Chapter 260: Rhys
Today is the day. The day I was going to maybe marry my mate or run the risk of losing her. And based on how good of a night we had had last night, I was pretty sure it was the latter. I had tried to talk her out of her plan, but she was having none of it. She just kept saying that she needed to do this, and in her eyes, it was the only way. And if I was being completely honest... we did need an inside man. All of my attempts to catch the Red Blood pack by surprise had failed. Our biggest informants were kids who had been in a Program that had tortured them, and my mate that had literally never left the packhouse.
I also wasn’t convinced that as soon as Grace would cross their border, she wouldn’t just be thrown in the prison again. I mean, she had orchestrated an entire prison breakout the last time she was there. We were just hoping that Adrian’s infatuation with her was enough to keep her from harm's way... Especially if she played into it, like our plan stated.
We were both a little uncomfortable with the idea, but we also knew where we both stood with it too. It was a necessary evil. We needed the in. We needed to end this whole thing, once and for all. And we would be ready to strike as soon as Grace found the Pyxis.
In the meantime, we’d need to act as naturally as possible. I had put a pause on all official training for the time being. We had decided to even lessen the guards at the border. Instead of relying on manpower, we were going to be using technology to be our eyes. The idea made me a little nervous, but I needed it to look like we were letting our guard down. We were not weak. Not anymore. But I needed us to appear so. I was just hoping that Adrian was impatient enough to actually jump on it before things got too dangerous. I assumed as soon as Grace was in his hands, he would attack. I just hoped I was right, so we wouldn’t be prolonging the inevitable.
“Ready for your big day?” Sawyer practically bounced all the way into the room, his suit in his hands.
“It’s not my big day,” I grumbled.
“Chin up, Alpha King.” Sawyer replied cheerily. “She might not be marrying you today, but she will eventually. And the Groom can’t look sulky when we go out there for photos. This is supposed to be the best day of your life, so act like it.”
“Do you think they will send someone to the ceremony?” I asked.
“If I was them, I would.” Sawyer answered a little bit more seriously, moving to the corner of my office to get ready.
He could tease me all he wanted about smiling, but I was at least ready... I had been for hours now, and my mind wouldn’t let me work. All I could think about was broken Grace when she had first gotten here. I couldn’t stand to see her like that again.
“How many?” I asked.
“We made it public but didn’t send the invites like we had talked about. So, my guess is only spies, not enough for a fight, just enough to know exactly what is going on.”
“I fear we’re wrong on that.” I told him as a poured a small amount of scotch into my glass. I wasn’t going to my wedding drunk, but I needed a little something to take off the edge.
“Alpha King?” Alana’s gentle voice called out. “We’re ready for you.”
I sighed and poured another glass, swallowing it in a quick swig. I could do this. I could act natural. I could dote on my mate. This wedding might be fake. But we would have a real one day, and I couldn’t wait for more days like last night.
I couldn’t help but smile at the memory. Grace had been wild. Her innocence had made no appearance. Pleasure had taken over both of us more times than I could count. She had taken things completely into her hands. And I couldn’t help but think it was her version of goodbye.
Sawyer continued to get ready in my office, but I made my way downstairs to the ballroom. I knew Grace would have preferred to get married outside, but the winter weather wouldn’t be fair to force guests to sit in. The snow was falling heavily today, and I worried about Grace getting to the Red Blood pack. But if we guessed right, Adrian would either be at the wedding, or lurking just outside the pack, hoping to find a way to ruin it.
I felt her before I saw her. Her hair was twisted in a half up half down style. Her white dress made my heart stutter. It had slightly puffy sheer sleeves that cuffed at her wrists, and the lacy gown hugged her in all the right places before hanging loosely at her waist. She was stunning.
She smiled at me, and for the millionth time I couldn’t believe she was made for me. The prophecy sang in my ear but ignored it. She would come first. Nothing would change that. I couldn’t survive in this world without her. Not anymore.
We took wedding photos as per my mother’s requirements. And then she disappeared again for the ceremony.
If I had thought she had looked beautiful during photos, she looked even more beautiful walking toward me. Every seat was filled. Every eye was on her. The closer she got, the more nervous she looked. It was as if she remembered why we were here.
Sawyer was our officiant. A man of so many traits, began the ceremony. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him walk in. Bold to cross into my territory without an invite, but I couldn’t say we were surprised.
“Do you Rhys, take Grace, to have and to hold, to love and protect, through sickness and in health till death do you part?”
“I do.”
“And do you Grace, take Rhys, to have and to hold, to love and protect, through sickness and in health, till death do you part?”
“I do.” She whispered, and I could feel the longing in her soul for this to be real.
“Does anyone object to the union of these fine people?”
And in complete predictability, he stood up looking far braver than he should have, and shouted, “I OBJECT.”
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