Page 182 of Loch

It makes Loch start to smirk and me smile.

Sire booms, “For marriage is the clasping of hands, the blending of two hearts, the union of two lives, and?—”

A baby cries out.

We look over, laughing. It’s Sire’s daughter, Bluebell, ready to nurse.

“Don’t mind us,” Wren chirps, lowering the silky strap of her dress to feed their baby. It’s beautiful. Natural. And everything I want one day.

Until Grant groans at Sire. “Dude, even your daughter wants you to hurry up and marry them.”

“Dad, how muchlonger?” Axel’s son, Lev, is understandably losing his patience.

Axel wraps around him, whispering in his ear with a grin while Ruby also takes the moment to feed their newborn daughter, Lyona.

“Might as well join ’em.” Nick grins, reaching for a bottle from the baby bag under his seat. He preps it and hands it to Zar to feed to their newborn daughter, Zarina.

Yes, this family is full of young lionesses.

Sire takes the hint, speeding along. I say my vows. PrayingI don’t snot cry and mess up my mascara because I’m so in love.

Loch says his. My beastly bear, blinking back tears when he adds to his vows…

“Alena”—he swallows—“sometimes we tell lies to protect the ones we love. But sometimes we love them even more and tell them the truth. And, now, Babygirl, there’s only one truth between us. Our love. Always.”

He leans down, kissing me, making me whimper over our lips.

“Hey!” Jace calls out. “Aren’t you skipping something?”

Skipping something? Jace is the one sitting beside his new, breathtaking queen-to-be. That’s a whole story. How Vivian walked in on my initiation.

But for now, my dad clears his throat, barking, “Yeah. You never asked if anyone objects to this wedding.”

My heart drops, my stare whipping his way as he rises beside Vale with his hands clasped behind his back.

“Uh, Dad…” I may always be his princess, and a blushing bride right now, but I’m also a badass queen who’s not going through this shit again. “If you still have a problem with Loch being my husband, then that’s your little red wagon to pull, not mine. Please, take a seat. We’re ten seconds from being married.”

“No, you’re not,” Dad declares, voice stern. “Loch needs toprovehis love if he wants my daughter’s hand.”

“Yeah.” Jace juts his chin.

“That’s right,” Grant bellows.

“He’s gotta.” Nick shrugs.

Axel nods. “Every king has to fight for his queen.”

I sweep my glare to Sire, who holds up his Bible. “It’s part of our vow,” he decrees.

Turning to Loch, I gasp, desperate for an answer. “What kind of Bratva bullshit is this?”

But he kisses my cheek, resigned. “It’s Fate, Babygirl.”

In three strides, he meets my father, who presents to him a ukulele from behind his back.

Loch strums it, turning to me, launching into Robbie’s song fromThe Wedding Singer.

And he does make me smile.

Every day.

For the rest of my life.

NOT THE END