SWNOVELS Chapter 72
The moment we have been waiting for for the past six months is here. I can feel my heart pumping in my ears as I try to slow my heart rate.
Breathing out slowly I try to calm my nerves. The full-length mirror stands before me and I have tried to avoid it as long as I could but with the moment upon us, I had to look.
My reflection stares back at me. My eyes are more prominent since my makeup is natural except for the eyes. The smoky look makes them pop out at me. My red hair is tamed into elegant curls that are pinned to my head as a few curls caress around my face. I take a deep breath and walk over to Mathew who is in the hallway.
Once everything is in place I feel my stomach churn. My hair is done, makeup done, dress on, and shoes on as well. Mathew’s hand wraps around mine and he tries to calm me down.
“Breathe Melany. Breathe. He is the man you want to spend the rest of your life with, right?” He gives me a sideways glance as if to make sure that I am not making a mistake.
Is he questioning my love for Hunter? All my nerves were forgotten for the moment I look over at Mathew with a ′are you kidding me right now’ look and he shrugs.
“It was a question. Do you have what you’re going to say memorized?”
“No, we both agreed that we wouldn’t say anything other than what the minister says. Well more like I didn’t want to and Hunter agreed.”
“Lucky him,” he grins.
“Four minutes!” The man in a suit yells and I turn to look at Angie.
“He’s here to make sure everything flows smoothly since I can’t move much.” She looks down at her belly.
“Okay, this might be your wedding sweetheart but it’s also mine so get moving,” he tells me swaying hand around in front of me. “Someone bring me the veil. Veil! For the love of everything holy bring me that veil!” He screams and my makeup artist runs to him.
“Here,” she sighs as he fans his hand over his face.
“Fabulous!” He smiles at her and turns to face.
“Bow down,” he giggles, “I’ve always wanted to say that to an alpha.” He quickly pins my veil and instructs us to head downstairs. My nerves get to me once again.
“Everyone is in place. The bride is ready cue music.” He talks to an earpiece then he looks at us, “It's Showtime.” He says in a singsong voice.
Mathew leads me to the kitchen towards the backdoor. I have not been able to look at the backyard because Angie forbids it. Damon comes running out from out of nowhere with Andrew at his heels.
“This must be our ring bearer,” Angie beams at him. He gives her a cheeky smile and she instructs him on what he is doing. Hopefully, he understands. Andrew comes over and embraces me.
“You look beautiful,” he steps back and looks over me.
“Thank you! Is Hunter,” he stops me and smiles.
“He waiting for you at the altar,” my heart quickens.
“We’re late!” The man yells and I feel as if he is going to have a heart attack before the wedding even starts. Damon looks over to me and smiles.
“Pretty,” he says extending the ‘e’ and I cannot help but smile at him.
“Thank you handsome.” He is wearing a tux and I cannot help but smile at his cuteness.
Damon walks out and soon Andrew makes his way through the back door as well.
“I have you, no matter what,” Mathew says as we stand next to the door. This brings some comfort to me. The man in the suit pulls the veil over my face and my arm wraps around Mathew’s securely.
We step into the view of the door. The aisle is separated by the two packs. Mine on the left and Hunter’s pack is on the right. My eyes stay on my pack Angie snuck her way around and now is looking at me all teary-eyed. My eyes drift to Jonah as he smiles at me and his chest heaves as he tries to get enough oxygen, I know how you feel.
Finally mustering all my courage I look up straight ahead. The altar is simple yet breathtakingly beautiful the platform is white as snow and sheer curtains are hanging from the pillars at each end of the platform that gives the forest a nice dream-like feel to them.
Hunter’s eyes are on me once they make it to him. My breath hitches as I take him in he is wearing a grey suit with a silver tie. His hair is in his normal messy way but I love it nonetheless he is just the way I love it. Mathew’s arm tightens around mine.
“Hold your horses,” I turn to look at him and I see that he is looking at me with amusement. “Slow your pace, you’re practically running to him.”
Oh!
I concentrate on my steps as Mathew leads the way. The floor is covered in white rose petals as we close into the platform. Mathew stops and my eyes drift up as I see Hunter take a couple of steps towards us. His smile makes a goofy smile appear on my face.
Hunter stops before us, “You better take care of her because you’ll have me and my pack go after you.” Mathew says as a father would tell his daughter’s husband.
“I’ll watch over her don’t worry about that,” Hunter stretches out his hand and Mathew takes it as if they were sealing a pact. Mathew turns to me and lifts my veil pulling it back to reveal myself before Hunter.
Hunter then helps me up to the platform and holds my hands as the man before us clears his throat and his voice booms from the hidden speakers.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the union of Adrian Hunter and Melany Blake in holy matrimony, which is an honorable estate, that is not to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently and soberly. Into this estate, these two persons present come now to be joined. If anyone can show why they may not be lawfully joined together, let them speak now or forever hold their peace.”
Hunter’s thumbs run over my knuckles trying to calm my nerves. I close my eyes taking a deep breath. No one says a word.
“Who gives this woman to be married to this man?”
Mathew stands up, “I do.”
The man then looks at Hunter and says ‘repeat after me’.
“I, Adrian Hunter, take thee Melany Blake to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, honor, and cherish, ’til death do us part.”
Hunter repeats after him and I cannot help but release the sob that has builds up inside of me. Once he finishes his hand goes up to my cheek brushing off the tear that escaped that captivity of my eye.
The man then turns his attention to me, “repeat after me.”
“I, Melany Blake, take thee Adrian Hunter to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, honor, and cherish, ’til death do us part.”
Once I finish I can feel my body tremble as my wolf howls with joy.
You did it, Hunter mouths to me as I give him a weary smile. He knows how nervous I was. I do not like to show much emotion in front of an audience but for him, I would do anything.
“Now for the exchanging of the rings.”
Damon steps forward when Ken gives him a gentle push towards us. He walks towards us and stops next to Hunter.
“The wedding ring is the outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual bond which unites two loyal hearts in endless love. It is a seal of the vows Adrian Hunter and Melany Blake have made to one another. May she and he, who give them, and who wear these rings, live together in unity, love, and happiness for the rest of their lives.”
Hunter pats Damon’s head and he grabs the rings from the cushion in his hands. He hands me his ring.
“Melany Blake, I give you this ring and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you. With this ring, I thee wed.” Hunter slides the ring onto my shaky finger. I take a calming breath.
“Adrian Hunter, I give you this ring and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you. With this ring, I thee wed.” I slide the ring onto his steady finger.
“You may now kiss the bride.” The man yells just as an uproar fills my ears and Hunter’s hand snakes around me as he pushes me closer to him. His lips collide with mine with so much passion that I almost forget that people are looking at us.
When he moves away he leaves me short of breath and my hand is holding onto him suddenly forgetting how to breathe.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Adrian Hunter.”
“You’re finally all mine,” his heated breath is on my neck and a shiver runs through me.
“And you’re all mine.” I beam at him when I am embraced from the side.
“Congrats Mrs. Hunter,” Andrew smiles at me and I have to be honest that does not sound so bad.
Mrs. Melany Hunter doesn’t sound bad at all.
My wolf and I are both on cloud nine.