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Satisfied and eager to start his life with his mate, he headed down to the gardens where the archway and guests were waiting.
They had an elder shifter in their midst who would commence the ceremony and serve as the officiant. Thomas shook his hand as he took his place between the elder and Daryl.
The service would be short and sweet with the language and bonds of the pride, just as Lorena had asked.
The entire pride stood, other than the elders among them. They were the only ones allowed to sit.
Thomas looked out proudly at the sea of blue worn by all. That was their pride’s designated color for any formal occasion or assembly.
Deep in his lion sense, he could feel that there was no anger here, no one ready to plan an attack or cause an interruption.
For once in what had seemed like quite a while, his hackles didn’t rise, and there was no edge to be balancing on.
“Canon D” played by a cello as all turned to look behind to see the entrance of Thomas’s bride.
Lorena had no bridesmaids, as was the way of the shifter ceremony. It was a man and a woman. The alpha had his beta by his side. That was the only exception.
The only other thing they had changed for this ceremony was that Lorena’s father was giving her away.
Usually, the female walked on her own to show it was her choice and that the mating bond couldn’t be denied, and the male had already staked his claim to her.
Thomas was grateful for Lorena wanting to keep this particular human tradition, especially after everything she and her father had endured.
He wouldn’t feel right to just take Alfredo’s only daughter away without his blessing.
Thomas finally caught sight of Lorena as she entered from behind one of the hedges. His jaw clenched as he swallowed back a sudden lump. He thought he had been prepared for this day, but at this moment, he was proven wrong.
She was absolutely breathtaking.
Lorena had a simple yet elegant lace dress that was loose and comfortable. It still somehow clung to her curves perfectly, accenting everything even more.
She was barefoot, as was the shifter custom. The whole look gave off a forest fairy vibe that absolutely made her glow.
The dress was a shade of white that seemed to make Lorena’s skin sparkle and brightened her chocolate brown eyes. And her smile … that smile lit up the whole place.
Thomas’s heart expanded seeing her so happy with her arm looped around her father’s as he steadied their pace to match the cello.
He fought tears back as she approached him. His emotions were getting the better of him, but he was trying to hold it together. If he broke, it would be even harder for him to rein back in.
Alfredo and Lorena stood before him now, with the sun highlighting the blonde in her loosely braided hair decorated with wildflowers from the pride’s territory.
Thomas stepped forward and shook Alfredo’s hand.
“Take good care of her, just like you have been, and I’ll be a happy man,” he said, tears in his own eyes as he handed off his only daughter to Thomas.
“I will, sir. I promise you both.”
Alfredo smiled, kissed Lorena on the cheek, and took his seat in the front.
Lorena’s hands were warm inside of Thomas’s. She stepped toward the altar with him and smiled even wider.
He saw her throat keep swallowing to stop herself from tearing up. They were both doing their best to simply stay level and get through this ceremony with ease.
The elder started his spiel about the union of mating and finding one another.
Thomas had heard the words before from the few weddings he had been to, but this was the first time he was truly affected by the words.
“Now, before us, stand two individuals destined to become one. On this day, they stand here before all of you as witnesses to declare their love and need for each other in one another’s lives. By agreeing to this ceremony, you have announced that you cannot and will not do life without one another.”
