Revenge to the Alpha Mate - Chapter 248
Chapter 248: Chapter 248
Jacob’s Perspective
The next morning, I was woken by sunlight and a deeply pleasurable ache. Celena was curled against me, sleeping soundly, her face holding a sated, childlike peace. And I… I felt incredible. Better than ever. The world was sharp and bright, even the sparrows outside sounded sweeter.
When we dressed—Celena insisted on a high neckline, though the fresh mark below her collarbone and its subtle scent was a beacon to any werewolf—and walked into the kitchen, the first one to see us was Lily.
She was clutching a coffee mug, bleary-eyed. But when her gaze swept over us, lingering on the hint of the mark at Celena’s throat and the undeniable, mingled scent that now clung to us, her eyes went wide. The mug wobbled.
“Holy shit…” she breathed, her stare darting between Celena and me, her mouth slowly dropping open before splitting into a huge grin—a mix of shock, glee, and supreme ‘I-told-you-so’ satisfaction.
Renee, coming in from the pantry with a skillet, froze. Her nose twitched, her cheeks flushed, and then she beamed. The twins practically tumbled down the stairs. Dave’s nose twitched like a hound’s, and Jim let out a whistle sharp enough to peel paint.
“Whoa!!! Dude!!” Jim whooped.
“Finally! Knew you couldn’t hold out forever!” Dave punched my arm, waggling his eyebrows.
Even steady Ethan, walking in from outside, paused. He took in the changed atmosphere, his eyes resting on us for a moment before he gave a barely perceptible nod, the ghost of a smile touching his lips.
Celena’s face was the color of ripe berries. She hid behind me, her fingers clutching the back of my shirt, but this time, she didn’t fully retreat. Beneath the shyness, I could feel her solid, accepted happiness.
The breakfast table was a riot. The twins bombarded us with jokes both subtle and crude. Lily, feeding her toddler, kept shooting us looks that were equal parts gratified and nosy. When the noise dipped slightly, I set my fork down.
I tapped the table—not loud, but enough to draw all eyes to me.
I took Celena’s hand beside me. Her palm was slightly damp, but she squeezed back firmly. I looked into her eyes, then at each face around the table.
“Celena and I,” I said, my voice level, leaving no room for doubt, “are getting married. Officially.”
A beat of silence, then an even bigger explosion of cheers. Lily jumped up to hug Celena. Nate clapped happily. The twins started hollering about planning “the biggest party.” Ethan nodded again, this time saying, “Good.”
Two months was enough to prepare a simple, but meaningful, wedding by the lake.
We chose the most beautiful spot within our territory. Late summer. The lake was a jewel of blue, ringed by pines, the grassy shore dotted with tiny white wildflowers.
No elaborate rites. No extra guests. Just our closest family.
Ethan, as the pack’s respected Alpha, officiated. He stood before a simple arch decorated with wildflowers and pine boughs, wearing a plain white linen shirt, his expression unusually solemn and kind.
Lily insisted on dressing Celena. The “wedding dress” wasn’t some fancy gown, but an heirloom linen-and-lace dress from Lily’s grandmother that, by some miracle, fit Celena perfectly, making her look like a wood sprite—pure, with a touch of wild beauty. Lily cried through the whole thing, blaming it on sand in her eyes.
The twins were my “best men,” though keeping them from tripping each other was a victory. Aurora, Ethan and Lily’s daughter, was the flower girl. Almost four, in a tiny white dress with a wildflower crown, her cheeks pink, she solemnly scattered petals in a delightfully wobbly path ahead of Celena.
Celena’s brother, Max, came. He looked more settled than two years ago, but the deep love in his eyes was unchanged. When he saw Celena, his face lit up. He looked her over, then gave a genuine, relieved smile. He pulled her into a fierce hug, whispering something that made her tears well up—happy ones.
Then Max turned to me, hand out. We shook, grip firm.
“Take care of her, Jacob,” he said, his gaze sharp but trusting.
“With my life,” I replied, meeting his eyes squarely.
He nodded and stepped back. That’s when I noticed the girl standing quietly beside him. A human girl. Tall, with a healthy tan, striking features, and a lazy, confident air. She seemed perfectly accepting of the scene—werewolves, forest, unconventional wedding—even watching with amused interest. Max’s hand rested possessively on the small of her back. His bonded mate. I could scent the strong bond between them. Max caught my eye and raised a brow. The message was clear: *See? Me too.*
The ceremony itself was simple. Before the lake, the forest, and the sky, guided by Ethan’s steady voice, we exchanged vows. No flowery words. Just the most direct, wolf way.
“I, Jacob, swear on my blood, my soul, and my wolf: Celena, you are my mate, my only. My claws will guard you. My life is shared with yours. From now until my last breath, I will never betray you, never leave you.”
My voice was quiet, but each word landed with weight, rippling over the still water.
Then Celena. She lifted her head, her green eyes clear and steady, reflecting the sky, the lake, and me.
“I, Celena, swear on my awakened blood and my soul: Jacob, you are my mate, my home. I accept your protection, and I offer my loyalty. From now on, through good times and bad, I will never betray you, never part from you.”
We exchanged the simple antler rings. They slid onto our fingers as if they’d always belonged there.
Ethan spoke last. “By the moon, by the woods, and by the ancient covenant in our blood, I declare Jacob and Celena joined as husband and wife.”
I bent and kissed my bride. A kiss that was gentle and lingering, full of a quiet, vast promise different from the passion of the bonding night. Applause, whistles, and cheers rose around us, Aurora’s giggle ringing clearest.
It was done. No deities, just sky, earth, and kin as witness. A werewolf wedding. Meant to be free, wild, rooted in each other’s souls and this land.
My arm around Celena’s waist, I looked at our cheering family, at Ethan’s calm smile, at Lily laughing loudest through her tears, at Max raising a cup in salute with his new mate beside him…
My wife in my arms. My pack around me.
The future stretched out like the sunlit lake before us—wide, bright, full of unknowns, but brimming with the strength to face it together.
It was enough. It was everything.