The 5-time Rejected Gamma & the Lycan King
Chapter 199

Tears trickled from the comers of Lucianne’s eyes as the congregationclapped when Xandar came to the end of his wedding vows. Most ofthe women found it so heartfelt that they were already all teared-up.Even Christian pressed away the tears from his own eyes

After Xandar's thumb wiped away his mate's tears on her face, Luciannecleared her throat and began reciting her vows which went throughinfinite drafts before this day, “Xandar, when we met, I was so blindedby my past that I almost gave up the best thing that was presented tome. You've always expressed how lucky you felt to be bonded to mebut from the way I see it, I've been the lucky one.”

“You asked me for a chance, a chance to show me that you're differentbut you're not just different, dearest. The way you love is phenomenalbeyond words. I don't know how you do it but you somehow alwaysknow what to say to make me feel...more than what I always thought Iwas. Your touch calms my insecurities; your words and kisses melt awaymy fears and doubts; and your presence assures me that I'll always besafe, and I'll always be loved in ways that I once thought was neveropened to me.”

She took a breath to steady herself before she continued, “I promise tolend you my ears whenever you need someone to listen or talk to; tostay in your embrace when you need to calm any agitation or quiet anystorm; to be by your side no matter how difficulto I dangerous thingsget. I promise to always remind you how well you're already doing asour King, how revolutionary your reign is and how extraordinary yourlegacy will be. And I know with every fibre of my being that you'll makea remarkable father.”

She gave his hands a gentle squeeze as she said, “You're more thanwhat you think of yourself, Alexandar. You'll always have me a s yourmate and as your Queen. This little freesia is yours, my indecent beast.Only yours. And I love you, too, my acacia.”

Xandar's tears started streaming down his face, and he was secretlyblaming his animal for not helping him to hold it all in. Lucianne wipedaway his tears, while the entire congregation wiped away their own.Weaver could be heard blowing his nose into a handkerchief. Toby andChristian, who betted against each other on whether Lucianne orXandar would produce the more impressive vows, concurred that bothwere equally powerful, that it was a tie when they wiped away theirtears for the second time. 3

After the marriage officiant sniffled once, he cleared Kis throat andasked for the rings, which were brought by little Liam and Russell on aviolet, velvet pillow.

Xandar bent down and ruffled the boys" hair with a warm smile, andtook Lucianne's princess-cut diamond ring from the pillow, sliding itinto his mate's finger as he uttered the words that had been engravedon the band, “I love you.”

Lucianne smiled even wider, then turned to the little boys and touchedeach of their cheeks before taking the other ring from the pillow, whichwas emerald-cut, and it shared the same set of diamonds as the oneson her own. After sliding Xandar's ring into his finger, she uttered thewords engraved on his band, “I know. I love you, too.”

The marriage officiate then declared, "With the blessing from ourGoddess when she bestowed the bond between these two creatures, Inow pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

With his animal's strength, Xandar pulled his mate into a deep kiss asthe congregation erupted into a wild applause.

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After that, everyone adjoumed to the next room for the weddingbanquet. The children who were fond of Lucianne took this opportunityto hand her their gifts by hand. They were very protective andpossessive over their presents, and refused to hand them over to thestaff member in-charge of collecting gifts from guests.

One by one, the kids came to Lucianne’s side, handed her their gift andhugged her before returning to their parents. Xandar lost count afterthe eighteenth child. The braver and more curious ones gave him ahigh-five before leaving but he concluded that he still scared some ofthem.

One of the last children was an eleven-year-old named Suzy, who camewith Tate. Odd. Tate was mateless. Why was he close to this child? Suzywas visibly daunted when she refused to look at Xandar as she handedLucianne a laminated leaf. Lucianne’s grin fell for a moment as shestared at the gift. Xandar then felt a deep sentiment spreading from thedeepest parts of the being. He looked at the leaf that was in his mate'shand, and saw that there was a collage of a firefly on it. It must meansomething, but what?

Lucianne teared-up as she traced the firefly with her fingertips, and letout a soft chuckle. She thanked Suzy, and gave the little girl a gentlesqueeze, reminding her to keep scaring away the cockroaches andbeetles in White Blood like they practiced, which made Tate chuckle.

