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It was a contagious feeling. She sensed Owen lapping it up as he grinned, taking her by the waist and pulling her in close.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” the officiant said.
Owen pulled her in hard, despite his wounded ribs still healing. He kissed her with a burning passion she had desperately missed during their stressful times. Her body reacted to him instinctively, knowing she couldn't hold off much longer.
They parted eventually, knowing it was time to announce the name of their son. They had discussed it for the weeks leading up to the ceremony, excited to finally be able to share it with everyone.
The officiant handed the baby to Owen, who cradled him in his arms easily. He was a proud father, and there was nothing that made Reika happier.
“We have finally given our little boy a name,” Owen began, his voice booming and lovely. “We want all of you to meet Gunner Hawk Lovell Raff!”
Everyone in the crowd stood and applauded, even louder than they had when their union was finalized. Owen held Gunner up in the air, and he flailed, looking at the people he would call his family.
Reika watched, feeling blessed beyond belief. She had wanted to be away from the traditions of her family, her past, for as long as she could remember. Who would have known that it would be the traditions that would bring her back into the arms of her mate?
They walked down the aisle to the supportive yelps and cheers of their families. Gunner was still very small but very interested and intrigued by what was going on around him. Reika hoped that his sense of wonder never went away.
Owen
Owen wasecstatic after the ceremony. Their son wiggled around, already wondering what was going on. They moved the celebration into a nearby tent, decorated in a style similar to the ceremonial grounds.
It was a wedding reception as well as a general celebration. The Lovell pack stayed on one side while the Raff pack stayed on another. They were civil to one another but didn’t really mingle. That was really all Owen could have asked for.
Owen and Reika drank and laughed and walked around to greet all their guests, each person giving Gunner a good cuddle and kiss. They were the only ones who blended into each section of the room, but they only encouraged joy rather than anything spiteful. Owen adored watching his new wife interact with her parents, along with their newly named son.
The reception was short and polite, which was fine with both Reika and Owen. They were both feeling the residual exhaustion from the turmoil between their families, which had just happened merely a few weeks before. They didn’t mind when everyone started leaving, shaking hands and going their separate ways.
Owen said goodbye to his father, who was one of the last people remaining in the tent. He was looking frail but delighted as he pulled his son in for a long embrace.
“I am so happy for you both,” Dernet said. “Well, you three, I should say. You’re going to have a wonderful life, son. I just know it.”
Reika came over with Gunner, who had fallen asleep again on her shoulder. Owen and Dernet joked about a child’s ability to fall asleep anywhere, it seemed.
Dernet touched Gunner’s delicate skull, stroking it with a tenderness Owen had rarely seen.
“He already looks like you,” Dernet whispered. “Let’s hope he can live up to your potential.”
Owen thought the booze made him more emotional, but no, ever since he had met Reika and they had their child, he felt like he was constantly on the edge of shedding tears. He’d cry at the sunset if it was especially stunning.
Owen hugged his father tightly, and after Reika did the same, they retreated to their own private cabin at the edge of the Raff pack den, just beyond the family territory. They had acres of their own private space and a promise that neither pack was going to intrude upon their lives again. Plus, Owen was the officially declared alpha. No one was going to fuck with him.
They went inside after being dropped off by Mateo, saying goodnight and heading off into their home.
They had furniture provided for them from the Raff pack, along with a little crib and toys for Gunner. He was still asleep when they turned the lights on, so they decided to put him down for the night.
“He’s so well behaved,” Reika whispered.
They both held each other as they looked over the crib. Gunner’s little body remained still, his breathing as light as a wisp of wind.
“Let’s see how long that lasts,” Owen said, taking Reika by the hand.
They closed the door, letting their son sleep off his hectic night of meeting the family.
Reika and Owen collapsed onto their new king-sized bed. It still had the plastic on it, and a note from Nina attached to one of the pillows.Break it in well!The note read.
It had been some time since they last made love, and Owen felt himself nearly lose it when he kissed his wife during the ceremony. But he was exhausted, and his ribs were still healing. His wife, too, was tired from everything that had happened, plus the birth that had happened on open water during a storm.
He wanted it to be pain-free and not an obligation. He wanted her to experience pleasure without worry at a time that best suited her.
