeks pink.

“Hi yourself, gorgeous,” Cord murmured back, drinking in the sight of him. “You look incredible.”

“You clean up pretty good yourself, mate.”

Mr. Brown cleared his throat gently, though his eyes twinkled with amusement. “Shall we begin?”

The ceremony was simple and heartfelt. Mr. Brown spoke about the bond between alphas and omegas, about choosing to build a life together, about the strength found in partnership.

Cord barely heard any of it, too focused on Billy’s face, on the way his eyes shimmered with unshed tears, on how his hand felt perfect in Cord’s.

When it came time for the vows, Cord had to clear his throat twice before he could speak.

“Billy,” he began, his voice rough. “It was almost three months ago, when I walked into that Omega Hearts event thinking it was just another obligation. Then I caught your scent, and my whole world shifted. You’ve made me laugh, made me think, and made me want to be a better alpha and a better man.

You’ve shown me that strength comes in many forms - in standing up for yourself, in choosing to trust after being hurt, in the quiet determination you bring to everything you do. ”