Page 75 of The Alpha's Forbidden Secret Baby

She collapsed on the bed and closed her eyes to take a short nap, suddenly feeling very tired.

Rayla opened her eyes to the afternoon sun shining brightly into the room. She looked out the window to take a peak. It was a beautiful summer day and the sun cast a warm glow over the beautiful flowers that created a path and the lush greenery around them.

She took in a deep breath and smiled as the sweet scent of blooming flowers hit her nose. The birds chirped in what she decided was their congratulations for her wedding. Altogether, everything looked wonderful. The ambiance was romantic, exactly what was needed for a joyous occasion such as this.

She beamed with happiness as she got out of bed for the second time that day—except this time, she would be preparing to walk up to the altar.

Rayla hummed as she stood in front of her dress, taking in the beauty of it. It was a soft yellow with tiny floral patterns on it, which was quite fitting considering the vast array of flowers that decorated her space.

She caressed the dress before walking up to the vanity. She had chosen to style her hair herself, opting for the hairstyle she had been sporting the night he proposed for its sentimentality and because of the look in his eyes as he twirled the curled strand between his fingers and told her how beautiful she looked was one that remained in her mind.

Adding some flowers to go with the unintentional theme of her wedding, she slid a single daisy behind her ear and smiled brightly as she looked at herself in the mirror. She kept her makeup light and simple, applying a slightly dark shade of red to her lips and a coating of blush to her cheeks.

Rayla got up from the vanity and stepped into her dress, smiling as she picked up her bouquet of flowers and stood once more in front of the mirror to take in her reflection.

Time to get married.

Xander

Xander stood in front of the altar, waiting eagerly for Rayla to arrive. He smiled. Soon, she would be his wife.

All day, he had thought about seeing her again. His friends had joked about his inability to stay away from her, jokes which he owned up to because it was nothing but the truth.

The nearly fourteen years they spent apart was torture enough, taking away from all the moments they could have shared already, the memories they could have created in that time. He had no intention of spending too long without her again, not if it could be helped.

He stood now at the altar as his heart beat from the anticipation of seeing her again and the excitement of being fully able to call her his own and know that there was nothing standing in their way.

The music began to play, a soft melodic tune that she had picked out to walk down the aisle to, and his breath slowed.

Rayla, beautiful as the moon, walked out, pausing by the open doors.

As she stood there in her yellow dress, surrounded by flowers, his heart called to her. He could never get used to how beautiful she truly was, and it seemed that every time he saw her, her beauty intensified.

Her eyes focused, and she smiled a radiant smile that was brighter than the sun. Her eyes glowed with happiness, filling him with so much satisfaction.

As she walked, her dress flowed around her like water, hugging her curves yet keeping enough of her hidden from his gaze with the promise of a beautiful unraveling.

The single tendril flowing down the side near her ear reminded him of the night he proposed and all that happened afterward. He grinned, ignoring the pain in his jaw from the permanent smile on his lips when she noticed what he was staring at and blushed. She’d definitely done that on purpose.

He looked away from her for a moment and glanced at the audience. All members of the pack, including the Elders, were present at his wedding. The alphas sat smiling at him. They had been with him from the beginning as he tried to figure things out, and he was glad to have them and their partners bear witness to this special moment between him and his wife.

Pride washed over him when she finally stood in front of him. Suddenly, the past didn’t matter anymore, only the present and the future, all of which he could see radiating in her eyes.

They had shared laughter and happiness, and with her, there would only be more of that moving forward.

He reached out, offering his hands to her, and she placed her smaller ones in his. He squeezed her hands gently, hoping he could convey all of the emotions he felt in that moment with that single action.

They turned to Eldress Lana, who was officiating their ceremony, and Xander grinned at her as she beamed at them. She had always reminded him of his mother with her calm demeanor, her ability to diffuse situations, and the constant joy she had on her face every time she saw him, even when they called him to demand things he wasn’t willing to give.

As the ceremony began and Eldress Lana spoke of love and commitment, Xander knew in his heart that there was no one he would much rather be committed to than the woman standing in front of him with her hands in his.

He caressed the back of her hand with his thumb as the ceremony progressed, never taking his eyes off her.

The time for the vows came, and Xander spoke words that came from deep in his heart.

“Rayla, from the night we met in the forest, I knew that things would never be the same for me. You were and still are special. I’m sorry it has taken us this long to get to this point, but despite the hardships and challenges we faced, I would choose over and over again to do it with you rather than be with someone else for the ease of things.

You are my heart and soul and I cherish you as I always will for the rest of my life. I love you, Rayla.”

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