The Werewolf Meets His Match (Nocturne Falls Book 2) (26 page)

Now she’d have two lights. Charlie and Hank.

She couldn’t stop smiling as Birdie led her to a little room inside the courthouse. “You wait here. I’ll go make sure Hank is ready.”

As Birdie sailed out, Ivy faced the window and took a deep breath. This was really happening. The door behind her opened and closed.

“Is he ready?” She turned to see what Birdie had found out.

She sucked in a breath. Hank and Charlie stood in front of her. “Hank! You’re not supposed to see me before the wedding.”

“I couldn’t resist.” He shook his head, his eyes gleaming gold as he took her in. “You look…like I am a very lucky man.” He swallowed. “You’re
beautiful
.”

He chucked Charlie on the shoulder. “Doesn’t your mom look pretty?”

Charlie nodded. He’d been staring at her the whole time. “You look like a princess.”

She laughed. “I’ll take that.”

Hank cleared his throat. “We did come in here for a reason. Charlie and I have a surprise for you.”

“You do?”

Hank nodded and reached back to lock the door before his proud attention was aimed at Charlie. “Show her, kiddo.”

He stuck his hands in his pockets, making his tux pants pleat across the front. “What if I can’t do it again?” His voice came out in a loud, strained whisper.

Hank tapped his bow tie, a gesture Ivy didn’t understand, but Charlie nodded.

He looked up at her. “Watch, Mom. Watch what Hank taught me.”

She nodded. “I’m watching.” She had no idea what he was about to do.

He backed up to the farthest corner of the room, then adopted a very exaggerated runner’s pose before taking off toward the other corner. A few steps in, and he jumped into the air.

And landed as a wolf.

Ivy’s heart pounded. She flattened her hand to her chest and shook her head. Charlie made a handsome silver and black wolf. She couldn’t stop staring at him even as she spoke to Hank. “How is this possible?”

Charlie wagged his tail and smiled at her, his tongue hanging out.

Hank stuck his hands in his pockets. “After everything with your father, then talking to Charlie and spending time with him, I started to think his inability to shift had been brought on by other reasons. We…figured it out.”

“I can’t believe it.” She went to her knees and wrapped her arms around the little wolf. “Oh, Charlie, I’m so proud of you, baby.”

His tail wagged harder.

She buried her face in his fur for a moment, then kissed his muzzle. She was crying, probably ruining her makeup, and didn’t care. There were no words for what Hank had done for her son.

“Hey,” Hank said softly as he knelt beside her. “Don’t cry.”

“I can’t help it. This is just so amazing.” She sniffed, laughing even as another tear trickled down her cheek. “I’ve never been much of a crier—living with Clemens has a way of beating that out of you—but being around you and your family has kind of changed all that. I’m so overwhelmed by everything you’ve done for us…” She hugged Charlie closer, oblivious to the formerly pristine state of her wedding dress. “I have no words.”

“Well, I do.” Hank kissed her temple, then ruffled the fur on Charlie’s back before he stood again. “That’s enough, kiddo. You’d better shift back before your mother ruins her pretty dress.”

With a little woof, Charlie wriggled free from Ivy and jumped into the air, landing on two human feet. He was red-faced and grinning. “Pretty cool, huh, Mom?”

“The coolest, Charlie. I’m so proud of you.”

His smile lit up his face. “Take my picture and send it to Grandpa. Show him I can shift.”

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”

“Please, Mom.” Charlie’s little brow furrowed.

She understood his motivation. Clemens had made Charlie’s life hell when he hadn’t been able to turn. Charlie wanted vindication. And he deserved it. She looked at Hank as she got to her feet. “What do you think?”

Hank nodded slowly. “I say if Charlie wants his biggest doubter to know what he’s capable of, so be it. In a few minutes, we’ll be married and pack law will officially make him my son. Anyone who wants to come after Charlie will have to come through me.”

“Yeah,” Charlie said. “I’m gonna be a Merrow.”

Ivy laughed and shook her head. “Okay, back to wolf form, but quickly. We have a wedding to get to.”

The door handle jiggled. Knocking followed. “Ivy, unlock the door. It’s me, Birdie. I can’t find Hank anywhere.”

Birdie sounded a little panicked. “It’s okay,” Ivy replied. “He and Charlie are in here with me. We’ll be out in a little bit.”

“What?” she screeched. “The groom isn’t supposed to see the bride. Hank, get out of there right now.”

Hank huffed out a breath. “Birdie, five minutes. Now leave us be.”

“But I—”

“Five. Minutes.” Hank’s voice was a sharp, stern growl.

With an audible
hmph
, Birdie went silent.

Hank gave Charlie a nod. “Go ahead. Shift.”

While Charlie shifted, Ivy dug through the bag of supplies Birdie had brought until she found her phone. She pulled up the camera and focused. Wolf Charlie sat proudly in front of Hank. She focused, took the picture and attached it to a quick text.

Charlie wants you to know he can shift after all. Looks like you underestimated your grandson. Your loss.

She tapped the send button, then put the phone away. “Okay, Charlie. Back to being a boy.”

