Pregnant With Alpha’s Genius Twins
Chapter 293

The sun has just barely set as I stand at the entrance to my new garden at the big house, separated from the crowd of family and friends by a large hedge that I had placed here precisely for this purpose.

I take a deep breath, smoothing my hands down the sides of my wedding gown, looking down at myself and laughing to think that my body is a very, very different shape than I ever thought I'd have when walking down the aisle to marry the love of my life. The yards and yards of flowing chiffon that make up the skirt of my wedding dress do nothing to hide the fact that I'm very pregnant - I didn't want them to - but they do drape beautifully to pool at my feet. Honestly, I've never felt more beautiful than I do in this moment, and tears fill my eyes again as I look down at myself, my hands pressed on either side of my stomach, so grateful that my girls can be with me in this moment as well.

"Are you ready, madam?" Burton whispers next to me as the music swells. I look up at him, surprised.

"Is it really time?" I ask, a little breathless.

"It is," he replies, nodding gently. I take a deep breath and steel myself, nodding quickly to him, and then reaching down to take Alvin's hand at my side.

"Ready, kiddo?" I ask.

"Yes, mama," he whispers, grinning excitedly up at me.

"And you?" I ask lan, on my other side, taking his hand as well.

"Yup," he replies with a smile and a steady nod.

I have to tilt my head back and take another deep breath as I squeeze both of their hands. I don't want the tears in my eyes to fall down my cheeks. Burton adjusts my veil and then hurries to the entrance, nodding to me as the music changes, letting me know that the moment has come.

"Okay, boys," I say, looking between them with a big smile. "Walk me down the aisle."

And they do.

I don't carry any flowers as my boys walk with me down the long path towards Victor - I wanted my hands free so that I could hold each of theirs. And I don't even notice that the flowers are gone - honestly, I'm not sure I notice anything at all once we turn the corner around the hedge. All I can see is Victor standing there at the head of the garden, looking at me with a serious expression and wide eyes.

As we walk my smile grows as I take him in, my eyes flicking over his tall form, his broad shoulders in his chic tuxedo, his handsome face. And the first thing I think is that I'm so, so lucky that I get to love this wonderful man for the rest of my life. And the second thing is that...I'm glad that he's really hot.

I laugh a little as I think it and I see Victor's face light a little when he sees me laughing. But then he has to duck his head, shaking it, I think a little overwhelmed at the sight of me as I walk towards him with our children on either side. As he lifts his head again he raises his hand with it, wiping swiftly beneath his eyes with his thumb to clear the two little tears that started there.

I send Victor a quick pulse of love and excitement down our bond as the boys and I draw closer to him. But what he sends me in return -

Dedication, hope, and a certain...I don't know the words for it. Breathlessness? At the sight of me in my wedding gown, walking towards him?

And I feel tears spring to my eyes again - god, I'm going to get dehydrated, with all of this crying - despite my gigantic smile and the laughter still on my lips.

Annabeth, standing behind Victor at the altar, steps forward, smiling warmly at my little family.

"And who," she asks seriously, looking between lan and Alvin, her voice ringing out over the small crowd. "Gives this woman to be wed?"

"We do!" Alvin and lan say together, both dropping my hands at the same moment - as rehearsed - and stepping forward. I press my hands together against my chest, watching them, feeling so...so completely blessed.

To have my boys give me away at my wedding, to their father? It's just...

I look up at Victor, meeting his eyes and shaking my head, completely undone by it. He nods to me, letting me know he feels precisely the same. His eyes, like mine, glimmer with tears.

"Under the conditions!" lan says, raising his finger to point seriously at his dad. I snap my head to him, realizing that this is an unrehearsed addition to the wedding plan. "That were previously discussed on the day of the engagement!" Alvin gasps a little and hesitates for a second, but then he nods stubbornly in agreement, supporting his brother in all things.

Victor groans and rolls his eyes, nodding deeply and putting up his hands, conceding the point and assuring the boys - without words - that the terms still apply. A little roll of laughter rolls through the audience, who all know our boys, and I join them in it. Then I bend down, giving each of my twins a kiss, thanking them for their help.

The boys return the kiss and then lan hops up the three short stairs to stand at his dad's side, taking on his next role as Best Man. Alvin puts out a hand and helps me up the steps as well, coming to stand next to me as my Man of Honor after he delicately passes my hand over to Victor's.

Annabeth, beaming at us, returns to her place at the head of the garden, facing out into the audience. Then, she begins the ceremony, repeating the words which have for centuries united men and women, Alphas and Lunas, in their love for one another. But honestly, I'm a little ashamed to admit that I don't hear most of them. Instead I spend the entire time beaming at my mate, holding his hands tightly, relishing every moment of being close to him.

You ready? I ask him in my mind. Because after this - there's no going back!

Evie, he answers seriously, the corner of his mouth raising as he looks down into my eyes, not breaking my gaze for a moment. I threw out the map and burned the brides a long time ago. There's no part of me that ever wants to go back. If this is lost, then I'm lost in you.

I bite my lip and shake my head at him, hoping he knows precisely how much I love him.

I know, he says, taking a little step towards me. Darling, I know.

And I nod to him, knowing - truly - that he does.

"Do you, Alpha Victor Kensington," Annabeth says, her words bringing both of us back to the present moment. "Take this woman to be your wife and your Luna? To love her, to hold her, to cherish her until your death and beyond?"

"I do," Victor says quickly, his voice deep and resonant. A little cheer goes up from the crowd at his answer, making me laugh.

"And do you, Evelyn Ortega," Annabeth continues, mirth in her voice, "take this man to be your husband and your Alpha? To love him, to hold him, to cherish him until your death and beyond?"

"Oh, I do," I say, unable to help myself as I take two steps forward and close the distance between me and Victor, making him laugh and take me in his arms. "I do, I do, completely, yes, I do," and then I raise my face to his, and he lowers his to mine, and he kisses

me.

The crowd applauds, laughing and whistling, and I can hear Annabeth chuckling and closing her book, realizing that her final line about kissing your bride is not necessary.

Because this kiss is a seal to our promises to each other, and it's true, and deep, and real.

Just like my love for him. And his for me.

The only thing that breaks our kiss is a collective gasp from the crowd that makes Victor and I pull apart, looking around, curious -

But the answer to why they gasped is so obvious that we both instantly laugh.

Because, floating in the air around us - all around us, everywhere - are a thousand little motes of magic, lighting the garden in the darkening twilight. Our guests marvel at the sight, all turning to look at it, though my family and I just smile.

"One final gift," Victor murmurs, nudging my nose with his, his gaze heavy on mine, "from the universe, to the astral mates."

"Nah," I say, laughing and shaking my head. "I think it's the old woman of the forest. She was always rooting for us."

"Come on!" lan shouts, jumping forward and tugging on his dad's sleeve. "Let's party!"

We both straighten up, smiling like crazy, Victor's arm still at my waist holding me tight to his side.

"Yeah!" Alvin says, putting both hands into the air. "Let's have some cake!"

"Well, Luna Kensington?" Victor murmurs to me as our friends cheer again. "You ready for this?"

"For cake?" I say, raising my eyebrows at him. "Oh, anytime."