by Lola Gabriel
A couple of hours ticked by, and Levi started growing anxious. His knee continued to bounce, and he took to tossing one of his mother’s knick-knacks up in the air and catching it to entertain himself. Then there was the sound of his mother’s door clicking open. Fumbling to catch the little porcelain goat, Levi placed it back on the end table before standing and heading into the hallway.
“How is she?” he called to Eden.
“She’s asleep now,” she sighed. “We should go and let her rest.” His eyes flickered to the door before nodding and heading back outside with her. When Eden sank into the seat of the truck, she shook her head angrily. “It’s just cruel that my father allowed such a sweet woman to suffer because of the actions of her son. I mean, all the pain and discomfort she’s been put through… It’s unreal.”
“Is she going to be okay?” Levi asked hastily, worried that her anger came from a place of helplessness.
“Well, it’s going to take a lot more sessions, probably every other day for several weeks, but she will be fine. Back to her old self eventually.” Her eyes met his as she gripped his hand. “So, yes, I will marry you. I just don’t want us to get married until your mother is well enough to be in attendance.”
Levi’s throat dried, and he rapidly blinked the tears threatening to spill down his cheeks. He soon lost his soft hold on his resolve, though, and for the first time in a long time, Levi cried. Sometimes he would get emotional and a few tears would slip out, but this was a downright sob. Eden wrapped herself around him, rubbing his back and keeping him close. He was overloaded by love and appreciation for her. Even though none of this had turned out quite how he had anticipated his life to be, it was how it was supposed to be. He had his mate, they were going to be able to live the life they wanted, and his mother was going to be well again.
After a while, Levi finally managed to compose himself. Wiping away the streaks of wetness on his face and sniffling, he reached into his pocket and presented the ring to Eden again. She held out her hand, and Levi slipped the ring onto her finger. Before she had the chance to admire it up close, Levi picked her up and placed her into his lap. His fingers knotted in her long, soft hair, and he kissed her so feverishly that he was lightheaded. There was nothing like this woman, he was certain of it. Eden was complicated, emotional, and stubborn, but God, her heart was bound to be made of pure gold. All she ever tried to do was keep everyone happy and help others.
“I love you so much, Eden,” Levi murmured against her lips. It was so liberating to finally be professing his love aloud. He had been battling it internally for weeks, worried that it was too soon to feel such a way, even if they were mates. Most people, for the first few years, were just infatuated with the sensation of having a mate, not necessarily falling truly in love. Yet there was no doubt in Levi. He loved her. He loved her with such intensity that he had wept for her.
“I love you too, Levi,” Eden purred. Then she smiled weakly. “I wish we had some furniture in the house, so that we could spend tonight there.” He grinned from ear to ear.
“Are you opposed to a makeshift bed?” She looked at him curiously and shook her head as she slid back over in the seat. “Good.”
Taking the drive back out to the house, Levi parked the truck and retrieved a few duffle bags from the bed of his vehicle. Thankfully, he already had the house’s electricity installed, so it wasn’t a pitch-black trip to find the living room. He planned to have solar panels on the roof, but the contractors weren’t due for a couple weeks.
Taking out several blankets and pillows, Levi made a perfect pallet on the floor for them. He even packed a dozen candles and positioned them around the pallet while Eden went to the bathroom, with the bag he had packed her, to freshen up. All of the candles were lit in no time, and finally, Levi fished out a bottle of wine and a corkscrew. Turning off the light, he sat on the pallet and opened the wine. When Eden came from the bathroom, a gasp burst from her. Levi shot her a shy smile.
“So I may have forgotten glasses, and it isn’t chilled, but I have some wine to celebrate.” Sauntering over, Eden sat down next to him. Her eyes wouldn’t stop scanning all around.
“Wow,” she breathed. “You really outdid yourself, Levi. This… this whole day has been perfect.”
