Chapter 426

Olivia

“And now,” the DJ said over the speakers, “it’s time for the lovely couple’s first dance!”

The wedding guests cheered and clapped as Nathan and I, our cheeks flushed red from a night of laughter and dancing, took each other’s hands and walked over to the dance floor. The fairy lights illuminated the space as the soft music began to play, and Nathan gently looped his arm around my waist, pulling me close.

“Recognize this song?” he asked quietly with a grin as we swayed.

It took me a moment, but I quickly realized what song it was. I remembered it clearly from when we were teenagers, right before I had left the pack.

“Oh my god,” I whispered. “I do remember.”

The memories were as clear as day: it was an old classic rock song, and we had become obsessed with it when we were teenagers. I could still remember stealing my dad’s record and putting it on while he was at work. We would dance in the living room until we were out of breath and laughing so hard we would collapse onto the couch.

Nathan smirked. “I knew you’d love it,” he said. “I asked the DJ to put it on when you were in the bathroom earlier.”

His words made me blush. “You cheeky bastard,” I teased.

“As always,” he said with a grin.

We danced for a little while longer to the song as our friends and pack looked on. I rested my head on Nathan’s shoulder, eliciting a chorus of soft sighs from the onlookers. But I wasn’t paying attention to them, or to the photographer who was snapping photos of us as we danced. I only had eyes for Nathan. For my husband.

I gazed up at him as we danced. “I can’t believe we’re finally here,” I whispered.

“This is only the beginning,” he said as he brushed a strand of hair that had come loose from dancing with our friends earlier behind my ear. “And the night is still young.”

As the music played on, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of contentment finally wash over me. We had been through so much together; hell, we had been through so much apart from each other. And yet, somehow, after those ten years of being wrenched apart, we were married now.

“I just can’t stop thinking about how amazing it is,” I murmured. “Ten years apart, and yet…”

“I never stopped loving you, Liv,” Nathan said quietly. “Not for a minute.”

I blushed at his words. “And I never stopped loving you.”

As we continued to dance, my mind wandered back to those ten years we had been apart. I hadn’t realized it at the time due to the anger, pain, and bitterness clouding my heart, but it was true; I never stopped loving him.

Even when we were kids, I think I loved him. I just didn’t know it yet, or maybe I was too afraid to let myself feel it. But I loved him from the first moment we shook hands on the playground. And no matter what happened, that never went away.

And our wedding, our twins, our friends and our pack, and the little life growing inside of me was all proof of that unwavering love.

The song eventually came to an end, and our friends erupted into cheers and applause. Nathan planted a soft kiss on my forehead before he spoke.

“I think it’s time for cake, isn’t it?” he asked with a grin. “Or rather, cupcakes.”

I couldn’t help but smile. I had plans for a huge and elaborate tiered wedding cake, which couldn’t have been further from the miniature cupcakes Petunia and James had graciously provided, but I didn’t care. My heart was filled with so much joy that nothing else mattered.

“Cupcakes sound good,” I said.

With a grin, Nathan and I walked over to the table where the cupcakes were set up for us to feed to each other. Our friends crowded around, snapping pictures with their phones while the photographer snapped more professional photos on her camera.

Nathan and I picked up our cupcakes, and as we turned to face each other, our friends cheered us on. I couldn’t help but giggle as Nathan mischievously smeared a little frosting on my nose.

“Oh, you’re in for it now,” I teased, grabbing a cupcake and smearing frosting on his cheek.

Our friends laughed and cheered, taking photos of the playful cupcake exchange. I swiped my finger along the frosting on Nathan’s cheek and licked it off of my finger, savoring the sweet taste.

Nathan grinned and leaned in to kiss my nose, stealing some frosting in the process. In that moment, I heard the sound and saw the flash of the photographer’s camera out of the corner of my eye, and I knew that it would be a treasured picture for the rest of our lives.

…

“I think I need a little fresh air.”

I was seated at a table with Nathan, the babies, Levi and Angela, and Layla and Cade. The night was almost over, and many of the guests had already left, leaving their well-wishes in their wake. Now it was just a small group who was left, enjoying the last vestiges of the evening.

Nathan, his cheeks flushed from the champagne he had been drinking all night, nodded.

“Me too,” he said softly.

“Go on, lovebirds,” Angela, who had just been fawning over her new engagement ring, said. “We’ll be here when you’re done.”

Nathan and I blushed and stood up from the table. He took my hand and led me out of the banquet hall, down the corridor, and toward the stairs that led to the second floor.

“Nathan, where are you—”

“Just wait,” Nathan slurred with a smirk. He led me up the stairs, then down another corridor toward a pair of double doors at the end of the hallway. When we reached them, he shot me a wink before pushing the doors open.

We both stepped out onto a balcony, and I was instantly hit with a gust of cool wind. I let out a contented sigh as we walked over to the railing and looked out over our sleepy town.

The festival was finally coming to a close in the park, the majority of the vendors having already packed up their booths. There would be more festivities throughout the coming week, but the most exciting part was behind us.

I couldn't have asked for a more perfect wedding. The decorations, the food, the company—it was all more than I could have ever dreamed of. But there was one thing missing, one element that would have made it absolutely perfect.

A fresh blanket of snow.

As I stood on the balcony with Nathan, his arms wrapped around me, we gazed out at the landscape. The night was clear, and the stars twinkled above us. I leaned into him, feeling the warmth of his embrace.

“Thank you for putting together such a beautiful wedding,” I said, my voice filled with gratitude.

Nathan kissed the top of my head. “It was the least I could do for my fated mate,” he replied.

I smiled and rested my head against his chest. “I love you so much, Nathan.”

“I love you too, Olivia,” he whispered.

As we stood there, lost in each other’s warmth, something magical happened. I felt a chill in the air, and something wet hit my nose. Furrowing my brow, I looked up to see…

“Oh my god,” I whispered, clapping my hand over my mouth. “It’s… It’s snowing!”