Page 25 of Monstrosity (Raiders of Valhalla MC: New Blood #5)

Dasha

March

"Stop moving or I'll stick you with this pin," Meghan threatens, kneeling beside me with my hem in her hands.

"I'm not moving," I protest, trying to hold perfectly still in the middle of the clubhouse bedroom that's been transformed into a bridal suite for the day.

"You're vibrating with nerves," Starla observes from where she's curling my hair. "Which is natural, but try to breathe."

"I am breathing."

"Barely," Everly chimes in, adjusting my veil. "Honey, you're marrying the man you love, who loves you back, in front of people who adore you both. What's to be nervous about?"

"Nothing. Everything." I catch sight of myself in the mirror—white dress—simple but beautiful— hair being styled, makeup already done. "I just want it to be perfect for the girls. And Rio."

The dress was a find at a consignment shop—not new, but new to me.

Meghan and I spent an entire Saturday trying on dresses until we found this one.

A-line, lace bodice, simple but elegant.

Nothing like the pouffy monstrosity I wore for my first wedding.

This dress is me—the woman I've become.

"It will be perfect," Tindra assures me from where she's organizing the bouquets. "Have you seen the backyard? The guys outdid themselves."

"And stayed within budget," Astrid adds, finishing my makeup. "Mostly because they did all the work themselves."

It's true.

When Rio and I decided on a backyard wedding, I expected simple.

Maybe some streamers and balloons.

Instead, the club had other ideas.

Everyone chipped in—Bjorn built an archway from reclaimed wood, Bodul strung lights he "borrowed" from a construction site, the women made decorations from mason jars and wildflowers.

It's not fancy by traditional standards, but it's perfect for us.

"Remember my wedding?" Everly asks, spraying my hair. "We got married in Sturgis, completely drunk, wearing matching leather chaps."

"Romantic," Meghan laughs.

"It was, actually, and he still looks at me like I'm the best thing he's ever seen." She winks at me. "That's what matters. Not the dress or the flowers or the venue. Just the way your man looks at you."

"Mommy-Dasha!" Cali bursts through the door in her pink flower girl dress, twirling. "Look! I'm a princess!"

"You're beautiful, baby," I tell her, my heart squeezing at how she's fully embraced calling me Mommy-Dasha.

Florencia follows more sedately in her purple dress, carrying their flower baskets. "Cali, be careful. You'll wrinkle your dress."

"It's okay," I assure her. "Wrinkles are part of the fun."

"See?" Cali sticks her tongue out at her sister. "Mommy-Dasha says it's okay."

"She's nervous," Florencia informs the room. "She already changed her shoes three times."

"I wanted the right ones!" Cali defends. "First, the white ones were too tight, then the pink ones didn't match right, and now these ones are perfect!"

I pull both girls close, careful of my hair and dress. "You both look perfect. Absolutely perfect. Daddy's going to cry when he sees you."

"Daddy doesn't cry," Cali says.

"He might today," Florencia says wisely. "Uncle Tor said he's been pacing for an hour and practicing his vows in the mirror."

"Tor's got a big mouth," I mutter, but I'm smiling.

The image of Rio practicing what to say is endearing.

"Speaking of the men," Meghan says, standing back to admire her hemming work, "Emil's been driving everyone crazy with his best man duties. You'd think he was planning a military operation."

"That's Emil," Saga says from the doorway, and I notice how several heads turn at her arrival.

She looks stunning in her bridesmaid dress—a soft blue that brings out her eyes. "Everything has to be perfect or he gets twitchy."

"More twitchy than usual?" Vera asks with a knowing smile.

"Significantly." Saga fidgets with her bouquet, not quite meeting anyone's eyes. "He actually made Tor practice walking down the aisle. Tor told him where to stick his practice. Then Emil tried to create a timeline for the wedding."

"A timeline?" Astrid laughs. "For a wedding? Weddings never go according to plan."

"He said we need to account for different things like wind speed affecting the music and potential delays if someone objects." Saga rolls her eyes, but there's fondness there. "I told him the only person likely to object is him, to his own eventual happiness."

"What did he say to that?" Tindra asks, clearly invested in this drama.

"Nothing. Just stomped off to reorganize the chairs for the third time." Saga shrugs, but I catch the hurt flash across her face.

We all laugh, but I notice the way Saga's eyes soften when she talks about Emil, even when she's complaining. Interesting.

"Saga, can you help me with this necklace?" I ask, holding up the simple chain Rio gave me this morning—a wedding gift with a small charm that has our wedding date engraved.