They shared a sweet kiss before Eden grabbed the wine from him and took the first drink. They drank from it rather rapidly, wanting to get a buzz going before they laid down. When they finally did, she was curled into his chest and sighing happily. “None of this feels real.”
“I know,” Levi confessed.
“Do you think we died before and this is the afterlife?” Eden asked. “Or maybe I accidentally drowned myself, and this is all some sort of fantastical coma dream.”
He laughed. “I think that’s always a possibility. However, if you’re in a coma, then I am, too, and we’re sharing this dream.”
“Well, if that’s the case, I hope we never get out of it.”
“I hope not, either.” Levi chuckled and kissed her lovingly. That was the kiss that finally sparked a primal fire in each of them. In the candlelight and the sound of a storm coming down outside, Levi and Eden made love as fiancées for the first time. It was sweaty, slow, and passionate. Then they finished the wine, curled up together, and slept the night away, filled with love and hope for the future—their future.
Epilogue
Two Months Later
Eden was a bundle of nerves as her cousins busied about her, touching up her makeup, assuring that her hair was perfectly placed in the stylish French braid that she had insisted on. Small purple blooms were placed strategically all throughout her hair. A lace veil was pinned perfectly to the crown of her head.
Eden inspected herself in the mirror. Her wedding dress was the same silvery purple that her scales were, and the cut was off the shoulder, long sleeves, and hugged her waist before flowing to the floor. The bouquet of flowers in her hands was made of lilies, trimmed neatly and tied together with an emerald bow.
“You’re the vision of matrimony,” one of her cousins cooed.
“The epitome of a bride!”
“I wish I could be in your shoes.”
All of the compliments actually caused a blush to come over Eden’s face. “Thanks, you guys. This day couldn’t have been put together if it weren’t for each of you.”
That was true. Over the past month, Eden had actually enjoyed the girl time with her cousins. It made her realize they had been acting overly chipper when they had attempted to plan hers and Darian’s wedding. Their logic was that if they were excited about it, it would rub off on her eventually. She was grateful for them and still felt a smidgen of guilt for how she had treated them before.
There was a knock on the door, and then Theo’s head popped in. “It’s time.”
Taking a deep breath, Eden let out a shaky breath and moved to the door. She and Levi had decided to have the ceremony at the family estate, not seeing the point in having it anywhere else. Walking down the hallway, memories flooded Eden’s mind. All of her fights with Carlyle, playfully fighting her brothers, the countless times she had stubbed her foot on the leg of a table just outside her bedroom door when her nose was buried too deep into a book to be aware of where she was standing…
Her cousins led the way down the stairs. Theo walked at Eden’s side, holding one of her hands to ensure she didn’t trip over the hem of the long dress and go spilling down the rest of the stairs. They rounded the corner and finally walked through the French doors which led to the grounds behind the mansion. An ancient but familiar tune wafted through the gentle breeze. Eden’s vision of the altar was blocked by her cousins as they made their way down the aisle of guests. Then, all eyes were on her.
Eden started off with her head bowed shyly, white-knuckling her bouquet. Something inside her urged her to lift her chin. When she did, calmness overcame her. She and Levi had locked gazes instantly, and Eden was no longer aware of the hundreds of eyes on her. She joined his side
, and that was when his glance fully took her in.
“You look stunning,” Levi whispered to her, squeezing one of her hands.
Eden was in awe of him. She had never seen him in anything but flannels and t-shirts, and now there he was, in a black, designer tuxedo with a silvery purple pocket square and a neatly tied bowtie. To her, Levi looked like an A-list actor on the red carpet.
“So do you,” she finally responded. Her father stood before them, in his hands an ancient book.
“Let us begin,” Carlyle bellowed, and all of the guests sat in unison. Levi and Eden held one another’s gaze as Carlyle read from the text. It was all just noise to her. She was too taken by the fact that it was really happening. She was marrying her soulmate and best friend. All the odds had been stacked against them, and there they were, holding hands at the altar.
“Repeat after me, Levi,” Carlyle instructed.
