Page 45 of Forbidden Virgin Mate

The structure is beautiful, sourced with timber from my parents’ old forestry operation. My dad went out and helped cut it down himself. Now it's a piece of art, built to last forever. I find myself getting emotional again as I think of our children running around the structure for generations to come.

Don't cry. Don't cry. Don't cry.

I mutter the words to myself as I blink furiously and dab the corners of my eyes with a spare tissue.

I steal a glance out the bedroom window that overlooks the backyard. Diego came around with a few men last night and helped put the marquee up while Gina, Saffy, and I hung more lighting. Saffy thinks we can never have enough, and today, I'm inclined to agree. I was just glad to spend some proper time with Saffy. She's been so busy recently, finishing her final college projects and juggling the internship with Cole's company. Zack and I are so proud of her. I may be a black-hat hacker, but she's going to be more than capable of building systems that keep people like me out.

I smile at the thought. We're like two sides of the same coin.

The door opens again, and I turn to see my mom and Saffy enter, holding my son Dylan. I can't stop the rush of emotion as I take in his adorable outfit of soft dark trousers and a cardigan. He looks so dapper. At only five months old, he's not going to remember any of this, but I'll still treasure every single moment.

"He looks so sweet," I gush, rushing over to take him from Saffy, who looks stunning in her navy blue full-length gown.

"There was nothing sweet about the diaper change I just witnessed Zack do," she says with a smirk. "You've got my nephew at his very best now."

I giggle and kiss the top of my son's head, his blond curls tickling my face as his chubby hands bury themselves in my hair.

"As it should be today," my mom says with a laugh, fussing over her grandson.

Dylan's arrival seems to have healed so many wounds. As my pregnancy progressed and my dad finally came out of rehab, I took Zack to the Bay to meet them. Mateo had already visited my parents a couple of times, including one with my dad in rehab, so I knew my parents’ attitude toward the pack had shifted. Still, I wasn't sure how well Zack would be received by my parents in person.

Despite all my concerns, their first meeting went well. Zack talked about his and Saffy's experiences with his parents, and when he tried to apologize for their actions, my parents told him not to. They accepted that it wasn't his fault. It was something of a turning point for them, and when Dylan was born that Christmas, they spent their first time back on pack land. They stayed with us rather than on Mateo's land, but gradually, they met up with old friends. Though emotional, bonds were slowly reformed. There was genuine remorse toward my parents and me, but I found that my parents didn’t want to dwell on the past anymore, and I’ve been surprised at how quickly they’ve developed friendships within both packs. For all their desire for revenge, I think they just really wanted to come home.

Zack surprised my parents by breaking ground on a cabin just for them. He owns most of the forestry land in the area and chose a site that borders their old land. My mom was awestruck when she saw the forests again, and my dad says it felt like a proper homecoming. Zack wanted to give them some of the company back, but my dad declined because he's older now, and while still in recovery, his health isn't good. But Zack was so impressed with my father’s forestry knowledge that he convinced him to help train some of the new apprentices. Between their renewed purpose and beautiful cabin, my parents feel part of the pack again.

In some ways, I think bridging a family with my parents has healed some of Zack and Saffy’s wounds. My mom, in particular, has become very close with Saffy. They've spent hours together baking for the wedding, and I can see there’s a true bond between them. As I juggle a wriggling Dylan in my arms and watch Zack prepare for our wedding with my dad at his side, I'm struck by just how much our fractured family has united.

***

Zack

Tanya's dad, Thomas, laughs as I step back outside in a fresh shirt. The old one was discarded, courtesy of my son's diaper explosion.

"That's a wedding story you won't forget," he laughs, handing me some of the folding chairs we're setting up for the guests. "Let's hope he got it all out of his system."

"Especially as I think Saf's just taken him up to Tanya," I say.

We both wince and then laugh again.

"That boy can do no wrong in her eyes, so I think we're good," he says.

"That's true," I reply just as Diego comes over, looking worried. "What's wrong?" I ask him.

"Your guests are arriving, and you're still putting out chairs!" he exclaims.

Thomas and I laugh again. "There was a diaper incident," he explains.

Diego winces, then looks over his shoulder at some of the guests who have arrived. "Come on, everyone. Let's get this show on the road."

With everyone's help, it only takes a few minutes to finish setting up. Mateo arrives with Billie and a whole stream of guests from their pack. He immediately starts manning the bar, handing out champagne. When the music begins, reality sets in. This is actually happening.

I'm not scared, though. Just excited.

There's not even a fraction of nerves or trepidation as I wait for Tanya to appear. If I had my way, I'd have married her months ago, but I understood that she wanted to wait and enjoy the festivities properly after giving birth. Now that the day is here, I'm glad we waited so I could see my little guy share our special day with us, too.

I watch Saffy walk down the aisle with Tanya's mom. Radiating happiness and confidence, she’s no longer a little girl or an awkward teenager. As I watch my sister stroll confidently down the aisle in her beautiful gown, I'm forced to admit something I've long tried to deny: she is a grown, beautiful woman.

She greets me with an enthusiastic hug. I return it, surprised by my tears that seem to come from nowhere.

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