Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder novel Chapter 648

Chapter 148 : It’s Our Wedding and We’ll Do What We Want

*Xander*

“You look like you want to kill everyone in this room," Adrian hissed. “Loosen up!"

I fought the urge to look over my shoulder at him, keeping my eyes fixed firmly on the aisle running down the center of the pews, which was full to the brim with people. All of Lena's family was here, as well as her friends and our shared friends. The Alphas and Lunas of practically every single pack were in attendance, and to my surprise, several vampires. I'd been scanning the crowd for several minutes, nodding at those few people I knew who were in attendance.

Lena and Rowan were running a bit behind it, it seemed.

Hanna was seated in the front row, Alexis sleeping in her arms as Hanna turned to speak to Georgia and a woman named Gemma, who was George's mother. I continued to scan the crowd, my shoulder relaxing a bit as I met Theo's eye. Ciana waved, beaming at me. And sitting right next to her was Soren, who was leaning to speak into Ethan's ear, the two elderly brothers looking jovial.

My family from Egoren arrived late last night. They were staying in a very ritzy hotel in the center of Mirage, even though Rowan had offered them suites at the castle. I had a sneaking suspicion the hotel in the city center had been Flora's idea, judging by the look of glee and mischief drifting over her face as she spoke with Lizzie, George's sister, who was roughly her age.

There were so many people in this cathedral–hundreds of people, all waiting for Lena.

The bridesmaids consisted of Abigail, Heather, Viv, Elaine, and Bethany. I hadn't even recognized Bethany at first. I was so used to seeing her covered in grease and dirty, wearing coveralls instead of a sparkling gown with makeup on her face. She looked beautiful, and I quickly noticed the engagement ring on her finger.

I looked back over the crowd and raised my brows at Gideon, who nodded at me when he met my eyes. Gideon had refused to be my groomsman, saying it was a strange ritual. I thought it likely had more to do with the fact that he was a vampire, and he was already getting cautious glances from some people in the crowd.

I felt my shoulders go rigid at the women seated behind him, chatting animatedly with an unassuming older woman, who was looking a little pale.

Narcissa, a f*****g Goddess of the Night Realm, was at our wedding.

She looked totally out of place, given her weird eyes and silver skin, but she seemed totally unperturbed by the glances of mingled concern and interest being cast in her direction. She looked… happy, excited actually. She must have sensed that I was looking at her, because she turned to me, smiling broadly as she waved.

I lifted my hand to wave but then flinched as the pianist slammed clumsily on the keys of the piano, then started pounding the keys in a very dramatic, somewhat excessive fashion.

Adrian was trying as hard as he could not to laugh. I turned to glance at him, noticing Charlie standing behind him, red in the face, his eyes watering with silent laughter.

I wished, with all of my heart, that Oliver was here.

Because he would have laughed, and loudly.

I heaved a breath, glaring at them both before I turned to the grand glass doors leading into the cathedral. I straightened my shoulders, trying to steady my breathing as the doors opened and a spray of sunlight drifted down the aisle. Applause rang out from the street as Lena and her father stepped inside. She was covered in flower petals, her body turned to wave at the townsfolk who had gathered outside of the church. I found it hard to breathe as the doors closed and Lena turned, her eyes settling on mine.

She was stunning, even in the dress she'd been complaining about for weeks. She looked like a dream, like something out of a fairytale Ciana had read to me as a child. I flexed my jaw, finding it damn near impossible to even form a smile as she began to walk forward, Rowan guiding her down the aisle.

I was in shock, I realized. None of this felt real.

Everything else about this moment faded–all the people, all the music. She looked like she was just drifting toward me, her eyes clouded with tears.

I vaguely realized I was shaking Rowan's hand until he let go, and Lena's hand replaced his. I clasped her hand in mine and we turned to face the altar, where the high priestess was waiting to marry us.

“Hey," I said to Lena, the word feeling kind of stupid leaving my mouth as I looked down at her.

“Hey," she replied, looking just as nervous and shocked as I felt.

The priestess was saying something, some spiel. I didn't hear a word she said as I looked down at my mate.

“So, do you come here often?" I said, the corner of my mouth twitching into a smile as a glimmer of mirth flashed behind her eyes.

“First time," she replied in a whisper.

“Me too," I said, wanting nothing more than to bend down and kiss her.

“I'm starving," she whispered.

“I know a place, it's just around the corner. We can go now, if you want."

She pressed her lips together to stop herself from giggling as the priestess went on and on.

