Chapter 68 I love you

Chapter 68 I love you
~Ryker~ 

I held Nira's hands in mine and stared into her beautiful eyes while the entire pack stood around us beneath the moonlit sky.

For a moment, all the sounds around me seemed distant.

The crackling torches, the  rustling trees and the murmurs of hundreds of people gathered to witness this moment. We have been growing drastically in numbers and that gladdened my heart. 

However, none of it mattered tonight.  The only thing that mattered was the woman standing in front of me.

My throat tightened with emotion as I squeezed her hands gently. A smile spread across Nira's face.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked softly.

I laughed under my breath. "Because I'm trying to remember every second of this."

Her eyes softened immediately. The elderly elder conducting the ceremony smiled warmly at both of us.

"Alpha Ryker." He called. I looked toward him. "It is time."

I nodded. Then my attention returned to Nira. My heart pounded heavily in my chest. Not because I was nervous, but because I had never been more certain about anything in my life.

I took a slow breath.

"Nira." Her eyes glistened instantly. "I spent so much of my life trying to become the kind of Alpha my people deserved."

I swallowed. "I spent years worrying about protecting everyone around me that I forgot I deserved happiness too."

Her lips trembled. "Then you walked into my life." I smiled.

"You became my friend before anything else. You stood beside me when things were difficult. You challenged me when I was wrong. You believed in me even when I didn't believe in myself."

A few people around us smiled and I continued.

"You are the strongest woman I know. You are kind when kindness is difficult. You are brave when courage is needed. You have a heart bigger than this entire territory."

Tears formed in her eyes. "And today, before everyone gathered here, I promise to spend the rest of my life protecting you, respecting you, listening to you, and loving you."

My voice grew stronger. "I promise to stand beside you during every victory and every hardship."

I squeezed her hands. "I promise that no matter what title I carry, whether Alpha, King, or anything else, you will always be the most important person in my life."

A tear rolled down her cheek. "And I promise that every day I wake up, I will choose you again."

The crowd erupted into applause. Nira laughed through her tears.

Then it was her turn. She took a deep breath. "Ryker." The way she said my name made my chest tighten. "I used to think strength meant fighting."

She smiled. "Then I met you."

A few people chuckled. "You showed me that true strength means carrying other people's burdens when they can no longer carry them themselves."

I stared at her. "You showed me what compassion looks like. You gave people homes when nobody else would."

More tears slid down her face. "You protected people who had nothing to offer you. You built a family out of strangers."

Her voice cracked. "And somehow, despite carrying the weight of everyone else, you still found room in your heart for me."

My eyes burned. "I promise to stand beside you through every challenge."

She squeezed my hands. "I promise to remind you to rest when you work too hard."

The crowd laughed. "I promise to support your dreams even when you doubt yourself."

She smiled through her tears. "And I promise to love you with every part of me for as long as I live."

The applause that followed was even louder than before. Before I knew it, Nira was throwing her arms around me.

I immediately wrapped mine around her.

The crowd cheered, and howls filled the air. Soon the entire settlement was howling beneath the moon. I closed my eyes and held my mate tightly.

The marriage rites were over and the celebration had begun.

Nira grabbed my hand. "Come dance with me."

I laughed. "You know I am terrible at dancing."

"Good." She pulled me toward the dance floor. "It makes it more entertaining." The crowd parted for us as we stepped into the center.

The drums picked up speed and the musicians joined in. People clapped their hands to the rhythm.

Nira began moving immediately. I tried my best to keep up but I failed miserably at it. She burst into laughter. "You are proving my point."

"I'm trying."

"Try harder." She responded.  I spun her around and she giggled hard.  The sight made me grin. Soon we were both laughing as we danced.

The night air felt warm. The music filled every corner of the settlement. More people joined us. Children ran between the dancers. Elders clapped from the sidelines.

For once, nobody looked afraid.

As I looked around, pride swelled inside me.

We had built this together as a pack. Nira leaned close to my ear.

"Your Majesty."

I immediately laughed. "There hasn't been a coronation." She shrugged. "I'm still just an Alpha."

Nira rolled her eyes dramatically. "You've already done the important part."

"What part?" She pointed around us. "The people have sworn loyalty to you."

I looked around. Every face I saw was smiling and believing. Nira squeezed my hand. "You are already a king, Ryker."

For the first time, I didn't immediately dismiss the idea.

Maybe she was right. Maybe becoming a king wasn't about wearing a crown. Maybe it was about becoming someone people willingly followed.

"I'll have a meeting with some important members of the pack soon," I said thoughtfully.

Nira smiled. "There you go." 

"We'll discuss when the coronation should happen."

Her eyes lit up. "Now you're talking like a king."

Before I could respond, she leaned forward and kissed me. The crowd cheered immediately. I laughed against her lips.

