One Second (Seven Series Book 7) (45 page)

Ivy and Jericho’s singing faded, and I glared at Turner nervously, unsure if he was going to officiate this as instructed.

Turner cleared his throat. “We are gathered here today to witness the union of Austin and Lexi, two Shifters I already mated years ago, but… here we are again.”

Lorenzo barked out a laugh, and it quickly died.

Turner gripped his little black book and addressed the crowd. “I’ve taken some liberties with the speech because this isn’t in my comfort zone. They put
dearly beloved
in the script, but I have a bone to pick with you, Maddox, so not everyone here is beloved until you get on my good side.”

Austin cleared his throat and threw him a baleful look.

Turner raised his brows. “Fine. We are here to witness the union of Austin and Lexi in holy matrimony, which is an honorable estate that is not to be entered into lightly, but reverently. If anyone can show just cause as to why these two shouldn’t be lawfully joined, you better speak now or forever hold your peace. Although it hardly matters since they’re already mated.”

I snorted and peered up at Austin. We knew going into this that Turner was going to be a card. We could have gotten a preacher, but it would have opened up too many questions, and we wanted to keep this among Shifters.

Turner tapped his fingers on his black book and centered his eyes on Austin. “Repeat after me: I, Austin Cole, take you to be my lawfully wedded wife. Tell her you’ll love her for the rest of her life and you’ll be a good man who doesn’t philander around and mistreat her. And make sure you bring her flowers just because. Women like that. Just don’t do it a lot, or she’ll think you have a guilty conscience and you’re trying to cover up something.”

Austin’s jaw set, and he turned to me. “I, Austin Cole, take you to be my lawfully wedded wife. To have and to hold for as long as we both shall live. You’re my heart, my soul, and my life mate. I’ll honor you all the days of my life and promise to protect and cherish you.”

Yeah, he embellished a little, but I liked it.

Turner swatted at a gnat. “Repeat after me: I, Lexi Cole, take you to be my lawfully wedded alpha. Tell him you’ll love him forever and won’t yell at him for leaving the toilet seat up. And let him go out with the boys and do stupid things like mudding or racing lawnmowers. Sometimes men just need to do dumb shit.”

A few chuckles overlapped around us.

I held Austin’s hand, struck by the love reflecting back at me from his blue eyes. “I, Lexi Cole, take you to be my lawfully wedded husband. I promise to love you for the rest of my life, just as I’ve been doing since I was five. You’re the man I’ve always dreamed of having by my side. My only regret is that we’re up here alone.” I turned to the audience. “If anyone wants to join in and be a part of this, nothing would make me happier. A pack does everything together.”

The first person who shot to his feet was Maddox, and he pulled my mother out of her seat.

William handed Travis to Rosie, who was sitting behind them, and coaxed Trevor to stand beside him. I felt proud knowing that if Turner went ahead with the ceremony, then their union would become official since a Councilman had acknowledged it. The best men crossed over to where the bridesmaids were, and each found his mate. Even Ivy had tugged Lorenzo to his feet by the back of his collar.

Turner smirked. “All right, everyone. Repeat after me: I, then say your name, take you to be my lawfully wedded wife… or husband. To love, cherish, and honor for all the days of my life.”

Austin and I held hands, surrounded by others who were repeating their own vows. He took the ring from his pocket—the chain still attached—and then gently pulled my veil away from my face.

He slowly placed the ring on my finger. “With this ring, I thee wed.”

Turner stroked his beard. “Everyone else is just gonna have to find something to give your mate.”

“With this tie, I thee wed.”

I snapped my head around and saw Denver putting his bow tie on Maizy’s wrist. All the men were definitely thinking outside the box. Jericho gave Izzy a necklace, Reno put his sunglasses on April’s face, Wheeler gave Naya his belt, and Maddox gave my mother a ring. A sparkly diamond tucked in a velvet box.

We both looked anxiously at Turner, and he kept smiling.

“Something else?” he asked.

Austin stared daggers at him.

Turner snapped his fingers. “Oh, yeah. You may now kiss the bride.”

Austin placed a sweet, reverent kiss on my lips that melted into a smoldering, sensual kiss. I wrapped my arms around his neck, and he groaned, pulling me tighter and sending a wave of tingles through my body.

Someone in the back started humming the wedding march, and others joined in. Applause erupted, everyone turning away from their mate to howl at the bride and groom.

As we turned to walk back to the house, the twins assailed us with rice.

“Hey, now! Not that hard!” Izzy scolded them.

Before we knew it, we were running up the white carpet, tiny grains splintering against our skin. I’d never laughed so much.

At least, until I tripped over Spartacus and fell on my face.

“Jesus, Lexi. Are you okay?”

Sparty padded out of reach and sat down, trying to chew off the bow tie Naya had put around his neck.

“A black cat just crossed our path, Austin. That can’t be good,” I said with a laugh. Austin helped me stand without ripping my dress, which would have been a photo guaranteed a spot on our mantel. “We need to do this again.”

