Page 58 of A Luna's Revenge

Charlie

I just got out of the hospital a couple of weeks ago and have been feeling a bit stir-crazy. To help, Alpha Blake gave me an office to use. I have enough funds in my bank account to live comfortably for a long time; I can’t tolerate sitting idle. I’ve been working on a facial recognition software and building my business. If what I saw in my dream visions comes true, those two goals should be easily attained shortly.

With my hologram screen open, I am working on a complicated coding string when Reggie barges in with a huge smile. “I have a present for you.” He waves a handful of papers in front of me. I reach for them, and he snatches them back. “Uh, uh, uh!” He teases.

“What is it?” I laugh. His beautiful face is always kind and smiling. I am one lucky female to have found my second-chance mate in him. I rise from my chair and jump for the papers as he holds them above his head. Always playing games together, I reach for them again as he snatches them back, using his body to keep me away. This only encourages me, so I begin to climb his lean frame. Wrapping my legs around his waist, I grab for the papers, only to find them floating to the floor as Reggie grabs my neck and pulls me in for a kiss, all traces of humor gone from his face.

“You don’t play fair.” Reggie takes a quivering breath.

“I know.” I smile smugly.

Our faces are so close as he huffs out a strangled breath it blows across my neck, stirring my hair. As Reggie and I have taken the time to get to know each other slowly, this dance we’ve played the past few weeks has been agonizing. While Jenson and I are no longer mates, we are still married, and I refuse to be a cheater, too. Others might disagree with my feelings, but I don’t want to start my relationship with Reggie while still tied to Jenson. I am thankful that Reggie is the kind of person who will respect my decision. If he couldn’t wait to have an intimate relationship with me, how could I trust him not to be led by lust in the future and cheat like Jenson?

“So, what’s my present?” I breathe, my lips inches away from his.

He groans, but his eyes brighten as he stoops to pick up the papers, taking me with him. When he straightened, hedropped onto the armchair in front of my desk with me in his lap, giving me the wad of papers clutched in his hand.

I sort through the papers, trying to straighten them to the point I can read them. “My divorce decree!” I yip in delight! It has been thirty days since I filed, and it’s final! How did this happen? I felt sure Jenson would fight it!

“Where did you get these?”

“It’s public record, baby.” He smiles. “Alpha Blake had the judge’s assistant fax them over.”

Leaning forward, I take Reggie’s lips. At first, the kiss is a quick, happy touch, but it ignites a blazing fire. Encouraged by the fact that I am now a single female, I assault Reggie’s lips with a passion. With me in his lap, Reggie takes my face in both hands. Our lips pressed together ashe worked his hands through my hair. My hands are kneading Reggie’s biceps and lingering on his tight abs. “Oh. Reggie.” I whisper as we finally come up for air.

Reggie calmly puts his forehead against mine, our rapid breaths intermingling. “Charlie, marry me?” Reggie pleads. Tears form in my eyes as I look at this male who not only worships me, but I do him as well. He takes his thumbs and wipes the moisture from my cheeks. “I know the ink hasn’t dried on your divorce yet, but I don’t want to wait anymore. Let’s go to Stone Mountain, get a marriage license, and marry before the judge today. Just you and me.”

I contemplate Reggie’s words. My grandmother’s wedding gown, which I wore at my wedding with Jenson, hangs in my closet. My grandmother lovingly made it for her wedding day and my mother wore it at hers. It’s a family heirloom, and I want to pass it on to my daughter, but if I did that, I would have to be married in it myself. “How about a compromise?” I offer. “We go to Stone Mountain to obtain a license and meet our parents at a small church in the country. No other guests,but immediate family. No elaborate plans, decor, or party; very low-key. You wear a suit and I wear my grandmother’s wedding gown. Full disclosure: I did wear my grandmother’s wedding gown when I married Jenson, but it’s about the gown, not Jenson.”

“Deal. But only if we do it this weekend.” An evil grin breaks across his face. “I know there is a small chapel on the perimeters of the pack lands here. We can get Alpha Blake to marry us.”

Confused by his gleeful expression, I start to ask why, but my question is quickly silenced when he captures my mouth in a passionate kiss. I instantly forget what I wanted to ask.

“You call your mom and I’ll call mine.” He says, “I’ll clear everything with Alpha Blake, and then we'll pack an overnight bag.” He releases me, and I walk to my desk. He leaves and closes the door behind him.

I pick up my phone and dial. “Mom, you’ll never believe this.” I laugh. “Keep this under wraps for now, but I’m getting married this weekend.”

It’s a simple ceremony where Reggie and I vow forever to each other in a small quaint chapel with wooden floors and a picturesque view of the valley. My Dad walks me down the aisle and gives my hand to Reggie. He gives Reggie a warning growl and says, “This time is forever; see thatyouremember that.”

Reggie just smiles, but I hiss quietly at my father. “Dad! It’s nothisfault.” Dad shrugs his shoulders as if to say,I’m just sayingand shoots Reggie a cheeky grin. My Mom sits in the front row, wiping her eyes with a tissue as Reggie’s family sits beside her on the pew. No, his side or her side, but seated together. We are all happily celebrating this turn of events. Dad goes to sit on Mom’s other side, and the ceremony begins.

When it comes time for the vows, we wrote them ourselves and kept it simple. Reggie looks incredible in his blue suit and tie, which matches his crystal blue eyes. His muscles strain against the white shirt underneath, a stark contrast to his long dark hair, which he has pulled back and secured with a string.

Reggie takes my hands in his, pulling me close; he lowers his eyes to meet mine. After kissing my hand, he speaks.

“Charlie, From the very beginning, I’ve adored you. Even though life took us down different paths to get here, today, my hopes and dreams are finally coming true as I stand here with you. I want you to know that you are part of my past and my foundation for the future. You complete me.

“I vow to love, honor, and cherish you, to stand by your side through happiness and sorrow, and to be the mate you’ve always deserved. I promise to help you realize your dreams, laugh, andgrow with you. I will love you eternally and am thankful to share my life with you. Your smile, kindness, and love have changed my world; you bring me joy.

“Today and forever, I choose you. I promise always to choose you and no other. The love we’ve nurtured is sacred to me, and I commit to loving you for the rest of our lives and forever. You are the reason I believe in love.”

I wipe the moisture from my cheeks with my gloved hand. Reggie’s eyes are glowing with his wolf, Phantom. Lana is near the surface and feels these vows as strongly as I do. These vows are from both of them to both of us. As the words are spoken, I feel the bond knitting stronger between us.

“Reggie, I’ve known you since we were pups. I’ve always admired you, but it wasn’t until recently that I realized the depth of my feelings for you. You’ve always been my friend; now, you are my soulmate.

“You’ve quietly stood by me, understood me, and supported me when I needed you. I didn’t deserve it, but I see you now, and I don’t know how I missed you before. With you, I feel like I’ve come home and found a love that has softly and gradually become most important to me. You are the one person I could not stand to live without.

Reggie, I vow to cherish, honor and love you with all that I am, now and forever, to be your refuge from life’s storms and your partner in every adventure we have. I’m so blessed to have found my forever in you. Today and always, I choose you.”

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