Pregnant With Four Alphas' Babies: A Reverse Harem Romance Chapter 281: Royal Wedding of Dark Forest

*Ethan*

I chuckle as I walk down the hallway. ‘Where does she have you held captive this time?’

There’s a pleasant giggle in my mind as Rylee answers me in our link. ‘I’m not a captive. I like spending time with your mother. She’s such a nice lady. But right now, we’re in the library. She’s going through the family archives.’

‘Oh, Goddess. That could take all day. I’m in need of my bride-to-be.’ Just being in the same castle with Rylee drives me crazy. All I want to do is spend all day in her arms. With nothing to focus on but the wedding, I don’t have anything to think about, so it drives me crazy when she’s too busy with the wedding planning or talking to the rogue colonies.

She giggles again. It feels pleasant in the mind-link, like a warm tingling. ‘Well, then you’re going to have to talk your mother into letting me go for a few minutes.’

‘A few minutes? I intend to take you over and over again all afternoon.’

‘Then you’re going to have to arrange for that.’

I smirk as I round the corner and head into the library where my mother is standing over a huge table with giant tomes and scrolls spread out across it. Rylee has a smirk on her face.

Mom looks up. “Ethan! It’s about time you got here. I was showing your fiancée the Silver family history for your father and his Beach pack.”

“I’d love to go visit there,” Rylee says.

“You should, when you’re back from your honeymoon,” Mom says.

“Mom, can I have my fiancée back, please?” I ask.

She frowns. “Oh, phooey. I was going to show her some of the centerpieces I made for the wedding.”

I laugh. “Mom, why are you making things? We have an army of events personnel to put all that together.”

“Well, because I want to,” she says, almost with a pout. “How often do I get to see my baby get married?”

“Probably four times,” I say. “And two of those will be within the next couple of weeks.”

Mom giggles. “That’s true, but still, each one is going to be special to me.”

“I’ll come look at them tonight after dinner,” Rylee suggests.

My mom has her excited glow back. “Wonderful! I can’t wait.”

I wrap my arm around my mate, and we say our goodbyes, heading straight back to our room.

* * *

My father Eli adjusts my tie as I get ready for the wedding ceremony. I’m wearing my full-dress military uniform, a tradition for a future Alpha King of Dark Forest. I can’t wait to see Rylee’s dress. She’s been very secretive about it, as has my mother and sisters, but I guess that’s what brides do. I can see the point because it’ll be a surprise when I see her walk down the aisle later.

It’s going to be the best moment of my life. Well, that and the moment when she’s officially my wife.

“I think we’re ready to head over,” Dad says. “I’d give you some fatherly advice, but I think you’re doing really well on your own.”

I laugh. “Thanks, Dad.”

All my dads walk over to the Moon Goddess Temple with me. My mom has gone absolutely mad with the decorations. She couldn’t put anything inside the temple since it’s sacred, but the path leading to it, as well as the outside, is just covered in banners, flowers, and streamers. I’d feel sorry for the crew that has to clean this all up except that I know my mom and the dads are giving them all huge bonuses.

I walk in the side door and take my place at the front next to my brother, who shakes my hand.

“You look ready for your big day,” he says.

“More than ready.” I look at the crowd in front of us and smile. “Do you see anyone out there who might be your mate?”

He shakes his head. “Nope, nothing. I guess I have to wait.”

“Maybe your mate is in Green Mountain,” says a voice from behind us.

We look over at my other groomsmen, the Alphas of the other kingdom. They’re all getting married to Trisha next week, so we’ll be flying over there for that. I’ve never been there before, and I’m looking forward to it. Rylee doesn’t mind that we’ll interrupt our honeymoon for it. In fact, we’ve incorporated it into the vacation. The Alphas set it up so we can have some time in a private bungalow along the coast over there.

“I guess anything is possible,” Matthew says.

The music starts, and my mom is formally seated. She looks positively giddy, and it makes me smile. It’s always been a priority of mine to make sure she is happy, though my dads do a great job of that themselves. I’m glad she’s enjoying my wedding. She’s talked endlessly over the past month about her wedding to my four dads, which happened a while after her Luna ceremony when we were young. I guess it was a lot of work to have four babies, so they waited to make it official.

