Chapter 156: Now and Forever

[Axel]

Things have been different since we returned home. It has been months, and even though everything seems to have settled back to “normal,” there is no denying that things will never be quite the same again.

Since the night I agreed to let the Void take over my body, I hear voices in my head. Sometimes I see things that others cannot see, even Rosie, our own personal goddess.

I am myself, but I am also something else. Even Connor has been affected. After that night in the bunker, his coat had gone completely black, and his eyes glowed with the hot blue fire of the stars.

He insists that he is an unchanged wolf, just better looking, but I would be a fool not to be disturbed by the changes.

But today, I promised to put all of that aside for the sake of having one, perfect moment.

“Are you ready,” Evander smiles from the doorway. His navy blue tie matches the color of my formal suit. Seeing me struggle with my own tie, he walks into the room and takes over for me. “Cousin, stop fidgeting. Let me help you.”

I have grown more comfortable around him since we all joined together with Rosie. Yes, he’s still a jerk, but he is also family.

“There,” he pats me on the shoulder after adjusting my collar. “Let’s not keep her waiting, shall we?"

Together, with my cousin at my back, we walk down the stairs into my living room where the rest of our guests are waiting.

Every surface has been covered in roses of every imaginable color, harvested from Evander’s gardens, both on Terra and in Tara, a mixture of magical and traditional blooms--just like our Rosie, they are a mix of everything.

Gideon is already waiting next to my father who is standing as our officiant. As soon as Gideon spies he shakes his head. “It took you two long enough,” he grumbles, although his laughing eyes reveal that he is more amused than upset. “Who ever heard of the groom taking longer than the bride?”

“You can’t rush perfection,” I laugh, twirling my mood lighter than it has ever been. Gideon rolls his eyes while Evander snorts at my shoulder.

We all shuffle to our places. Evander is to my left, standing as Best Man and Gideon is next to him, taking his husband's hand while we all wait for our bride, their gold bands shining in the candlelight. They made their union official last week in the lobby of Evander's Las Vegas casino. While Rosie and I enjoyed being there to celebrate their love, we also knew that it wasn't the right time or place for us. What we really wanted was a home wedding, surrounded by all the people we love and care about.

Or at least what remains of them. Slone is gone, perhaps forever, and both of Rosie's parents are presumed dead. The surviving members of the coven, while still strong, are noticeably weaker without Marigold. Most of my pack survived the attacks, but there are some noticeable holes in our once powerful ranks. It will take us generations to heal from the damage that warlock caused.

I had wanted to wait until after the babies were born, but she insisted we get married immediately, especially after seeing Evander and Gideon’s sweet moment. “I want you to be my husband when our babies are born,” she pleaded with her large, gray eyes.

I have never been able to say no to her.

The music starts. Rafe is the first one to appear. He is wearing a suit that is a mini-version of the one I am wearing. He tosses handfuls of rose petals, creating a trail for her to follow.

Everyone gasps in unison as the music shifts to a gentle harp, which Rainey plays to perfection, as we look up and see our miracle personified.

Her rounded proudly presses against the fabric of her baby doll dress. It is a combination of old and new, my mother's dress modified to accommodate her increased girth. In her hands is a bouquet of cascading roses in shades of red. Her beautiful, long black hair has been curled and styled in long tendrils, each piece held in place with a crystal pin.

My heart stops.

She is stunning.

And today, she is mine.

Time slows as I watch her walk towards me, her eyes locked with mine, my hand outstretched to receive her. In an eternity of minutes, she reaches me, and as our fingers entwine, I feel the sparks of our mate bond ripple throughout my body.

“Dearly Beloved,” my father begins, but the rest of his words blur together as I look into the depths of her clear, gray eyes.

“I love you,” she mouths, her eyes twinkling.

“I love you too,” I respond silently. “Forever and always.”

When it is time, the ring that I place on her finger once belonged to my grandmother. She gave it to me last night, as “a gift from faerie--and from me,” she said.

Whatever it does beyond being decorative, is a mystery. Even my grandmother wasn’t quite sure. But whatever it is, the effect is certainly magical because as soon as it graces her hand, the ring flairs to life with an almost blinding spark.

Rosie clasps my much larger hand and claims me with a twist of golden knotwork made of four strands, one to represent each of us. While legally I am marrying just her, and as far as the State of California is concerned, she is my one and only wife and I am her only husband, we both know that in reality that is far from the truth. This union joins the four of us together--in this life and the next.

The world fades away as I look at my glowing wife. She is my everything.

“Daddy,” Rafe pulls on the hem of my jacket. Looking down, I hear chuckles chittering throughout the crowd and realized that I must have missed an important step.

“Dad,” he whispers again, “You’re supposed to kiss mommy now.”

“How about we both give her a kiss?” I suggest, lifting him up so that he can reach.

He gives her a sweet kiss on her cheek. Rosalynd giggles and places a gentle kiss on his nose as she ruffles his hair and gives him a small tickle. After I set him down, Rafe rushes off to stand near his great-grandmother Diandra, who opens her arms to him. Setting him on her lap, she begins showing him the beginnings of a small illusion spell and I smile at our new reality.

Magic has always been a part of our life on some level. As werewolves, our lives have always been touched by the goddess.

But now, we are more in harmony with it. Wolves and witches, elves and leprechauns, all the Children of the Moon working, living, and loving together.

After rallying against a common foe, the ties that bind all of us are stronger than ever. Thanks to Rosie.

“Ahem,” I hear a small cough to my right. Rosie is waiting expectantly for me to notice her. As soon as she has my attention, she pulls me into her, wrapping her arms around me, kissing me with so much passion that I almost fall over from the force of it.

“Mine,” she growls under her breath.

“Always,” I promise.

I pull her into another kiss. This time I lean her back and the crowd cheers.

As I help her stand, she looks up at me, her eyes wide with terror.

"Oh Goddess!" she pants.

"I know," I respond. "I can't believe it either. We're finally married."

The crowd is cheering so loudly that I cannot hear what she says at first, but when her words become more clear, I gasp.

"My water just broke."