CHAPTER 72

Maya's pov
Why on earth am I so nervous?
I've been ready to marry this man since the day he rescued me from Alpha Rick's claws, but standing here right now, in my wedding dress in my bedroom, I felt like I couldn't breathe.
The blood moon festival did not happen all through last year because according to the priest, the goddess was angry. But I was so sure about what I had with Asher and that was why I didn't give a second thought when he asked her to be his wife.
Although I had suggested a much later date for the wedding, until I put to birth for the very least, the priest had insisted on this particular date for the wedding.
"You've got this Maya," Edna said for the umpteenth time today, rubbing her hand on my arms as she continued" you are so beautiful. I can't even take my eyes off you"
"Edna, is it okay to feel like this.., what if.."
"Of course, …The tension, apprehension, and anxiousness always turn out to be a waste of time. So get yourself together and go nail it. It's your big day sweetness and you are not supposed to be crying. Momma would cry too if she sees you crying but above all, it's not good for the twin. Think about their health" Edna advised" I'll be back, sugar. Let me go attend to the guest. Shalom takes care of her for me, alright. It will all turn out perfectly, sweetness" Edna gave me a big kiss on the forehead before she hopped out of my room.
"Edna was right. It's gonna be fine, best friend. You've got this, ``Shalom said, giving me a side hug.
"What if Asher doesn't want me anymore.., look how big I am. I am not even pretty"
"Maya!" Shalom admonishes. "I'd say be nervous for everything but you see, when it comes to Asher, I'd slap you hard on the cheeks if you ever doubt him. He loves you more than anything and anyone in this life. You and the twins are the world to him and I can bet he'd never hurt you guys. He couldn't even stay away from you for a day. I think he is obsessed" I flushed at her comment and she continued"no need to go all crimson right now. You guys weren't subtle at all. I got a text from Tom saying they were already on their way to the venue. Asher is waiting to finally seal this deal with you, sis. So instead of crying, brace yourself up, look beautiful and go claim your man. You don't want to do that with puffy eyes right?"
"What if I don't get it right? What if I do a bad job as a wife. What if I turn out to be a bad mother?"
"You'd never be, Maya. You are the best Daughter, Sister, best friend, Wife, and Mother anyone could ever ask for. Not just to Asher and Your babies, we all wouldn't count our blessings and not mention you twice. Since you somehow found your way into the royal pack, it has been beautiful. You are the show maker girl, go make this happen, white wolf. Because this my love, is your biggest show" Shalom concludes.
If I didn't cry before, I would definitely be crying by now.
"Maya, you would ruin my meticulous makeup. Don't cry" Edna said as she entered the room.
"Shit sorry. It's just the babies have been acting weird all day and I just want to be done already. It is stressing me out... And my hormones are just all over the place. I'm hungry. I'm horny. My stomach kinda hurts a little. I'm dizzy. I'm certain and unsure. I'm making this difficult for all of you. I'm everything all at once but still, I'm ready... I'm ready to be Asher's bride. I swear I am."
"Oh, come on now, sweetness. "
"Why on earth are you all calling me, sweetness? I thought just one man in the whole universe addresses me by the name" I almost went ballistic.
"Usually, I'd make fun of you for being extremely sappy and bitchy, but I won't because like you said your hormones are running all over the place and because I know how hectic this all can be. But if you are unsure, here's what to do. The logic is simple—call Asher. I'm sure he'd be more than willing to help you blow off some steam. The man fucking loves you. Regardless of your look or who you turn out to be, I am sure if it so happens you turn out to be a shitty wife like you are afraid of, he would still love you, but then you won't because you are Maya. The bearer of light and hope. You are the best wife and mother he could ever ask for....."
"I just got a text from Daniel saying he is just as anxious and a nerve wreck like you..., I was told he was crying and shitting his pants out right now because he can't wait to finally make you his. We are all crying because our once upon a time the little princess is getting married to the one man in the whole wild world who is right and perfect for her. We all are here waiting patiently to witness this because it might be the sweetest union we'd ever witness. To add to it all, you are getting married on such a special date. Do you now understand that this union is a blessing? And how important is it to everyone? Look, even your babies are kicking in anticipation." She finalized her speech.
If I wasn't sure about anything, I sure as hell am now. These people love me! Because I was short of words to describe how I felt, I crashed my head on her shoulders and beckon on Edna to join us. We are all crying. This is in no doubt, the happiest day of my life. Even the day I defeated Alpha Rick doesn't come close. I nod my head, knowing there was no arguing with her or with anybody at that.
The truth finally dawned on me. They were all right. And I was right for shoving Jason on that shattered glass and for jumping over that fence. I am right for not casting him off when he did me wrong and leaving his pack like I wanted. I was right for agreeing to be his mate. I was right to accept my destiny. I was right to agree to the priest's date for the wedding even though it was so uncomfortable for me. I was right for agreeing to be his wife. I was right for trusting the process and trusting him and I was right for accepting Edna, Daniel, Shalom, and Tom as my best friends and family.
"I love you all," I said as I choked down some tears. I didn't want to ruin Edna's meticulous makeup.
"And we love you right back, Luna Maya Queen Jamieson Asher" Edna said, causing Shalom to roll her eyes. I swear both girls were crazy. Sniffing like a junkie, I wiped the tears off my face and took a deep breath.