“Maybe on our fiftieth,” he suggested.

“And then our hundredth,” I added, climbing up the steps.

“Deal. But when we hit five hundred, I’m kicking it up a notch.”

I faced him and furrowed my brow. “What does that mean?”

He smoothed his hand over my rear and gave it a light squeeze while kissing my neck. “You’ll have to stick around to find out. Now go get your purse. Time to make our great escape.”

“Are you sure about this? We don’t have to do a honeymoon.”

“If my woman wants a wedding, she’s getting a Weston-style wedding all the way.”

I ran my fingers down the lapels of his jacket. He looked so handsome dressed up in a tuxedo, and I had to take a moment to adore everything about him. “This was better than blowing up my car.”

After zipping inside to grab my purse, we headed out to the car. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d forgotten something, and that something was my baby boy.

I held Travis in my arms and squeezed him tight. “You be good for Grandma. And don’t say your first words while I’m gone. Okay?” I showered him with mommy kisses.

Austin held the passenger door open while talking to Reno.

“Don’t you worry about a thing,” my mom said. “Travis is in capable hands.”

“Make sure Denver doesn’t give him anything like Cheetos. Those things are a choking hazard. And he likes it when you wind up his little wolf at night.”

“I know, I know,” she said, taking him from my arms. “Come see Grandma.”

Travis smiled and cooed, his blue eyes twinkling like tiny jewels. I’d been blessed with such an easy baby, though I wondered if growing up in a pack had something to do with that. Maybe it was the innate confidence instilled in an alpha that kept him from crying at loud noises or when he fell down, but Travis was my brave little wolf.

“Mommy loves you.” I kissed his chubby cheeks over and over until he giggled and turned toward my mom. “I’ll call you as soon as we get there.”

The walk to the car was a blur. Everyone showered me with hugs and well-wishes, and Naya presented me with a sack full of lingerie.

“Why didn’t you give me this earlier? I would have packed it in my bags,” I said.

She gave me a furtive glance and shrugged. “I thought you might need them in the car later on.”

“Nice. I’ll let you know how that works out.”

“Have fun,” she purred.

I stood on my tiptoes and gave Austin a peck on the chin.

“You ready?” he asked.

I turned, feeling as if I’d forgotten something. “Ready as I’ll… Hey, who’s that down by the road?”

Austin shielded his eyes from the sun and stared down the driveway at a figure standing at the end of the property line by the private road. He had on a blue suit, and I couldn’t comprehend what was going on. Everyone who had confirmed their invitation had shown up.

“It’s Ben,” he said on a breath.

“I thought he ignored the invitation?”

Wheeler broke away from the crowd and crossed the green grass in Ben’s direction. This happy occasion was about to come to an abrupt end with pack drama. Wheeler’s long strides slowed as he neared Ben, and his twin took a few steps back.

We watched in silence as the two brothers faced each other—neither speaking that we could tell. My heart clenched when Wheeler suddenly pulled him into a tight embrace. In that moment, I knew Ben had returned home for good.

Austin waved and then placed the flat of his palm on my back. “Let’s go, Ladybug.”

***

I carefully removed my veil and crown, deciding everything about that day was going into a memento chest. The chain on the ring kept catching on things, so I finally took it off and hung it around my neck. I’d thought about getting Austin a ring, but he said I’d already given him Travis.

We hadn’t made it to the highway yet, and I had a blast watching my sexy husband fill up the gas tank in his snazzy tux.

“I’m going to have to change clothes in a little while,” I said, scratching my neck. “This dress is starting to itch.”

“Wait until we stop at a hotel,” he suggested, lowering his visor. “I’m going to help you out of that situation.”

The desire that dripped from his words like warm honey gave me a flurry of tingles. It was a damn good thing I wasn’t in heat, although it wouldn’t have mattered. While I hadn’t talked to Austin about it, I’d decided that someday I’d like to try to have another baby. Maybe my body wasn’t ready before, but after Travis, it certainly was now. I felt a renewed sense of strength like never before.

I flipped through a magazine, looking at celebrity pictures while the turn signal was clicking. When the car slowed to a stop, I glanced up, assuming we were at a red light.

But we weren’t.

Austin had driven me to a cemetery.

“Tell me this isn’t our final destination,” I said jokingly.

I thought he’d made a wrong turn until I saw the familiar gates I’d driven through every year on this date since I was twenty.

Austin drove up the road and eased the car to a stop. “I couldn’t let you leave without saying good-bye. You come here every year on this day.”

“Yeah, but maybe that tradition is too depressing on our wedding day.”

“Bullshit.” He popped the door open and got out, rounding the front of the vehicle and then opening my door. “Let’s go see your brother.”

Without argument, I took his hand and let him lead me across the grass toward Wes’s grave. Since I didn’t have a raised headstone to follow, I always found it by taking a left before the maple tree.

Today I didn’t have to.

“Wait a second.” I turned around, confused. “Are you sure we’re in the right place? I think you made a wrong turn.”