Page 128 of Victorious: Part 3

It never stays quiet for long.

Eventually, though, he kisses my nose. “Hi, wife.”

“Hi, lunatic.”

“I’m lucky you’re batshit enough to marry me,” he mutters, then kisses me like it’s the only language we’ve ever shared. He grins. “Even still, wanna do round two in the car?”

I nod. “And maybe break the gear stick.”

He kisses me again. “That’s my girl.” He slides me down and helps me get into some semblance of normal so I can make my way back out into the throngs of people here to celebrate us, just so we can slide right past them out into the parking lot.

I love that they’re all here to celebrate us. To celebrate our love. But right now, I just want Alpha inside me, for the rest of the night. And if we have to be in the parking lot of Gears to make that happen, I am okay with that.

The rest of the evening blurs together in the best possible way. Alpha and I spend probably too many hours avoiding our guests and fucking in the parking lot. But eventually, we make our way back inside to the party, back to the fun.

I let loose and enjoy myself. Dancing with Alpha to music that ranges from classic rock to country to stuff that makes the older members shake their heads in confusion, to laughing with Bea and the girls. Then, watching Poppy dance with Maverick, spinning around in her dress like the young girl she still is underneath all that training.

But it’s the quiet moments I treasure most. Alpha’s hand in mine as we watch our family celebrate. The way he looks at me like I’m his whole world. The feeling that finally, finally, we’re exactly where we’re supposed to be.

“Penny for your thoughts,” Alpha murmurs as the eveningwinds down.

“Just thinking about how we got here,” I say, leaning against his shoulder. “A year ago, if someone had told me I’d be married to the president of LA Defiance, wearing not only a dress, but a wedding dress, planning a future…”

“You’d have shot them,” he finishes with a chuckle.

“Probably, a number of times.”

“And now?”

I turn to look at him, this man who somehow saw past the weapon I was trained to be to the woman I could become. “Now I can’t imagine being anywhere else.”

He kisses my temple, soft and sweet. “Good thing, Mrs. Landry. Because you’re stuck with me.”

“I don’t know if stuck is the right word. I think I’d say… happily, contentedly and ecstatically situated,” I agree.

He grins as the last of our guests start to filter outside of Gears and head home to the clubhouse.

Alpha and I remain on the back lawn, swaying to “Love Me Tender.” The string lights cast everything in golden light, making the moment feel like something out of a dream, and I smile as Clover and Phoenix join us on the makeshift dance floor.

I smile at them, the happy couple so fucking loved up, our brother, Maverick, standing at the edge of the dance floor, Sadie in his arms, watching us on, and I can’t help but feel for him. Both his sisters are married, and he’s still waiting for his turn with Sadie.

Maybe after the baby comes.

It’s all about priorities.

Leaning my head against Alpha’s shoulder, his soft voice is like silk against my ear. “Are you happy?” he asks quietly.

I slowly glance up at him with a genuine smile. “Blissfully.”

And I am.

For the first time in my life, I’m not looking over my shoulder, not waiting for the other shoe to drop, not bracing for the next fight.

I’m justhappy.

We’re justhappy.

And that’severything.