Chapter 246

Julian’s POV

I spared no expense.

Even though this was technically a renewal of vows ceremony, Amber and I had both decided to treat it as a wedding instead. After all, our first wedding had been done in secret. Not even my mother had known about it until much later.

This time, with nothing to hide, and to mend the mistakes of the past, we wanted to have a big ceremony, complete with white dress, and flowers and chairs, and a big reception.

Some of it was meant to even be televised out to the pack so that they could share in our joy. Though not all of it. Most of it, we wanted to share with only family. And then there was some we wanted just for us.

Right now though, it was time for the ceremony.

All of our friends and family sat in forward facing chairs. I was in front, but to the side beside an officiator, with my Beta beside me, and Rafael on the other side of him as one of my groomsman.

“It’s about time you actually do this,” Rafael said as we waited before the ceremony. He had been saying that for week’s now, ever since we first told him about our plans to remarry. “You’d better hurry up and put a ring on my sister’s finger before she finds someone better than you.”

Knowing how special Amber was, I wasn’t offended by this at all. I was lucky to be her husband, and to make it official for the second time.

Before I could offer a quipping remark, a series of oohs and awws erupted from the sitting crowd.

I turned my attention to the aisle, just to see my sweet little girl in her pink dress walking toward me. She carried a wicker basket, and was dropping flower petals from the basket down onto the walkway.

She was pretty as a princess, my precious daughter. I couldn’t stop smiling when I saw her, and she, seeing me, smiled back so wide her cheeks must have hurt.

“Daddy!” she said and ran the rest of the way up the aisle to hug me, forgetting all about her basket and her flower girl duties. I went down on one knee to hug her. “I saw Mommy. She’s so pretty.”

“She’s always pretty,” I said.

“Well, she’s extra pretty today,” Alice said.

We smiled at each other a moment more, before Mom came forward and took Alice’s hand. Her grandmother was able to coax her over to her seat in the front row.

As I stood again, Anna, Amber’s maid of honor, came down the aisle, then took her spot on the other side of the officiator.

Then, everyone stood up.

We were having the ceremony outside on the lawn, and it was a perfect day, blue sky with puffy clouds. The trees were swaying in a gentle breeze, and all the flowers were blooming.

As scenic as the area was, when Amber appeared at the end of the aisle, there was nothing and no one more beautiful than she was.

She smiled at me, almost shyly, and started walking forward. My heart thundered in my chest.

Though I had known this moment had happened, though I had prepared for it…

Though I had loved Amber for so much of my life now…

I felt like I was seeing her for the first time all over again.

I was nervous, like we weren’t already married, like he hadn’t already told each other that we love each other, and consummated our love several times – every night since she said yes to this idea all those weeks ago.

I was still nervous, watching her, realizing she was choosing me again, despite all my mistakes and my flaws. This woman loved me, and I loved her so deeply that I felt like I would explode from it.

When she came close enough, I held out my hand. She took it, and came to stand beside me.

And my life was complete.

Amber’s POV

After the ceremony, and most of the reception, Julian and I found a special spot out behind a row of trees, hidden from the rest of the guests. The party was winding down, with many people having ducked out already. But the band was still playing, and here in this secret spot, Julian held his arms around me and we danced.

Tomorrow, life would go back as normal. Alice would return to school. I would go to work, training to replace the supervisor at the hospital who was retiring soon. Julian would return to the office, though his days were boring now – something we were all glad off.

A smooth-running pack had little need for constant supervision, so Julian spent most of his time find ways to help those in need, even reaching out to the rogues of the pack to offer them ways to get reinstated, having learned from our experience with the rogues in Rafael’s pack.

There was only one secret I was keeping from Julian now. We talked every night before making love, so our communication had never been better.

But this secret was also a surprise.

“There’s something I have to tell you,” I said.

He leaned back and looked down at me. There was a curiosity, but not a fear. His trust in me was obvious now, in every smile and gentle touch. Even now, with what I said, he looked like he wanted to kiss me.

“Whatever it is, my answer is yes,” he said and leaned in for that kiss.

I laughed against his lips. “It’s not a question.”

“Oh? Then what is it?”

He leaned back again, this time waiting for me to continue.

“We’re going to have another baby,” I told him.

Immediately, we stopped dancing. Julian’s eyes went wide, and then he smiled wide. “Really?”

“Yes,” I said, smiling too, and nodding for emphasis.

“Oh, Amber,” he said, as he held me tightly against him. He rained down kisses on my face before his lips found my ear. “I’m the happiest man on the planet. We have our family, the pack is unified. And now we get to spend the rest of our lives together, having children, being in love…”

He leaned back again. “Amber, all of my heart and soul belong to you. After everything we’ve been through, and how far we’ve come…”

“We’re not done yet,” I told him. “So don’t be throwing in the towel. We have a long way to go.”

“I can’t wait,” he said. “With you by my side, I would face anything.”

“Even the future?”

“Especially the future.”

He leaned in again, pressing his lips to mine, but this kiss was different from the others. It was slow, lingering, but with a swipe of his tongue, it deepened.

Even for a celebration like this, we still had trouble keeping our hands off of each other.

“We’ll be missed,” I told him, right before I kissed him this time.

He smiled. “Alice is staying with Mom tonight and they already left. Everyone else can wait.”

I giggled as he scooped me up into his arms.

I was sure the end of the party was very nice, but I was happy to leave it, to start the rest of my life with the man that I love.

My husband.

My mate.

My Julian.

Now and forever.

The End.