Levi did, repeating each of the words to follow huskily. “We are bonded by soul, mind, and body. You are an extension of myself. Because of that, you will never be in any danger. I will protect you with my life, because without you, there is no life for me.”
Eden followed suit, repeating her portion of the vows. “You feel sadness, I feel sadness. I will do everything in my power to keep you from feeling an ounce of pain. I serve you as I will serve myself.”
“We are one. Our bond cannot be broken. I will love you more with each passing day and will continue to do so until I take my last breath.”
“Before the Kingdom and the Cosmos, I wed you.”
“Before the Kingdom and the Cosmos, I wed you.”
Carlyle then pulled out a small silver blade. Placing a slight cut on their palms, Levi and Eden pressed their hands together above their heads in triumph as they shared a passionate kiss. The crowd erupted in cheers. Just as quickly as it had started, it was over. When they peeled away from one another, goofy smiles on each of their faces, Carlyle clasped a hand to Levi’s shoulder and cleared his throat.
“I just want you to know that, despite the fact that this was very troubling to me to begin with, you both have my blessing,” he said. “As long as you care for my daughter as you vowed, we will have no issues.”
Levi actually smiled at Carlyle, perhaps for the first time. “Thank you, sir. I appreciate that.”
Carlyle’s eyes turned to Eden, and he gave his daughter a tight hug. “I love you, darling daughter.”
“I love you too, Father,” she squeaked. Tears of joy had snuck up on her. She had told her cousins they were silly for going out of their way to get waterproof makeup, unable to see herself crying at her wedding. Boy, had she been wrong.
Eden and Levi made their way down the aisle of people. Flower petals rained down on them, and through all of the excitement, Eden spotted Levi’s mother in the front row. She was in perfect health, her hair back to its luscious chocolate color, her cheeks rosy, and some meat back on her frail bones. She was in tears, clapping and cheering them on. Eden blew her a kiss, to which Matilda clutched a hand over her chest. Theo and Sebastian guided them into the house, going to the ballroom. The reception ensued, and it couldn’t have been any more perfect. The couple slow danced together song after song. They chatted happily with the guests over a lovely meal. Eden could have exploded with love and joy. Never had she thought that getting married would be such a happy occasion for her.
Eventually, as the evening began to wind down, Eden and Levi snuck away from the party. Rounding the side of the house, Eden’s car was parked with a clear path down the driveway. Her brothers had packed and prepared it for her, knowing that she and Levi wouldn’t want some big sendoff. As Eden climbed into the passenger seat, giggling from excitement, she actually wished her father was at least there to see them off. That was all right, though. She was certain they would see plenty of him once they returned.
Levi squeezed her hand. “So, wife, are you ready to go?”
Eden grinned from ear to ear at the sound of the word wife. “Why, yes, husband. I am.”
It felt childish and silly, but her heart was too delighted to care. Holding hands, Eden and Levi started down the path and away from the estate. They had a two-week-stay ahead of them in the Caribbean, a wedding gift from Sebastian. She couldn’t wait to be out of that dress and into a swimsuit, curling her toes in the sand while cuddling Levi. It would be paradise. Even though it was a romantic thought, and a foolishly romantic one at that, Eden viewed their future together as paradise. It was just as appealing as a sunny beach and clear blue water. Sure, things wouldn’t be perfect, but she would be happier than she had ever been before. Levi’s love revitalized her in completely unexpected ways.
“I love you, Levi,” she sighed joyfully, looking at him with dewy eyes.
With a soft expression, Levi replied, “I love you too, Eden.”
While the car was positioned down the straight, wide road, Levi leaned across the center console and pressed a warm kiss to her lips. The heat of his skin lingered on hers when he peeled away. Even months after their first kiss, his every touch thrilled her like it was the first. Eden wondered if that would ever go away. She certainly hoped it wouldn’t.
