Fighter (Outsider Series) (13 page)

She pulled the voluptuous dress out of its confinement and I stripped myself of my crappy clothes and stood in the bra and panties Chris had instructed me to wear. Of course, she chose this moment to walk by my bedroom. S
he wolf whistled. “Damn, Sophie, look at you. Caeden’s going to lose his mind and if I do say so myself, I think I did a good job picking that out.”

I waved her away, a blush staining my whole body.

Mom held my dress so that I could step into it. I pulled the dress up and into place, so that she could zip it up in the back.

“Let me look at you,” she turned me around. “Wow, Soph. You’re absolutely stunning.”

I blushed. “I am?”

“I’ve never seen a more beautiful bride.”

“Wow,” Chris said from the doorway. “That dress was made for you.”

Tears of happiness welled in my eyes. Even though
, I was scared of falling or doing something stupid I was truly happy.

“Don’t you dare cry and ruin my masterpiece,” Chris warned when she noticed my glistening eyes.

In response, I fanned my face and took a deep breath.

“Oh, let me get your shoes,” Chris disappeared. I raised a brow. I swore those had been in my room. With a cheeky smile
, she handed me the box. “Caeden wanted them for some reason. He told me to tell you to look on the bottom.”

I delicately removed the shoes from the box and pressed my hand to my lips as tears, once more, threatened to spill over.

Soph,

Ever since I first laid eyes on you
, I have been anticipating this moment.

I have counted the hours, minut
es, and seconds, until I get to make you my wife and bind myself forever to your soul. I love you. Always.

-Caeden

Overcome by emotion
, I said nothing to no one and slipped the shoes on.

“Is Charlotte ready to get her hair done?”
Mom asked Chris while I stayed in my love induced stupor. Caeden wasn’t even here but his words had the same affect on me as his presence.

“Yep,” Chris nodded. “Lucinda is ready too. I just have myself left unless you want me to do yours.”

“Oh, would you?” Mom clapped her hands together.

“Of course, Christine,” Christian smiled.

“I’ll go do their hair and while you do your makeup and get your dress on.”

“Sure thing.” Chris disappeared into the bathroom.

Mom helped me lift my skirt and walk out to the living room. I turned on the TV and flipped the channel until it landed on a mindless reality show.

My mom braided Charlotte’s hair on both sides and pulled it back into a low bun.

“You’re all done,” mom said and patted Charlotte’s shoulder. “Dress time.”

Charlotte flashed me a smile before disappearing into my room to change into her dress.

Gram threw her hand up as my mom started towards her. “Don’t even think about touching my hair, Christine. I mean it.”

Mom backed away and went in search of Chris.

Gram got up from the chair she’d been sitting in and sat down beside me. Taking my hand in hers she said, “How are you holding up, sweetie?”

“Okay, I guess. My heart’s racing a mile a minute.”

“I’d think there was something wrong with you if you weren’t feeling a little flustered. Marriage is a big deal… even when you are marrying your mate. But you’ll be fine sweetie pie. That boy loves you more than life itself.”

Changing the topic
, I fingered her green dress and white cardigan. “You look nice Gram.”

“Ugh,” she pulled on the end of her dress. “It’s
too short. Want to let me wear my jeans?” she turned hopeful eyes up at me.

“Sorry
, Gram,” I smiled. “But you can’t wear jeans to my wedding.”

“Darn, I figured you’d say that.”

* * *

Time seemed to fly by as my mom and the girls finished getting ready. Mom stood in front of me, tears glimmering in her eyes, “It’s show time.”

Excitement and fear bubbled in my tummy as she helped me up from the couch and out the door. She gripped my hand tightly in hers and I knew she needed the support more than I did. We piled into a waiting limo and headed towards Amy’s house. With every mile that we got closer, my heart raced faster. This was happening.

When we pulled into the driveway
, my jaw dropped. Fresh white flowers were wrapped around the columns of the old home and draped above the door. The affect was stunning.

My m
om and the girls lifted the bottom of the dress and helped me inside.

The foyer had the same flowers
that had decorated the outside, hanging in balls at different intervals. The affect was stunning, but simple.

Before I could inspect anything else
, Amy was coming out of the kitchen with my bouquet of poppies in her hand. She looked beautiful in her dress and her hair was gorgeous, pulled back in an elegant up-do.

“Oh Sophie!” She enveloped me in a hug. “You look stunning. A vision,” she pulled away and pecked me on the cheek. “The boys just left. All we need is our beautiful bride to walk down the aisle.”

Taking a deep breath, I took the bouquet from her and gave her a watery smile. I really hoped Chris used waterproof mascara. “I’m ready.”

“Good, good,” she said and grabbed the smaller bouquets off the table and handed them to Chris and Charlotte. “Bentley and Bryce are waiting at the side of the house for you.”

With a smile, Chris hugged me and said, “Don’t be scared,” before walking out the front door.

Charlotte
squeezed my hand, a tear coursing down her cheek. “This is it,” she whispered before following Chris.

Amy took my hands this time. “Your mom and I are going to go take our seats and send your dad in, okay?”

“Okay,” I took a deep breath. Charlotte was right. This was it.

They both hugged me before leaving me by myself.

Just as the panic was about to set in, the front door opened and my dad stepped through.

He stopped in his tracks. “Baby girl, you’re beautiful.”

“Thanks daddy,” I hugged him, burrowing my face into his neck. This was the last hug where I’d still be ‘daddy’s girl’ because in a few minutes time I’d be ‘Caeden’s girl.’

“Ready?” he asked.

