Page 74 of The Alpha's Forced Bullied Mate

Daria added another beaded bracelet to my wrist. Mortimer held up a sword in honor of our nuptials. I felt funny carrying a giant sword with me to my husband, who I couldn't believe was now actually my husband. But at the same time, it felt perfect. It felt like the best reception.

Hector accepted the sword, holding it up and waving at Mortimer, who had gotten caught in the middle of the crowd where there was now a dance frenzy. “This will match the daggers perfectly!”

Patrick and Darla hugged me. It felt like we'd been part of the same family for such a long time that hugging them felt natural.

“Have you told everybody yet?” Darla asked.

I glanced back at the rest of the pack, who were enjoying their dancing. “Not yet, but I'm about to.”

Hector wrapped his arm around my waist. “Good thing you tripped.”

I chuckled. “Good thing I pretended to trip.”

He looked at me with wide eyes. “You did that on purpose?”

“Of course, I did that on purpose. I wanted you to catch me.”

The smile that grew on his face was so wide that I thought that it might explode into a fiery star. “Good thing I apologized.”

I gazed up at him. “Good thing you did. Do you still mean it?”

“I definitely still mean it.”

For a few more minutes, we watched our pack members celebrate with each other. There was food and music. There was joy and stomping feet. There was an earthquake-like roar that came in the form of conversation and laughter.

As soon as everyone had settled down for their second meal, I stood next to my husband with my hand on his shoulder, holding a champagne flute filled with water. I tapped the side of the glass with a fork. Silence reigned around me. To have that kind of command over people was incredible and intimidating.

I just hoped they would be as happy as we were.

“Friends and family, we have good news.” I glanced at Hector, who gave me a nod of approval. “We're pregnant.”

A roar of applause detonated around us. Everyone jumped to their feet to shout excitedly, to slap their tables, to stomp the ground. Applause erupted in every direction. The soil itself quaked with the rapturous joy that rattled our pack. The infectious joy made me feel like I was right where I belonged.

Right next to my husband.

Right next to my family.

***

It was so late by the time we got home. My feet were tired. My shoulders ached. My body trembled in that desirous way that I had come to recognize that told me my body wanted my mate. Through the whirlwind of planning a wedding, we'd barely done anything with each other except sleep in the same bed.

I was ready to do so much more than that.

Once we were inside, I turned around and jumped on my husband, feeling his hands swarm my body with enthusiasm.He carried me into the kitchen and planted me on the table. I gasped as his hands went to my waist and squeezed. My head tilted back to invite his kiss. “Yes, do it…”

Nearby, the bouquet that Rhiannon had originally made for me rustled. I paused for a second to inspect the petals. Was I losing my mind? Maybe I had too much laughter and joy. Maybe I was drunk and high on what had just happened. Or maybe those petals were turning into lips and getting ready to say something.

Hector was busy kissing my throat. I caught him for a second and turned his head. “Do those look like lips to you?”

He gasped for air. “Actually, they kind of do.”

“I’m going crazy.”

He chuckled. “No, I think they’re about to speak.”

The peonies sighed as their petals withered. “It's a girl. It's a girl.”

Hector and I looked at each other. With a smile, we both said, “It's a girl.”

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