Chapter 271

One month later, I stood in a suite at a private beachside resort, admiring my wedding dress. It hugged my curves in all the right places while still gently brushing against the ground like a low-hanging cloud. Crystals glistened in the room’s fluorescent lights, and the train flowed behind me effortlessly.

Tears welled up in my eyes. This truly was Nikolas’s best work. I just hoped that wherever the Moon Goddess had him, he could see that Andrew and I were finally together.

“Oh, sweetheart, you look so beautiful,” Lily said from the entrance to the suite.

I dabbed at the tears and turned to face her.

“You think so?”

“Of course. And you know that as your wedding planner, matron of honor, and best friend, I can’t lie to you today.”

Lily winked, and we both giggled.

“Well, that statement itself just disproves that theory, but I’ll let it slide.”

I opened up my arms to receive a hug from one of the few people to stick by my side for this entire journey.

“So, everything is ready?” I asked. “All the guests are here? Everyone’s happy?”

Lily waved her hand dismissively.

“Yes, yes, there’s nothing to worry about.”

“All the guests are here?”

“Well…Noah couldn’t make it. He said that he couldn’t make the flight from the human world, but he sent his congratulations and a wedding gift.”

I smiled sadly. I had hoped that Noah and I could make things work as just friends, but I supposed that he needed more time. I could respect that, but it would have been nice to have him at my wedding.

“And everyone else?”

Lily nodded, biting her lower lip.

“Yes, everyone.”

“Even—”

A knock on the door put a sudden halt to our conversation. We turned toward the entrance to find Lisa standing there, dressed in an elegant red mermaid gown.

Lisa tucked a loose hair behind her ear and avoided making eye contact with us.

“Can I speak to Crystal…alone?” she asked timidly.

Lily looked to me, as if asking for permission. I nodded.

“I’ll be right outside if you need me,” she said.

As Lily walked past Lisa, she glared right into the other woman’s eyes, sending a clear message: do not mess up this day. I could hear Lisa gulp. Lily maintained this eye contact until the door shut behind her.

Lisa finally raised enough courage to look me in the eye, though just barely.

“You look great,” she said.

“Thanks,” I replied.

Lisa started to fiddle with her fingers, pulling on her nails and barely keeping from chipping at her nail polish. After about a minute of this, she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and exhaled.

“I’m sorry…for everything,” she said. “I never meant to hurt you like I did.”

“It wasn’t you,” I said in a flat tone. “It was Bob.”

“I still helped, and that wasn’t right. I was just scared that my father was getting close to the wrong woman, and I didn’t bother to get to know you first. For that, I’m sorry.”

I nodded, but I did not speak.

“I also wanted you to know that you and my father have my blessings,” she continued. “I know that you don’t need them, but you have them.”

I smiled as a weight lifted off my chest.

“Thank you. I appreciate that.”

My instinct was to open my arms to hug Lisa, but something did not quite feel right about that, not yet. Instead, I reached my hand out. She accepted my olive branch and grabbed my hand, giving it a quick shake.

“Just know that if you break my father’s heart, you’ll discover that my wolf form is just as ferocious as his,” Lisa said, holding my gaze steadily.

I chuckled.

“I wouldn’t expect it any other way.”

My heart thumped hard against my ribs as I walked down the aisle to the gazebo where the altar to the Moon Goddess had been erected. Lily escorted me, and Terri waited on my side of the gazebo as my maid of honor. On the other side of the priestess of the Moon Goddess, Andrew stood as proud as he could be with his Beta by his side as his best man.

Andrew’s eyes met mine as I approached the altar. He smiled at me, and I smiled back. He looked so handsome in his classic black tuxedo that I could hardly wait for after the reception to be with him.

As I took my place across from Andrew, I handed my bouquet to Lily. The priestess began the ceremony, but her words droned in my ears. I was excited that this was finally happening that I thought I would pass out.

Though my eyes stayed on Andrew, I kept my ears open for any threats. A part of me could not believe that this was going to happen without anything bringing it to a halt—and Andrew must have felt the same way, for I knew that the Special Guard was stationed in every nook and cranny of the resort. Even Jeffrey had been hidden in the audience, our secret weapon.

Andrew must have noticed my tension. He gave me a reassuring smile and lipped the words “don’t worry.” Then he turned to the priestess and nodded.

“I do,” he said.

“And do you, Crystal Blanchard, take Andrew Dubois to be your lawfully wedded husband?” the priestess asked me.

“I do,” I said.

“You are now husband and wife,” the priestess announced. “You may kiss the bride.”

I knew that not everyone assembled there cheered, but enough did to urge on our kiss as Andrew and I threw our arms around each other and pressed our lips together passionately.

“About damn time,” I heard Terri say.

About damn time, indeed.

Everyone was in the midst of enjoying themselves at the reception. The wine flowed freely, and everyone drank to their hearts’ content—everyone but me. I had some news to share, and it was making butterflies of anxiety and excitement flutter about my stomach.

Just before it was time to cut the cake, I stood up, much to Andrew’s surprise, and tapped the side of my water glass with a butterknife.

“Can I have your attention, please?” I called out.

Instantly, the entire room fell silent. Andrew looked up at me, curiosity etched into every inch of his features.

“I have a big announcement to make.” I glanced down at Andrew and grabbed his hand. “Actually, we have a big announcement to make.”

Andrew’s curiosity turned into confusion, but he allowed me to proceed without any interruptions.

I reached into my clutch—which I had grabbed in between the wedding ceremony and the reception—and pulled out a positive pregnancy test, waving it high for the entire dining hall to see.

“We’re going to have a baby!”

Everyone applauded and toasted us with their drinks.

Andrew’s eyes widened. He leapt to his feet, knocking his chair backwards, and held my face in his hands.

“You’re not joking, are you?” he asked, staring into my eyes with the most serious expression that he had ever used with me. “This is real, right?”

I nodded as best as I could while he held my face, a grin spreading across my lips.

“This is real, Andrew.”

I showed him the pregnancy test.

Andrew kissed me hard on the lips. Then he knelt down, stroked my stomach, and planted a gentle kiss there.

“I can’t believe it,” he whispered, standing up with his hands still on my stomach. “You’re pregnant. Lisa’s going to be a sister.”

“Yes, she is.”

I looked over my shoulder to where Lisa stood, giving us a standing ovation from her assigned seat. She genuinely smiled in our direction. When our eyes met, she waved at me, and I returned the gesture.

Maybe this “happily ever after” could work, after all.