Page 26

Chapter 26

True Romance

KEENAN

T oday is my wedding day.

I’m standing in front of Vanessa’s floor length mirror in her bedroom. Lock, Rush, and Lennox are on one side of me while Laz is on the other. I examine the side of my head, critically eyeing the wound where my ear once was. It’s an ugly scar, but it healed well and my hair covers most of it.

Despite the missing ear, I hope I’m still everything Vanessa wants in a mate and husband.

Dipping into Vanessa’s thoughts told me exactly what kind of wedding she wants and there’s nothing on this planet I won’t give my girl if she wants it. So what was supposed to be our small family wedding affair has become something else entirely.

Vanessa wants lavish, she wants family and friends, she wants all the luxurious things she’s ever dreamed of in a wedding but giving her everything wasn’t an easy accomplishment with only a week to plan.

Why a week? Because I can’t wait any longer to tie her to me in every way possible.

As much as I know she wants us to live in the moment, I can’t help but obsess over the ticking time bomb hanging over her head. The thought of her impending death has me constantly on edge, though I do my best to hide it from her.

No matter how happy I was with my previous mates, no matter what I did to keep them alive, they all died. And Vanessa is no different because she is them. She’s all of them.

She has Delilah’s wit, Brenna’s beauty, Gem’s good nature and charm, and Sadie’s penchant for chaos. Being with Vanessa feels like being with echoes of all of them, but she’s also her own person. Vanessa is more carefree than the rest, and she’s utterly devoted to the people she loves. She is all of them, but she’s also more.

“You okay?” Lennox asks gruffly, gripping my shoulder as he tries to stay out of my head. The task is near impossible given I’m a nervous wreck and amplifying my emotions for anyone to see. “Getting cold feet?”

I shake my head. “Worried the bride is getting cold feet.” I gesture at my scarred head, half-joking.

“Not going to happen,” Laz assures me, turning me to face him and tugging my bowtie into place. “I’ve never seen Vanessa so head over heels, and our girl doesn’t fall easily.”

I frown. “Since I’ve been with her, she’s fallen for everyone she’s met. If I let her, she’d visit Stelios in jail.”

Laz winks at me, slapping my shoulder. “Sure, she gives her friendship easily. But not her love.”

Rush clears his throat. “You have nothing to worry about. Weddings suck, but everything that comes after is awesome.”

I chuckle, relaxing slightly. “Next time you piss me off, I’m going straight to Magdalene with that information.”

“Do it and you won’t live to see your honeymoon,” he growls.

My tension eases and I give in to the urge to dip into Vanessa’s head, spying on her as she prepares for our wedding…

* * *

VANESSA

“It needs more pink,” Pinky muses circling me, her brow wrinkled. “Maybe a sash or a bow.”

“I agree with the dragon,” Sarina says from where she sits cross-legged on Pinky’s bed wearing a gorgeous royal purple robe with a string of pearls. Sarina is so enamored with Pinky she’s agreed with everything Pinky has said since the royal family arrived.

Angel plucks a fuchsia ribbon from Pinky’s hand. “No. She looks wonderful just as she is.”

Pinky doesn’t have a mirror, which is the first flaw in my plan to get married on the beach. I can’t see myself in a mirror, but the dress feels amazing. It’s satin with a lace overlay. Cutouts in the satin under the lace reveal peeks of my legs and stomach, giving it more of a beach vibe. My hair flows over my shoulders in loose curls, a single white rose pinned behind my ear.

The second flaw in having a beach wedding comes as Pinky looks outside. “The shifters are playing in the sand like they’ve never seen it before. One of them is digging a hole with their human hands.”

I join her at the window. “They’re in dresses and tuxes!” I giggle. The human guests are watching bemusedly from the sidelines.

Along with Rush, the Queen and King and their twins, Winter and Ebony, and an entourage of supporters flew in from Wolf-Haven to celebrate the wedding of Keenan Wolven-North and his human mate. Keenan wanted a small wedding with just us and a few friends, but he spied on my thoughts and adjusted the plan.

