Bailey POV
"Marry me."
The words just blurted themselves out, without thinking, my mate inhaling sharply as she turned around to stare at me, her face going pale, her hand moving to touch her mouth in shock. We had never spoken of the future, not in such specific terms, but she was bearing my children, she was the love of my life and I couldn't bear to imagine my life without her in it. Surely it made sense to take that step, to commit ourselves fully to one another as husband and wife, in the human customs? I wanted her to have my last name, to have the reassurance that I would remain forever by her side, to show how much I wanted her, wanted my children. I wanted her to have no doubts about the love I had for her. I wanted her, full stop.
"What did you just say?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
I stepped forward, took her hand, enveloped it in mine. Hers was small in comparison, dainty, clutching at me tightly as I looked down into those beautiful eyes of hers that reminded me of an ocean, a beautiful blend of silver and blue hues.
"I said marry me" I told her more clearly, my voice rising slightly, my tone sincere "Marry me Riley, become my wife. It might just seem like a piece of paper, but to me, it means so much more. A lifetime commitment, promising to never love another so long as you both shall live. I don't want anyone else" I told her, watching as her eyes began to shimmer "I want you. Forever."
"Bailey" she breathed, "is this the right time?" she hesitated, looking down at the ground, twisting her hands together "what about Tiana?" she asked anxiously.
Tiana had not taken the news of Marigold's death lightly. As the siren woman had headed out, I had known it would be the last time we would see the siren alive. As we did our best to comfort and reassure the little girl, news of her death had come back mere weeks later, as several sirens came onto our territory with Marigold's body with them, along with sorrow they expressed at being unable to save her, while she had managed to save their lives, sending them to our pack just in time, before their territory was overrun with rogue shifters and worse. Tiana and Riley had been devastated and while we had held a ceremony in Marigold's memory and mourned her loss, we could not hold off our lives forever. Marigold, more than anyone, would understand the desire to express our love towards one another. Tiana, hopefully, would understand. She was a bright and compassionate little girl. Already I loved her as my daughter and I knew that Riley felt the same way.
"We'll both talk to her" I told Riley sincerely. "She will be a part of the ceremony as our daughter. I wouldn't dream of not including her. I know she mourns the loss of Marigold, we all are, but maybe this could be a distraction for her? Something to take her mind off her sadness for a little while?"
"A small intimate ceremony" Riley proposed with a devilish look in her eyes, "I have no desire for a large ceremony. I only want to be wed in front of family and very close friends. We can celebrate with the pack afterward" she proposed as I waited. "I know that as King and Queen a large wedding is expected but..."
"Whatever your heart desires" I told her, interrupting, "I don't care what is expected, I only care about what you want. If it's a small wedding, then that's what we'll do."
She nodded. I slipped my hand inside my pocket and withdrew a small square box, surprising her again. Her mouth dropped wide open.
"When did you...?" she stammered "When did you have time?" she asked as I gently lifted the lid on the ring box.
"This was my grandmother's" I said quietly, as she studied the vintage ring, a large oval diamond with smaller ones surrounding it, "She gifted this to me when she died, with the condition that I passed it on to my wife when I got married. She would have really liked you" I said, thinking about her with a fond smile.
Riley's eyes shone with tears. I lifted the ring out with infinite care and then slipped it on Riley's trembling finger. As I had suspected, it fit perfectly, staying there as though it belonged. Riley looked down at her finger. "It's so beautiful" she whispered, unable to take her eyes off it, while I reached out and took her hand, "are you sure you want me to have it?" she asked hesitantly.
"That ring belongs to you now" I said solemnly, "and it suits you," I added, gazing down at her ring finger with satisfaction.
Her smile was tremulous. I lifted her chin with a gentle finger, looking deeply into her eyes, mesmerized by her beauty that never failed to make my heart race a little more quickly whenever I looked upon her.
"I love you Riley" I told her, stroking her cheek and then leaning down to kiss her lovingly, tasting the sweetness of her lips as she willingly parted them for me, expressing without words how much I cared for her as she reached up and placed her arms around my neck and stood on her tiptoes.
I could have stayed like that forever. I felt my Lycan give a low growl, felt my desire becoming overwhelming and arousal begin to sweep through me. My hand skimmed down her arm, feeling the softness of her skin and the way she trembled when I touched her. I inwardly groaned and deepened the kiss, Riley giving a long breathy moan that had me stiffening and fighting the urge to pick her up and carry her back to the bedroom. Neither of us paid much attention to our surroundings, lost in the moment, a moment that the two of us would no doubt remember forever, etched in our memories.
