Chapter 424

Olivia

The moment had finally arrived. Nathan and I stood under the soft glow of the fairy lights in the gazebo, our hands entwined. Clint, who had just given me away, stood off to the side with tears in his eyes. Angela and Levi held the twins on one side of us, and Layla held her son on the other side. It was a small wedding party, but it was perfect in my eyes.

Cade, who was our officiant for the wedding, stood between us. “Ladies and gentlemen,” he called out to the surprised and excited crowd, “we gather here today to celebrate the love and commitment between Nathan and Olivia. Their journey together has been one of unwavering support, trust, and unwavering love.”

As Cade spoke, Nathan’s gaze locked onto mine, his eyes filled with an intensity that made my heart skip a beat.

“You ready?” he mouthed, his voice barely more than a whisper.

I nodded almost imperceptibly. Even though my hands were trembling, I was ready. I wanted to be Nathan’s wife after all these years.

And finally, this was it—the moment we had all been waiting for.

“Nathan,” Cade continued, “do you promise to love, honor, and cherish Olivia, to support her in times of joy and in times of sorrow, to stand by her side as her partner and equal, and to be faithful to her for all the days of your life?”

Nathan’s voice was strong and unwavering as he responded unwaveringly. “I do.”

I held my breath as Cade turned to me next. “Olivia,” he said, “do you promise to love, honor, and cherish Nathan, to support him in times of joy and in times of sorrow, to stand by his side as his partner and equal, and to be faithful to him for all the days of your life?”

…

“I’m Olivia. We’re best friends now, okay?”

I held my grubby little hand out to Nathan. It was covered in dirt—I had just fallen from the jungle gym, a habit that I never grew out of. I could be such a clumsy kid sometimes. Or maybe not clumsy, but rather careless. I always played too hard, fought too hard, and maybe even loved too hard.

The shy little boy who stared up at me had eyes like saucers. They were a blue-green color, like the color of the ocean on a partly cloudy day, right after a storm. He had tousled dirty blonde hair—a little curly, and a little too long, so it fell into his eyes.

He was new here, and had no friends. The other kids thought he was a weirdo, but I didn’t think so.

After all, I was a weirdo, too.

…

“Olivia?”

The sound of Cade’s voice pulled me back to the present. I blinked, realizing that I was still surrounded by the pack, by my friends, with Nathan’s hands holding mine and those same ocean eyes staring back at me. He looked a little worried now.

“Sorry, what?”

“Your vows,” Cade whispered.

I suddenly felt everyone’s eyes on me, and I realized that I had zoned out, putting myself on the spot. A heat crept into my cheeks, and I nodded, my eyes never leaving Nathan’s.

“Yes. I do.”

Across from me, I could see Nathan let out a small breath of relief. He squeezed my hands, further grounding me in this moment.

“Now,” Cade said, “Nathan and Olivia have decided to write their own vows. Nathan?”

Nathan took a step closer to me, his eyes never leaving mine. He cleared his throat, a hint of nervousness in his voice as he began to speak.

“Olivia, from the moment I met you, my life has been filled with a light that I never knew existed,” he said quietly. “You are my best friend, my confidant, and my love. Today, I stand before you and our loved ones, promising to be your partner in all things, to support you in your dreams, and to be there for you no matter what challenges we face. I vow to cherish every moment we have together, to be faithful and true, and to love you with all my heart, now and forever.”

Tears welled up in my eyes as I listened to his heartfelt words. The crowd seemed to lean in in unison, their faces rapt as they watched the display. But I felt as though it was only Nathan and me in the entire world.

“And Olivia?” Cade asked.

I cleared my throat, feeling the weight of all those eyes on me again. My voice shook a little as I spoke.

“Nathan, from the very beginning, you have been my rock, my protector, and my greatest love. You have seen me at my best and my worst, and you have loved me through it all. Today, I make these promises to you: I will stand by your side, no matter what challenges come our way. I will be your partner in every adventure, your confidant in every secret, and your love for all eternity. I promise to laugh with you in times of joy and comfort you in times of sorrow. With you, I have found my home, and with you, my heart is complete.”

Nathan’s eyes glistened with unshed tears as he smiled at me, and I gave his hands a squeeze.

Cade’s voice brought us back to the present as he continued. “And now for the rings.”

With a smile, Levi brought the rings over: two simple golden bands. Nothing fancy, because we didn’t need that. We only needed each other. Nathan took mine first, slipping it onto my finger. The crowd seemed to hold its breath, and then, with a deep breath of my own, I slipped Nathan’s ring onto his hand.

“Nathan and Olivia,” Cade said, “you have declared your love and commitment to each other before your friends and family. It is now my honor to pronounce you husband and wife.”

The moment had finally arrived, and without a second’s hesitation, Nathan looped his arm around my waist and pulled me close. With one swift movement, he dipped me low and pressed his lips against mine, eliciting cheers and laughter from the crowd. I cupped his face in my hands, and felt myself smile against his lips as he placed me back on my feet.

As we pulled away, my eyes widened; the guests were throwing blue and white confetti, causing the air to look as if a fresh snow had fallen.

“You made tonight perfect,” I whispered as Nathan and I made our way down the aisle, arm-in-arm while the crowd clapped and the band picked up again.

“Oh, but the night has only just begun,” Nathan said softly.

I furrowed my brow slightly. “What do you mean?”

“Close your eyes, my love,” Nathan said, stopping and turning to face me. “Let me show you.”

I did as he instructed, trusting him completely. I heard the sounds of people cheering and music playing, and a sense of anticipation filled the air.

Nathan’s strong arms wrapped around me, and I felt myself being lifted off my feet. My heart raced as he carried me, his steps sure and confident. The sounds around us grew louder, and I couldn't contain my curiosity any longer.

“Nathan, where are we going?” I asked, my voice filled with excitement.

He chuckled, his warm breath against my ear. “It’s a surprise, my beautiful bride. Just a little something to make tonight even more perfect.”

After what felt like an eternity, Nathan finally set me down, his hands still covering my eyes. “Okay,” he whispered, pulling his hands away. “Open.”

I blinked a few times, adjusting to the change in lighting. And when I finally saw what he had been waiting to surprise me with, my breath caught in my throat.

We were in the Council building’s banquet hall, and it had been transformed into a breathtakingly beautiful space.

The high ceilings were covered with twinkling fairy lights, casting a warm and romantic glow over the room. The long tables were covered in white linens, decorated with beautiful floral arrangements and flickering candles. Music was playing from the speakers, and an array of delectable pastries and bottles of champagne waited for us on a nearby banquet table.

“Nathan,” I said, turning to face him with my eyes wide. “You did all of this for me?”

Nathan chuckled, looping his arm around my waist and pulling me close as our friends, family, and pack flooded into the space around us.

“I did it for us, my love.”