“Ryker, are you serious?” she whispers as she takes another small step forward.
“I’ve never been more serious. I want us bound together in every way possible, and a legal human marriage is one of those ways.” Addison had warned me Pru would feel like I felt forced into doing this. But it couldn’t be farther from the truth. “And I know for a fact you’ve always dreamt about your wedding, and I would hate to take that dream away from you. I want to be part of it.”
“I want you to be part of it, too.” She smiles as she drops to her knees in front of me.
“Good because I want to walk through this life as your mate and your husband.” I lift the ring up a little higher as I repeat my question. “Will you marry me, Pruitt Bailey?”
“Yes, Ryker, I will marry you!” she cries before she launches herself at me and wraps her arms around my neck. She laughs happily into my shoulder, and that sound alone is all I need to know it’s all worth it.
“Do you want the ring?” I chuckle back.
“Yes! Yes, please.” She pulls away and holds out her dainty left hand. I pull the ring from its box and carefully slip it onto her slender finger. The center stone I had picked out for her is the same cut as the one Genevieve used to wear, according to Addison—just a lot bigger. Yes, I may have overdone it, but I want only the best for my girl.
“It’s beautiful!” She holds her hands away from her so she can look at the ring from all angles. “I’m actually so excited to plan a wedding.”
“About that…” I lift her to her feet as I stand. “How do you feel about getting married right now?”
“Right now?” Her green eyes widen.
“Just through those trees over there, the pack and my family are waiting for us.” Mom and Remington have been working hard at setting up the outdoor ceremony all day today. It’s been hard to keep it all a secret, but I think we pulled it off.
“But I don’t have anything to wear.” She looks down at the blue dress she has on now.
“Addison figured you’d say that, she made you a little something.”
A half-hour later, I stand at the end of the aisle and watch my beautiful mate walk toward me in the lace dress she had designed herself. Addison had been working on it in secret all week, and she did a remarkable job putting together Pru’s dream dress. I’ve never seen her look more beautiful as she moves down the aisle with the setting sun behind her. A long veil flows down her back, and I’m happy she doesn’t wear a veil that covers her face. I want to see every emotion cross her features when she takes in the ceremony we created for her.
The aisle is made of white flower petals, and lanterns line the walkway. The guests sit in white chairs on either side, and Remi worked hard hanging string lights in the branches of the tree I stand under. Long strands of flowers and paper lanterns also hang from the trees. For being so last minute, I’m amazed at what my family was able to accomplish, and the way Pru’s eyes shine when she takes it all in, I know she likes it too.
Addison, who had walked her down the aisle, passes Pru off to me. I lean down and hug the woman who had been responsible for keeping Pru safe and alive all these years. I’ll never be able to thank her enough for that. I take Pru’s hand, and we stand in front of Esme, who had agreed to marry us.
“It took us a long time to get to this point, but we can all agree we could not be happier for these two amazing people,” Esme addresses the pack and us. She gives a speech about how fate had brought us back together after all this time, but I’m not really listening to what she’s saying. Instead, I get lost in Pruitt’s eyes.
I knew this gorgeous girl would be my mate, but there is an excitement in knowing she will also be my wife.
“Ryker, do you take Pruitt to be your lawfully 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 and to cherish until death us do part?” Esme asks.
“I do,” I answer without any hesitation.
“And Pruitt, do you take Ryker—”
“Yes, I do!” Pruitt interrupts, nodding enthusiastically, and everyone starts laughing.
Esme chuckles before smiling at both of us. “By the power vested in me by a website I found online, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride!” she cheers.
I place both hands on Pru’s waist before bringing my mouth down to hers.
The second our lips touch, the crowd behind us erupts into cheers and applause. Pru’s arms snake around my neck and hold me close. She smiles against my mouth when we hear Ransom start howling, and everyone is laughing and joining in. Pru and I look up in time to watch almost everyone tilt their heads up to the sky
