by Maia Starr
Jean-Paul looked up at her from his place at the dining room table. Life had been quite chaotic in the last few weeks. Now that he wasn’t Alpha, they weren’t tied to any particular place, and he thought it safest that they left his mansion in the city. He had promised her that they would return someday when things had settled down. He wanted Remy’s rule to be solid, and he wanted the wolves to forget that she even existed. He knew it might be quite a few years before they returned, and that she was upset about leaving the career and job she was building. He hated to take another moment of happiness from her.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea,” he said. “But I have made reservations for dinner tonight, and we can take a few pictures there...just for us.”
“Oh,” Jenna Mae said in surprise. They hadn't been out for dinner since they moved. She really did love the place she had moved to, but she missed home every day. She wanted to start a new life here, but they hadn’t so much as left the house once. “Really? What about Cameron?”
“You can bring Cameron,” he said. “I’ve made sure of it. And there is something that I wanted to talk to you about.”
Her face fell.
“Is it something serious? Is there something wrong?”
“Nothing is wrong,” he assured her. “But it is a fancy place, so if you want to dress up, I would not be opposed to that.”
“Ooh,” she smiled. “I’ve got that new dress that I wanted to wear.”
“Go and put it on,” he said. “I promise that it will be a dinner that you won’t forget.”
Jenna Mae was intrigued by what he was thinking and complied with his suggestion. She even had a little tuxedo suit to dress Cameron in, which made Jean-Paul smile when she came down the stairs.
Jean-Paul himself was wearing a well-tailored suit, and he offered his arm to Jenna Mae as they walked out of their house and caught a taxi into town.
Jenna Mae thought they were staying in a little town, and so she was shocked when he led her into the fanciest restaurant that she had ever seen.
“Oh, wow,” she said, carrying Cameron in. “I could get used to this.”
The waiter led them to a table in the corner in the back, and Jenna Mae saw that it was littered with rose petals. There was candlelight flickering across the restaurant, and they had an ivory high chair for Cameron.
“This is so beautiful,” she said to Jean-Paul. “Are we celebrating something?”
“Just us,” Jean-Paul said. “And our new life. I know things have been chaotic lately, but I hope that we find happiness here. Or wherever we go.”
“I know that we will,” Jenna Mae said, as they settled down. “Although I was thinking about a few boring things today.”
“Boring?” Jean-Paul asked.
“Just logistical things,” she said. “Paperwork things. I mean, this is fine for now, but in the human world, I soon have to think about things like putting Cameron in school, and getting health insurance, and all the...human world things.”
“That is fair,” Jean-Paul replied. “You’ve been living in the shifter world for quite some time, and you still have human demands.”
“Not that I don’t love the shifter world,” she said. “I love everything about you, and everything we have together. I just...I’m reading parenting forms and parenting books, and it's talking about all those things.”
“I’ve been thinking about the human world too,” Jean-Paul admitted. “Quite a bit actually.”
“Really?” she said.
“In the shifter world,” Jean-Paul said, “as far as anyone is concerned, we are a family. We are official; you are my mate. But in the human world, if anything were to happen to either of us...it’s not quite that easy.”
“What do you mean?” Jenna Mae asked, confused.
“Just that…” Jean-Paul said. “Officially, in the shifter world, no one will separate you from me. But you are human, and Cameron is half human, and that is an important part of our family. So I’d like to make things official in the human world as well.”
“Huh?” Jenna Mae said as he reached into his pocket. He pulled out a small box, and Jenna Mae’s heart almost stopped. “Jean-Paul…”
“So I was wondering…” Jean-Paul said, getting down on one knee, “if you would do me the honor of being my wife.”
“Oh my God,” Jenna Mae put her hand to her mouth. She hadn’t expected this at all. Inside the box was a beautiful ring that sparkled in the candlelight. “Are you...are you serious?”
“I am entirely serious, my dear,” he said. “And I would like to marry you as soon as possible if you are agreeable.”
Jenna Mae realized that the whole restaurant was staring at her. Everyone was waiting to see what her answer was.
“Yes,” she whispered, her voice shaking. Jean-Paul slipped the ring on her finger and then stood up to kiss her. The entire restaurant broke into applause.
“As soon as possible?” she asked him.
“Tomorrow,” he said. “I’ve made the arrangements in the hopes that you’d say yes.”
Jenna Mae nodded, her voice gone.
“Yes,” she said. “Tomorrow.”
He kissed her one more time, and then leaned over and kissed Cameron as well.
“This is…” Jenna Mae said, staring at him with shining eyes. “This is a dream come true. Thank you.”
“You’re my dream come true,” Jean-Paul said as he reached out to hold her hand.
“Congratulations, sir,” the waiter came by after the applause died down. “Would you like to order anything special?”
“The whole menu,” Jean-Paul said with a grin. “One of each. We’re celebrating.”
“Right away, sir,” the waiter said, as Jenna Mae laughed.
