"Zach no, I can't!"

My voice came out harsher than I meant it to with my nerves and stress bubbling up inside me. I'd think after all of the ceremony's and announcements to the pack I've attended that I'd be ready for this. But, I wasn't at all, Landon not being able to sleep with me last night was adding to it. I just needed his comforting touch and not having it was killing me.

"Woah, just relax okay?" he coaxed, glancing to the door way at Jacob who had a wary glint in his eye as he stood beside Genevieve.

"Layla, honey maybe you should drink it to calm yourself down." Audrey's sweet voice inputted as she rocked Jarek in her arms.

I looked at the alcoholic beverage Zach had in his hands with a permanent frown on my face. I was never one to drink and I hated the way it tasted. But, right now it was my safest bet. My hands grabbed the glass from his hands and I quickly swallowed the liquid.

"Landon is going to kill you." Jacob stated, before taking his own shot, "Don't worry Cars I'll be drunk with you."

"She won't be drunk it'll just be enough to settle her." Audrey quipped, placing Jarek down into his carrier and Zach nodded in agreement, taking his own shot.

"I'm sorry Zach." I mumbled, he just nodded in understanding as Olivia went to stand beside him.

"Come on Layla, I need to talk to you before I go." Jacob moved forward to guide me over to the bed in the room.

Once I sat down comfortably, Zach waved at me from the doorway after finishing his goodbye with Olivia. He wore a soft smile on his face and I returned it to him, giving him a small wave as well.

"Layla I know that we haven't even began to make up for our lost time and we have so many memories to make up for but, I just want you to know that I'm grateful I found you." he smiled and my eyes began to well up.

Mia grumbled.

"I love you and I'm going to be here for you whenever you need me, like now." I furrowed my eyebrows when he grabbed my hands with a soft smile on his face, "I would love it, if you know I could be the one to walk you down the aisle?" he questioned softly, with a slight vulnerability to his tone.

As if I couldn't cry any further, "Yes of course you can." I replied, moving closer to pull him into a hug which he returned.

"Okay I think you definitely need a makeup check after that." Genevieve walked over to us and I pulled away with laughter escaping my lips.

With everything going on lately I didn't even have time to think about who would walk me down the aisle. If I did have time though I know Jacob would be the first to come to my mind. He was my brother and I trusted him with everything in me. He was one of the first people I felt connected to so fast. And I would be honored if such an amazing person walked me down the aisle.

After Jacob gave me a warm smile he left to join Landon and Zach in the other room. While Audrey and Genevieve fixed up any smudged makeup. Dawn was also here but, she was taking a much needed nap right now as were my pups. Then the most waited upon moment of the day happened, changing into my wedding dress. Yesterday I had went shopping with Audrey and Genevieve both for the perfect dress.

If Audrey wasn't there though I'm almost certain I wouldn't have got it.

() | pictures of everything at the end of chpt. |

It was beautiful and I felt special in it. Except the mere sight of me in it was surreal. It was as if I blinked for a second, I'd wake up from a very good dream. In a way though it kind of was a dream to me because, years ago I wouldn't have even thought I'd be here. Marrying my loving mate surrounded by my family and my pack, I finally mattered.

Just like I've always wanted.

"You look beautiful honey." Audrey said softly, in the silent room placing her hand over her heart in awe.

I smiled, "She's not wrong at all you look incredible Layla." Genevieve added.

"You do!" Olivia nodded her head with a gentle smile on her face.

Mia was happily running around in my head at the sight of our dress.

"Very pretty." A small voice which belonged to Dawn spoke as she sleepily laid in the bed, I smiled at her shy nature when she first wakes up.

"Wait you're missing one thing though." Audrey stated, as she met my eyes in the mirror and I turned around to face her.

"What?" I asked in confusion.

She went over to one of the chairs in the room and lifted up a box I seen her come in here with. I assumed it was a wedding present for later so I didn't ask what it was. She carried it over to me and placed it into my awaiting hands. Her smile was warm as she motioned for me to open the midnight blue box. I lifted the lid off of it and spotted the prettiest veil.

It looked like a crown that was made out of gold wire which also held golden flowers as well as diamond vines. And the lace was a pretty white color with light sparkles.

I shifted my gaze from the veil to Audrey, "This was the veil I wore when I married William." her eyes had welled up when she looked at it, "I'd like for you to have it and wear it." I felt my mouth drop open in shock.

"A-are you sure?" I questioned, staring down at the possession.

"Of course I'm sure, this was used in one of the happiest moments in my life and I want it to be used again in yours because, you deserve it." she grinned happily as Genevieve and Olivia stared in awe at the moment.

