Chapter 107

Eleanor:

If anyone would have told me that saying ‘YES!’ was going to be the highlight of my day, I would have called them a liar.

But here I was, wearing a wedding dress as I walked toward the aisle to see the love of my life.

Vladimir, the man that I can never pay back for what he was doing for me, walked down the aisle. And though he and Lyov had a debate on who should do it, both men settled for the fact that the man that I considered a brother would do it. But I knew that Lyov was going to be the shadow that I needed as a father in this world.

“You are running,” Vladimir teased, tightening his arm around my looped one, and I laughed. He ran his hand over mine gently, and I blushed.

“To think that I once ran away from the oath of hell to the man of my dreams,” I said, and he smiled. He squeezed my hand gently and I looked at him. “I could never thank you enough for everything that you are doing for me. And believe me, it is a lot more than you can think of imagining.”

“I am doing it because I consider you a sister. And I know that I would have done more if I could, and I am referring to the bastard that has hurt you.” He said, and I smiled. He looked down at me, and I took a deep breath. “You are not only my brother’s mate, but I am going to forever consider you a sister. Be it by blood or not, I think that you know that Killian and I are not siblings by blood, but I would give my life for the man, and I would be sure to kill for you before dying to ensure your safety.”

“No one is going to be dying, Vladimir.” I said, and he chuckled.

“I do not fear death, sestra. I have seen it far more times and was the reason behind it a lot more times than I can count. It hurts, indeed, but you know, sometimes it is for the benefit of others. As you may see, we are walking in the garden of our pack’s hero.” He said, and I smiled. 

It was true, despite Killian initially being against opening the garden, he was now choosing to stand in the center of it as he married me. His mother, who was surprised by that, cried more times in a span of an hour than I think she ever did before. But I knew that they were tears of happiness. At least, she was getting to spend time with her daughter, to some extent, and that was something that I knew brought more joy to her than she would admit.

“Well, just ensure that death doesn’t come to you before you’ve seen your little niece. You know, she is going to be wondering who her hero of an uncle is, and I wouldn’t be able to describe you in a way that I see just.” I said, and he chuckled. The fact that we chose to have the wedding now was something that I didn’t understand. Killian didn’t want us to wait until I gave birth, and though I was more than happy to be his wife, carrying a nine month old baby in my stomach was not the ideal way of wearing a wedding dress.

“Don’t worry, I still have a few boys to intimidate when they try dating her. You know, Killian might end up terrorizing them, but someone has to at least allow her to date a boy or two, after threatening to tangle their intestines.” He said, and I laughed. He chuckled as the two of us reached the straight aisle that led to Killian. The other paths were filled with roses as guests sat almost everywhere around. 

My eyes met my mate’s, and I couldn’t help the smile that formed on my lips when his eyes widened. My heart raced and it took everything in me to remind myself not to run, not that I would be able to do it right anyway, but I was still going to try not to look like a penguin as I did it.  

Vladimir’s arm tightened around me, and I couldn’t help the smile that formed on my lips as I reached my mate. His eyes met his beta’s, and both men smiled before he gave me to the Alpha. My cheeks reddened, and I watched as he removed the veil from my face before he kissed my forehead. Everyone, humans or wolves, cheered on, and my heart skipped a beat at that. 

“Do you, Killian Ivanov, take Eleanor Bernardi, as your wife, lover, and friend? To cherish and to hold, to love and respect, through sickness and in health?” 

“I do.” Killian said, keeping his eyes on mine. My heart skipped a beat as I was asked the same question, and I couldn’t help but find myself wondering how things came to be the way that they were. How I grew by his side, and how I found myself falling more and more in love with him through each passing day. 

“I do,” I said, and Killian smiled.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may kiss your bride.” Killian cupped my cheeks, and I couldn’t help the blush that formed under his gentle touch before he connected his lips with mine. I looped my fingers with his belt loops, and he smiled, running his finger over my right cheek before pulling his hand away to put it on my stomach.

“My beautiful, Eleanor Ivanov. My wife, my honor, the carrier of my name, and of my pride and dignity.” He whispered to me. I smiled and watched as he took my hand in his before he kissed my palm, letting his lips linger there before he tensed as he pulled away. Claps were heard in the distance, and I put my hand on my stomach as Killian pushed me to stand behind him.

“Very, very touching,” Elton’s voice filled my ears, and I couldn’t help the frown that formed on my lips when I saw that the man’s face was no longer recognizable. The burns that he got completely changed his facial expression forcing me to look away. “But as you took her from me, I am going to be the one to take them both from you.”

My eyes widened in surprise as my child kicked, however, this time, the kick was a lot harder than anything that I felt before. I put my hand on my stomach and I took a deep breath as I forced myself to look at the man. 

His gun was pointed at me, and I couldn’t help but frown when I saw Killian’s body shielding mine. He didn’t care though, the man’s bullet was fired, and that was when I felt water running down my legs. I screamed, catching everyone’s attention as three more bullets were fired.

His eyes met mine for a second before one final bullet was shot. “You are mine, Eleanor…”