Page 88 of Tying the Knot
She climbs in the backseat with me while Eli drives, and Nik slides in the passenger seat. I keep hold of her hand, needing to touch her all the time, or I feel like dying. Her anxiety is peaking, but I stroke her palm with my thumb to calm her down. It works. She responds to our touch perfectly, as we do to hers.
About half an hour later, we arrive at our destination. She stares out of the window and gasps.
“It’s beautiful!”
The sun sets over the lake, casting a golden hue across the tranquil waters. She hastily gets out of the car and runs towards Dylan, her white dress billowing around her as she looks at him with so much love, it makes my heart happy. We join her as my mum steps up, officiating the ceremony as Morgan wanted. She grins, so happy on this special occasion.
The four of us stand around her, our eyes shining with love and admiration.
Morgan looks each of us in the eye, her gaze lingering on the man she has chosen to be her first husband. Dylan smiles back at her, his eyes crinkling with joy.
My mum does a small reading that Dylan chose for the occasion before she asks Morgan to state her vows.
Nervous, she licks her lips and grips Dylan’s hands tightly. She speaks in a steady, clear voice. “Today, I make a commitment to you all. I vow to love, honour and cherish each of you. I will be your companion, confidant and friend, and always be here for you. No matter what happens, I will stand at your side, eager to lend a hand or an ear. No matter how far apart we may be, I will always be here for you. Today I commit myself to you, and I will never break this vow.”
I sniff, feeling a bit emotional myself.
Tears spring to Dylan’s eyes.
“I will never take the love you have shown me for granted. I will always strive to make you feel safe and appreciated, and I will never forget the importance of making time for us. I promise to be loyal, honest, and faithful to you always. I will always be loyal to our marriage and trust in our love. I will never forget how special our relationship is, and I will always do my best to protect it. I vow always to be kind and understanding and to make sure that our relationship is based on mutual respect, understanding and kindness. I will never take our relationship for granted, and I will always strive to make it better. I will love you with all of my heart, mind and soul. I will never forget the way you make me feel and the way you light up my life. I will never forget the way you make me laugh, the way you make me feel safe, and the way you make me feel loved.”
I know I’m next. The nerves flutter in my stomach, but when Dylan finishes his vows, she turns to me.
I clear my throat and grip her fingers tightly. “Today is a special day, not just because it marks the beginning of our journey together as husband and wife, but because it marks a new chapter in my life – one I wouldn't have been able to write without you. I have never felt such an incredible connection to anyone before you. You have truly made me a better person, and I am forever grateful for the love and joy you have brought into my life. When I met you, I knew that you were something special – you were the kind of person I could trust with my heart and soul. I could open up to you and share my hopes and dreams without fear of judgment or ridicule. I promise to always be there for you, no matter what life throws our way. I vow to support your dreams, comfort you in times of need, and be your biggest champion. I will be by your side through the highs and lows, and never forget the vows we made today.”
Tears pool in her eyes when she smiles at me, her lips quivering as she tries to hold herself together to get through the entire thing. She lets go of me and turns to Nik, the anticipation of his words lingering in the air.
ChapterFifty-Three
Nik
I’m not usuallythe nervous type, but this has hit me hard in the stomach. My throat has closed up, and when she turns those gorgeous green eyes to me, I choke.
But then she smiles encouragingly, and all of my anxiety about cocking this up melts away. Not one for big public speeches, especially declarations of love, I was unsure how to do this, but watching Dylan and Kaleb, it becomes clear.
Speak from the heart.
I take her hands and smile. “I promise always to be your partner, best friend, and confidante. I will always be there to listen, to offer advice, and to love you unconditionally. I vow always to be honest with you and always to tell you the truth, even if it's hard to do. I will never forget the times we share and the wonderful moments we have spent together. I will never forget how you make me feel, and I will always cherish our love. I could never put into words just how thankful I am for you, and I will never take for granted the privilege of being your mate.”
She blinks back her tears which makes me well up a bit. I bite the inside of my lip to stop myself from making a fool of myself. I never thought I would be so lucky to have this. I figured we’d meet an omega and mate, and it would be good. This has surpassed every expectation I had of how it would be and then some. I don’t want to let go of her hands, but Elijah is chomping at the bit to claim her this way, so I release her hands.
He grabs her and draws her close to him, his hand stroking her belly lightly. Dylan makes a noise of surprise and then steps up behind her to wrap his arms around her and kisses her neck, over the bite mark he gave her all those weeks ago.
He steps back with a chuckle when Elijah glares at him.
“Sweetheart, I love you now, and I will love you always. From this day forward, I will be your biggest champion and your loyal companion. I will always remember the vows we made today, and I will never forget the power of our love. In sickness and in health, in good times and bad, I will always be there for you.”
I expect more, but that is it. I realise that it’s perfect for him and probably the most profound thing he has ever said. I exchange a glance with Kaleb, trying not to snicker. Not out of fun, but nerves. I’ve taken down badass criminals, faced down guns and knives, and fought to the death on one occasion, but I’ve never been as nervous about any of that as I was today.
I pull the small black velvet bag out of my pocket and turn it upside down. Five rings clunk out into my palm, and I hold it out wordlessly.
We exchange rings, each of us taking a ring. Dylan places Morgan's ring on her finger and she slips ours onto our fingers in turn.
Kaleb’s mum clears her throat to get our attention and then says, “I now pronounce you four husbands and a wife. Five mates. You may now seal your commitments with a kiss."
We step forward and embrace Morgan, showering her with kisses. Tears of joy roll down her cheeks.
Full of joy and happiness, we walk towards a future full of hope and happiness, arm-in-arm with our beautiful wife as we head back to the car, so we can drive to Morgan’s favourite restaurant, the place where all our lives changed forever.