I nodded, trying not to let my tears fall from her kind words. My hand reached inside to gently take it out and Audrey took the box from my hands, placing it aside. I held the crown in my hands glancing up to meet Audrey's soft gaze.

"Will you put it on for me?" I asked, tears rushing to the surface for a completely different reason now.

My mother.

She wouldn't be here for my wedding, she was never here in the first place for me ever since I was younger. She left me, she knew where I was and she never came back to me. Now she's missing out on everything but, for the first time in many years. I could say peacefully that I didn't care because, I had weirdly found a mom in Audrey. She's comforted me in ways that I could only dream of my mother doing again.

I watched Audrey in the mirror as she gently placed the crown like veil on top of my head. Straightening out my hair so it looked nice before fixing the long fabric against me. I sniffled and nodded my head, looking up to the ceiling to hold in my tears.

I laughed to myself at Mia's statement.

"Thank you." I choked out, Audrey smiled rubbing my back gently with her hand.

"Okay we should probably get going it's almost time for us to walk out." she lightly patted my back as I turned to hug her, her relaxing coconut scent filling my senses.

When she pulled away, I smiled, "You look beautiful by the way." I stated, eyeing her midnight blue bridesmaid dress, "You all do." I looked up at Genevieve's soft brown eyes to Olivia and then to Dawn who was holding Ruri's hand.

Audrey smiled and slowly slipped from my grasp to go towards Dawn, "Come on let's go throw some flowers kiddo." Dawn jumped excitedly as Audrey grabbed a hold of Jarek's carrier and Genevieve grabbed Ruri's.

After they left I became more nervous than ever. This was really happening and I couldn't believe it. I wanted to mind link Landon so bad just to hear his voice. But, we were going by tradition and a part of it was; you couldn't mind link your mate the day of the wedding.

Mia yelled in pure frustration.

I smiled at the way she was always so sarcastic, it made me reflect on her a bit. How she had always been there for me and I couldn't be able to thank her enough. I don't think that I would be here today if it wasn't for her. She would constantly tell me that one day I'd be alive and be happy that I was so.

She was right.

"It's okay, you'll be okay." Jacob repeated and I nodded my head, shaking out my nerves in my hands.

I watched Zach and Olivia pair up, walking out onto the aisle first, soft music could be heard playing already. Then Genevieve walked out after with Jarek's carrier. He was wearing a onesie tux that looked adorable on him. I grew more nervous when I seen Audrey getting ready to walk out with Ruri's carrier. She had on a little dress that matched the bridesmaids.

After Audrey sent me a soft smile she left and I turned to Jacob who also smiled reassuringly. He offered out his arm and I looped mine through his. Dawn skipped over to me holding out my bouquet of red flowers up to me. I gladly took them and Jacob motioned for her to grab her basket of rose petals and walk ahead of us.

() |play song now.|

As soon as we stepped out of the pack house, a light breeze hit my skin cooling me down. I felt my heart beating faster as the music played a beautiful song upon my entrance. I wasn't yet in Landon's view but, there was still pack members standing all around, watching as I followed the black carpet. While Dawn happily threw flowers down with a skip to her step. A lot of the pack members wore smiles and watched in awe.

Ahead of me was the forest where the wedding would take place. Hand made pretty vines hung down from the trees creating an entrance. Eva was on one side and her mom on the other as they held open the vines for Jacob and I to pass through. I smiled at them both.

When we did make it through, that's when I was finally in Landon's view.

His hazel eyes bore into mine as they scanned over my body, his lips slightly parting and I suddenly wanted to hide from him. It wasn't like he hadn't seen all of me before but, it was different this time. He stared at me as if it was his very first time seeing me. Like I was a beautiful art piece that an artist only just finished. Now I suddenly understood what the tradition was for.

It was to make this moment all the more intense.

He caught my eyes with a soft smile on his face, his orbs still wondering all over my features with enthrall. That's when more nerves kicked in and my hands tightened the hold on the bouquet.

I was finally marrying someone who loved me, not just anyone my soulmate. He picked me up when I was sure I'd be down forever. He loved me when I couldn't even love myself. He was patient with me, kind, caring and he was mine.

Upon that last thought Jacob unraveled his arm from mine and took my hand, "No one deserves this as much as you do." he murmured before gently handing my hand into Landon's awaiting one.

Then he went to stand with the groomsmen as Genevieve took my bouquet from me. The sparks I felt against my skin was thrilling. My eyes met Landon's again and he had stared at me in awe. His other hand reaching for my other one.

When we were both face to face he whispered, "I-I have never seen a more perfect being in my life." I smiled, willing myself not to cry.