When she pulled away, I placed a hand gently over her stomach. "How is he doing?"

Nira immediately scoffed. The look she gave me made me laugh.

"Bold of you to assume the baby is a boy."

I grinned. "Maybe because boys are superior."

She smacked my arm. "Excuse me?" I laughed harder. "The baby is a girl."

"You sound very certain."

"I am."

We both smiled and I rubbed her stomach gently. "Boy or girl doesn't matter." My voice softened. "I'll love them unconditionally."

Nira's eyes immediately warmed. "I know."

The music slowly came to an end. An elderly woman stepped forward.

"It is time for food!"

The crowd erupted into cheers.

Everyone immediately began moving toward the large dining area prepared for the celebration.

I took Nira's hand and we turned together. Then someone called my name.

"Ryker."

The voice stopped me immediately. I knew that voice very well.  I turned and my eyes widened.

"Elira?"

She stood a short distance away.

For a second, I almost didn't recognize her. The confident woman standing before me looked nothing like the frightened girl who had arrived in my pack all those months ago.

She carried herself differently now. Much more assured and powerful.  "Elira, what are you doing here?"

I released Nira's hand and walked toward her. Nira joined me.

Her face immediately brightened. "You look stunning, Elira."

Elira laughed and opened her arms. The two women embraced tightly. "And you look ravishing."

Nira beamed. "I hear you're officially the Queen of Valerith now." Elira smiled shyly. "I'm proud of you."

"We are proud of you," I added.

For a moment, genuine emotion crossed her face. "Thank you." Her voice softened. "I couldn't have done any of it without your help."

Then her gaze moved around the celebration. "What happened here?"

I exchanged a look with Nira. Then I answered. "We got married."

Her eyes widened instantly. "Oh my." A huge smile spread across her face. "I'm so happy for both of you."

Then Nira added proudly. "And I'm carrying his baby."

Elira gasped. "No way."

I groaned, immediately regretting coming over. She pointed at me. "You are going to be a father."

I sighed dramatically. "Apparently."

She laughed. The sound reminded me of old times. For a few moments, everything felt normal again. Then I noticed something.

Elira seemed distracted. Like she had something important on her mind. Eventually I asked. "What are you doing here?"

Her smile faded slightly. "I need to talk to you."

I looked at Nira. Nira smiled knowingly. "I'll be waiting at the dining table."

Elira immediately protested. "I won't take long."

"You're staying for the celebration." Nira pointed toward her. "That's not negotiable."

Elira laughed. "Fine."

After Nira left, I turned back toward Elira and my smile disappeared. "What happened?"

She took a breath. "I found Lyra."

Everything inside me froze. "What?"

Elira nodded. I couldn't believe what I had heard.

After all this time and months of searching. After months of wondering whether she was alive or dead. We finally had an answer.

Elira started explaining everything. How she went to Silvercrest on a kingdom mission and saw Lyra living among them. And how that meeting took a dark turn after she almost killed her. 

I listened quietly. When she finished, I stared at the ground. "So she built another life."

Elira nodded. "Seems like it."

A strange ache settled in my chest. Not because I loved Lyra. That feeling had disappeared long ago. But because I still wanted answers.

I needed closure.  "I still need to know why."

Elira's gaze softened. "I know."

Silence stretched between us before she spoke again. "I don't think I can look at her again."

I nodded. "That's fair."

After everything Lyra had done, nobody could blame her. Not even me.

Wanting to move away from the topic, I smiled.

"So."

Elira groaned immediately. "Oh no."

I laughed. "Oh yes."

She already knew what was coming. "You married Kael."

She rolled her eyes and I crossed my arms. "I never thought I'd see the day." Her smile returned.

I studied her carefully. "Do you love him?"

The question caught her off guard. I could tell immediately. She looked away, and thought for a moment before saying, "I don't know."

She sighed. "I've never really thought about those words." She smiled softly. "But it feels right being with him."

Something about that answer made me smile. Then she removed the scarf around her neck.

My eyes widened when I saw the mark. It the The final proof. "Wow."

She laughed quietly. "I guess we're one now."

I nodded. "I guess you are."

For the first time, I felt completely at peace about her future.

Whatever happened next. She wouldn't be facing it alone. Eventually I smiled. "We should join the others." And she agreed.

Together we headed toward the celebration. As we approached the tables, I looked around at everyone gathered.

‘I am married, I’m going to be a father and a King soon, Lyra isn’t dead, Elira is now powerful like I had predicted. Life is good.” 

I sat beside Nira and immediately reached for her hand. She looked at me and almost immediately, the noise around us faded.

And all I could think about was how grateful I was that she existed.

I squeezed her fingers gently. "I love you."

The smile that appeared on her face made me realize that no crown, kingdom, or title would ever mean as much to me as that moment.