Future Promises Part 1
Future Promises Part 1:1803words
Update Time:2024-11-01 09:41:47
[Rock]As the sun set, I felt ready for a new chapter that combined past memories with future promises. Unexpected love and unshakable faith paved the way for this moment. Turning away from the view, I looked over the gathered crowd.They were here to witness my marriage to Carmen. Seeing all the people who had entered my life since I found my mate alongside the people who I’d known forever made me realize how blessed we were.Beth was sitting in the family row with one baby in her lap. Lily and Darla each held another one. Trent and Ben were each holding their newest babies so their wives could hold one of Mike and Beth’s. There were kids all over the place. Carmen wanted them there. Though, all the trolls scared some of the smaller ones who could see through our glamour.Gemma sat next to Carmen’s mom. She was supposed to be Carmen’s maid of honor, but she declined the position because it would be too painful for her. Losing Austin was still hurting her. My mom had taken a long time to get over her mate. It was different for her, though.They had both lost a mate in a battle where he shouldn’t have been. Mom had been with her mate longer, though, and had a family with him. Gemma hadn’t gotten that chance.Carmen was trying to support her friend as much as she could, but I knew she still blamed herself. One day, she’d see it wasn’t her fault. Unfortunately, there was nothing anyone could say to change her thinking right now.As soon as the sun set, small, dim lights started glowing where they hung. It was just bright enough to let the humans see, but not bother those of us who were more comfortable in the dark.Friends in the construction business sat in front of troll friends whose glamours were still too tall for others to see over. Pyla, Tana, Ashley, and Kaya were with Carmen. Ashley and Carmen had talked to Gemma about Ashley sitting out, too, and being with her, but Gemma wouldn’t allow it.It was going to make my little mate seem even smaller. Jet was excited because he was getting to walk a werewolf down the aisle. We reassured Roald that Ashley would be safe in the troll procession, despite his concerns.Within twenty minutes of the sun setting, the vampire guests arrived. Victor and Echo were on call for some business in Queen Bellamy’s home territory, but that was all they told us. I was fine with never having to be involved with another issue that involved the leaders of the supernatural community.Victor, Echo, and Gray sat on Carmen’s side of the aisle. Dennis and Sybil sat on mine. She waved at me excitedly. Rhett was sitting on Carmen’s side toward the front. The people who knew who he was pointed a little. Rosario and Sean are on Carmen’s side as well.I thought I would have a lot more people than Carmen did, but her whole family, except for her father, were there, even her aunt and cousin. I informed them that any problems they caused would piss off all the trolls on my side of the aisle and I wouldn’t stop them from defending my bride. Neither of them wanted that.The music change drew everyone’s attention to the end of the aisle. Elbio came out with Kaya. He was about a foot and a half shorter than he used to be, but he and Kaya coordinated their glamour so he would look taller. He hated being nearly my height.Tana and Mica were next. They thought this was silly, having chosen not to marry by human law themselves. That didn’t make them any less willing to take part in our wedding. I could hear the humans whispering about how tall all our friends were.Forrest and Pyla were next. She had issues with her glamour, so we’d gotten help from the healers to create a charm that boosted her natural magic. The glamour wasn’t perfect, but she looked human, and no one could tell she had a tail. Forrest looked at her with a great deal of love and kissed her hand before they parted at the end of their walk.Ashley and Jett were last. The original plan had Gemma and Austin last. They were the maid of honor and best man. Having Ashley and Jett in their places was a little sad. I glanced over at Gemma. Corrine was holding her hand, and she looked tearful. Gemma knew this was her part in the wedding.I felt the emptiness of Austin’s absence. We weren’t friends for long, but he was someone we cared for and loved. It was like losing a dear friend. I missed him all the more because of his sacrifice. He took the hit meant for my mate.Dolly came down the aisle. She had taken to her glamour lessons so fast I almost doubted she didn’t know how to do it before. Her glamour was simple. She made her ears look human and her teeth look like an omnivore’s teeth, then removed some of her more goblinesque features. A little less shape to her nose and removing the very slight green tint in her skin that started once she was healthy again.She was wearing a gown that made her look like a little