Chapter 12
When I finally woke up, almost everyone from my pack and Xaden‘ s pack had gathered here.
Grandma Reid’s face beamed with a big happy smile. “This is a double blessing! I knew you were always a lucky one, Louise. You are carrying a child!”
“I…I’m pregnant?!” I immediately sat up but my doctor, who I didn’t notice was among the ones gathered in my room, urged me to remain lying on the bed.
My mother exclaimed. “I can’t wait for the wedding party and the party for the Luna’s pregnancy announcement!”
I scowled. “There’s a party for that?”
My uncle rubbed my back with a chuckle.
“You know your mother celebrates almost everything.”
I met Xaden‘ s tender gaze as he kissed me
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once on the lips. Then as the realization dawned on me that I was carrying a baby, I touched my stomach.
My health has really become blooming as ever. There was a new life growing inside of me.
Twelve–year old me would be so proud at the dream that I managed to turn to reality.
I leaned my head on my mate’s chest. After twenty years of longing and waiting, my life is finally complete.
***
Amid the joy and laughter of my pregnancy, my wedding finally took place. It was not just a wedding ceremony for a male and a female arranged to be married. It’s also a mating ceremony for an Alpha and a Luna who found love and peace in each other’s arms.
The Crystal Tears Pack invited all the other packs Alphas and Lunas. They spared no expense to throw the grandest wedding no
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pack has ever seen.
Luna Shea and her mate were the only ones who didn’t attend out of respect for my uncle. Though my uncle told me he no longer declares a cold war between two
ea
packs. Luna Shea also sent me a wedding gift along with an apology letter from her Alpha.
My mother kept looking at me as I put on the wedding dress, sometimes smiling with relief, sometimes crying with bittersweet emotions. Sometimes chuckling and
beaming for no reason at all. “Your father will be so proud of you.”
The mention of my father made me freeze.
“He is?” I compelled myself not to cry, otherwise it would ruin the make–up.
My mother nodded. After fixing my veil and my tiara, she held my hand as we walked towards the wedding hall. The roof
was open to the sky and all four sides were open to the elements.
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Different colors of lilies and orchids ornamented the setting. My favorite lilies of the valley were the highlight of it all. Even my bouquet is composed solely of those lilies.
The scent of flowers flitted past me and I closed my eyes for a moment to inhale the lulling scent.
Halfway to the aisle, I saw the Zane twins being detained by the Alpha’s guards. They were still struggling and refusing to leave, even though they had been beaten until black and blue.
When they saw me, their dull and teary eyes brightened. Their split lips curled to smiles.
Xavier shouted. “Louise!”
Xeus breaks free from one of the guard‘ s hold but he is quickly pinned down.
“Louise, you can’t marry him! We know we were wrong. It was Lucille who wanted the Zane family’s wealth and our pack‘ s
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downfall but…you made a promise to marry either of us!”
After twenty years of being their sister and friend, they only realized my worth after I had left them. How pathetic and absurd.
I did not respond to their pleas. Xeus, who always considered himself a noble male, knelt before me. My mother cursed at the sight of him.
With his face in his palms, he sobbed.
“Louise Black, have you really forgotten everything that we shared?” He lifted his gaze to mine, and I saw the eyes I‘ ve come to love for two decades once again.
“You walked away without taking anything–except our hearts and love for you. You did not take even a single photo or dress. The lilies of the valley in the
mansion you planted were gone. You left no trace, not even a strand of your hair. After twenty years, you left behind nothing, except memories, as if you‘ ve never been there.”
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I kneeled down to meet his face, my bouquet on the other hand. “That‘ s what‘ s painful isn’t it? That the most treasured people in your life becoming but memories…” I brought his sweat–slicked hair behind his ears and stood again.
My mother muttered some warning at Xeus. A heartbeat later, the wedding hymn started and drowned out.Xeus‘ crying. My mother signaled for the Alpha’s guards to take the Zane twins away.
I didn t glance back at Xeus. He was my past, the everything I had back then.
I shook my head as I gathered myself again.
However, a sharp cry pierced the music and Xavier came dashing to me. He dropped to his knees and then grabbed a table knife.
“Xavier, no-” I didn’t finish what I said when he slammed the knife hard onto his own leg.
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I shrieked at the sight but he looked at me with a smile as if he did not feel any pain, as if he didn’t see any blood. “Louise, please don’t be angry. Forgive me, please. I’ll do everything you ask me–even kill myself if you want me to.”
I looked at his bloodied leg and sighed.
“Xeus, Xavier…you both taught me that no effort matters when the other person doesn‘ t appreciate it otherwise. I’m pregnant now,” Xavier flinched at that,
“and from this day forward, all that matters to me is my family of three. My love and my happiness.”
“You‘ re pregnant…” It wasn‘ t a question from Xeus, rather a realization of what both of them were facing.
“So I hope you’ll stay out of my life for good,” I continued, my voice gentle and soft. “I have forgiven both of you, but I will never forget what you two have done. This will be the last time I’ll see you. Even if you two were dying, I wouldn’t want to
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see you ever again.”
With a wave, I ordered the Alpha‘ s guards to take them away. They just went with them silently as if finally accepting their defeat.
I turned to the wedding aisle, walking slowly and confidently to the mate and husband waiting for me at the other end: Alpha Xaden Reid.
In the presence of both the Dark Tide Pack and Crystal Tears Pack, we exchanged rings and recited vows of love under the light of the full moon.
I offered a quick prayer to the Moon Goddess. A prayer of gratitude and hope and guidance.
All the past bitterness had already faded. All the pain have bloomed into hope.
As Alpha Xaden and I kissed, as the wedding and mating ceremony ended, I promised myself that from this day forward, I will live a life full of joy and with
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no regrets.
