Chapter 237 Two Hundred and Thirty -Seven
Tears trickled from the corners of Lucianne’s eyes as the congregation clapped when Xandar came to the end of his wedding
vows. Most of the women found it so heartfelt that they were already all teared-up. Even Christian pressed away the tears from
his own eyes. 1
After Xandar’s thumb wiped away his mate’s tears on her face, Lucianne cleared her throat and began reciting her vows which
went through infinite drafts before this day, “Xandar, when we met, I was so blinded by my past that I almost gave up the best
thing that was presented to me. You've always expressed how lucky you felt to be bonded to me but from the way I see it, I’ve
been the lucky one.”
“You asked me for a chance, a chance to show me that you're different but you're not just different, dearest. The way you love is
phenomenal beyond words. I don’t know how you do it but you somehow always know what to say to make me feel... more than
what I always thought I was. Your touch calms my insecurities; your words and kisses melt away my fears and doubts; and your
presence assures me that I'll always be safe, and Pll always be loved in ways that I once thought was never opened to me.” 1
She took a breath to steady herself before she continued, “I promise to lend you my ears whenever you need someone to listen
or talk to; to stay in your embrace when you need to calm any agitation or quiet any storm; to be by your side no matter how
difficult or dangerous things get. I promise to always remind you how well you’realready doing as our King, how revolutionary
your reign is and how extraordinary your legacy will be. And I know with every fibre of my being that you'll make a remarkable
father.”
She gave his hands a gentle squeeze as she said, “You're more than what you think of yourself, Alexandar. You'll always have
me as your mate and as your Queen. This little freesia is yours, my indecent beast. Only yours. And I love you, too, my acacia.”
Xandar’s tears started streaming down his face, and he was secretly blaming his animal for not helping him to hold it all in.
Lucianne wiped away his tears, while the entire congregation wiped away their own. Weaver could be heard blowing his nose
into a handkerchief. Toby and Christian, who betted against each other on whether Lucianne or Xandar would produce the more
impressive vows, concurred that both were equally powerful, that it was a tie when they wiped away their tears for the second
time.
After the marriage officiant sniffled once, he cleared his throat and asked for the rings, which were brought by little Liam and
Russell on a violet, velvet pillow.
Xandar bent down and ruffled the boys’ hair with a warm smile, and took Lucianne’s princess-cut diamond ring from the pillow,
sliding it into his mate’s finger as he uttered the words that had been engraved on the band, “I love you.”
Lucianne smiled even wider, then turned to the little boys and touched each of their cheeks before taking the other ring from the
pillow, which was emerald-cut, and it shared the same set of diamonds as the ones on her own. After sliding Xandar’s ring into
his finger, she uttered the words engraved on his band, “I know. I love you, too.”
The marriage officiate then declared, “With the blessing from our Goddess when she bestowed the bond between these two
creatures, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
With his animal’s strength, Xandar pulled his mate into a deep kiss as the congregation erupted into a wild applause.
HHH
After that, everyone adjourned to the next room for the wedding banquet. The children who were fond of Lucianne took this
opportunity to hand her their gifts by hand. They were very protective and possessive over their presents, and refused to hand
them over to the staff member in-charge of collecting gifts from guests.
One by one, the kids came to Lucianne’s side, handed her their gift and hugged her before returning to their parents. Xandar lost
count after the eighteenth child. The braver and more curious ones gave him a high-five before leaving but he concluded that he
still scared some of them. One of the last children was an eleven-year-old named Suzy, who came with Tate. Odd. Tate was
mateless. Why was he close to this child? Suzy was visibly daunted when she refused to look at Xandar as she handed
Lucianne a laminated leaf.
Lucianne’s grin fell for a moment as she stared at the gift. Xandar then felt a deep sentiment spreading from the deepest parts of
the being. He looked at the leaf that was in his mate’s hand, and saw that there was a collage of a firefly on it. It must mean
something, but what? Lucianne teared-up as she traced the firefly with her fingertips, and let out a soft chuckle. She thanked
Suzy, and gave the little girl a gentle squeeze, reminding her to keep scaring away the cockroaches and beetles in White Blood
like they practiced, which made Tate chuckle.
