Page 24 of A Hatchling for Valentine’s

Epilogue

Spring had arrived and so had the day of his marriage to Vic. Kellan wore all white—an untucked silk shirt and flat front dress slacks, a gentle breeze blowing off the lake catching the sheer fabric of the top and making it shimmer from the sun. He glanced at his empty ring finger, the stunning platinum ring Vic had given him the day after Erik had been born waiting in Vic’s jacket pocket to soon be placed where it belonged.

Big, fluffy clouds broke up the bright blue backdrop of the sky and Kellan was glad they’d waited until May to hold their wedding. As recently as two weeks before it had still been raining quite regularly.

But now it’s time.

Kellan stood by the bench he’d sat on with Vic to watch a winter sunset over the lake on one of their first dates. Sweet Bites was catering the reception which was being held back at the restaurant, and Skip was only mildly butthurt that he hadn’t been put in charge of the food. However, the true magic was how gorgeous the setting was for their special day.

Dora, Lena and her wife, Sue, had been in charge of putting together the floral archway he and Vic would be married under, arranging the white folding chairs in a semi-circle with an aisle in the center and placing the flowers in and around the staging area. They had used a combination of white roses, ferns and Kellan’s favorite flower of all time—tulips.

“Are you ready?” Dora ambled up to him, strolling baby Erik who was snoozing in the carrier that could be removed from the stroller part, if necessary.

Kellan gazed down at his sleeping child. “Do you have enough formula to last through the wedding? Is there more at the restaurant? What about the jars of pureed meal worms, venison and peaches?”

“Umm, can we not talk about that right now? And yes, I have that, a bottle of water, more diapers, and whatever else you’ve stuffed in this enormous bag hanging from the handle of the stroller.” She sighed. “And you didn’t answer my question. Vic’s on his way over from the cabin with Skip and it looks like most of the chairs are filled.” She pointed to the archway. “Even Father Lance has taken his place at the altar.”

A smile stretched across Kellan’s face at the realization that he wasn’t nervous. Excited, definitely. But how could he be anything but thrilled when he was about to pledge himself to his fated mate?

“I’m ready.”

Dora threw her arms around him. “I’m so glad I met you and we became friends. I love you, Kellan. You’re the best.”

Kellan’s face flushed hot. “I love you too, Dora. Thank you for everything.”

She framed his face with her palms. “You are so adorable, I just want to eat you up.”

He twisted out of her hold. “Stop. Am not.”

Dora jerked her head in the direction of Sean, who had settled into Vale Valley nicely. The shy young man was leaning against a tree behind the rows of chairs. Sean had also filled the gap at the restaurant that Kellan had left behind now that he was a fulltime parent. Kellan was more grateful than Sean would ever know. The guilt over telling everyone he wouldn’t be going back had been epic.

“Then there’s that one over there. I think he’s lonely. You should introduce him to someone.”

Kellan’s eyes widened. “Me? I don’t know anyone. And he told me he likes staying in his room, that it’s peaceful.”

Dora snorted. “That’s ridiculous. Both to him staying in his room and you not knowing anyone. Everyone you meet is your friend.”

Once Dora got going on a subject, it was difficult to move her off it. Kelan spotted a good opportunity.

“Look, here comes Vic and Skip now. Did Skip forget to wear his tie? I don’t want him ruining the wedding pics.”

Dora spotted them and gasped. “What the hell does he think he’s doing?” She pressed her lips in a tight line. “Don’t worry, Kellan. I’m on it.” She started marching toward them, pushing his sleeping baby in the stroller with purpose. “Hey! Skip! Don’t you walk away from me.”

Kellan chuckled behind his hand. He hoped her onslaught didn’t delay the wedding too much, but he’d wanted a few moments to himself before going down the aisle. Not to mention wanting to avoid the subject of Sean’s social life. Kellan knew better than anyone what Sean had endured at the hands of his brother and ex-herd, and if he wanted to keep to himself for a while, Kellan didn’t blame him at all. It certainly didn’t help that the shifter network hadn’t captured Finn yet.

With a happy sigh, Kellan took in the view of the surroundings once more. Soon, Lena would be playing a song from the Nutcracker Suite on her classical guitar, which would then be his cue to walk down the aisle. After some pondering, he’d decided to go down the aisle alone. He’d never had a father figure, had never had a mentor. As a young swan he’d lost the part of his family who had loved and cared about him and his life had been hell until he’d been rescued by Vic—both literally and figuratively. He would walk to his mate and offer his heart to him for all time. No one else deserved to be a part of that sacred moment, no one had the right to give him away.

As soon as Vic and Skip—who now wore a tie—had taken their places at the altar, a hush seemed to descend over the crowd. Only the gentle lapping of the water at the edges of the lake and the musical chirping of songbirds could be heard surrounding them. Lena, dressed in a flowing, three-quarter length dress of white and a bold pattern of lavender lilies, approached the front with her guitar, then stood on what would be Kellan’s side of the altar.

The first gentle strains of the guitar rang out and, after taking a deep breath, Kellan retrieved his simple bouquet from the park bench—a bundle of white tulips tied together with a satin ribbon. Happy tears sprang to his eyes as he took confident steps toward his mate and best friend.

Kellan reached the front right as Lena had finished the song, exactly as they’d rehearsed it. He handed his bouquet to her then took Vic’s outstretched hand.

This is it. In a few minutes, I’m going to be Vic’s husband.

He tried not to bounce on his toes.

Father Lance offered them a warm smile. “It is with great joy that I welcome you all here on this beautiful day to celebrate the marriage of Kellan Rivers and Vic Russo. In the time I’ve come to know them, I have witnessed the love, friendship and support they share with each other. No two people deserve to be united in matrimony more than these men.”

A cry erupted right as Father Lance had taken a breath to continue. A low murmur rose from the onlookers and Kellan whipped his head around in search of Erik. He’d recognize that cry anywhere. He turned to Vic with pleading eyes, but instead of rebuke, he was met with his mate’s understanding smile.

Kellan went up on his toes and whispered in his ear. “I’ll be right back.”

Vic squeezed his hands then let go. “And I’ll be right here waiting. I would wait forever for you.”

Kellan sniffed, wiping a finger under one eye as he scurried to get their child. Ever since that first week when Erik would shift back and forth between swan, wolf and baby, they both had been over-protective parents. Their baby rarely shifted now, which was more in line with the average shifter baby. Since Erik was still an anomaly to the shifter medical community, they could only guess as to why he’d come into the world the way he had. Dr. Arthur’s theory was that he’d been trying to instinctually unite all his different sides.

Once Kellan had retrieved his sobbing infant and Dora had handed him a bottle, Kellan rejoined his mate at the altar. Together, they exchanged vows, all while Kellan cradled their firstborn.

Firstborn. Kellan smiled, his heart happier and lighter than he’d ever dared dream. He had the feeling Erik would be the first of many.

THE END