princess. Even though she was part goblin, I had grown to think of her as more like a goddaughter. Carmen and I spoiled her a lot once Rhett started letting us come around more. The ring bearer was the child of one of Carmen’s other cousins. He was the most fearless of all the little ones.He was almost the same height as Dolly, with her shorter stature and his werewolf physique. Some guests smiled and murmured about how cute the kids were. I was growing more excited as they progressed down the aisle.Carmen insisted that her dress be a surprise for me. I wanted to see her in it because I knew she would glow with happiness. Carmen was always beautiful, but when she was happy, she was beyond beautiful.I watched the doors of the little building where the dressing rooms were. Dennis had offered us one of his clubs, but we wanted an outdoor wedding because we loved nature so much. I ended up trading favors until someone gave me this reservation.They didn’t have a lot of weddings here. They reserved the venue for the entire weekend for a reunion that was later canceled, and the deposits were non-refundable, but transferable. I traded a more flexible club reservation for the place we were.It was outside of town and had cabins and places people could park RVs or set up tents. Carmen was thrilled when I told her about it and my mom was a little mad because she had already planned for a club. Moving it wasn’t as much of a hassle as she made it out to be.The doors opened and Mike came out with Carmen on his arm. It was as if he’d never been near death. It had been a month and a half, and he was just like he’d been before. Werewolf healing was pretty amazing.She was perfect in every way. They piled her hair on her head with big curls, flowers, and gems all over. Carmen’s makeup was light, but still noticeable. The dress she was wearing was strapless, showing off her mark clearly along with her delicate shoulders.There was a vibrant pink sash around her waist and her dress was short in the front, showing off her legs, but was long in the back. Her shoes were high-heeled sandals that matched the sash around her waist. Though the skirt was short in the front, it was also voluminous with layers of feathery material.All of the flowers used to decorate were represented in Carmen’s bouquet. There was lavender, jasmine, and something else that complimented the scents. I couldn’t focus on the flowers when my mate was walking down the aisle. Her pale blue eyes seemed to focus on me as she got closer.When they reached me, Mike handed Carmen off to me. I took her hands in mine and stared into her eyes as if I was seeing them for the first time. This was entirely different from any time I’d seen her before.“Take care of my sister forever, Rock. I’m trusting you,” Mike said quietly as he watched his sister move closer to me.“I will. Don’t worry.”He nodded and then went to sit with his mate. He took the baby Lily was holding. They’d all plumped up and I could barely tell them apart anymore. Dolly sat next to Rhett with a big grin on her face. He had his arm around her protectively but was watching us.Queen Ivy and Prince Ewan stepped forward. My human guests knew we were having a strange wedding. I told them it might differ from what they were used to. None of them knew exactly how, though. This was my coming out. I wouldn’t lie to them about what I was anymore.Ivy raised her hand, silenced the guests, and spoke. “We gather here in the eyes of the moon goddess to unite two beings that represent the merging of different worlds. It is a rare sight to witness a werewolf and a fae come together in love. But today, we celebrate this love between Carmen and Rock, as they take their vows in front of us.”As she announced I was a fae, I released my glamour. There were a few startled gasps from the humans on my side, but when they saw other people weren’t surprised or shocked, they settled themselves. None of the other fae revealed themselves. It was just me.Carmen reached up and caressed my face. She smiled at me and I felt myself melt a little, remembering the first time I felt her tiny hands on my face. I loved everything about her.Pulling her hand from my face, I gripped it in my hand. Her skin was soft and silky. I never thought a human ceremony could affect me so much.“In the short time I have known Rock and Carmen I have seen two people who honor their cultures as much as they honor their goddess. Their union can only grow a stronger bond between our people. They are balancing the wild nature of the wolf and the earthy stability of the troll together. We ask the goddess to continue guiding these two onward, brightening the path of their future and blessing their union with love and understanding,” Ivy continued.I looked into Carmen’s eyes and knew I was the luckiest person in the world to have her as my mate, my wife. She smiled at me, and I felt my heart swell with love for her.