"I am ready"
"Yes. That's my girl. Let me do a little touch on your makeup and that would be it" Shalom said, waving a makeup brush like a magical wand.
Asher's Pov
"The bride is here" someone shouted and that was all it took for my head to snap to the entrance of the garden just in time to see Maya enter. The buzzers clanged. The trumpet blasted and the Bird merrily chirped. Gracious! The beating of my heart was beyond feverish. I was sweating in weird places, because who the hell sweats in his goddamn ears for the goddess's sake. I just started at Maya, in her lovely and spotless white dress, her very, very obvious bump, and the tiny golden bow just above her bump. The little crown on her head the bouquet in her hand, her shiny ring on her finger—every freaking thing about my woman
"Dude, you are crying " my groomsman, Daniel, coughed a not-so-modest laugh into my ears but I blatantly ignored him and my other groomsman, Tom. At this point, I didn't care about anybody's opinion. Hell headlines would go off as 'the crying Alpha' right now and I still wouldn't care. I wanted my subject to see for themselves how much I love her.
Edna and Shalom finally handed her over to me and the moment our hands conjoined, I felt complete. Like the last piece of a puzzle, she completed me wholly.
"You are the most beautiful, intelligent, sharp-witted, and amazing woman I've ever laid my eyes on, sweetness" Maya beamed at me and I brush the strand of hair that is lurking in her face and brush my lips on her cheek afterward.
"You are the most handsome, dynamic, skillful, and awesome man I know, Jerk Alpha" Her eyes laid heavily on mine, piercing into mine deeply. I felt the intensity in her gaze tearing every form of anxiety in my heart. I felt like she was undressing me.
"Guys, the priest is waiting" I heard Tom's voice echoing behind me and that was my reawakening.
....."the vows"
Fanning out a puff of forced air, I cleared my throat in preparation for saying my vows. Maybe I should have rehearsed before now. "I thought hard and wide about what I should say but I came up short and blank because, in truth, everything seemed so bland. So imma stage it— you are beautiful as hell. Fuck..."
I could hear some chuckling and protest at my choice of words in the background but I couldn't care less. I was the fucking Alpha king and I was making my vows to my Luna.
My focus right now was purely on my wife-to-be. "I can't believe you are really standing here, in front of me in this white dress, willing and ready to be my wife" she bit her bottom lip and I am not surprised I am finding it sexy, that it caused a little twitch in my groin.
"When I met you, I immediately knew you were the one. The way you talked back at me and didn't give a shit about my name tag is something nobody had ever done. Except for our best friend. But yours, yours was on a whole different level. And that was the first thing I found intriguing about you. Your facial expression was that of who- the- fuck -does -this- guy- think- he -is. And yes, everything I did after that day was to gain your attention. Whether good or bad I needed you to talk to me and because you weren't anyone else, you were my mate that shit didn't come easy....because waiting all those years to finally meet you was worth it"
"I promise to always be here for you and our babies. To cherish and appreciate your existence in my life, as my friend, my best friend, my wife, my Luna, and the mother of my children because God damnit, my life is incomplete without you in all of these aspects. This is me all of me, Maya, and with everything I have, I say before this great audience and before the moon goddess, that I love you and I'd gladly lay my life for you and our children"
By the time I finished saying my vows, Maya was full-on crying. I didn't resist the urge to lean in and kiss away her tears.
"Asher..." Maya, let out a small laugh that sounded like a hiccup. She bite her lips trying to stifle her cries. After a series of calming breaths, she continues, fanning the air to her face. I bet she was on fire just as I was. "Asher... You are the best thing to have ever happened to me. And thank you for not giving up on me despite my stubbornness, because those were the things that drew me closer to you. I wanted to wipe off that calm expression you always wore on your face whenever you were with me just so you would let me go but you didn't and look where it brought us. Our beautiful beginning" she rubbed on her baby bump and I couldn't fight the proud grin that appeared on my face.
"I never expected to find someone who loved me the way you do. Who went out of his way to make sure I am happy and taken care of... You made me realize how much I was worth. You were always there whenever I needed shelter, strength, and a shoulder to cry on. And even when I needed someone to pour my add-up anger on, you didn't complain and just took it all in..."
"I want to say thank you for everything...for not giving up on me. For loving, fighting for, and with me. For the foot rubs and massage since we got our most precious gifts. For giving me the perfect friends whom I could proudly call my family. You are everything to me, Asher. And I am forever indebted to you. I promise to love you against and above all odd. And I promise to love you forever. I won't promise until death do us part, because even in death, I will love you. ..., in times of trouble, I promise to be your comfort. In times of lack, I promise to stand by you and support you in the best way I can. In times of abundance, I promise to be by your side. In times of sickness, I promise to be your drug and solitude. In time to lead, I'll be your Luna and the goddess bear me witness on this day that I'll fight every battle with you and overcome them with you. I promise to be a good wife and the best mother our kids would ever have... I love you today, tomorrow, and forever."
She finished her vow and even before the priest would pronounce us man and wife, I kissed her deeply. Pouring all my love and affection into that one kiss. falling to my knees, I hug her and press my head against her bump. Whispering to our babies how much of an angel their mother is. And yes, I was crying and I wasn't ashamed of it.
"I now pronounce you man and wife. You may now kiss the bride" the priest said regardless and I kissed her again, again and again.