"Good god, get a room you two", Thomas scoffed, causing us to pull apart, my Beta wrinkling his nose "there are children present" he added, nodding towards Tiana, who was staring at the both of us with fascination.
I smiled lazily while Tiana giggled, "You're just jealous Thomas," I said good-naturedly as Riley smiled, still clutched in my arms.
"Too right I am" he muttered. "Wish I had a mate half as good as Riley", he pouted while Riley giggled at him and batted her eyelashes.
I glared at my Beta, who merely raised a brow. Tiana stepped a little closer as I reluctantly let go of my mate and turned to her. Her eyes were sparkling, and she appeared to be in a good mood, which I took to be a good sign. I glanced at Riley, who looked nervous. Tiana gave a little skip and then her gaze dropped to the ring on Riley's finger. She cocked her head and was silent for a moment. Thomas had yet to notice, too busy smirking at me to see what the little girl was looking at. I heard Riley inhale sharply and knew she was about to say something to reassure Tiana, but Tiana spoke first.
"What's that?" she asked, pointing at Riley's hand, narrowing her eyes "is that a wedding ring?" she asked with a knowing look.
"Sort of" I said, as Riley looked at me helplessly. "It's an engagement ring and wedding ring," I said, "it means that Riley and I are going to get married soon" I explained, "and the ring she is wearing once belonged to my grandmother."
Tiana frowned. Thomas was beaming. "My mother used to wear one of those" she said quietly, and I saw Riley's face drop slightly.
Then Tiana cheered up. "If there's a wedding can I be in it?" she asked excitedly.
I laughed and tousled her hair while Thomas moved forward and quickly offered me his hand to shake in congratulations.
"Of course. Riley and I wouldn't have the ceremony without you in it," I told the girl, who beamed.
"Congratulations", Thomas hugged Riley while Tiana began to do a twirl in delight.
"I want to be the flower girl" Tiana shouted, causing Riley and I to eye each other sideways.
All of our concerns about Tiana's feelings and worrying how she might take the news were beginning to fade. She seemed genuinely happy for us and excited about the upcoming wedding. It seemed I was right about it distracting her from her grief, if only for a brief little while.
"I would be so happy to have you as my flower girl" Riley told Tiana, who clapped her hands in excitement. In fact, I'll even take you dress shopping, and you can pick out any dress you want", she proposed.
I wondered how Riley was going to have a flower girl in such a small ceremony and decided not to question it. If it made Tiana happy, then I was all on board.
"You should have the wedding soon though", Tiana stopped twirling and looked at Riley with a worried expression.
"Oh" I said "Why is that?" I was teasing her.
She blinked, "Because otherwise you might give birth before you get married."
"Oh, there's still time, but she's not wrong," Thomas said, nodding his head in agreement, while Riley laughed. "Although that would be something to remember the wedding by," he joked.
"I think she might be right" Riley said, looking pale at the thought of giving birth at her own wedding "Let's do this soon, so that it's over and behind us before the babies are born."
"That doesn't leave a huge amount of time" I warned her.
"I don't want a huge ceremony" she countered back, "and you are the Lycan King, are you not? You can make it happen. Get your ahem, friends to help you. I expect that Thomas, Callum, Cody and my brother will be attending, rope them into it."
"But don't you want to be involved?"
"I want to choose my dress and bouquet and take Tiana to get hers. That's about as involved as this heavily pregnant woman wants to get. We can have the ceremony here in the pack house and then a party on the grounds afterward", Riley proposed with a shrug, "it doesn't have to be fancy. Just pretty" she reiterated, looking at me.
"How long are you giving us?" I spluttered.
We'd only just gotten engaged, and already it sounded like I had to plan the ceremony. Riley smirked at me. Tiana was the one to speak though. "I think two weeks should be enough time" she announced with a frown. "It would be cutting it close though" she murmured to herself as we looked at her confused.
"Two weeks, are you crazy?" I growled.
Riley put her hand on the little girl's shoulder. "Tiana has decreed it. Two weeks", she blew me a kiss as I stood there in shock. "Better get to work gentlemen, it's going to take some time to organize a ceremony and a party. Goodluck" she chirped and then sailed out of the room with Tiana hot on her heels.
I looked at a bewildered Thomas. "What just happened?"
Thomas laughed.