It was definitely a memory the three of them shared because Suzymanaged a wide grin. After she hugged Lucianne again and stepped tothe side, Lucianne stood and gave Tate a hug. The Alpha held her for amoment before Lucianne parted their bodies, after which he uttered aline he rehearsed before walking up to her, “We're really happy for you,Lucy. Congratulations.”

“Thanks, Tate.” Lucianne responded with a grateful smile.

He then added something that he didn't plan on saying, “And thankyou, Lucy, for...everything.”

The way he said the word “everything’ sent a shockwave of realizationthroughout Lucianne’s being. Her smile fell, replaced by genuinesurprise, She could only stare at the Alpha with widened eyes becauseshe had only ever seen him as a close friend and a brother. Registeringher revelation and increased heart rate, Xandar rose from his seat, andsecured his hands on his bride's bare shoulders in hopes of calming herwith their bond

Tate held his smile, and moved on to shake the King’s handdiplomatically, congratulating him as he did so. After Xandar muttereda meek “thank you’ and released Tate's hand, he was conflicted on howto respond to what Tate just did to Lucianne,

It was very inappropriate for Tate to make Lucianne realize that he wasin love with her when she and Xandar were already together. But Tatedidn’t look like he was trying to steal her away or make her questionher choice. He looked like someone who was genuinely conceding toan outcome, sincerely accepting that she chose someone else.

Before Tate could leave with Suzy, Lucianne called out, “Tate,” Their eyeslocked, and she continued, “I'm still here for you and for White Blood.I'll always be here.”

Tate nodded with the same smile, and uttered, “We know, Lucy. Thankyou.”

He and Suzy then returned to their seats. Lucianne heaved a sighbefore she met her mate's worried gaze. She pulled herself up, andpecked a kiss on his lips. Her black and lilac orbs penetrated into hissoul when she uttered firmly, “I love you, Xandar. I'm yours. Only yours.”1

Her beast felt her certainty, her devotion and the depth of her love,making his animal coo in tenderness. Xandar's insecurity subsided, andhe pecked a kiss on her forehead before holding her in a tight embraceas he whispered, “Thank you so much, baby. I love you, too.”

The next child got impatient, and barged forward to tug at Lucianne’sdress to get her attention, so Lucianne made Xandar release her beforebending down to greet the little girl with a smile

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Before the newly-weds left for their two-month honeymoon, theyhanded the reins of the Kingdom to Christian and Annie once again,along with a surprise gift.

Dr Yeil's colleague in the lab developed an antidote for Annie'sinfertility issue, and when Lucianne and Xandar handed her andChristian the doctor's appointment sheet, Christian swore he heardthem wrong. “I'm sorry, my Queen. I think I'm still deaf from theapplause at the wedding. What did you say this was for?”

Xandar chuckled, and Lucianne said, “They studied my blood, andfound a way to reverse what happened to Annie. This antidote turns theswitch of pregnancy hormonal production back on, so you both canchoose to have children if you want to. The doctor says that more thanone dosage may be required, and recommends frequent check-ups tomonitor the foetus as it develops but he i s confident that this can allowyou both to have a healthy child, if you decide that you still want achild, that is.”

Christian was still stunned but Annie was already crying when shewrapped her arms around Lucianne and thanked her repeatedly,forgetting that she should be gentle on the baby bump. Christian onlycame out of his shock when his cousin offered him a brotherly hug. TheDuke squeezed his best friend in return before tears started forming inhis own eyes.

“It'll work, Christian.” Xandar assured.

Christian chuckled, wiped away his tears before he said, “I just didn'texpect to be able to...expect anymore.”

Christian then embraced Lucianne for the first time as he whispered,“Thank you, Lucy.” After seeing them off at the train station, the Dukeand Duchess left the platform together with a renewed sense of hope. 3By the window in the private lounge of the train, Lucianne sat onXandar's lap and leaned into his chest to listen to his heartbeat as herbeast closed his eyes to take in her scent from her hair, his handstroking her baby bump, and his arm circled around her waist, holdingher close

After some quiet moments, he pecked a kiss on her temple, anduttered, “I love you, Lucy.” She looked up at him with twinkling eyesand responded, “I know, Xandar. I love you, too.”