Chapter 237

Chapter 237 Two Hundred and Thirty -Seven

Tears trickled from the corners of Lucianne’s eyes as the congregation

clapped when Xandar came to the end of his wedding vows. Most of

the women found it so heartfelt that they were already all teared-up.

Even Christian pressed away the tears from his own eyes. 1

After Xandar's thumb wiped away his mate's tears on her face, Lucianne

cleared her throat and began reciting her vows which went through

infinite drafts before this day, “Xandar, when we met, I was so blinded

by my past that I almost gave up the best thing that was presented to

me. You've always expressed how lucky you felt to be bonded to me

but from the way I see it, I've been the lucky one.”

“You asked me for a chance, a chance to show me that you're different

but you're not just different, dearest. The way you love is phenomenal

beyond words. I don't know how you do it but you somehow always

know what to say to make me feel... more than what I always thought I

was. Your touch calms my insecurities; your words and kisses melt away

my fears and doubts; and your presence assures me that I'll always be

safe, and Pll always be loved in ways that I once thought was never

opened to me.” 1

She took a breath to steady herself before she continued, “I promise to

lend you my ears whenever you need someone to listen or talk to; to

stay in your embrace when you need to calm any agitation or quiet any

storm; to be by your side no matter how difficult or dangerous things

get. I promise to always remind you how well you'realready doing as

our King, how revolutionary your reign is and how extraordinary your

legacy will be. And I know with every fibre of my being that you'll make

a remarkable father.”

She gave his hands a gentle squeeze as she said, “You're more than

what you think of yourself, Alexandar. You'll always have me as your

mate and as your Queen. This little freesia is yours, my indecent beast.

Only yours. And I love you, too, my acacia.”

Xandar's tears started streaming down his face, and he was secretly

blaming his animal for not helping him to hold it all in. Lucianne wiped

away his tears, while the entire congregation wiped away their own.

Weaver could be heard blowing his nose into a handkerchief. Toby and

Christian, who betted against each other on whether Lucianne or

Xandar would produce the more impressive vows, concurred that both

were equally powerful, that it was a tie when they wiped away their

tears for the second time.

After the marriage officiant sniffled once, he cleared his throat and

asked for the rings, which were brought by little Liam and Russell on a

violet, velvet pillow.

Xandar bent down and ruffled the boys" hair with a warm smile, and

took Lucianne's princess-cut diamond ring from the pillow, sliding it

into his mate's finger as he uttered the words that had been engraved

on the band, “I love you.”

Lucianne smiled even wider, then turned to the little boys and touched

each of their cheeks before taking the other ring from the pillow, which

was emerald-cut, and it shared the same set of diamonds as the ones

on her own. After sliding Xandar's ring into his finger, she uttered the

words engraved on his band, “I know. I love you, too.”

The marriage officiate then declared, "With the blessing from our

Goddess when she bestowed the bond between these two creatures, I

now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

With his animal's strength, Xandar pulled his mate into a deep kiss as

the congregation erupted into a wild applause.

HHH

After that, everyone adjourned to the next room for the wedding

banquet. The children who were fond of Lucianne took this opportunity

to hand her their gifts by hand. They were very protective and

possessive over their presents, and refused to hand them over to the

staff member in-charge of collecting gifts from guests.

One by one, the kids came to Lucianne’s side, handed her their gift and

hugged her before returning to their parents. Xandar lost count after

the eighteenth child. The braver and more curious ones gave him a

high-five before leaving but he concluded that he still scared some of

them. One of the last children was an eleven-year-old named Suzy, who

came with Tate. Odd. Tate was mateless. Why was he close to this child?

Suzy was visibly daunted when she refused to look at Xandar as she

handed Lucianne a laminated leaf.

Lucianne’s grin fell for a moment as she stared at the gift. Xandar then

felt a deep sentiment spreading from the deepest parts of the being.

He looked at the leaf that was in his mate's hand, and saw that there

was a collage of a firefly on it. It must mean something, but what?

Lucianne teared-up as she traced the firefly with her fingertips, and let

out a soft chuckle. She thanked Suzy, and gave the little girl a gentle

squeeze, reminding her to keep scaring away the cockroaches and

beetles in White Blood like they practiced, which made Tate chuckle.

