Angels & Wolves | Book One

Chapter Forty-Three

Rio's POV

"You'll be fine. Just walk. You won't trip," Rio breathed to herself as she stared into the mirror. "It's not like it's the biggest day of your life on Earth, or anything.

"Nope. I'm just an angel getting married to Oscar de la Vega and becoming the Luna of the local werewolf pack," she continued as she studied her reflection in the mirror.

The long, slim, white dress hugged her every curve until beautifully falling just past her ankles. Rio's bright fire truck red pumps peeked out from underneath her white dress. Her dark brown hair was skillfully curled in large waves that framed her petite face. She was a vision. And she was nervous.

A soft knock echoed throughout the powder room. Rio looked towards the door and called, "I'm coming!"

Silence was her answer. Rio's dark gaze returned to the mirror.

"You can do this, Rio," she told herself.

With one last glance in the mirror, Rio turned on her heel, held her chin up high, and walked out of the room. Rio almost expected her father to be standing to the left of the door with his arm out for her to hold, but she sadly remembered he was gone. She would be walking down the aisle alone.

Seconds before she stepped to open the doors of the church chapel, an arm slipped around hers. Rio's brunette eyes traveled up the arm and to the smiling face of

"Malachi," Rio breathed. Tears threatened to spill down her cheeks as she happily sighed, "You made it."

Her brother grinned at her and replied, "I very well couldn't have my baby sister walk down the aisle on one of the most important days of her life, now could I?"

To keep the tears at bay, Rio smiled at her brother and held his arm tightly. In that moment she was so grateful for him being there with her. She didn't feel so alone anymore.

"You're never alone, Rio," Malachi whispered in her ear. He turned them towards the door and said, "Let's get you married."

When Pachelbel's Canon in D Major begun playing, the two strangers Rio hadn't noticed opened the heavy wooden doors. Taking a deep breath, her and her brother began walking down the aisle. For her first few hesitant steps, Rio kept her brown eyes on the carpet in front of her. Malachi noticed her shyness and nudged her.

Her gaze flicked to her destination and automatically, her lungs stopped bringing in oxygen. Oz was so handsome standing at the alter that Rio had a hard time keeping her feet in time with the music. She wanted to run and jump and leap to him. She wanted to be standing before him. She wanted to be his forever. She wanted a future with him and she wanted it now.

Malachi tightened his grip on her arm; he knew what his sister wanted to do but he kept her in time. All around them, members of the de la Vega pack held their breaths as their Alpha grinned at Rio. Some of them were unsure of his choice, but others were ecstatic he had found Rio.

The trip down the aisle was longer than Rio wanted it to be. It felt like ages before she stood before Oz with her hands in his, gazing into each other's eyes.

Rio barely heard the pastor as he went through the speech and vows. She was ready for the 'for as long as we both shall live' that she was practically bouncing on her toes.

"Do you, Oscar, take Rio to be your wife, in sickness and in health, for better or for worse, for as long as you both shall live?" the pastor asked.

Oz didn't even skip a beat when he replied, loud and proud, "I do."

The threatening tears dripped down Rio's cheeks as the pastor turned to her and asked the same question. With a tight grip on his hands, and a lump in her throat, Rio said the words she had been dying to say all day.

"I do."

Welcome back, Loves!

How's that for ya!?

I was too tired write original vows, so I just sort of skipped them...

But they're married!

In the pic, from left to right, is Oz in his gorgeous butt suit. Then Rio's red shoes and wedding dress. And then Malachi in his sexy butt suit.

Ain't they cuties!?

I thought so too.

Bye, loves! Off to bed now.

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