The Rogues Who Went Rogue
Chapter 141

The Alpha of White Blood got cheers and claps even before the bride emerged. He was pleased to see that his pack members were not giving the vampire guests odd looks, and he was proud that, when he raised this matter with everyone weeks before the wedding, they seemed more excited and welcoming than reluctant and disapproving. What surprised him most was that the vampires didn't sit at one place, but were scattered among the wolf and lycan guests. The Alpha wanted the integration but he definitely didn't expect to get it this soon.

Tate took a good look around to commit the sight before him to memory - the memory of his closest friends and pack members here to celebrate his and Margaret's special day. When his eyes fell on Lucianne, she linked, 'Margaret's more than everything, Tate!

He instantly replied, 'Not 'more', Lucy. She's 'my' everything, the same way that you are his!

Lucianne's sights reflexively went to Xandar, whose eyes were only on her. Those lilac orbs held so much devotion and affection even from a distance, promising her the world, promising her everything.

The music started playing, and Lucianne reluctantly tore her eyes away from him. Everyone's heads turned to the back to watch the bridesmaids walk down the aisle that was decorated with yellow and blue baby breaths on each side.

The bridesmaids were mostly women from Margaret's old pack and members of another rogue pack whose leader was friends with Margaret, all of whom had merged with White Blood when the vampire affair was over. The last one to appear was Margaret's maid-of-honor, Annie. When Margaret came into view in an elegant, sleeveless white dress with a low V-neckline, holding a bouquet of estellas, everyone stood and many gasped at the picturesque sight of White Blood's Luna.

Stella herself opted to be a photographer instead of a bridesmaid. In the early weeks of planning the wedding, Tate specifically told Stella, in private, to mentally count to five before refusing to walk down the aisle with a bouquet in hand, then act sheepish when she told her mother that she wanted to take photos instead. However, Tate soon learned that things would not always go as planned when it came to his stepdaughter.

Before Margaret could finish asking Stella about becoming one of her bridesmaids, her daughter refused and said, very bluntly and shamelessly, that she wanted to take photos instead. Tate remembered Stella throwing him a cheeky grin right after. What was surprising was that Margaret didn't mind, and actually found Tate and Stella's exchange amusing, much to his relief.

Stella practiced for weeks with the camera that Tate got her back in lycan territory, even looking up online for any tips and tricks that she needed to learn. So, while everyone was watching her beautiful mother, she was recording the march with steady hands, finally including Tate in the video when Margaret joined him there.

Tate muttered something to Margaret while taking her hands into his, making her chuckle lightly and glow even brighter than she already was. The marriage officiant began reciting from the Scriptures of Matrimony before it was time to exchange vows.

Tate began, "Mar, saying that I fell for you because of the mate-bond or your beauty would be speaking like someone who didn't just spend the best months of his life with you. I fell for you when I saw the lengths you'd go to save your pup on the very first day we met; I fell for you when you let me in on how horrible your past had been, yet you still found a way back up; I fell for you when I saw the way you smile at the sight of greenery."

"And I still fall for you everyday, regardless of whether you're just getting out of bed, helping someone, scrolling through your phone, or watering and fertilizing the plants in our home or within the pack. It's amazing how you can look effortlessly perfect even when you're doing the simplest things, like walking across the room or just sitting on the couch. The way you collect leaves and put them in your scrapbook makes me smile; the way you smile makes my heart skip a beat; and the way you touch me and put yourself in my arms makes me feel like the luckiest creature in the world."

"I've never been acquainted with a leader of a rogue pack, and I surely didn't think I'd be blessed with a bond that gave me the strongest and most perfect one. I have no idea what I've done to deserve someone like you, Mar. You're so sure of who you are, so firm in what you want, so protective over the ones you love, and so determined and resilient that nothing from your past seems to be holding you back."

"Running into your daughter has been the best thing that's ever happened to me, because it drew you out and led me right to you. You have no idea what it means to me to be able to call her mine, and to call you mine. Thank you for letting me in despite your past, despite what I am. I promise to always have your back, to always make sure you're never alone, to always let you know how grateful I am that you let me in, and to let my timing issues stay as timing issues. I love you, Mar."

Margaret was chuckling before she began crying, and Annie came with some tissues to dab away the tears. Everyone else wasn't doing any better. Weaver blew his nose a little too loudly that drew attention to him and his slightly apologetic-looking mate. Azalea was dabbing away her own tears. Lucianne wondered why she even bothered with make-up when she had a front row seat to such a touching scene, especially when she had been the lucky few to witness the progress of the bride and groom's relationship.