Page 94 of Rescued By Four Alphas
"But we want to do this right," I continue, taking her left hand.
Dahlia's eyes flutter open, suddenly wide awake as she takes in the sight of all four of us kneeling around her. A giggle escapes her lips. "What are you all doing?"
Axl grins and leans forward to tickle her ribs gently. "Making this official," he says, making her squirm and laugh harder.
"Stop!" she giggles, trying to push his hands away while Onyx chuckles and captures her feet, adding his own gentle tickling assault.
"Not until you answer the question," I say, unable to keep the smile from my voice as her laughter fills the room.
"What question?" she gasps between giggles, her whole body shaking with mirth.
"Will you marry us?" Axl asks.
Chapter 28- Evan
The soft digital glow on Knox's baby monitor reads 4:52 AM when his cries shatter the silence. I roll over, reach for the device, and press the stop button.
"Right on schedule," I mutter, swinging my legs over the side of the bed.
Today is our wedding day. The words still feel strange in my mind, both inevitable and impossible. Four men, one woman, and four babies. We are a family that defies every social norm yet feels right to us.
I pull on a robe over my pajama pants and make my way to the nursery. Knox's cries grow louder as I approach, and I expect to find the night nurse tending to him. Instead, Dahlia, in her worn cotton pajamas, looking exhausted, juggles Knox in one arm while attempting to prepare a bottle with her free hand.
"They're all fussy this morning," she explains before I can ask. "I sent Alicia to get clean onesies. Knox threw up on three already."
Behind her, Nova and Zane squirm in their cribs while Jaxon, remarkably, remains asleep. The carefully organized schedule I created for this morning already sits in tatters.
"You should sleep," I say, taking Knox from her arms. "The ceremony isn't for eight more hours, but you need rest."
She looks at me with dark circles under her eyes and offers a tired smile. "Tell that to your children. They seem to know something important is happening today."
I bounce Knox against my shoulder, his cries subsiding to unhappy whimpers. "My wedding present was supposed to be you sleeping until at least seven."
"Well, now you need a new present," she teases, testing the temperature of the formula on her wrist.
I take in the scene, and nothing about this resembles the traditional wedding morning I imagined when I was younger. It's even better.
The door opens, and Alicia returns with a stack of fresh onesies. "I'll take over now, Dr. Baldwin. You should try to rest before the big day."
"That's what I told her," I say.
Dahlia surrenders the bottle to Alicia. "Fine. But wake me if they need anything."
"We won't," I promise, guiding her toward the door. "Everything is under control."
She raises an eyebrow.
"Go to sleep, Dahlia.”
After ensuring Dahlia returns to bed, I head to my office to review the schedule once more. The guest list sits beside my computer - just fifteen names of only the people who matter most.
My phone rings, and the display shows the florist's number.
"Mr. Blackthorn," she says when I answer. "I wanted to confirm we have access to the garden at six."
"Yes. Security will meet you at the south entrance," I reply. "And remember, wildflowers only. Nothing formal."
"Of course," she assures me. "I have the specific varieties Dr. Baldwin requested."