“I suppose this is my life now,” she said. “A husband with the appetite of a bear, and a son who is going to make a mess in the leftovers.”
“Would you have it any other way?” Jean-Paul asked, and she shook her head.
“Not for one instant,” she said. “Now, about our wedding. Is there a dress shop in town?”
“Already made an appointment for you for tomorrow morning,” Jean-Paul said.
“You’ve taken care of everything,” Jenna Mae said, in disbelief.
“I just want to take care of you two,” Jean-Paul said. “And I’m happy to do anything that entails.”
“Well, you’re doing a great job,” she said. “Thank you.”
“As good as when I was Alpha?” he teased her.
“Better,” Jenna Mae said and raised a glass. “Here’s to forever.”
“Forever,” Jean-Paul said, clinking glasses with her. “And a new adventure.”
Chapter Fifteen
This was not the wedding Jenna Mae imagined having as a child. As a child, she had imagined a huge church filled to the rafters with her friends and family, and a long puffy princess gown that made everyone in the room stare at her. Jenna Mae had imagined a fanfare upon entering the church, with thousands of flowers and a bouquet in her hands bigger than a watermelon.
However, despite the fact that she didn’t have any of these things, she still felt like this was a perfect way to get married.
She knew it was dangerous, given that they should be in hiding. However, the shifter world was not the only world that existed on Earth, and she felt better knowing that if anything happened to her, Jean-Paul would be able to take care of Cameron in the human world, without anyone questioning whether Cameron should be with his real family or not. Jean-Paul would be married to her after today, he would officially adopt Cameron, and they would be safe from the human world, as well as in hiding from the shifter world.
She even smiled as she looked at herself in the mirror, spinning around. It was a plain dress that they had gotten off the rack that morning, but it was perfect. Fate had led her to find a dress that fit her as well as if it were made for her, and fate had led them to find a wedding chapel that was free and could do a quick wedding. She felt l
ike a princess in the slim gown, with her hair up. Cameron was in a tiny suit, gurgling beside her in a carrier. Since her parents weren’t going to walk her down the aisle, she couldn’t imagine a better person than Cameron’s smiling form.
She also couldn’t wait to be officially Jean-Paul’s wife. She knew they were fated mates, but this felt like the final thing they needed to do to make it official all around.
“Are you ready, miss?” The small chapel was willing to provide a witness for an extra fee, which Jean-Paul paid quickly when he understood it was the difference between getting married or not. Jenna Mae thought it was adorable that he didn’t quite know all the rules of the human world, despite doing a good job faking it most of the time. The witness was a kindly old man who seemed to do many jobs around the chapel, from cleaning up to witnessing weddings.
“Yes, I think so,” Jenna Mae said. She had ducked into a small room in order to get dressed, while Jean-Paul had filled out the paperwork. “Is my...is Jean-Paul ready?”
“Yes,” the kindly old man said. “Everything is set. I can play the bridal music if you want?”
“Sure,” Jenna Mae said, reaching down to pick up Cameron. “Let’s go get married, huh?”
There wasn’t much of an aisle to walk down, and they had just seen Jean-Paul a few minutes ago, yet Jenna Mae couldn’t take her eyes off of him. He looked so handsome, standing strong at the other end of the aisle. He met her eyes, and she felt the similar shiver that she had felt when she first met him.
“Well, hello,” Jean-Paul said, reaching out to take her hand. He kissed Cameron on the cheek and took the tiny bundle from Jenna Mae, holding him in his strong hand. Jenna Mae felt like their little family was complete. She had never been happier in her entire life. “Are you ready?”
“I’ve been ready forever,” she said. “Ever since I first saw you.”
“Fate brought us together,” he assured her. “I’m just sorry it took so long to find you.”
“May I begin?” the priest asked. Jenna Mae nodded.
“Please,” she said. They hadn’t had a rehearsal like they would have at a big wedding. She had given Jean-Paul a brief rundown on what would happen and requested that they only say the most basic of vows. However, she didn’t care if they had to be prompted and it was the most disjointed ceremony that the wedding chapel would ever see. All that she cared about was that she was sealed to Jean-Paul forever, and no one could separate them.
“Dearly beloved, we have come together in the presence of God to witness and bless the joining together of this man and this woman in holy matrimony. The bond and covenant of marriage was established by God in creation, and our Lord Jesus Christ adorned this manner of life by His presence and first miracle at the wedding in Cana of Galilee. It signifies to us the mystery of the union between Christ and His Church, and Holy Scripture commends it to be honored among all people. The union of husband and wife is intended by God for their mutual joy; for the help and comfort given each other in prosperity and adversity; and, when it is God's will, for the procreation of children and their nurture in the knowledge and love of the Lord. Therefore marriage is not to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently, deliberately, and in accordance with the purposes for which it was instituted by God.”
Jean-Paul didn’t seem to mind that the ceremony wasn’t in line with his beliefs. He held Jenna Mae’s hand, smiling as the priest continued to read the vows.
