Page 86 of Hooked on a Demon
Caught!
Buckley pops his feet back on the floor and scampers away as she continues to call after him, saying something about being a bad dog. But that’s not true, because Declan tells him he’s a good boy all the time, and he would never lie to Buckley.
The house starts to fill with more people, and as Buckley makes his way to the backyard, he’s greeted by old friends and new. Many reach out to pet him and ruffle his fur. Hopefully, Declan and Oaks won’t be too upset about his fluffy fur.
His nose takes him to Declan’s brother, who holds a funny colored drink in his hand as he talks to some other beings. He doesn’t know who they are, but if Uncle Lach thinks they are good enough to be here, then so does Buckley.
Sitting beside his uncle, he turns his head to look up at him, and Buckley’s big pink tongue lolls out of his mouth as he parts his lips to pant excitedly. He swishes his tail back and forth, asking for some attention, which Uncle Lach thankfully provides him. He leans down, keeping his eyes on the beings he’s chatting to, but manages to scratch behind Buckley’s ear and under his chin. Buckley’s large brown eyes gaze up at his uncle as he licks his hand, thanking him in the only way he can.
When Lachlan stands back up, Buckley takes it as his cue to leave. He wanders around the yard for a minute more, spotting the purple-haired lady, Daisy, and her dark-haired mate Sloan. Buckley barks, the sound deep and resonant from within, in their direction, causing them to look over and raise their glasses in salute. He barks again in recognition and pads off again in search of his preferred human.
It takes sniffing throughout the entire house before he finds him upstairs in their bedroom. He’s dressed all fancy, with a dark suit and dress shirt. His hair is braided back like he likes to do, and his shoes are all shiny.
Buckley gruffs at Declan as he makes his way into the room and settles on his bed at the base of the bed.
“Hi, Buckster. You look so handsome!” Declan says, kneeling down to ruffle the fur behind Buckley’s ears. “Are you ready for the big day?”
Bark!he says, letting his Daddy know he’s ready to go.
“Good. I’m gonna need you on your best behavior, okay?”
Bark!Buckley replies in agreement.
“That’s my good boy.” He stands back up and checks the shiny device in his pocket. “Looks like it’s about time. Are you ready to be the ring bearer?”
Bark!he responds, meaning he can’t wait.
“Alright. Let’s go get me married!” Declan claps his hands together, and Buckley jumps to his feet, following his Daddy out the door.
Daisy holds his leash, keeping him at the back of the aisle. She’s positioned a little pillow in front of him and has told him that when it’s time, he needs to pick it up and carry it to the vampire at the end of the aisle. Buckley ruffs in agreement, but as he looks at her, it doesn’t seem like she believes he can carry out such an easy task. Does she know who he is?
Daddy stands at the front already, and when Buckley turns his head to look back, he can see Oaks ready and waiting. She looks like an angel in her off-white gown. It flows majestically around her, bringing special attention to his new friend in her belly as she moves in a little closer, but still out of sight of Declan.
“Alright, Buckley. Now it’s your turn,” Daisy says, unhooking the leash from his collar. Buckley bends his head down, picks up the corner of the pillow with the rings securely attached, and trots down the aisle to the cold man at the end. The crowd oohs and ahhs as he goes, commenting about how cute he is, and he knows he’s done his Daddy proud.
The cold man takes the pillow, and Buckley moves to the side, lying next to Lachlan’s feet. From here, he watches as Oaks walks down the aisle toward them. Declan sniffles overhead, and Buckley shifts, getting ready to go make sure he’s okay, but Lachlan tells him to stay. He doesn’t want to, but he listens, trusting that Uncle Lach would let him go if he was needed.
When Eliana gets to the front, she hands off her flowers to the brunette behind her, who wipes away tears with her free hand. So many here seem to be crying, but they don’t feel like sad tears. Instead, the room seems to be filled with joy and excitement. Buckley thumps his tail twice, showing he’s excited too.
The cold man says some words, which Declan and Eliana repeat after him. After what seems like a really long time, Declan and Oaks have a moment to speak for themselves.
“Declan. I will admit, I never saw you coming. You were unexpected in the best of ways, and I knew from that day in your shop that there was something different about you. As hesitant as I was, I found myself hooked on a demon in an auto shop and knew I needed to be around you. Despite the trials to get to this point, I would not want to do this life with anyone else. You may not be one for the big gestures, but you are kind and show you care in so many little ways. I love how you pay attention to those around you. How you endeavor to be the best that you can be while also making those around you the best they can be.” She looks down and places a hand on her swollen belly, “I can’t wait for our next adventure together and to see you be the best father. I love you, and I am so excited to become your wife.”
The crowd claps at her speech, clearly having enjoyed it. Then it is Declan’s turn.
“Oaks. You are perfection personified. I would not be the man I am today without you in my life.” He looks around the yard, “which many here can attest to.” The crowd laughs. Buckley pants excitedly along with them, trying to show he’s in on the joke as well. “I love your passion and perseverance. I love your willingness to try. Your drive for growth has shown me that it’s okay to change and that it can be for the best. You said that I strive to be the best that I can be, but that, Eliana, is because of you. You make me want to be a better man, and you’ve helped me to see the man I can be. So I stand here today, in front of our friends and family, because I need to show everyone how wonderful you are. You are the love of my life, and I cannot wait to spend the rest of our lives together. I love you, Eliana. From this moment until the day we leave this plane, you will have my heart, my soul, and my entire being.”
The cold man speaks for another moment and then tells them to kiss. When they do, the crowd cheers, and Buckley barks along with them, celebrating the love that fills the room.
As Declan and Oaks leave the altar, Buckley sniffles, not because he’s sad, but because he’s happy. His humans have found each other, and together they are the best parents he could ask for. His new little sister has no idea what she’s coming into, but she’s going to be loved beyond measure. How could she not be with this group of beings around her?