I took another deep breath, letting the oxygen fill my lungs, before exhaling. “Yes,” I tucked my hand into the crook of his arm.

We stepped outside and down the steps. We stepped onto a white piece of fabric covered with poppy petals. Amy, bless her heart, had made the aisle come around the side of the house so I wouldn’t mess up my shoes or dress by walking in the grass. The woman had thought of everything.

We followed the walkway to the side of the house. I could see my mom and Amy disappearing into the woods. Chris, Charlotte, and the guys were a few feet behind them. My dad and I came to a stop at the start of the actual aisle. I tried to get a glimpse of Caeden, but by design that was impossible.

I closed my ey
es and waited for the music to start, as that was my cue. When it did, my stomach completely dropped out of my body and rolled away.

My dad looked over at me, pride shown in his eyes but sadness was there too. “That’s us
, baby girl.”

I nodded and we stepped through together. My heart was about to race out of my chest and in my head I kept saying,
don’t trip, don’t trip, don’t trip.
And then that changed to,
stop looking at your feet! Look ahead! Smile!

I focused on the decorations in order to stop worrying. All the trees we passed
, were wrapped in more of the white, frothy looking, flowers only this time some poppies had been added in. I’d never been to a wedding before, but I was sure this was one of the most beautiful ever created. Especially, when you considered it had been thrown together in a matter of a few weeks.

I smiled when I saw a sign leaning against a tree that said, “As two families become one, we ask that you pick a seat, not a side.
-The Beaumont and Williams families.”

We made a turn around some trees and that’s when I saw him standing beneath a white canopy tent. All the people standing, staring at me, faded into the background. All I saw was Caeden. All I felt was his love for me. His hand were clasped together, like he was trying to keep from reaching out for me, and his smile was huge. His blue eyes shimmered with tears and one escaped the side. I watched it roll down his cheek. He didn’t even bother to hide it. I h
ad reduced my Alpha, my mate, to tears. Belatedly, I wondered who won the bet.

Within seconds
, the space was closed between us and I
really
saw him. No one had ever looked better in a tux than Caeden, of that I was sure.

The preacher said something and my dad answered but I was too consumed by Caeden to hear anything. I felt my dad remove my hand from his arm and place it in Caeden’s. A million tiny zings prickled my body. I stepped up next to him and smiled.

“Beautiful,” he mouthed and I blushed.

He held both my hands in his as the preacher began his speech. “We are gathered here on this joyous day to unite this man and woman in holy matrimony.”

Caeden squeezed my hand and I lost all coherent thought for a moment. In a few minutes, he would be my husband.

The preacher said a few other things and then it was time for the vows.

“I, Caeden Henry Williams, take you, Sophie Noelle Beaumont, to be my beloved wife, to have and to hold you, to honor you, to treasure you, to be at your side in sorrow and in joy, in the good times, and in the bad, and to love and cherish you always. I promise you this from my heart, for all the days of my life.”

Tears glimmered in his eyes as he took the ring from Bentley and slid it onto my finger. I resisted the urge to say “wow”. The ring was gorgeous, silver twisted and turned to look like vines. The vines and band were then covered in tiny diamonds. I don’t know how he had managed to find something so beautiful that matched my antique engagement ring.

“I love you,” I mouthed before it was my turn to say vows. He grinned.

The preacher turned to me and I prayed that I didn’t forget the words.

“I, Sophie Noelle Beaumont, take you, Caeden Henry Williams, to be my beloved husband, to have and to hold you, to honor you, to treasure you, to be at your side in sorrow and in joy, in the good times, and in the bad, and to love and cherish you always. I promise you this from my heart, for all the days of my life.”

I took Caeden’s ring from Chris. With a shy smile
, I slid the two-tone ring over his knuckle. It got stuck and he had to help me, which made me blush profusely. I guess I really would be the ‘blushing bride’.

“I now pronounce you
husband and wife. You may kiss your bride,” he told Caeden.

“Finally,” Caeden murmured, taking my cheeks into his hands. Everything seemed like it was in slow motion as his lips descended on mine. I soaked in his warmth
, as my fingers tangled in the ends of his hair. He deepened the kiss and my mouth opened underneath his. He pulled away and nuzzled my neck. A chuckle escaped his throat and I realized our first kiss as husband and wife might have been a little
too
passionate. Oops.

“I present to all those gathered here, Mr. and Mrs. Caeden Henry Williams.”

Caeden took my hand and we turned to face our friends and family.

I turned to Caeden, a smile splitting my face. I didn’t know it was possible to feel this happy.

Caeden brought our joined hands to his lips, kissing my hand and then my wedding ring, before dropping our hands back down.

Together, we walked back down the aisle.

Caeden veered off the path and pulled me behind a tree.

He cupped my cheek in his left hand and the feel of the cool metal band on his ring finger felt strange against my skin.

“Wife,” he breathed.

“Husband,” I said, putting my hand over his.

He closed his eyes and shivered. “I didn’t know it would feel
that
good hearing you say that word.”

I smiled and traced his cheekbones with my index finger. “Husband,” I repeated.

“Oh God, I love hearing that word come out of your mouth,” he moaned and pressed his lips against mine before resting his forehead on top of mine.

I blushed.

“You took my breath away walking down the aisle. That dress,” his eyes raked over my body, “was made for you.”

I fingered the black tux. “You make this tux look pretty darn good. You should wear one more often.”

He chuckled. “This is the last time, baby, so soak in my hotness while you can.”

I tried to punch his arm but he caught my
fist and knitted his fingers in between mine.

“The wedding may be over,” his eyes sparkled with happiness, “but now we have a binding ceremony to attend.”