She comes over, her fingers gentle as she fastens the clasp. "You look beautiful," she says softly. "Rio's a lucky man."

"I'm the lucky one," I tell her. "Finding love again, gaining these girls, this whole crazy family."

"It suits you," she says, adjusting the chain so it sits perfectly. "The whole ol’ lady thing. Though I could never..."

"Never say never," I advise, catching her eye in the mirror. "I was pretty sure I'd never remarry. Now look at me."

"That's different," she insists, but there's something in her expression that suggests she's trying to convince herself. "You and Rio make sense. You fit. Some people just... don't."

Before I can probe further, there's a knock at the door.

"Ladies, we need the flower girls for photos!" It's Bodul's voice. "And Tindra, I... uh... you look really pretty!"

Tindra blushes furiously while the rest of us try not to laugh. Young love is adorable.

"Five minutes!" Starla calls back, then turns to us. "Okay, everyone out except the bridal party. Time to get this show on the road."

The room empties except for Meghan, Saga, and the girls.

I stand, smoothing my dress, and take a last look in the mirror. The woman staring back at me is so different from the one who served coffee a year ago.

Stronger, happier, complete.

"You forgot something," Florencia says seriously.

"What's that, baby?"

She produces a small wrapped box. "From Daddy. He said to give it to you right before."

Inside is a simple bracelet with three charms—two small hearts with F and C engraved, and a coffee cup. I laugh through sudden tears.

"Don't cry!" Meghan warns. "You'll ruin your makeup!"

"Happy tears don't count," I insist, fastening the bracelet.

It's perfect. Rio knows me so well.

"Ready?" Meghan asks, handing me my bouquet—simple wildflowers the girls picked this morning from the field behind the clubhouse.

"Ready," I confirm.

We make our way outside where the transformation takes my breath away.

The backyard is strung with lights and white fabric, creating an ethereal canopy.

Chairs are arranged in neat rows, filled with our chosen family.

The archway Magnus built is wrapped in flowers and more lights, with what looks suspiciously like some of Rio's mother's lace tablecloth woven through it.

And there, at the end of the aisle, stands Rio.

He's in his cut over a black button-down and jeans—not traditional, but perfectly him.

When our eyes meet across the space, his face transforms with a smile that makes my knees weak.

Beside him, Emil stands at attention, looking uncomfortable in his role but determined to do it right.

He keeps tugging at his collar like it's strangling him.

"Daddy's crying," Cali whispers, sounding delighted.

She's right. Rio's eyes are definitely wet as he watches us line up.

The music starts—someone's acoustic guitar playing something soft and sweet.

I recognize Aren, who apparently plays in a band when he's not prospecting.

Florencia and Cali go first, taking their flower girl duties seriously.

Cali throws petals with enthusiasm while Florencia follows, making sure the coverage is even.

The crowd chuckles at their different approaches.

Someone—probably Tor—whispers loudly about taking bets on whether Cali will run out of petals before she reaches the end.

Saga goes next, and I definitely notice Emil's jaw tighten as she walks past him.

His hands clench and unclench at his sides.

She keeps her eyes forward, but there's a slight flush on her cheeks.

Oh yes, there's definitely something there.

Then Meghan, my maid of honor and best friend, who gives me one last wink before starting her walk.

She does a little shimmy halfway down that makes everyone laugh and breaks some of my tension.

And then it's my turn.

The aisle seems both endless and too short.

I'm vaguely aware of the faces turning to watch—Runes and his wife, Ivar and Starla, Tor and Meghan, all the brothers and their families who've become ours.

I see Liam Mackenzie from the Irish, here because his nephew Doran is part of our extended family through Revna.

I doubt he’s here for our wedding, though, probably just stopped in for business.

Even some of my regular customers from the coffee shop made it.

But mostly I just see Rio, waiting for me with tears on his cheeks and love in his eyes.

When I reach him, he takes my hands, squeezing tight.

"You look beautiful," he whispers.

"You clean up pretty good yourself," I whisper back.

"You two know we can all hear you, right?" Runes says, making everyone laugh.

As club president, he's officiating, and he's taking his job seriously—or as seriously as Runes takes anything.

"We're gathered here today to witness the union of Rio and Dasha," he begins properly. "Two people who found each other in the aftermath of loss and built something beautiful from the ashes."

I hear sniffles from the crowd already.

"But before we continue," Runes says, "Florencia and Cali have something they'd like to do."

The girls step forward, each carrying a small candle.

Rio lights them with a larger candle, and together they walk to a small table set to the side.