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Chapter 38 - Vows and promises

Elena

It felt like a dream.

A fairytale no one dared write.

The sky above us was pearl white, the snow around us untouched, glimmering under delicate strands of twinkling fairy lights strung between old pine trees. We were deep in the Icelandic woods, tucked away in a secret clearing that Zayden's team had transformed into a private winter wonderland overnight.

It was just us.

And yet… it was everything.

A path of lanterns led to a small wooden archway dressed in snow-dusted roses, evergreen vines, and little blue forget-me-nots — the same flowers he remembered I loved. A gentle melody played in the distance, a violinist standing beside a crackling bonfire, bow gliding across strings with tender grace.

The moment I stepped onto the path, arm linked with Ezra — who Zayden asked to give me away — I saw Zayden at the altar.

He looked like he couldn't breathe.

Black tailored coat, deep navy scarf, snowflakes clinging to his lashes, and that look in his eyes — one I'd never forget.

Like I was his forever.

Zayden

She looked like fire and ice and everything between.

Elena wore a soft ivory velvet dress that hugged her gently, with sleeves that shimmered under the sky and a silver snowflake pin in her hair. No veil. Just her — ethereal, radiant, and mine.

My chest ached. Not from fear. From love.

When she reached me, I took both her hands, kissed her knuckles one by one, and whispered, "You're breathtaking."

She blinked away tears. "You're not so bad yourself, Mr. Wolfe."

The officiant began, but I barely heard a word. All I saw was her.

And when it was my turn, I didn't read the vows I'd written. I spoke from the heart.

> "You were the calm in my storm. The one person I could never lie to, never stop loving, no matter how hard I tried.

Elena, I don't know how much time we have… but I know this — every breath I take from now on is for you.

And if I could, I'd choose you in every lifetime."

She was crying by the time she spoke.

> "You're the unexpected miracle I never asked for," she said through a trembling smile. "But now, I can't imagine a world without you.

I don't want perfect, Zayden. I want us. Whatever that looks like. Wherever it takes us."

The rings were simple: silver bands, engraved with the words "Forever, even if borrowed."

When the officiant said, "You may kiss your bride," I didn't hesitate.

I kissed her like I was anchoring her soul to mine. Like the world would fall away without her lips on mine. She tasted like joy and snowflakes and home.

Cheers echoed from the team and friends we had flown in secretly. Ezra tossed confetti into the air, Chloe wiped her tears with her gloves, and somewhere in the back, even Noah clapped, a bittersweet smile on his face.

We were officially Mr. and Mrs. Wolfe.

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Later That Night

We returned to the cabin, newly married and warm from champagne and laughter.

He carried me inside again — like he promised he always would — and whispered against my ear, "You're stuck with me now."

And that night, we made love not with urgency, but with forever in our hearts.

He undressed me slowly, reverently. His touch worshipped, adored, memorized.

And when we lay breathless in each other's arms, he cupped my face and whispered:

> "I don't care about the time we have. I just care that I get to call you mine."

And for the first time in a long time, I believed everything would be okay —

even if it wasn't.

Because I had love.

And for me, that was everything.

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