Chapter 417

Olivia

I stood there in the middle of the lively festival, the weight of Angela’s suggestion still floating through the air like a tantalizing dream. The idea of getting married tonight, right here at the festival, seemed both thrilling and impossible.

My heart raced with the thought, but practicality held me back.

Admittedly, it had crossed my mind earlier when we were sitting in the cafe. But it had only been on my mind for a moment, and I had quickly chalked it up to the pregnancy hormones or the festive atmosphere or my broken heart.

I had instantly told myself that it was silly and not a good idea, and yet now here I was, listening to my best friend come up with the exact same idea as though she had read my mind.

Before I could respond to Angela’s proposal, the bustling sounds of the festival were interrupted by Layla and Cade’s return. They were practically bursting with excitement, their hands laden with shopping bags filled with trinkets and souvenirs from the festival stalls. Alex was fast asleep against Cade’s chest, his chubby cheek cushioning his face as his head flopped over.

“Oh my god,” Layla said, sounding slightly out of breath as she approached. “The booths here are insane.”

“Yeah,” Cade chimed in with a laugh. “I think you just spent our life savings.”

Layla huffed, rolling her eyes teasingly. “Look, I needed gifts!” she exclaimed, holding up the bags. “And… maybe a few things for myself.”

Cade laughed again in response, clearly amused by his fiancee’s attitude. But Angela and I remained in our state of shock, each of us too taken aback by Angela’s wedding idea to even speak.

Layla’s eyes met mine, she seemed to sense that something was amiss. She pulled Angela and me aside, leaving the guys to chat about their intense game of throwing hoops around bottles.

“What’s going on, you two?” Layla asked, her voice laced with concern. “You both look like you’re in the middle of a serious discussion.”

Angela glanced at me, silently seeking my permission to share our predicament with Layla. I nodded, and she took a deep breath, her words coming out in a rush.

“Layla, the thing is… Olivia and Nathan’s wedding had to be canceled,” Angela began to explain, keeping her voice low so the guys couldn’t overhear our conversation. “The venue fell through, and they might not be able to have a real wedding for a long time. They’re even considering a courthouse wedding.”

Layla’s eyes widened with shock and sympathy, and she turned her gaze to me. “Liv, is that true?” she asked, her voice gentle.

I nodded, unable to speak as the sorrow of our wedding’s cancellation washed over me once again. The dream we had carefully planned and cherished was slipping further away, right through my fingers.

I knew that I should just be happy to be marrying the man I loved, and I was, but it still hurt. A courthouse marriage just didn’t feel… special. Not to me, at least.

Angela then dropped the bombshell, suggesting the idea of getting married tonight, at the festival. I still couldn’t help but laugh at the audacity of it all, the sheer impossibility.

“Angie, that’s a sweet thought,” I finally managed, “but it’s just not feasible. Weddings take months to plan, and there’s no way we could pull it off here and now.”

But Layla, ever the optimist, looked at me with her earnest blue eyes. “But Liv, why not?” she asked. “You and Nathan love each other, the night is beautiful, and everyone is here. What’s stopping you?”

My eyes widened as I looked between the two of them, searching for some kind of joke in their expressions, but there was none.

“Seriously, Liv,” Angela insisted. “It’s a beautiful night. You want to marry him, don’t you?”

I bit my lip, searching for an excuse to explain why it couldn’t work. But Angela wasn’t about to let me off the hook so easily.

“Olivia,” she interjected, “your dress is all ready for you back at the villa. We could do your hair and makeup, and it would be a beautiful ceremony, right here in the heart of the festival. It would be a memory to cherish forever.”

Layla joined in, her enthusiasm infectious. “The three of us could run back to the villa, get you all dolled up, and return to the festival. It’s a perfect setting for a wedding, and we can make it beautiful, even without a fancy venue.”

“No one will ever forget it,” Angela continued. “It will be a story to go down in the history books. The Luna and the Alpha’s surprise wedding.”

I hesitated, picturing a beautiful wedding in this enchanting atmosphere, surrounded by our pack members. I glanced over at the gazebo, where the twinkling lights and festive decorations still adorned the structure. It was the perfect spot to exchange vows.

But I remembered one crucial detail I had been holding onto—the snow.

Today was supposed to be the first snowfall of the year, but it still had yet to happen. And I had my heart dead set on a snowy wedding. I didn’t want to have it any other way.

“I can’t,” I said, my voice barely more than a whisper. “I know it sounds silly, but… the snow…”

Angela sighed and exchanged a glance with Layla. “I know how much you wanted a snowy wedding,” Angela said, shooting me an apologetic glance. “I can’t take that from you.”

Layla nodded along with her. They both seemed to understand the struggle inside of me, which admittedly meant a lot right now. Finally, Layla spoke, her voice gentle yet firm.

“Olivia, we don’t want you to do anything you’re not comfortable with,” she said. “But remember, a wedding isn’t all about the venue or the grandeur or the perfect setting. It’s about love and commitment. You and Nathan can make it beautiful and memorable in your own unique way, no matter where you are.”

I was touched by their words. Despite everything, I was just grateful to have friends like Angela and Layla.

“Thank you both,” I said softly, reaching out to squeeze both of their hands. “But I want to make sure our wedding is perfect. So while it’s a nice idea, I don’t think I can do it. I’m sorry.”

Layla and Angela exchanged knowing glances, understanding my decision. They didn’t push further, respecting my wishes and my need for time.

As we rejoined Levi, Cade, and Nathan, however, my heart swelled with affection for my friends and the man I loved. Nathan looked handsome in the fading light, his laughter infectious as he played a carnival game alongside Levi.

Layla and Angela’s words kept swirling around my mind, their crazy idea taking root there like a seed. It was insane, and it was sudden, and imperfect…

But as I looked at Nathan’s form, as I listened to the sweet sound of his laughter carrying over the sounds of the festival while he played a game with his friends, it made my heart pound in my chest.

For a moment, just a moment, I allowed myself to imagine the possibility of getting married tonight.

The festival’s enchanting atmosphere, the twinkling lights, and the love of our pack members all combined to create a magical setting. There was no snow, but it was beautiful, and it would be as memorable as anyone could ask for…

What if it wasn't such a bad idea after all?