[Gemma]My wedding day finally arrived. Even though it had been a month since we started planning it, the week before it seemed to drag on for another month. I was eager to finally be with Austin, not that we hadn’t been fooling around in the last few weeks, but I wanted to seal our mating with more than a human marriage. We didn’t want anything big and grand, because we wanted to be married as soon as possible. I had a white dress. He had a black suit. We had a small wedding party consisting of Rock, Carmen, Ash, and Forrest. The wedding would take place in the Moon Goddess chapel inside of the packhouse. There was only room for about forty normal sized people in there, but we had five trolls coming to the wedding. Pyla, Elbio, and his date Kaya would be sitting on Austin’s side of the chapel. His immediate family would take up the rest of the spots. Both sets of grandparents, his father, mother, and brother were all there. He invited some of his aunts and uncles as well, not many accepted, they were still upset about being uprooted, but his uncle who was taking over the nursery was eager to come to the wedding with his mate and their kids. He was grateful for this new life for his family. Already, his kids were treating him better than before. They picked up on the vibe of the pack really quick. Most of the kids did. It was the adults that were still having some issues. Carmen and Ash were in the bridal room with me. They didn’t really have to help me with anything. I let Ash do my makeup and hair. She was good, but wouldn’t try anything too elaborate. My dress was simple. A white minimalist A-line design, it had a deep V-neckline and a small train. The dress was covered in a glittery tulle that made it sparkle subtly as I moved. It was like stars in the sky and I loved how it felt. I didn’t need a lot of jewelry, so I wore the pearl necklace my mother wore to her wedding with the bracelet that matched it. We had found some hair clips that matched it and used them, too. My aunt always told me I was the gem and didn’t need to add too much sparkle to shine. I loved her for her support my entire life. Both my aunt and my uncle never treated me like an outsider. I was as much their daughter as Ashley was. “You look so perfect, Gemma,” Ashley whispered as she arranged my veil. “I didn’t underdo it?” I asked. “You never could. Even if you wore a burlap sack, you would look amazing.” “Plus, your happiness shines through everything else,” Carmen added. I blushed as I looked in the mirror. A wedding wasn’t something I needed. This was almost entirely for Austin, but I was getting excited for it. They hadn’t let me go with to pick Austin’s suit. I wouldn’t see him until I walked down the aisle. Carmen straightened out my dress skirt and train while we finished up getting my hair just right. She moved a lot more confidently now and was more active in everything. The magic the seers were teaching her was amazing. If I hadn’t grown up with her and known she was blind from birth, I never would have guessed it. After a while, we finished and I was ready. There was a tap at the door. I knew it was my uncle. He would be giving me away. Carmen let him in and his eyes welled with tears almost immediately. As my uncle walked toward me, he looked at me with such love and pride that I felt like crying. It was like he was seeing me for the first time in years, despite growing up with him as my father figure. He took my hand, and I felt reassured by his presence.“You look stunning, Gemma,” he said, his voice cracking with emotion. “I’m so proud of you.”I smiled and squeezed his hand, grateful for his support. Together, we walked out of the bridal room and made our way to the chapel behind Ashley and Carmen.Music started playing and my friends paired up with their partners for the ceremony. Ash looked so tiny next to Forrest. I knew she was wishing he was Roald and he was wishing she was Pyla, but we had to be true to who we were in this ceremony and it didn’t make sense to have six people up there with us. With Forrest and Rock being trolls, the space was barely big enough for two. Carmen and Rock went first, followed by Ashley and Forrest. We waited behind a corner, but I wanted to go out. “Stop tugging, Gemma. He’s not going anywhere. Austin is waiting just as eagerly to become your husband as you are waiting to become his wife,” Uncle Brice whispered. I giggled nervously. “It feels like if I don’t get to him soon, he’ll disappear.”Uncle Brice chuckled. “Believe me, he’s not going anywhere. He’s just as excited as you are.”As we rounded the corner, I caught my first glimpse of Austin in his suit, and my heart skipped a beat. He looked sharp in his black suit, and the crisp white shirt and black bow tie completed the look. His hair was neatly styled, and he wore a small boutonniere on his lapel.As we walked down the aisle, I felt like the world was disappearing around me. All I could see was Austin, waiting for me at the end of the aisle. His eyes never left mine, and I knew that he was the only person in the world who mattered in that moment.Finally, we reached the end of the aisle, and Uncle Brice placed my hand in Austin’s. I felt a jolt of electricity shoot through me as our hands touched, and I knew that I was exactly where I was meant to be.The Alpha began the ceremony, but I barely heard his words. All I could focus on was Austin’s eyes, the way they sparkled with love and joy. It was like nothing else in the world mattered, and all that existed was the two of us, standing there together.“Austin, your vows,” Trent said. Austin’s gaze never left mine as he began to speak. His voice was deep and smooth, sending shivers down my spine.