Initially, I protested, telling him I didn’t need the big white wedding, but he insisted, and I couldn’t be happier. Outside Pinky’s shack, the beach has been transformed. Rows of seats are nestled in the sand facing an arch made of white roses, the ocean sparkling in the distance.

A slight breeze tosses the white ribbons attached to the chairs, making them dance. The sun shines brightly, promising a perfect day.

“I’m nervous.”

I don’t realize I’ve spoken out loud until Pinky wraps an arm around me and squeezes, leaning her head against mine. “If he turns out to be a terrible husband, I will flambé him into delicious barbeque and gobble him up.”

I laugh. “He’s going to be a wonderful husband.”

She nods against my head. “I know, which is the only reason I’m willing to let you go.” She straightens and points. “I think your prince Charming has arrived.”

I hold my breath as the door to the Jeep opens and Keenan climbs out. He’s wearing a fitted charcoal grey tuxedo with a white rose pinned to his chest. The fabric clings to his arms and legs, giving his muscles mouthwatering definition. Sunglasses shade his eyes and his beard is trimmed neatly against his jaw, his mustache waxed and shaped.

“Wow,” Angel says, shoving in between me and Pinky. “That one cleans up nice.”

I loved his bushy beard, but this suave replacement has my heart hammering and my girl parts giddy with anticipation.

“He’s a beautiful man, isn’t he?” Sarina joins us, her gaze clearly following her husband.

She’s not wrong.

As we watch, Keenan, Rush, Lennox, and Lock fall into step, striding toward the beach setup together. The four of them form a striking image that could’ve fallen straight out of the pages of a men’s luxury magazine. All are tall, muscular, and exude an aura of controlled power. It’s breathtaking and a little frightening.

Neither Rush’s wife, Magdalene, nor the eldest brother, Fallon, could make it. Magdalene is still in the Shadow Realm and Keenan says Fallon is too feral to be allowed anywhere near a human settlement, let alone one as large as Los Angeles.

Winter comes hurtling up Pinky’s stairs. “Thorny says it’s time!” His twin sister is on his heels.

Out of breath by the time she reaches the top, Ebony gasps, “Two minutes he said!”

Laughing, I reach for them, and they tumble into my arms. Our day at the Wolf-Haven Lake has forged a bond between us and they now follow me around like… well, puppies. “The bride gets to determine when the wedding starts, not some impatient owl.”

They giggle. “Should we tell Uncle Thorny?”

I shake my head and straighten. “No, I think I’m ready.”

Pinky squeezes my hand. “You’re ready.”

We descend the stairs, the others helping lift my dress so the fabric doesn’t catch on the winding railing.

Once we’re assembled at the bottom, Sarina bends to her children, speaking in a stern voice. “You know what to do?”

They nod in unison holding up a basket between them.

She grins. “You make up for biting Auntie Vanessa by giving her the best wedding ever.”

Angel flings her arms around me, hugging me tight and wiping tears from her eyes as she says, “I wish your mama was here to see you today. You look stunning.”

I squeeze her tight. “My mother is always with me.”

She and Sarina leave the shack, heading toward the guest seating.

Winter and Ebony try to follow their mother out, but Pinky heads them off. “I go first, small wolf beasts.” She bustles out the door in her confection of a gown with its dark pink layers over lighter pink crinoline. Winking at Winter and Ebony, she says, “Count to ten and then follow me.”

The children dutifully count out loud in unison as she makes her way down the sandy aisle, taking her place next to the flower arch across from where Keenan stands with his three brothers.

“Eight… nine… ten!” Ebony and Winter burst from the cabin, energetically tossing white rose petals in the air and at the guests as they tumble their way down the aisle.

Winter’s excitement gets the better of him and he spontaneously shifts into his wolf. His mother rushes from her seat to extricate him from his tuxedo and he chases after his sister, snapping and leaping at the rose petals she throws.

Most of the wedding guests laugh, though a few of the humans look surprised.

“He’s so cute!” I sigh, then realize I’m alone.