“Into this union, Jenna Mae and Jean-Paul now come to be joined. If any of you can show just cause why they may not be lawfully wed, speak now, or else forever hold your peace.”
Of course, the old man who was their witness didn’t say a word. Jenna Mae, however, had a feeling that there were many people who would protest if they knew that she and Jean-Paul were getting married. There were many, in both their species, who would think that they were mismatched. However, all of those potential voices were silent today. Jenna Mae thought they were safe when suddenly Cameron gurgled.
Everyone in the room laughed, despite themselves.
“I don’t think that counts,” the priest said, and Jenna Mae gave Cameron a little tickle.
“No,” she said. “Don’t listen to him.”
The priest nodded and carried on.
“I charge you both, here in the presence of God and the witness of this company, that if either of you knows any reason why you may not be married lawfully and in accordance with God's Word, do now confess it?”
“No,” Jean-Paul said when prompted. “There is absolutely no reason why we shouldn't be married.”
“No,” Jenna Mae echoed when the priest turned to her. “There is absolutely no reason why we shouldn't be married.”
There were, of course, a thousand reasons. She wondered, if the priest knew what Jean-Paul was, would he still marry them? She thought it shouldn’t matter, but she was aware the world was cruel and people judged for less.
“Jenna Mae, will you have this man to be your husband; to live together with him in the covenant of marriage? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, be faithful unto him as long as you both shall live?”
“I do,” Jenna Mae had pictured saying those lines since she was a little girl. She had watched a thousand romantic movies and read hundreds of romantic books that ended with those very words. She couldn’t believe that it was now her turn to say it and that she was saying it to the man of her dreams.
“Jean-Paul, will you have this woman to be your wife; to live together with her in the covenant of marriage? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, be faithful unto her as long as you both shall live?”
“I will,” he said, looking deep into her eyes. She knew that he meant every word that he had just promised. He had already proven most of those vows, and she had no doubt he would continue to prove the rest of them. Jean-Paul made her feel like a princess, and like she was the only woman in the world.
“Will all of you witnessing these promises do all in your power to uphold these two persons in their marriage?”
“I do,” the old man said cheerily, standing up. He had told Jenna Mae that he had done fifty weddings by now, but he enjoyed witnessing them. He gave them both a smile and the priest moved onto the next step, which was to turn behind him and grab two ring boxes that were included in the wedding package. Jenna Mae hadn’t wanted anything fancy, and she didn’t think a fancy wedding ring would be practical, given how distracted Cameron was by shiny things. They had opted for matching plain gold bands that would serve the basic purpose of declaring that they were taken. Jenna Mae couldn’t wait to wear hers, announcing to the world that she belonged to Jean-Paul.
“Bless, oh Lord, these rings as a symbol of the vows by which this man and this woman have bound themselves to each other through Jesus Christ our Lord,” the priest said, making the symbol of the cross over each box before handing them to the bride and groom. Jenna Mae had agreed to go first since she had more experience in human wedding ceremonies. She hoped that she remembered the words that had been handed to her on a laminated slip of paper less than an hour ago.
“I give you this ring as a symbol of my love, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” she said to Jean-Paul, with only a couple pauses. She took the gold band out of the box and slipped it over his finger. It fit perfectly, and he squeezed her hand before pulling back to take her ring out of the box.
“I give you this ring as a symbol of my love, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” he said, echoing her without a flaw. Her hand trembled as he shifted Cameron so that he could put the ring on her finger. She felt like her finger had been made to wear a wedding ring, sparkling in the sunlight through the window.
“Now that Jenna Mae and Jean-
Paul have given themselves to each other by solemn vows, with the joining of hands and the giving and receiving of rings, I pronounce that they are husband and wife, in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Those whom God has joined together, let no one put asunder,” the priest said as they turned to each other.
“Let us stand and pray together the words our Savior taught us,” the priest said, and the old man stood again, bowing his head.
“Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come, they will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.”
“Amen,” Jenna Mae said and Jean-Paul echoed her.
“God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, bless, preserve and keep you; the Lord mercifully with his favor look upon you, and fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace; that you may faithfully live together in this life, and in the age to come have life everlasting. Amen. The peace of the Lord be with you always,”
“And also with you,” Jenna Mae vaguely remembered this from her church days, and she smiled at her new husband, knowing what was to come next.
“Jenna Mae and Jean-Paul, having witnessed your vows of love to one another, it is my joy to present you to all gathered here as husband and wife. Jean-Paul, you may kiss the bride.”
Jean-Paul leaned in to kiss her as the old man clapped. At last, they were married. She knew there would be trials and tribulations to come in the future. However, as long as they were together, she had no doubt that they would handle whatever was sent their way.
“I love you,” she whispered to him when they finally broke apart. “Husband.”
“I love you too, wife,” he replied, with a smile. Both of them leaned in to kiss Cameron on the cheek, who gurgled with happiness. “Forever.”
“Forever,” she promised.