Once the minister started to talk I drowned his words out to focus on Landon's features. His brown hair that was messily tousled into a nice style. His orbs that were drenched in lovingness. The rose that had laid nicely in the pocket of his black tuxedo. I drifted my gaze to our hands that were so different in size.

I tuned into the ministers words, "You may now share your vows to one another starting with the groom." he explained as Landon nodded his head seeming too entranced with just looking at me.

"I don't even know where to start because, there's so many amazing things I can say, I wanna say them all." he smiled, running his thumb against my fingers, "But, I'm sure we'd be here forever."

He paused for a second before going on, "There isn't enough words in any language to define how much I love you, you're my person." he shrugged with a smile on his face, "I love the way your beautiful green eyes light up when your happy, I love the way you smile before you laugh, and I love the way you squeeze my shirt in your hand when you want to feel safe." I bit my lip at the little details he named off.

"You have the biggest heart I have ever had the privilege of witnessing and it makes me want to be better everyday to be worthy of it." I felt my eyes welling up and he squeezed my hands in his, "So I promise you that I will never stop trying to be better for you and I will always make sure you're safe because, you are just ethereal, my love."

As he came to a finish, my heart throbbed at his words, I just wanted to kiss him already, "I don't know how I can beat that." I laughed lightly, feeling a stray tear slide down my cheek.

The pack laughed as well and Landon grinned, his own eyes glossed over, "Landon.." I started off softly, "I had never knew what it was like to be loved by someone or cared for before my eighteenth birthday, when I found out you were my mate." I smiled as more tears fell down my face, "You have shown me more love than a hundred people's worth of love and I can not thank you enough." he smiled brightly at my words.

"I love the way you make me laugh, I love the way your face tells me your every emotion and I love the way you ramble when you get nervous with me sometimes." he bit his lip, playfully rolling his eyes at me, "You're my comfort, my safety blanket and my biggest fan." I grinned as I said those words, he tightened his hold on my hands as his eyes filled with emotion.

"So I promise to be yours, I promise to be here for you as you were for me everyday because, I love you so much, more than I ever thought was possible." I finished with a sigh of relief that just in a few seconds I'd be kissing him.

He was grinning showcasing his beautiful pearly whites, his orbs fighting the urge to cry, "The rings please." The minister spoke kindly as Jacob stepped forward to hand them to him and he told us what to do.

"With this ring, I thee wed and I give to you as the token of my love." he spoke sliding the ring onto my finger gently.

My hands were shaking a little at the surreal moment, "With this ring, I thee wed and I give to you as the token of my love." I repeated his words softly as I pushed the ring onto his finger before shifting my gaze into his eyes.

"Do you Landon Carter take Layla Anderson to be your wife to have and to hold from this day forward?" he questioned.

I held my breath at his quick reply, "I do."

"Do you Layla Anderson take Landon Carter to be your husband to have and to hold from this day forward?" I smiled and nodded my head while answering not skipping a beat.

"I do." I stated, staring up into his hazel orbs that were filled with intensity.

"With that being said you may kiss your bride..."

His words were drowned out by Landon tugging me forward by my hands so I was flush against his chest and my arms were forced around his neck. Before he slid his arms around my waist and dipped me backwards as his lips met mine. Pleasurable tingles ran through my veins at the passionate kiss. Our lips completely devoured one another's with love and lust mixed together. It was easily one of our most deepest, loving kisses we've ever shared.

My hand moved from over his shoulder to cup the side of his face. His arms still holding me up, if he wasn't I'm sure my knees would give out. Everything around us had disappeared and I could only focus on the way his lips were so soft and the sparks that shot throughout me which made me weak. He pulled away after a second, our foreheads coming together when we heard the minister speak.

"It is my greatest honor to introduce to you all for the first time ever, Mr. and Mrs. Carter." he applauded.

I glanced to the audience as the pack stood up to clap there hands and holler in enjoyment. The area was extremely beautiful with the long wooden chairs complementing the forest. We had gotten the perfect view of the lake and the green trees that surrounded us made me happy.

Landon made me happy, I was so happy.

My eyes shifted back to him, a grin had overtaken his face by now as he allowed me to stand up straighter. I laughed a little at the surrealism I felt inside of me, we were actually married. When I first met him as my mate, I didn't ever think I'd be here on this day with him.

"What?" he asked, leaning down to peck my lips quickly as I slid my hand from his face to hold the other side of his suit jacket.

"This is just crazy, I mean who would have thought the runt and the alpha." he rolled his eyes, bringing me closer to him.

"You're not just a..." his words trailed off as I cut him off nicely.

"Runt, I know but, still it's definitely something." he laughed and brought me closer to him so our lips could meet once more.

Everything around us disappeared again as we kissed, it was just us The Runt and The Alpha.