Page 45 of Taming the Beasts (Crooked Point #3)

Saturday

Emma

My heart was racing as I peered around the hedge I was standing behind.

The town square lawn had so many unfamiliar faces.

Zoey had pretty much invited everyone in town.

But everything was perfect. The fall foliage around the gazebo and chairs we’d set up made it so that flowers weren’t needed.

Reds, oranges, and yellows surrounded everything.

It was the perfect backdrop for a wedding.

It was so quaint and perfect. And it felt old-fashioned for everyone in town to be invited to the wedding. It felt right.

I looked past the strangers and was finally able to see Callum standing at the end of the aisle, right on the gazebo stairs. He’d just taken his place and was straightening his bowtie.

I smiled. He got to stare at me all the time while I slept.

But I rarely ever got a chance to stare at him unnoticed.

He looked so handsome in his crisp black tuxedo.

It was his bright golden eyes and smile that did me in though.

It was also rare for him to smile like that.

He was usually so serious. I liked this side of him.

The one not plagued by the past and worried about the future.

He was right here with me right now. As lost in the moment as I was .

No one would ever suspect that he was a vampire walking amongst them. I knew Callum thought he was a monster. But I didn’t see him that way. And I was happy we were getting married tonight. Before he took the cure. So he’d always know I accepted him exactly the way he was.

The sun had just set before Callum had emerged. And twilight cast a beautifully eerie glow across the gazebo. I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen anything more romantic. Callum was waiting there for me. Waiting for our future to truly begin.

“I didn’t realize he hadn’t asked anyone to be his best man,” Zoey said as she turned to me. “Is it weird if I stand up there next to you? Or should I sit...”

“I want you up there with me.”

She smiled. “Okay.”

Callum hadn’t wanted any groomsmen. I knew the people he’d probably pictured beside him for this moment were long gone. But I was happy that we were making roots in Crooked Point. He was becoming friends with Zoey’s boyfriends. And I was so relieved that they were all finally getting along.

I smiled at Zoey’s boyfriends sitting in the front row. Yeah, it was truly starting to feel like one big happy family.

“I’m surprised that Kebe didn’t con her way into being his grooms-person,” Zoey said.

I laughed. “She did try.”

“Wait, seriously?”

I nodded. “She offered one night. Callum turned her down.” I was happy that she was in one of the middle rows of seats and not at the front too.

Zoey smiled. “I knew I liked Callum. ”

“Grudge seems to be getting along well with Kebe though,” I said. The two of them were sitting together chatting. Grudge really did look like a stripper without a dress shirt beneath his tuxedo. At least you couldn’t really tell is was a rip-away number.

“Yeah. She’s getting along with Bennett’s formerly missing friends too.” Zoey pointed to the other side of Kebe.

I could only really see the back of their heads. But the one closest to Kebe seemed to be talking to her just as much as Grudge. Hopefully she’d fixate on all of them instead of Callum and Huxley. “I’m so glad they’re not actually missing.”

“Me too. I really can’t believe our luck. Eek! I think it’s time.” Zoey turned to me. “Wait for the music to change and then you can make your grand entrance.”

I nodded.

Zoey took a step out from the hedge and then turned around and hugged me tight. “You are the most beautiful bride. And I am so freaking happy for you. Knock ‘em dead.” She released me from her embrace and walked over toward the aisle.

Everyone turned to see her walking.

I stayed hidden behind the hedge, but did my best to watch. I was seconds away from walking down the aisle to Callum Walsh.

A month ago, a piece of me thought that maybe I’d imagined that night with him ten years ago. I never thought I’d see him again. I’d been this shell of a person, hoping and wishing he were real. And some mornings before I rolled over and saw him staring at me, I still thought I was dreaming.

I gently pinched my arm .

Yeah, this was real life.

The music changed to the wedding processional. I took a deep breath and stepped out from behind the hedge.

Everyone rose as I adjusted the end of my bow to trail behind me.

I would have been nervous about everyone staring in my direction.

But as soon as I dropped the bow, I was solely focused on Callum.

His eyes trailed down my dress and down to my red high heels, and then snapped back to my eyes.

I really hoped the portrait artist was capturing this moment.

Because I wanted to remember it forever.

We’d moved the date up because we didn’t want to waste any more time. But also because we were worried about the cure. And what would happen when Callum took it. We’d been worried about our forever being cut short.

But I didn’t have a single worry as I walked down the aisle to him.

Callum Walsh and I were finally on the same page about what forever meant. Yes, he was Theo Gold now. And he’d been Sir William Evans before. And probably dozens of names in between. But this moment was about us. The version of him I’d fallen in love with.

When I reached the gazebo, Callum took the two steps down, grabbed my hand, and helped me up.

I wasn’t sure if the crowd hushed. Or I just stopped hearing them. I was solely focused on Callum.

“You’re breathtaking, Emma.”

“You too,” I said.

He chuckled. “Well, thank you. I was going for more debonair.” He reached out and touched the side of my face .

“Yes, you’re that too.”

His fingers trailed down to the side of my neck. To a bruise that I’d covered up with makeup. I wasn’t ashamed of him biting me. I loved it. But a purple mark on my skin didn’t look great with my dress.

“You smell extra sweet tonight,” he whispered.

“I do?”

He leaned forward and his lips grazed mine, feather light. “Yes.” He pulled on the back of my neck, pressing his lips more firmly against mine. When his tongue slipped between my lips, I realized he hadn’t been talking about my blood. He’d just been talking about...me.

