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This part of the ceremony Lars had wanted to plan all on his own. I was excited. I’d never been one to dream of a big traditional wedding, and something told me this was going to check all my boxes.
Fans waited outside HQ. Some of them held signs that saidI Wish I Was HannahandSave a Horse, Ride a Bigfoot. They cheered when they saw me. How many times had I been one of them, in the crowd, dreaming of my moment in the spotlight?
“How are you feeling?” Bibi asked. “I can’t believe this is the last time I get to ask you that.”
“You can ask me any time you want.” I laughed. “I hope every woman gets at least one day when she feels like this. Absolutely beautiful, the center of attention, surrounded by everyone she loves. I’m so excited to see Lars.”
“What was the most unexpected part of your episode? When it comes to Lars, that is. All of it was pretty unexpected.”
“I worried I’d be disappointed by his human form. Which sounds terrible out loud, doesn’t it? It’s more like I was afraid I was in love with a fantasy that he couldn’t keep going for years. Tall, dark, furry…something I’d never had before. But he’s just as kind and thoughtful as a human as he is in his natural form. And I loved how he was all-in on everything I wanted him to try. We’re gonna have so much fun together, because everything is new to him.”
Bibi put her hand over her heart. “I love that you were totally open to all possibilities, rejected all norms, and found someone who absolutely adores you.”
The SUV pulled off the road in the familiar spot. There were tons of other cars, and I recognized some of the security guys patrolling the road. It was just a precaution. We were filming the hottest dating reality show in production. Nothing was wrong, right?
Didn’t stop my heart from beating double time when I got out of the car. Bibi had agreed to walk me down the aisle. She hooked her arm in mine and we rounded the corner.
I gasped. It was sunset, that gorgeous time of day when the sun made the red rocks of the mountains glow. The alcove at the bottom of Lars’s mountain had been decorated with so many lights, along with garlands of white and purple flowers flecked with generous amounts of greenery. There was a wooden structure at the end of the aisle, flanked with wonderful wildflowers and a curtain of lights.
Lars stood at the end, in all his natural glory.
“Hannah.” A familiar voice broke the spell. I turned to my left and saw my parents, my sister, her husband, and their two kids.
“I’m so proud of you.” Mom came and hugged me, and it took everything I had not to cry. Dad nodded to me, which for him, was high praise. My niece did a little twirl, and my nephew was totally fascinated that almost everyone else in attendance had shifted.
There were wolves and lions and bears everywhere. Only the human Werewives weren’t furry. I had to believe it was a show of support for Lars, and I loved it.
I waved to him from the end of the aisle, and he made a heart symbol with his hands.
Could Bigfoot be any more adorable?
“I think there’s someone down there ready to claim you,” Bibi said. “Shall we go do something about that?”
“Yes, please.”
I was so glad Bibi was holding onto me, because my whole body was tingling. Lars was delightfully natural and furry, but he’d put a bowtie around his neck.
He took my face into his hands when I reached him, and gave me the softest kiss.
Well, that was what he intended to do, but I couldn’t resist going back for more, and he did not refuse. Our lips tangled together, saying all the things that didn’t quite have words, just emotions. A big hand was on my back, dipping me back, and a chorus of howls and cheers broke out.
“No surprise that we’d have an untraditional mating ceremony for this most untraditional couple.” Bibi restored order and began the ceremony. All I really wanted was for Lars to drag me behind some of those rocks and truly claim me. “It will come as no surprise that Hannah and Lars have written their own vows. Lars, would you like to go first?”
“Yes.” His dark gaze was on mine. “Hannah, my heart connected with yours the moment I saw you. It spoke to me when you couldn’t. But I still wasn’t sure if I should take a chance on you. Tell you how I felt, because you and I…I wasn’t sure if we could ever be together. But you accepted me. You were so patient when something was unfamiliar. You made me feel like I belonged. Not just with you, but with all our friends too. I can’t wait to show you what life can be like in the mountains. You’ve seen the worst of our traditions, and I’m looking forward to showing you the best of them, because I know you’ll find a way to make them even better.”
My lips parted. “Did you read my vows?”
He shook his head and furrowed his brow. “No. Why?”
“Because they’re so similar.” Tears pricked my eyes. “I never felt like I belonged anywhere until I foundThe Mating Game. My application video said that I loved the way that everyone on the show felt like they were a family, but I figured it was all for the cameras. I was so wrong. And then I met you, and you were so gentle, so accepting of everything I did, everything about me. I’d never felt that with any other creature before. Like we were meant to be together. So when I picked Armand—”
“By mistake,” Bibi interjected. “Nerves can get the best of all of us on stage.”
“I was so scared I’d lost you. Betrayed you.”
“No,” Lars rumbled. “I’d never let another beast make you his. Ever.”
“I know.” Tears pricked my eyes. “You’re amazing, and I love you, in all your forms.”
“I love you, because you’re the most unique human I’ve ever met. Completely true to yourself. I’m so glad I get to call you mine.”
He leaned in and kissed me, nothing soft or gentle this time. I let myself get truly lost in it, in him, in the moment, because I’d forgotten to say the rest of my vows out loud.
He’d made every single one of my fangirl dreams a reality, even when all the humans in my life had thought I was ridiculous. I was so thankful that I’d never stopped dreaming.
* * *