It was definitely a memory the three of them shared because Suzy

managed a wide grin. After she hugged Lucianne again and stepped to

the side, Lucianne stood and gave Tate a hug. The Alpha held her for a

moment before Lucianne parted their bodies, after which he uttered a

line he rehearsed before walking up to her, “We're really happy for you,

Lucy. Congratulations.” “Thanks, Tate.” Lucianne responded with a

grateful smile.

He then added something that he didn't plan on saying, “And thank

you, Lucy, for...everything.” 2

The way he said the word “everything’ sent a shockwave of realization

throughout Lucianne’s being. Her smile fell, replaced by genuine

surprise. She could only stare at the Alpha with widened eyes because

she had only ever seen him as a close friend and a brother. Registering

her revelation and increased heart rate, Xandar rose from his seat, and

secured his hands on his bride's bare shoulders in hopes of calming her

with their bond. 1 Tate held his smile, and moved on to shake the King's

hand diplomatically, congratulating him as he did so. After Xandar

muttered a meek “thank you’ and released Tate's hand, he was

conflicted on how to respond to what Tate just did to Lucianne.

It was very inappropriate for Tate to make Lucianne realize that he was

in love with her when she and Xandar were already together. But Tate

didn't look like he was trying to steal her away or make her question

her choice. He looked like someone who was genuinely conceding to

an outcome, sincerely accepting that she chose someone else. 1

Before Tate could leave with Suzy, Lucianne called out, “Tate.” Their eyes

locked, and she continued, “I'm still here for you and for White Blood.

I'll always be here.”

Tate nodded with the same smile, and uttered, “We know, Lucy. Thank

you.” 1

He and Suzy then returned to their seats. Lucianne heaved a sigh

before she met her mate's worried gaze. She pulled herself up, and

pecked a kiss on his lips. Her black and lilac orbs penetrated into his

soul when she uttered firmly, “I love you, Xandar. I'm yours. Only yours.”

Her beast felt her certainty, her devotion and the depth of her love,

making his animal coo in tenderness. Xandar's insecurity subsided, and

he pecked a kiss on her forehead before holding her in a tight embrace

as he whispered, “Thank you so much, baby. I love you, too.” 2

The next child got impatient, and barged forward to tug at Lucianne’s

dress to get her attention, so Lucianne made Xandar release her before

bending down to greet the little girl with a smile.

HHH

Before the newly-weds left for their two-month honeymoon, they

handed the reins of the Kingdom to Christian and Annie once again,

along with a surprise gift.

Dr Yeil's colleague in the lab developed an antidote for Annie's

infertility issue, and when Lucianne and Xandar handed her and

Christian the doctor's appointment sheet, Christian swore he heard

them wrong. “I'm sorry, my Queen. I think I'm still deaf from the

applause at the wedding. What did you say this was for?”

Xandar chuckled, and Lucianne said, “They studied my blood, and

found a way to reverse what happened to Annie. This antidote turns the

switch of pregnancy hormonal production back on, so you both can

choose to have children if you want to. The doctor says that more than

one dosage may be required, and recommends frequent check-ups to

monitor the foetus as it develops but he is confident that this can allow

you both to have a healthy child, if you decide that you still want a

child, that is.”

Christian was still stunned but Annie was already crying when she

wrapped her arms around Lucianne and thanked her repeatedly,

forgetting that she should be gentle on the baby bump. Christian only

came out of his shock when his cousin offered him a brotherly hug. The

Duke squeezed his best friend in return before tears started forming in

his own eyes. ;

“It'll work, Christian.” Xandar assured.

Christian chuckled, wiped away his tears before he said, “I just didn’t

expect to be able to...expect anymore.”

Christian then embraced Lucianne for the first time as he whispered,

“Thank you, Lucy.” After seeing them off at the train station, the Duke

and Duchess left the platform together with a renewed sense of hope. 1

By the window in the private lounge of the train, Lucianne sat on

Xandar's lap and leaned into his chest to listen to his heartbeat as her

beast closed his eyes to take in her scent from her hair, his hand

stroking her baby bump, and his arm circled around her waist, holding

her close.

After some quiet moments, he pecked a kiss on her temple, and

uttered, “I love you, Lucy.”

She looked up at him with twinkling eyes and responded, “I know,

Xandar. I love you, too.” 9» END OF BOOK ONE su