THE END
Preview: Code of the Alpha
By Lola Gabriel
Preview - Mate’s Call: Code of the Alpha
A fresh layer of snow covered the wooden porch of the Perkins home in the quiet town of Jackson, Wyoming. The town was nestled at the foot of the mountains, which surrounded most of Jackson, immersing it in an ethereal feel, especially in the winter when everything was covered in snow.
Twenty-three-year-old Quinn Perkins glanced out the window at the front porch and sighed miserably. It was only November, but the snow had already started to cover Jackson, much to Quinn’s disappointment. Although living in the sleepy mountain town certainly had its advantages, the snow was not one of them. At least not for Quinn.
She had spent her younger years in sunny Florida with her mother, trying to avoid her father, who was not a very clean-cut, law-abiding person. After he was sent to prison—again—a few months after Quinn’s sixteenth birthday, her mother packed up and left their home in Miami Beach and moved them across the country, away from her father and, to Quinn’s dismay, the heat.
Admittedly, Jackson was not as bad as Quinn made it out to be. The people in town were friendly, helpful, and very welcoming when they first arrived. Normally, small towns were very protective of their territory, frowning upon the idea of strangers invading their home, but Quinn and her mother were welcomed with open arms. Their house was nothing extravagant, as her mother was a school teacher at Colter Elementary School, but Quinn had come to love it, as did her mother.
“What’s wrong, honey?” Quinn heard her mother ask from the kitchen.
She turned around with a sigh and said, “It snowed last night.”
“Did it?” her mother asked absentmindedly as she made a pot of coffee.
“Yeah, it’s cold and awful.”
Her mother chuckled at her disapproving and irritated tone and glanced at her. “It’s just snow, Quinn.”
“Maybe to you. You don’t have to drive to the other side of town like I do,” Quinn muttered.
“You’re exaggerating.”
“You always say that,” Quinn said and crossed her arms.
“You always exaggerate,” her mother shrugged.
“You’re being mean.”
“I’m allowed,” her mother said. “Coffee?”
“No, thanks. I have to get going,” Quinn said as she picked up her backpack and swung it over her shoulder. “I have a snow-filled obstacle course to get through.”
“Grab the tent from the closet. You might need it,” her mother laughed, and Quinn rolled her eyes.
“You are so not funny.”
“Bye, honey! Have a great day,” her mother said with a bright smile.
Quinn shook her head and gave her mother a wave before heading out the door to her car.
The black truck that stood in the driveway may not have been the prettiest car Quinn had ever owned, but it was durable and made driving in the snow so much easier and faster. It wasn’t love at first sight for Quinn; rather a slow transition into a love-hate relationship. The truck was temperamental, regardless of how many times Quinn had taken it to the shop.
“Your truck just has a strong personality, and all you can do is just deal with it and be nice to him,” Joe, the mechanic, had told her time and time again.
The drive through town to the community college she attended had Quinn reflecting on her life, as she did every single morning. She had come to the conclusion that she was not made for small-town living. She missed the city, especially Miami, and she couldn’t wait to graduate and leave this place. Sure, it’d be sad to leave her mom behind… unless she could convince her to come along. She had dragged Quinn all the way here, so the least she could do was allow Quinn to drag her back again.
Quinn stopped in the parking lot and climbed out of her truck. She made her way to the main building, where her first class was, and as she walked through the door, her best friend, Carla, ambushed her with a totally unexpected hug.
“I am so glad you’re here!” Carla beamed.
“Yeah, I wouldn’t miss this for the world,” Quinn retorted, glancing at her.
Carla had been Quinn’s best friend ever since she had arrived in Jackson. Their connection was deepened by the fact that Carla also came from a big city, New York, and was forced to join the community of small-town living when her father was transferred.
The two young women were quite the opposite in physical appearance. While Quinn was short, slim, and had dark brown hair with brown eyes, Carla was tall with blonde hair and blue eyes. Their interests were similar, but Carla seemed more extroverted than Quinn, with a zero-bullshit tolerance and a rather foul mouth when given the opportunity.