“Gemma, my love, my soulmate,” he began. “From the moment I met you, I knew that you were meant to be mine. You are everything I’ve ever wanted in a partner, and I feel so blessed to have you here with me today. You make my world a better place, and I am thankful for your love, your kindness, and your unwavering support. “Today, I promise to love you fiercely and loyally, to stand by your side through thick and thin, and to cherish you for all eternity. I vow to be your rock, your shelter, your confidant, and your best friend. I will always put you first, and will do everything in my power to make you happy, and to build a life filled with joy and laughter. I love you more than words can express, and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you.” As he spoke, tears welled up in my eyes, and my heart swelled with emotion. He truly was my soulmate, and I knew that I could never love anyone else the way I loved him.When it was my turn to speak, I took a deep breath and locked eyes with Austin. I could see a world of emotion in his eyes. I knew he was as happy as I was. “Austin, my love,” I began, my voice soft and trembling with emotion. “You complete me in every way, and I feel so blessed to have you here with me today, pledging your love to me. “Today, I promise to love you with all my heart, to stand by your side through thick and thin, and to support you in all your dreams and aspirations. I vow to be your partner, your confidant, and your best friend. I will cherish you always, and will strive to make you happy every day of our lives together. I will be your strength when you need it, and your soft landing when life gets tough. I love you more than words could ever describe, and I am so grateful for the love that we share. With you by my side, I know that we can conquer anything that comes our way.” As I finished my vows, I saw tears streaming down Austin’s face. He gently wiped them away with a tissue, and then took my hand in his. I could feel the warmth of his skin against mine, and I knew that I never wanted to let go. The Alpha smiled at both of us. “The goddess watches over all of us and celebrates our love when we do. These vows you make before her are not only your promise to each other, but to her. May she watch over and protect your love for the rest of your days. In the name of the goddess, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss.” Austin leaned in and pressed his lips to mine in a kiss that was both tender and passionate. I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer to me. It was as if we were the only two people in the world, lost in our own little bubble of love and happiness.As we pulled away, the sound of applause and cheers filled the air. We turned to face our friends and family, who were all beaming with joy and excitement. Joining hands, we led the way out of the chapel and to the pack dining room. We arranged the wedding to take place late enough that our wedding meal could be served after the last dinner service. It was the best we could do to avoid being too much more work for the packhouse staff. We also opted to have the menu they were serving to everyone else that night. The only special thing about the meal was the cake, which my aunt had baked for us. Everyone sat at their tables and started mingling. Darla, Lily, and Beth introduced themselves to Pyla and took her attention from Forrest for most of the night. All of the trolls were in their glamour, so it looked like we had some gorgeous tall people just peppered in among a handful of normal looking werewolves. I was hugged by Austin’s parents, who had been very affectionate to me ever since they realized that I didn’t look down on them for being omegas. They got along well with my aunt and uncle in the few times they were together in the events leading up to the wedding. Austin and I really hoped that this was the beginning of a closer family connection for both sides. The dinner was friendly and I loved seeing how everyone was getting along. Most of all, I loved how happy Austin looked. He watched over the meal with pride and I could feel a peace that was different from my own come over our bond. As the night wore on, Austin and I were pulled in different directions to talk to various guests. But every time we caught each other’s eye, we shared a smile that spoke volumes. We were happy, and we were together. That was all that mattered.Toward the end of the night, we found our way back to each other. The staff wanted to clean up and I could see my aunt and uncle starting to get frisky. Weddings did that to some people. I already noticed a few couples disappearing. Mike had taken Beth to bed an hour ago and I knew everyone was eager to get home. Austin leaned in close to me, his eyes shining with love and affection. “Are you ready for the next part of our wedding celebration, Gemma?” he asked, his voice low and husky.I nodded eagerly, feeling a shiver of anticipation run down my spine. I had been looking forward to this part of our wedding for weeks. I caught Trent’s attention and he stood to announce that the packhouse was closing and called everyone to see us off. We weren’t going anywhere special. Just my apartment. Our apartment. One week without working or any obligations to anyone else. Austin wanted to stick around because he was only just getting used to the pack and wanted to spend some more time on the pack lands to build up that bond. It was okay. I planned for a trip to a beach resort in the summer, after he was ready to explore the world some more. I could wait for that. I could wait forever.