She looked at Hank, so crazy in love with him she couldn’t stand it. “We’ve got a wedding to go to.”

After more scolding from Birdie, Hank and Charlie took their places next to Titus in front of the justice of the peace, who’d cleared his schedule to accommodate Hank’s request. Bridget stood in as Ivy’s maid of honor. Hank’s parents and Birdie made up the entire audience.

The door to the courtroom opened and Ivy entered, escorted by her brother Sam. Even though Hank had already seen her, she took his breath away a second time. She had a short veil covering her face and something about that wisp of white between them made the idea of marriage very real.

She was about to be his wife, and the little boy at his side, his son.

Contentment filled him, melding with the sense of purpose and clarity that this was what he was meant to do with his life. Be a husband and a father. To protect and love these two. There was peace in that sudden swell of understanding, and his chest expanded with the emotion of the moment.

Whether or not he ever became alpha was inconsequential.

Soft music began to play, and Sam walked Ivy down the short aisle to Hank.

The justice asked, “Who gives this woman to be wed?”

“I do,” Sam said. Then he kissed Ivy’s cheek, patted Hank on the shoulder and went to stand with Birdie.

“Hi again,” Ivy whispered.

Hank smiled. “Hi.”

The justice cleared his throat and began. “We have gathered today to celebrate the love that Ivy and Hank have declared for each other, and to recognize and witness their decision to blend their lives as partners in marriage and in the raising of their son, Charlie.”

“Their marriage represents more than the union of the heart and body and of the mind and spirit. It signifies their wish for peace for their families and their packs. It seals the truce between the Kincaids and the Merrows and shines a light of love and possibility on the future.”

“Knowing this, Ivy and Hank do not enter into this agreement lightly, but with the understanding of all they represent. To that end, they invite those present to witness this union and ask them to become a part of that union. What say you?”

Everyone in attendance responded with, “We will.”

The justice nodded. “Hank, do you take Ivy to be your wife and your mate, promising to protect her and cherish her?”

Hank kept his gaze on Ivy. “I do.”

“Do you also agree to accept her son as your blood and raise him with the love and care due a child of your own flesh?”

He looked down at Charlie. “I do.”

Charlie smiled a lop-sided grin even as tears shined in his eyes.

The justice turned slightly. “Ivy, do you take Hank to be your husband and your mate, promising to protect and cherish him?”

Her eyes gleamed bright with tears as well. “I do.”

“And do you accept him as the father of your child, understanding that he will raise your son with the love and care due a child of his own flesh?”

“I do.”

The justice looked at Charlie. “And Charlie, do you accept Hank as your father, understanding that his line becomes your line and that he will love and care for you just as he would any child of his own flesh?”

Charlie nodded with great seriousness. “Yes.”

“Very good.” The justice smiled at Charlie. “May I have the rings please?”

Charlie dug them out of his tux pocket and handed them over, his pride at being charged with such an important task evident.

The justice held up the rings. “Let these rings be a symbol of your love, seamless and unending, faithful and true. Let them also remind you of the moon that commands your spirits and when it calls to you, may it also call to mind the vows you have made here today.”

He handed Ivy’s ring to Hank. “Repeat after me. With this ring, I take you as my wife and mate, to love and honor all the days of my life.”

Hank repeated the words as he slipped the ring onto Ivy’s finger. She was trembling slightly.

The justice then handed Hank’s ring to Ivy. “Ivy, repeat after me. With this ring, I take you as my husband and mate, to love and honor all the days of my life.”

She spoke the words as she wiggled the ring onto Hank’s finger.

The justice smiled. “It gives me great pleasure to be the first to wish you a lifetime of happiness and love. By the power of the great state of Georgia, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

Hank lifted Ivy’s veil and embraced her, planting a big kiss on her as their family cheered. Charlie jumped up and down and clapped.

The justice held his hands up. “Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Mr. and Mrs. Merrow and their son, Charlie.”

As Birdie wept, Bridget pumped her fist in the air. “Let’s get this party started.”

Another round of applause greeted Ivy and Hank as they walked into the back room of Howler’s and the DJ announced them again as husband and wife. The number of people assembled was slightly overwhelming, but Ivy kind of figured Birdie deserved to invite whoever she wanted since she was the reason this celebration was even happening. Ivy recognized only a handful of people, but the happiness and affection that radiated off the gathered crowd was obvious.

And now that she’d met Hank’s parents and they’d met her and Charlie, she could relax and enjoy herself. They were good people, which was not that surprising, considering the amazing man Hank was. They’d even brought Charlie a gift of a toy racecar.

As the evening wore on, she lost track of how many hands she shook and how many people she was introduced to, wondering if she’d ever remember them all. A few stood out: Hugh Ellingham, Delaney’s husband, because Ivy knew even before meeting him that he was a vampire so that immediately made her curious. Nick Hardwin, a gargoyle shifter who had been in the Rangers with Hank and was almost as new to town as she was. Lastly, there was Corette’s boyfriend, Stanhill, who was also Hugh Ellingham’s butler of sorts.