Today, though, neither of them were working. Ian had picked out Brad’s suit, and then he’d picked out his own button-down shirt. Ian had lost some of the weight he’d gained during the pregnancy, but not all. That was fine, though. Brad didn’t mind.
Brad gulped when the minister cleared his throat.
“Are we ready for the ceremony?” the portly beta asked.
Ian nodded at Brad, and Brad’s pulse raced. “Yeah, we are.”
“Very well.”
The minister waved for the organist in the gazebo to begin. Then the music played, a song Brad had written for Ian. It soared high and sweet into the air, and June held out her arm, waiting for Ian to take it.
Together, they walked down the petal-strewn aisle. Brad forgot to breathe when Ian stepped toward him, his clothes clinging to his body, his eyes sparkling.
Ian was already his. But this? The ceremony made everything official. Everyone here knew that Brad was taking this omega to be his husband. They would sign a certificate later, and there was nothing else that could take Ian away from Brad.
Brad held his breath when Ian stopped before him. June handed him over; Ian’s palm was warm and sweaty against Brad’s fingers. And now Brad couldn’t tear his eyes off Ian’s shy smile, and the blush on his cheeks.
“You’re so damn beautiful,” Brad murmured.
Ian squeezed his hand, his smile growing wider. “So are you.”
“We’re all congregated here today to witness the marriage of Brad Saxon and Ian McMillan,” the minister boomed. “Brad and Ian, join your hands.”
They faced each other, Ian slipping his fingers into Brad’s hands. The minister gave a speech. Brad hardly heard any of it. Difficult to, when he had the most beautiful omega in front of him. Ian, with his wispy hair, his sea-blue eyes, his rose scent all over Brad’s skin.
They’d woken up together this morning, and Brad had stood Ian in front of the mirror.
I am worthy, Ian had said. There had been a smile on his face.
He was starting to believe it—that was good.
It would take a while to fully undo the damage Ian’s mother had inflicted on him. Brad knew they could, though. Yvette McMillan wasn’t here today; she’d turned down the wedding invitation. Brad was secretly pleased.
His father wasn’t here, either. That was fine, too. Brad had begun a new life with Ian, and the less negativity they came into contact with, the better.
Why hate, when you could fill your heart with love?
“Brad,” the minister began. “Do you take this omega, Ian McMillan, to be your lawful husband?”
“I do,” Brad said. Didn’t have to think about it. Ian’s blush deepened.
“And Ian, do you take this alpha, Brad Saxon, to be your lawful husband?”
“I do,” Ian croaked, his hands tightening around Brad’s.
“To seal your vows, you will exchange your rings.”
Brad looked up at Gwen, who had handed her brother to June. Then she skipped forward, presenting them with the same wooden box Brad had given Ian months ago.
When Gwen pulled the lid open, Ian’s gaze softened. They’d had that box on Ian’s nightstand since Xavier’s birth. Sometimes, Brad would step into the bedroom, to find Ian turning it around in his hands, reading the words in the box.
The box cradled their rings now, two steel-and-gold bands. Brad took the smaller ring, slipping it onto Ian’s ring finger. Ian smiled, and the ring looked perfect on his hand.
“Mine,” Brad murmured.
Ian bowed his head, sucking in a shaky breath. He took the second ring from the box, fitting it snug onto Brad’s finger. The ring was cool against Brad’s skin, but it warmed the longer it sat on his hand. Brad’s heart swelled.
Ian stared at their rings, as though he couldn’t believe his eyes.
“I hereby pronounce you husband and husband,” the minister said. “You may kiss.”
Ian glanced up at Brad, his gaze hesitant, delighted. So Brad caught him by his nape and hauled him in. Ian’s lips parted against his, his moan soft when Brad slipped into his mouth.
Yeah, it was a bit indecent. But Brad was laying claim on his omega, and Ian was his, and no one could take Ian away from him.
“That tongue thing is really gross,” Gwen said to the side.
Brad tasted Ian for a little while longer before he broke the kiss. Ian’s cheeks were flushed, his eyes bright.
“You’ll understand when you get older,” Brad told Gwen. Then he hauled Ian close again, just pressing their foreheads together, looking into Ian’s eyes.
Ian was his husband now. That made something in Brad’s chest settle, that he didn’t even know he needed.
“I love you,” Brad murmured.
“Love you, too,” Ian answered, his smile blinding.
The audience clapped. As they came up to congratulate Brad and Ian, Brad hauled his husband close. He took Xavier back from June, making a face at his son. Xavier laughed, the sound bright and burbling.
June chuckled. “Never seen you with that face before, Brad.”
“Now you have,” Brad said, bobbing Xavier in his arms. Xavier babbled, grabbing Brad’s cheeks in his hands. Brad grinned.
“Brad makes that face all the time,” Ian said dryly. “It’s Xavier’s favorite.”
Brad nudged him. “Hey! Don’t tell June all my secrets.”
Ian rolled his eyes, but he was smiling wide.
One by one, the guests shook their hands. Then, as they headed for the breakfast reception to the side, Ian leaned into Brad’s shoulder, breathing in the cool air.
“Do you regret not having your dad here?” Ian murmured, tangling their fingers together.
Brad shrugged. “Nah.”
“And... and your mom?” Ian asked a little more hesitantly.
Brad paused, unsure how to answer that. He still remembered that too-real dream from last year, when she’d said she would attend the wedding. And now he missed her, all over again.
“It’s been so peaceful here today.” Ian glanced around the park, at the lake and the gazebo, and the forest to the side. “It’s... almost kind of mellow, you know? Kind of like how your