It’s showtime!

I step out from the shack, my bare toes sinking into the sand as I make my way toward Keenan. The sun glints off his sunglasses and I falter, needing the reassurance of his eyes.

Reading my mind, he whips them off and tosses them at Lennox who catches them and tucks them in a pocket. Winking, Keenan grins at me, infusing me with warmth, giving me the impetuous I need to hurry up the aisle.

He reaches for me and I walk into his embrace.

The guests, the beach, everything fades as we hold each other. I tip my head back and he captures my lips in a kiss that sizzles right down to my toes. I slide my hand up his jacket, my fingers twining in the satin of the collar. His fingers bite into my waist, anchoring me against him.

Laughter tears us apart and heat rushes to my face as I realize the guests are shouting and hooting at us.

“At least wait until after the vows!”

“Get a room!”

“This is why shifters mate instead of marry, they can’t wait to get to the good part.”

I grin at Keenan. “They’re right you know.”

“Silly human traditions,” he grumbles.

Taking my hand, Keenan steers us to the altar where Thorny frowns impatiently. He got ordained just for us, saying it was because he wanted to make sure our marriage is official in both shifter law and human. Keenan suspects the owl is attached to the royal family and wants to be involved in any way he can.

I hand Pinky my bouquet of white roses and turn to face Keenan.

“Vanessa, Keenan, you may now speak your vows.”

We wrote our own vows, but nerves are getting the better of me and I can’t remember a word. I’m an actor, I learned how to memorize lines as a child, but all my training flees as I’m faced with such a big milestone. Suddenly a fierce longing for my mother hits me and I have to blink to stop myself from crying.

Keenan cups my cheek, his thumb capturing a tear. “I have you, Vanessa.”

I nod, trying to smile, wishing I hadn’t imagined the big white wedding for him to pick out of my head. I wish we were alone on the beach, saying the words that mean so much to both of us.

“We are alone,” he says in a low voice, then louder so the guests can hear, “Vanessa Bedalia, the moment I jumped through that window and knocked you to the floor, my life changed forever.”

I laugh, the sound watery as he lifts the vows I wrote to say to him straight out of my head.

He continues, “I thought you were a misguided human when we were hauled off to jail together, but I’ve come to realize you are so much more. You are strong, resilient, intelligent, handsome, and compassionate. You are determined to make my life better every single day. You protect and love me in a way no one has since my mother. I wish she could have met you because she would have loved you.”

Even though he’s still reading my vows instead of his own, they mean so much to me and the tears fall unchecked.

“I’ve never looked forward to anything more than I’m looking forward to a future with you.” He stumbles, clearing his throat and his voice grows deeper, gruffer. “Every day I have with you is precious and I know you will make sure each moment counts. I love you Vanessa Bedalia and I can’t wait to become your husband and mate.”

I suck in a breath, using my fingers to catch the tears, turning my head away from our audience to surreptitiously swipe at my runny nose.

Keenan pulls a white satin handkerchief from his pocket and presses it into my hand.

When I’ve fixed myself as best I can, I turn back to him.

He raises a brow, smiling gently. “You ready to hear my vows now?”

I nod, then shake my head, taking a deep, shaky breath. “Allow me.”

He squeezes my hand encouragingly as I immerse myself in his head. It feels like coming home, his blue aura wrapping itself in my yellow one. Together, we look like the sun and moon. Calm washes over me and when I speak, my voice is clear and strong. “Keenan Wolven-North, I devote my life to you. I will watch over and protect you until the last breath leaves my body. I will protect and care for the people you love.” The words are blunt but beautiful, just like him. I love that we’ve reversed our vows because every word he wrote for me could have easily been written for him. “You’ve brought the sun back into my life giving it the meaning I thought I lost. You are everything to me and I will love you with every cell in my body until we are nothing but dust. The natural order brought us together and our love will bind us for eternity.”

As the last word leaves my lips, he swoops in, crushing me in his arms, kissing me. Applause bursts out all around us but we’re in our own world now, a world of two.