Chapter 22 - Kiara

New Year’s Eve came so fast. One moment I was standing in my kitchen, getting proposed to, and then suddenly, I was approaching a makeshift altar made by Blake and Troy that was made up of a podium covered in white cloth and winter flowers. What surprised me the most was how my alphas cosigned on being allies with the Grimpaw pack. I hadn’t anticipated that, and I was worried about what would happen next. Although there probably wasn”t much reason to worry, given that Harvey was such a great supporter

Ever since he woke from his coma, he had stayed by my side, not missing a moment to be together. My long-sleeved white dress billowed behind me, its simple train dragging along the ground. I held a set of lilies to my chest, clutching them tightly. I was trying to figure out how exactly I was going to meet my mate. We”d already met each other a dozen times by now—he had rescued me from a fate that could have been far worse if we hadn”t bitten each other. Troy had already remarked on how the mate bond was doing its job to protect us, and that the bite mark was doing everything it could to keep us alive and connected to each other. Nora had agreed that we were well on our way to being long-lived lovers.

Even now, as I passed Nora and Regina sitting with my father, I realized she was more of a mother than mine had been. It brought tears to my eyes as I finally stood in front of Harvey, with my two alphas observing. My father rose from his seat and approached the altar, surprising me. I stared at him with wide eyes, expecting him to try to break up the ritual or something, but then my alphas stood aside and he assumed the role of the person who would help us with our vows. I tearfully watched as he lifted a bowl of oil that was meant for both of us.

He lifted his chin high and looked over the rows of our pack members. Those of the Grimpaws, the Bravecrest, and the Beaufort Creek pack. He wore a tight smile for a moment that eventually relaxed into an easy, contented look as he focused on Harvey.

“I didn”t like you at first,” he said, and the people behind us chuckled lightly. “But you”ve grown on me, and you”ve grown on my daughter. You”ve shown her that true love exists in the world in the strangest of ways. Sometimes, that can end up being the strongest.”

Harvey bowed his head reverently, adjusting the front of his white cloak, which he seemed uncomfortable wearing. “It”s my honor to treat your daughter well.”

I grinned as my dad turned to me with the oil bowl and started to draw the symbol of Air on my chest. He did the same for Harvey, and then held up his oiled hands so that we would take them. Standing there connected to my mate with my father alongside us made everything suddenly feel like it was going to be okay. I didn”t have to worry about the future of the Grimpaws because they were going to be led by a great alpha—one who took his vows seriously, who did exactly what he set out to do. He had saved his pack from certain death, saved me from the same, and ultimately saved himself. He would do everything in his power to make sure that we were all safe.

I didn”t want to spend too much time on vows. It wasn”t like we hadn”t already said exactly what we wanted to each other in private and in some public settings. But, when Harvey looked at me, his eyes glistening like liquid gold and his hands trembling as he held mine, he seemed to say everything he needed without speaking a word. What fascinated me the most was how I understood every single syllable that poured out of his vision, his eyes, his gaze. The way he looked at me told me exactly what he needed to say. My body responded exactly how it needed, with a language that I didn”t understand in any conscious capacity—and that was okay.

Our connection seemed to give us the ability to understand each other without speaking, and that was a beautiful thing to behold. I sat in the beautiful silence of it all, noticing that everyone else was doing the exact same and giving us their respect as we traded our vows quietly without anyone else able to hear them. Sometimes, words simply were not enough. A few minutes later, I turned to my father and gave him a firm nod. He nodded in return and raised our hands together.

“May this union bring peace.”

Applause erupted behind us, almost scaring me half to death. It gave me so much of a fright that my heart leaped into a new rhythm. I clutched Harvey and ran down the aisle with him, tossing my bouquet haphazardly over my head. I didn”t see or hear who caught it because I was too focused on getting to the white tent that was set up in the gardens. We”d gotten married right in front of the mansion, back in the garden where the original ritual was held, and that was where we would celebrate.

The defected Grimpaw members were gone for now. They weren”t a threat, at least not currently. Some members of the pack offered to keep an eye on their position to ensure that we wouldn”t have to worry about them reappearing. I had something else in mind as well. Something that had been making me nauseous for the past 12 hours or so. It was brand new to me and it would be brand new to everyone else, but I knew it would be something that would carry us forward. Perhaps it would heal our pack even more.

Because, if I was being honest, the Grimpaws were also my pack, as much as the Bravecrest-Beaufort Creek pack. No one seemed to argue that fact and no one denied it when I brought it up. Everyone who joined us for the festivities was so full of life and love that it was impossible to ignore. Our union was already bringing peace between three different communities. Even though most of the pack members were wary of the ones who were possessed—the nine that remained—they seemed to try their best to welcome them. Nora, especially, was quite bright with everyone and acting so motherly toward me that my father eventually pulled her side and thanked her. I was surprised to hear this over the hubbub of everything else, but it made me smile, and it made me feel like my family was expanding even more from the news I learned this morning.

I turned to Harvey and rested my hands on his chest, gazing at him lovingly. As the winter wind continued to whip around us, New Year”s Eve never felt better to me. I smiled deeply at him.

“I have a gift for you.”

He bowed his head toward me to press his forehead against mine. “What have you not given me already? My love, you”ve given me everything.”

“There”s maybe a few things I could probably give you.”

He laughed as he held up my left hand, showing off the ring he had given me—a simple golden band that resembled his eyes. He wore a matching one, as well.

“Well, other than this, we have plenty of things that signal our love, don”t we?”

“That”s very true.” He nodded. “So, what is it then? What could you possibly give me that you haven”t already?”

I smiled at him. “You keep saying it like that. It”s really cute.”

“I can”t help myself. I see a gift in you every day. I receive a joyful gift from you every time I look at you. Each kiss that you give me is like I”m being liberated all over again.”

I teared up at his beautiful confession, realizing how much he meant to me and how much this moment would change us, how much it would solidify everything. Even the uncertainty that came with it didn”t detract from the fact that it was the most amazing day of my life.

I touched my stomach. “Well, I just learned this morning, but It seems like we”re going to have a cub of our own.”

His eyes went round with shock. “Are you serious?”

“The test says I”m serious, but I have to check with Regina to make sure that it”s viable.”

He choked on a sound that was a mixture of laughter and relief, and when he kissed me, it was like he was telling me everything that he needed to say in that moment. Once again, our silent language won out against everything else. It really was the most beautiful day of my life, and I couldn”t wait to get him home later so it could be even more beautiful. We stood together in a blissful embrace while the world around us faded into insignificance. Harvey had gone quiet as he reveled in the miracle of new life growing within me. Our hearts beat as one, the bond between us stronger than ever before.

As the night deepened and the stars shimmered overhead, we made a silent vow to cherish every moment of this journey together. With each passing day, our love would only grow stronger, fuelled by the joy of creating a family of our own. And so, beneath the watchful gaze of the moon, we surrendered to the promise of tomorrow, united in eternal and love and unyielding devotion for all eternity.

*****

THE END