It was definitely a memory the three of them shared because Suzy managed a wide grin. After she hugged Lucianne again and
stepped to the side, Lucianne stood and gave Tate a hug. The Alpha held her for a moment before Lucianne parted their bodies,
after which he uttered a line he rehearsed before walking up to her, “We’re really happy for you, Lucy. Congratulations.” “Thanks,
Tate.” Lucianne responded with a grateful smile.
He then added something that he didn’t plan on saying, “And thank you, Lucy, for...everything.” 2
The way he said the word ‘everything’ sent a shockwave of realization throughout Lucianne’s being. Her smile fell, replaced by
genuine surprise. She could only stare at the Alpha with widened eyes because she had only ever seen him as a close friend
and a brother. Registering her revelation and increased heart rate, Xandar rose from his seat, and secured his hands on his
bride’s bare shoulders in hopes of calming her with their bond. 1 Tate held his smile, and moved on to shake the King’s hand
diplomatically, congratulating him as he did so. After Xandar muttered a meek ‘thank you’ and released Tate’s hand, he was
conflicted on how to respond to what Tate just did to Lucianne.
It was very inappropriate for Tate to make Lucianne realize that he was in love with her when she and Xandar were already
together. But Tate didn’t look like he was trying to steal her away or make her question her choice. He looked like someone who
was genuinely conceding to an outcome, sincerely accepting that she chose someone else. 1
Before Tate could leave with Suzy, Lucianne called out, “Tate.” Their eyes locked, and she continued, “I'm still here for you and
for White Blood. I'll always be here.”
Tate nodded with the same smile, and uttered, “We know, Lucy. Thank you.” 1
He and Suzy then returned to their seats. Lucianne heaved a sigh before she met her mate’s worried gaze. She pulled herself
up, and pecked a kiss on his lips. Her black and lilac orbs penetrated into his soul when she uttered firmly, “I love you, Xandar.
I’m yours. Only yours.”
Her beast felt her certainty, her devotion and the depth of her love, making his animal coo in tenderness. Xandar’s insecurity
subsided, and he pecked a kiss on her forehead before holding her in a tight embrace as he whispered, “Thank you so much,
baby. I love you, too.” 2
The next child got impatient, and barged forward to tug at Lucianne’s dress to get her attention, so Lucianne made Xandar
release her before bending down to greet the little girl with a smile.
HHH
Before the newly-weds left for their two-month honeymoon, they handed the reins of the Kingdom to Christian and Annie once
again, along with a surprise gift.
Dr Yeil’s colleague in the lab developed an antidote for Annie’s infertility issue, and when Lucianne and Xandar handed her and
Christian the doctor’s appointment sheet, Christian swore he heard them wrong. “I'm sorry, my Queen. I think I’m still deaf from
the applause at the wedding. What did you say this was for?”
Xandar chuckled, and Lucianne said, “They studied my blood, and found a way to reverse what happened to Annie. This
antidote turns the switch of pregnancy hormonal production back on, so you both can choose to have children if you want to. The
doctor says that more than one dosage may be required, and recommends frequent check-ups to monitor the foetus as it
develops but he is confident that this can allow you both to have a healthy child, if you decide that you still want a child, that is.”
Christian was still stunned but Annie was already crying when she wrapped her arms around Lucianne and thanked her
repeatedly, forgetting that she should be gentle on the baby bump. Christian only came out of his shock when his cousin offered
him a brotherly hug. The Duke squeezed his best friend in return before tears started forming in his own eyes. ;
“It'll work, Christian.” Xandar assured.
Christian chuckled, wiped away his tears before he said, “I just didn’t expect to be able to...expect anymore.”
Christian then embraced Lucianne for the first time as he whispered, “Thank you, Lucy.” After seeing them off at the train station,
the Duke and Duchess left the platform together with a renewed sense of hope. 1
By the window in the private lounge of the train, Lucianne sat on Xandar’s lap and leaned into his chest to listen to his heartbeat
as her beast closed his eyes to take in her scent from her hair, his hand stroking her baby bump, and his arm circled around her
waist, holding her close.
After some quiet moments, he pecked a kiss on her temple, and uttered, “I love you, Lucy.”
She looked up at him with twinkling eyes and responded, “I know, Xandar. I love you, too.” 9» END OF BOOK ONE su
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