The Rogues Who Went Rogue
Chapter 144

Gerella walked gracefully down the aisle, and while all eyes were on her, her sights stuck to her groom who looked like he was close to tears as he beamed at her. When she reached him, he offered her his hand to help her onto the platform. The music stopped, and the guests took their seats once more. After the marriage officiant recited from the Scriptures of Matrimony, he announced that it was time for the exchange of vows. Toby began, "Ella, from the moment we met, I knew that my life was never going to be the same again. Not only can I now boast about being the only one among my friends to get the most beautiful hybrid for a wife, your mark practically gave me the license to also gloat about being able to see a discretus when they cannot. You have no idea how much fun I'm going to have lying about a discretus's presence when we're training." Laughter ensued from everyone, especially the alliance members, before Toby continued more seriously, "There's something about you, Ella, something magical about your presence. Your scent, your voice, your touch...they all send the gentlest ray of light to soothe my darkest memories and my most painful losses."

Ella gave his hand a gentle squeeze as her smile and eyes grew softer. His thumb stroked her fingers when he said, "I am forever grateful to our Goddess for bonding us, and I promise to be the understanding, supportive and loving mate that you deserve. Thank you so, so much for giving me a chance after...what I did on the first day we met. I've never taken you for granted ever since we got back together, and I will never take you for granted. Never. You are a gift that I still can't believe said yes to marrying me. I want nothing more than to hold you close every night when we go to sleep, and kiss you when we wake up."

"I promise to be your pillar of support when it comes to pursuing your dreams; to be your voice of reason whenever you need an input; and to be your main source of comfort, protection and laughter. Thank you for making me yours, baby. I love you."

As everyone sniffled, Ella quickly wiped away her own tears. She took a moment to breathe and clear her throat before reciting her vows, "Toby, I've never met anyone quite like you. You emanate a gentle warmth that feels welcoming, yet that warmth carries a protective presence that looks daunting but feels assuring. Your sense of humor always brightens up my day. The way you speak and your choice of words never fails to improve my mood or lighten any heavy atmosphere. I love that you have an impeccable balance of humor with seriousness, knowing immediately which to choose at any given time."

She took a deep breath and continued, "Thank you for rejecting me when you found out who I was and what I was up to. It was painful, but it was a much needed wake-up call. Thank you for telling me how wrong I was to take the path I took, and for showing and offering me an alternative route that makes me feel happy and fulfilled. I only hope that I'm able to match your bravery, nobility and ferocity one day, but your humor is something that I have no intention of beating."

Light chuckles followed before Ella finished up, "I promise to be in your embrace whenever you need a hug; to hear you out whenever you have something to say; and to support you in your endeavors, however difficult they may be. Thank you for making me yours, Toby. I love you, too."

Upon the marriage officiant's request, two hybrid children came with the wedding rings. Right after Toby and Gerella slid the rings into each other's fingers, Toby pulled her into a deep kiss even while the officiant was still making his final pronouncement. The congregation erupted into a wild applause as they celebrated the newly-wedded couple.

###

During the banquet, Pellethia sat in between Lucianne and Annie, sharing details about the ceremony to return the lycan's royal title that was to be held the following week, repeating at least three times that 'it has to be perfect.

Octavia, who was next to Xandar, muttered, "Do you have any idea how many times Pelly says those words in a day ever since she brought up wanting to return the title, Xandar?"

Xandar let out a short chuckle before he made a wild guess, "More than twenty times, I'd say."

Rafael was next to Octavia, and he snorted at the king's response before he said, "More than a hundred times would have been a better guess, Your soon-to-be Majesty." Octavia added, "Neither Rafael nor I recall Pelly being this paranoid when she and I were going through the details for our wedding. Our WEDDING."

Xandar felt a little bad, and uttered, "Lucy and I really don't mind something small and simple, and it really doesn't have to be perf-"

He was cut off by Octavia and Rafael shushing him, both nervously glancing at Pelly and was relieved to see that she was too busy talking to notice what they were up to. Octavia then whispered to Xandar, "Don't tell her that. It upsets her. She loves doing this, and takes pride in the planning. If the empress wants grandeur and perfection, she will get exactly that, or the ceremony would be postponed. She wanted a type of flower that wasn't in season on the date that we initially chose for our nuptials, and we ended up changing the date, not the flower." Rafael clarified, "We're not telling you this to make you feel bad, Your Hig-Majesty. We're sharing this to let you know how seriously we're taking this in the empire, and the uh...detail-crazy empress that our Lord has blessed us with is making sure that everything goes right." Xandar smiled as he replied, "Thank you. No one from our generation would have thought that this would happen this soon...or even happen at all."

Octavia waved her hand and declared, "Don't thank us. After everything you, Lucy and your people have done for us, the title is the least that we can offer as a sign of gratitude. The business discussions that our people are having with yours are going very well, we're told." She patted Xandar on his shoulder and proceeded to say, "Yours and Lucy's reign has taken the kingdom to new heights thus far, and will no doubt be breaking lots of glass ceilings in the years to come, both in terms of the inner workings of the kingdom and diplomatic relationships with the other species. Many congratulations to you both, Xandar."

Xandar's smile broadened by the second, and he stole a glance of Lucianne, who was holding Enora as she listened to Pellethia before he turned back to Octavia when he said, "I don't know what to say, other than I'm lucky to be bonded to her."

"Give yourself more credit, Xandar. Your reign was already taking the unconventional and noble route before Lucy showed up. Your Goddess wouldn't have bonded her to you had you been like past Lycan Kings. Even if she did...I doubt such a bond would have lasted. Seeing that the two of you are thriving, I'd say you've earned your right to be with her as much as she's earned her place with you. As individuals, you both may have been working on similar goals without ever realizing that you were working towards being with one another. As king, you're determined and sure in what you want from your people and yourself, and you implement changes regardless of what tradition dictates. Lucy is a gift that ensures you're going the right way, no doubt also using her own intelligence, skills and character to help speed up that process and make the reign that much more revolutionary. Like Pelly and I, you and Lucy are lucky to have each other."

Xandar was touched beyond words, and stole another glance of his wife before he turned back to the consort and said, "Thank you, Octavia."