The pastor cleared his throat.

I laughed and pulled back from the kiss.

“Usually we wait until the end for that,” he said.

A few people in the audience laughed.

“Sorry,” Callum said. “I think we’re ready to proceed now.”

The pastor nodded. “Good, good. We are gathered here today to celebrate the union between Theo and Emma.”

It was strange hearing people refer to Callum as Theo. He’d told some people in town that Callum was his middle name to excuse why I always called him that. I hoped that lie was good enough to hide the truth. Although, we wouldn’t have anything to hide soon.

Callum cleared his throat and grabbed my hands. “Emma.”

I realized I’d zoned out during the pastor’s speech. Callum was starting his vows. And there was no way I was missing a second of this .

He squeezed my hands as he stared into my eyes. “When we ran into each other ten years ago, I knew that very night that you were the one.”

I was already starting to blink away tears.

“I was in a bad place when we met. I wasn’t myself. At least, the self I wanted to be. I wanted to be worthy of you. One moment, one night, and I was a goner. You’ve owned my heart even when we were thousands of miles apart. I never once stopped thinking about you.”

“Callum...”

“Baby, you have to wait until it’s your turn,” he said.

I laughed.

He smiled down at me.

I really wasn’t sure I’d ever seen him more handsome.

“I hated that time apart,” he said. “It felt like torture. And I know it felt like a lifetime for you. I know the feeling. I waited a lifetime to meet you. But I don’t regret our time apart for a second. I’m standing here the best version of myself. Well, almost,” he added as a whisper just for me.

I squeezed his hands. He was his best version. Exactly the way he was. He didn’t need to change. I never wanted him to think that he did. I’d loved him ten years ago. And I loved him now. And I’d love him forever.

“I’ve never met anyone like you on all my time on earth.

You’re kind, witty, smart, and so sweet.

” His eyes fell to the side of my neck for just a moment.

“You pulled me out of my darkest moments. You were like a guiding light, without even realizing it. I’m only here because of you.

You are everything to me, Emma. Every single thing.

And I will spend the rest of my life making sure you know that each day.

“I’ll never run away again. I’ll never leave your side. I swear. I am yours and you are mine.” He lifted one of my hands to his chest. “And nothing will ever keep us apart again.”

I felt his heart racing.

“My heart beats for you, baby. I will love you forever and always. And now we know our forever will be a long one,” he added with a whisper just for me.

He kept my hand against his heart as he reached out with his free hand to wipe away the tears just starting to spill down my cheeks.

“I love you,” he whispered.

“I love you. So much, Callum.”

“This is supposed to be a happy moment. Why are you crying?” He leaned forward, kissing one of the spots on my cheeks that my tears had spilled.

“Happy tears, I promise.”

“Hm.” He kissed the spot again.

All I wanted to do was wrap my arms around him and kiss him. But I was worried if I didn’t get my vows out, I’d end up a puddle of tears.

“My turn,” I whispered. I kept one of my hands on his chest as I stared up at him. “It’s always been you.”

He smiled.

“When we met that first night? I was instantly captivated. I was addicted to your touch. Your golden eyes. The way you looked at me. I never once stopped thinking about you during our time apart either. I thought I dreamt you into existence. That you were too perfect to be real. And I was so worried I’d never see you again. ”

I gripped one of his lapels like I was holding on. “I didn’t know I wasn’t living until that night. And then you were gone and...”

“I promise I’ll never leave you again,” he said. “Emma, I’m so so sorry...”

“It’s okay. I understand why you did what you did. I forgive you, Callum.”

It seemed like he needed to hear that. Something in his eyes softened. Like he’d never been forgiven for anything before.

“I only mentioned it because I wanted you to know how all in I am. With every version of you. The version from ten years ago. The version standing in front of me now.” I stared up at him, hoping he could read the unspoken words in my head.

The version of you from 200 years ago. And 100 years ago.

And 50. “And whatever version of you our future holds. I want it all. Every second. No matter what.”

He nodded. He understood what I was saying.

“I fall more and more in love with you every day. And I need you to hear me say this. You are not a monster, Callum. Not in a million years. You are good and honest and kind. And I’m going to spend my whole life proving to you just how true that is.

You think of yourself as the villain. But you couldn’t be further from the truth.

You are Prince Charming. A very debonair one. ”

Callum’s smile had faded.

I watched as a single tear fell down his cheek. I reached up and wiped it away. “Happy tears?”

He nodded. “Happy tears, baby. But we’re not in a fairy tale.”

“I think we are. And villains never win in those. The good guys do. ”

He leaned forward to whisper in my ear. “And here I thought you liked the villain. Well, at least in the bedroom.” He lightly bit down on my earlobe.

I laughed. Maybe our story hadn’t felt like a fairy tale at first. But it sure felt like it now. I was staring my happily ever after in the face.

The pastor cleared his throat. “Now for the exchanging of rings.” Theo, do you take Emma to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold until death do you part?”

Callum smiled down at me. A smile so perfectly pure. One not haunted by his past or his fears of the future. “I do.”

Callum loved me. Just as much as I loved him.

The girl I was back in college had been so lost. Until I’d stumbled upon him that night in his haunting house.

One night with him and it felt like I’d finally woken up from a daze.

Something about me had made him stop giving in to his demons.

I’d never understand why. Or how. But I was so grateful.

Because there was no me without him. I smiled up at him, ready to say yes to our future too.

“Emma,” Zoey hissed and poked me hard in the back.