The music changes, and my sisters walk in, followed by Rylee’s sister Katherine and two of her friends, then her matron of honor, Rylee’s best friend Amla. I inhale and let it out slowly as the music changes again and I prepare to see my beautiful mate. I know she is going to leave me breathless.

She doesn’t disappoint. I don’t know what that dress is made of, but she looks so graceful, like she’s floating down the aisle with trails of white flowers and lace stretching out at least twenty feet. The dress fits every beautiful curve of her down to her waist, then it flows out in a wide skirt that tapers into the train. Her jet-black hair flows around her face in ringlets and waves, with tiny flowers sprinkled through her curls. What stands out the most is her eyes. Even before she gets close, I can see the deep blue orbs with flecks of silver in them. I’ll never get tired of gazing into those eyes.

I’m only faintly aware of Isaac standing next to her, escorting her in the absence of her father, who like her mother, is deceased. He gives me the ceremonial handshake as he places my hand in Rylee’s and then walks away.

I smile at my beautiful bride, and her silver flecks twinkle in the light.

The High Priestess begins the ceremony. “We are gathered here today to join our future Alpha King with his future Luna Queen. Chosen by the Moon Goddess herself, let no one come between the gift of the mate bond.”

She continues with several elaborate prayers and chants, ones I’ve been hearing all my life, and I tune out, to be honest, while I just enjoy a few minutes of looking into those beautiful eyes. But then suddenly, it’s my turn to speak. I turn toward her and hold both of her hands.

“Rylee, my beautiful mate, I’ve waited my whole life for you. I promise you my love forever, my unwavering protection, my undying respect. You will always be my equal partner as the woman who competes my soul.”

The High Priestess nods toward Rylee.

“Ethan, my loving mate,” she begins, “I never imagined a life with a mate. When I found you, my life changed, and I’ve never been happier. I promise you my forever love, my undying respect, and all the best of me. I’ll always strive to serve our people as one. You are a part of me forever.”

“Prince Ethan Forrest-Silver,” the High Priestess says, “do you take this woman, Rylee Elizabeth Coleman, to be your wife and forever mate?”

It’s the easiest question I’ve ever been asked. “I do.”

The High Priestess looks at Rylee. “Do you, Rylee Elizabeth Coleman, take this man, Prince Ethan Forrest-Silver, to be your husband and forever mate?”

“I do,” Rylee says with a wide smile.

“By the powers given me by the Moon Goddess, who blesses your union through her choice of you as natural mates, I pronounce you husband and wife. Prince Ethan, you may kiss your bride.”

“Gladly,” I whisper as I put my arms around her and pull her close, crushing my lips to hers and closing my eyes to feel every second of it. Reluctantly, I pull back since we’re in front of such a huge crowd, and I take her hand in mine and raise our arms to the audience as everyone erupts in happy howls and cheers.

As we start down the aisle, I look at my mother, who is smiling with tears pouring down her cheeks. I stop, and Rylee lets go and motions toward my mom. I take a moment to give Mom a one-armed hug before going back to my wife and wrapping my arm around her as we go back up the aisle.

The events coordinator ushers us into a private room where we have a moment to ourselves. I kiss my wife again, this time deeper, letting our tongues play, breathing in her scent and basking in her taste, which is like the most delicious candy in the world.

She giggles against my mouth as she pulls back. “We have a few moments, husband, but I don’t think we have time to make love yet with the entire kingdom out there waiting for us and, most importantly, your mother.”

I laugh. “Well, a guy can dream, right?”

“You won’t have time to dream because I’m not letting you sleep at all for the next forty-eight hours,” she says teasingly.

“You’re not doing a very good job of cooling me off,” I say.

She laughs. “I wish we could be alone just as much as you do, but we have a responsibility to those who will be our citizens one day.”

“That may be sooner than you think,” I say. “I spoke to my dads earlier, and they are all thinking of retiring very soon. Matthew hasn’t found his mate yet, but they may not wait for that. They’d like to have fewer responsibilities and more time with Mom.”

“Well, that would be all right with me, if they’re sure that’s what they want,” she says. “I hope Matthew finds his mate soon.”

“I’m sure he will,” I say. “Well, we’d better get out there.”

She smiles, but I steal one more kiss from her before we step outside for the reception.