I knitted my fingers in hers, pulling her a little closer so we were standing shoulder to shoulder, facing the priestess.

“I got you something," I breathed. She arched her brow but kept her face forward. “Do you want to know what it is?"

“We're supposed to be paying attention–"

“It's our wedding, we can do whatever we want."

She swallowed, her cheeks coloring beautifully as she glanced at me, which sent a thrill of desire sweeping up my spine. I glanced at her dress, wondering how difficult it would be to get underneath her skirts and have my way with her when we got back to the castle. I wanted to be alone with her, even if I had to do so in a broom closet.

“What did you get me?" she whispered, her eyes shimmering in the light of stained glass windows that towered over us.

“A ring," I whispered back.

She gave me a look, then silently chuckled as she turned back to the priestess, who was still going on and on about something, I wasn't sure. I hadn't been paying attention at all.

“You already gave me a ring–"

“This one is new, and it's not finished yet. It's missing something–"

“Do you, Alpha King Alexander Crimson–" I snapped my attention to the priestess as she had me repeat very specific vows to Lena, and I did so enthusiastically, taking Lena's hand in mine. Lena repeated the vows, and Lucas was shoved forward by Maeve, handing Lena and me a set of platinum bands, which I'd chosen to match the family ring I'd given her when I proposed.

Lucas looked entirely embarrassed to have to stand up in front of hundreds of onlookers, but he was behaving himself, so I couldn't complain about the grimace stretching across his face.

“Is this the ring?" she whispered, and I shook my head.

“Later," I whispered, and then, at the priestess's command, I kissed her fully, sliding my hand down her back as I dipped her into a dramatic kiss that caused a wave of applause to erupt from the crowd.

Lena was red in the face when I released her, but her smile was undeniable.

“Alright, let's go," I said, clamping down on her hand and rushing down the aisle.

She was tripping over her dress as she tried to keep up with me, so I scooped her into my arms, her head thrown back with laughter. Everyone was clapping, yelling out their congratulations as we left the church.

The noise only increased as we stepped out of the cathedral door, stopping before the steps leading down to the street, where a car was waiting to take us back to the castle.

Hundreds, if not thousands, of people cheered as I set Lena back down on her feet. I was stunned, honestly, unsure of what to say or do for a moment.

“Smile and wave," Lena said as she nudged me.

“Kiss her!" someone called out from the crowd, and that was definitely something I could do.

I kissed her soundly, having to fight off her veil, which was billowing in a warm breeze.

There were more cheers, more applause.

“Come on," I said, practically running down those shining marble steps toward one of Rowan's many sports cars. I opened the door for her and motioned for the warrior who was in the driver's seat to get lost.

I'd be driving my wife back to the castle, and we'd be driving fast.

The warrior looked somewhat stunned as I hit the gas and drove away, Lena's veil fanning out behind us as we drove around a long curved driveway and out into the city.

“Do you even know where you're going?" she laughed, trying in vain to reign in her veil.

“No," I replied, my heart racing. I didn't think I'd ever been this happy, not in my entire life. Lena was my mate, and now my wife. She was the Luna Queen of Egoren. She was the mother of my child. “What do you want to do now?" I asked, taking a sharp turn that I hoped was a shortcut to the castle.

She sucked in her breath, squealing as the car sped through an empty commercial street away from the crowds that had gathered for the wedding.

“Our reception–"

“We have an hour and a half before it starts," I winked, peeling onto another empty street. Late afternoon sunlight was spilling through the magnolia trees that lined the street leading to the castle that rose above us in the distance. “I want you alone," I growled.

Lena's eyes widened, then narrowed. She reached over, running her hand up my thigh.

I wondered how fast this car could go, and how pissed Rowan would be if I sprayed gravel all over his front garden if I took the final turn too sharply.

But I didn't care.

I pulled the car into the driveway and lifted Lena out of it before she had a chance to open her own door. A maid stepped outside, looking somewhat shocked to see us so soon. I hurried past her into the castle with Lena squealing in my arms.

“It's going to take hours to get back into this dress, Xander!" she cried as I ran with her up the stairs. She swatted me as I groaned under the weight of the fabric as I carried her, turning down the hallway toward our bedroom.

“Don't care," I huffed, kicking open our door and slamming it shut with my foot. I threw her on the bed in a blur of white satin. She reached up to straighten her tiara as I hastily undressed.

She purred my name.

“Did you get me a wedding present?" I asked as I stalked toward her. She shook her head, her mouth curving into a mischievous smile. “You'll have to make it up to me, then," I growled.