Page 96 of Rescued By Four Alphas
"And the babies?"
"With Axl and Onyx. They've converted the library into temporary nursery headquarters." Leo grins.
This makes me laugh. "Did Onyx remember the shoes Emily insisted on?"
"All four tiny pairs are ready," Leo confirms. "Though Onyx argues they're pointless since none of the babies can walk."
I check my watch. "We should dress soon. The photographer arrives at four."
"Relax, Evan," Leo says. "We have time."
I take one final look in the mirror, and the man who stares back bears little resemblance to the person I was before Dahlia entered my life. I recognize the same features, the same blue eyes and perfect posture, but something fundamental has changed.
I exit the dressing room and make my way through the house to the garden. Everything bathes in golden light, and the fairy lights in the oak tree twinkle as if in anticipation. Our small group of guests mingles near their seats, creating an atmosphere more reminiscent of a family gathering than a wedding ceremony.
My attention shifts as Leo, Axl, and Onyx emerge from the house. Onyx opted for a vest rather than a jacket, Axl's suit incorporates subtle edgy details, and Leo chose classic lines with a modern cut.
"The babies are with Emily," Axl informs me. "Fair warning, Jaxon spit up on my first shirt."
"Better yours than mine," Onyx replies, laughing.
"Is Dahlia ready?" I ask.
Leo nods. "Emily says five more minutes."
The minister is a woman with kind eyes and an open smile. "Shall we begin soon?"
"Yes," I confirm. "Thank you for accommodating our unconventional ceremony."
"Love comes in many forms," she responds. "It's my privilege to celebrate yours."
She moves to the altar. I signal the string quartet, and they begin a gentle melody. Our guests take their seats, and the four of us position ourselves beneath the ancient oak. The garden falls quiet except for the music and distant birdsong.
Then the terrace doors open, and my heart stops.
Dahlia stands framed in the doorway, radiant in a simple white dress that flows around her. Her curls frame her face, adorned only with small wildflowers rather than an elaborate veil.
She walks alone down the garden path, just as she wanted. When we discussed the ceremony, she'd been firm about this choice. "My parents died when I was twelve," she'd explained quietly. "I've been walking my own path ever since. I don't need anyone to give me away—I'm choosing to give myself to you."
The memory of those words makes my chest tighten with emotion. She's always been fiercely independent, even in the most traditional moments. It's one of the countless reasons I fell in love with her.
When she reaches us, the sun catches the golden highlights in her hair, and I remember the first time I saw her with storms in her eyes as she refused to back down from an argument with me. How far we have traveled from that day.
"Hi," she says, her voice bright with emotion.
"You look beautiful," I reply.
"Dearly beloved," the minister begins. "We gather here today to celebrate the union of these five souls, already connected by love, now choosing to formalize their commitment before friends who have become family."
Knox lets out a sudden cry, and one of our security team members smothers a laugh. Rather than disrupting the ceremony, the baby noises integrate perfectly into the proceedings, a reminder of why we stand here today.
"This union, while unconventional by traditional standards, represents the purest form of family, one built on choice, commitment, and unwavering love," the minister continues. "Today, these five individuals, along with their children, create their own tradition, and their own definition of marriage."
She turns to us. "Who will speak first?"
We agreed I would begin our vows, though the order matters less than the sincerity behind our words. I take Dahlia's hands in mine and look into her eyes.
"Dahlia," I begin. "Before I met you, I measured success through acquisitions, achievements, and influence. You taught me that true wealth lies in connection. You challenged me, fought me, changed me. When I nearly lost you, I discovered what actually matters." I pause.
