Page 128 of My Big Fat Shifter Wedding

I remembered each one of those moments like a film reel, his eyes wet, his scent full of love, joy, and the distinct scent of an alpha’s pride. They lived in my head rent-free, and now I could add him giving the first toast at my wedding to the list of memories I would cherish forever.

“My pack, mi famiglia, today is the day that my littlest girl, our youngest daughter, truly becomes a grown woman with her own life and family. From the moment that you were born, we knew you were special, oh so special, and sometimes, it broke my heart that you didn’t see it.

“But now, when I look into those eyes of yours, the ones that look so much like your mother’s, I can tell that you finally see everything I wished you would, and I know I have this man to thank for it.” My father reached out with his arm, pointing his wineglass at Keith.

“You may be a human, but you are more wolf than many I know. Never have I seen a young man love so fiercely, so unabashedly, so bravely. If anyone could match my Olivia, she has found him.

“So here, before I regret being so soft, let us raise our glasses to the happy couple! If they are a reflection of our future, then our future is certainly bright! Saluti!”

“Saluti!”

And I was crying again.

Par for the course, I supposed.

I wished I could say that was the only time I had to fight off the urge to bawl while tears slid down my cheeks, but that wasn’t the case. Not everyone made a speech—otherwise we’d have been there all week—but we had the traditional ones like the best (wo)man and maid of honor, but also Serafina and Zia Vedette.

When we were fully done eating our fill and I thought the whole process was over, there was another clink of a glass during our kiss “cooldown time”, and I searched the many tables to see Rolando standing up.

My baby brother.

While I might have been the youngest girl of my siblings, Rolando was the youngest period. But as he stood there, striking in his suit, he didn’t look quite like that little kid I had in my head anymore.

I supposed he hadn’t in a long time.

“Hey,” he murmured, looking over all the heads to meet my gaze. Although his cheeks were a bright pink, as they often were whenever he had to do any form of public speaking, his voice was strong and steady. He was growing into quite the mature adult, wasn’t he?

“Hey,” I said back, eliciting a small titter from some of our pack, but most were quiet. No doubt they were just as surprised by the unplanned speech as I was.

“I already said most of what I wanted to say to both of you earlier,” he started out. “But that was separately, and I realized there was something I wanted both of you to hear together.” He paused, almost as if waiting for an interruption, but none came. For once, everyone was listening with rapt attention to the alpha’s youngest child.

“When my sister first came to me and asked for my help in getting ready for a date, I couldn’t help but think that wow, I hope whoever this wolf is knows how lucky he is. But then that wolf turned out to be a human, and one date turned into nearly a year of them before I even met the guy.

“But I have to say, from the moment we first threw darts together in that disco-themed restaurant, I knew you were the guy for my sister. You saw her in a way I’d always wished someone would, and you pulled her out of the rut I’d been watching her dig herself into ever since I could remember.”

Keith’s hand found mine, and I interlaced our fingers, squeezing that same three-beat rhythm over and over again.

“Now, after getting to know you, and seeing how you treat her, I know what I should be aiming for when one day I find the person whose soul matches my own. You, my papa, even my uncle Luigi are all the best examples a young wolf can ask for on how to be a proper, loving mate.

“Thank you, Keith, for loving my sister like she deserves. And thank you, Olivia, for listening to your drunk baby brother when he begged you to make a change. Despite the lot of us being literal wolves, I never much believed in fairy tales, but seeing the two of you together makes me think that maybe that kind of magic is possible.”

He raised his glass, and like the rest of us, his eyes were wet with tears that were about to spill over. Maybe some packs would criticize us for having our emotions so front and center, but they could go fuck themselves. It was my wedding. If I couldn’t be a teary, snotty mess then, when could I?

Besides, people like that probably hadn’t been held enough as children.

“Saluti!” he finished before he cracked, taking a big swig of his drink.

“Saluti!” everyone responded, even the English-only speakers among us.

I drained my glass and I didn’t think the day could get any more perfect. Well… except for one thing.

Standing, I removed the cloth napkin Keith had spread across my lap and let all the happiness that had been building up within spill out into my voice and my scent. “Now, who’s ready to dance?”

There were cheers all around, and the majority of people began to exit the pavilion to go to the dance area where there was a tiny little tent for the DJ and speakers in each corner. No self-respecting Italian was going to throw a wedding with subpar music. That was akin to running out of food. Or wine. Or announcing an engagement or pregnancy during the reception.

Like that would ever happen!

Keith and I followed along with them, hand in hand, right up until we reached the edge of the dance area. Nearly everyone who was up to get down was waiting around the perimeter, and I knew exactly why.