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We descend the stairs, the others helping lift my dress so the fabric doesn’t catch on the winding railing.
Once we’re assembled at the bottom, Sarina bends to her children, speaking in a stern voice. “You know what to do?”
They nod in unison holding up a basket between them.
She grins. “You make up for biting Auntie Vanessa by giving her the best wedding ever.”
Angel flings her arms around me, hugging me tight and wiping tears from her eyes as she says, “I wish your mama was here to see you today. You look stunning.”
I squeeze her tight. “My mother is always with me.”
She and Sarina leave the shack, heading toward the guest seating.
Winter and Ebony try to follow their mother out, but Pinky heads them off. “I go first, small wolf beasts.” She bustles out the door in her confection of a gown with its dark pink layers over lighter pink crinoline. Winking at Winter and Ebony, she says, “Count to ten and then follow me.”
The children dutifully count out loud in unison as she makes her way down the sandy aisle, taking her place next to the flower arch across from where Keenan stands with his three brothers.
“Eight… nine… ten!” Ebony and Winter burst from the cabin, energetically tossing white rose petals in the air and at the guests as they tumble their way down the aisle.
Winter’s excitement gets the better of him and he spontaneously shifts into his wolf. His mother rushes from her seat to extricate him from his tuxedo and he chases after his sister, snapping and leaping at the rose petals she throws.
Most of the wedding guests laugh, though a few of the humans look surprised.
“He’s so cute!” I sigh, then realize I’m alone.
It’s showtime!
I step out from the shack, my bare toes sinking into the sand as I make my way toward Keenan. The sun glints off his sunglasses and I falter, needing the reassurance of his eyes.
Reading my mind, he whips them off and tosses them at Lennox who catches them and tucks them in a pocket. Winking, Keenan grins at me, infusing me with warmth, giving me the impetuous I need to hurry up the aisle.
He reaches for me and I walk into his embrace.
The guests, the beach, everything fades as we hold each other. I tip my head back and he captures my lips in a kiss that sizzles right down to my toes. I slide my hand up his jacket, my fingers twining in the satin of the collar. His fingers bite into my waist, anchoring me against him.
Laughter tears us apart and heat rushes to my face as I realize the guests are shouting and hooting at us.
“At least wait until after the vows!”
“Get a room!”
“This is why shifters mate instead of marry, they can’t wait to get to the good part.”
I grin at Keenan. “They’re right you know.”
“Silly human traditions,” he grumbles.
Taking my hand, Keenan steers us to the altar where Thorny frowns impatiently. He got ordained just for us, saying it was because he wanted to make sure our marriage is official in both shifter law and human. Keenan suspects the owl is attached to the royal family and wants to be involved in any way he can.
I hand Pinky my bouquet of white roses and turn to face Keenan.
“Vanessa, Keenan, you may now speak your vows.”
We wrote our own vows, but nerves are getting the better of me and I can’t remember a word. I’m an actor, I learned how to memorize lines as a child, but all my training flees as I’m faced with such a big milestone. Suddenly a fierce longing for my mother hits me and I have to blink to stop myself from crying.
Keenan cups my cheek, his thumb capturing a tear. “I have you, Vanessa.”
I nod, trying to smile, wishing I hadn’t imagined the big white wedding for him to pick out of my head. I wish we were alone on the beach, saying the words that mean so much to both of us.
