The Biker Alpha Who Became My Second Chance Mate Chapter 159

Athena

"Or maybe you just haven't found the right dresses yet," Kiara said. "Don't give up."

The consultant at the third shop was older and had this knowing look in her eyes when I explained what I was looking for.

"I think I have exactly what you need," she said, disappearing into the back.

She came back with two dresses, one draped over each arm, and the moment I saw them I felt my breath catch.

"These," I said, pointing. "Can I try these?"

"Of course," the consultant said with a smile like she'd known all along these would be the ones.

I tried on the mating ceremony dress first and the moment I saw myself in the mirror I knew this was it.

It was flowy and romantic with delicate lace sleeves and a skirt that moved like water, it felt ethereal and connected to nature and absolutely perfect.

"Oh my god," Sarah breathed when she saw me. "Athena, that's the one."

"You look beautiful," Kiara agreed.

"Like a fairy princess," Leah added.

I turned in front of the mirror, watching the skirt swirl around me, and I could picture myself wearing this in the clearing under the full moon with Tristan waiting for me.

"This is it," I said. "This is definitely it."

Then I tried on the human wedding dress and if the first dress had taken my breath away, this one made me want to cry.

It was classic and elegant with a fitted bodice and a full skirt, it was the kind of dress every girl pictures when she dreams about her wedding day.

"Tristan is going to die when he sees you in this," Sarah said, and I could see tears in her eyes.

"You think?" I asked, unable to look away from my reflection.

"I know," Sarah said. "You look absolutely stunning."

We bought both dresses, the consultant promising they'd be altered and ready with plenty of time before the wedding, and as we left the shop I felt like I was floating.

"I can't believe I found both dresses," I said. "In the same place."

"When you know, you know," the consultant had said as we were leaving, and she was right.

We celebrated with lunch at a nice restaurant, all of us giddy with the success of the day, even Kiara seemed more relaxed than usual, laughing and joking with all of us.

"I'm so glad you asked me to be your maid of honor," she said at one point. "This has been really fun."

"Even with having to work with Derek?" I asked.

Her expression soured slightly. "Well, that part hasn't been fun, but everything else has been great."

"He's not that bad," Leah said.

"Yes, he is," Kiara said. "The man is infuriating."

"But you keep working with him," I pointed out.

"Because I'm professional," Kiara said. "And because I'm not going to let him chase me off."

I exchanged a look with Sarah who was trying not to smile, there was definitely something there between Kiara and Derek, even if neither of them wanted to admit it.

When I got home that afternoon, Tristan was waiting for me with that eager expression.

"Did you find them?" he asked before I'd even closed the door.

"I found them," I confirmed, unable to keep the smile off my face. "Both of them."

"And?" he prompted.

"And they're perfect," I said. "But you don't get to see them until the wedding."

"Not even a hint?" he asked.

"Not even a hint," I said firmly. "You'll just have to wait."

He pulled me into his arms. "I can't wait to see you in them," he said. "I can't wait to marry you."

"Three and a half months," I said. "We're more than halfway through the planning."

"Three and a half months," he repeated. "And then you'll be my wife."

"And you'll be my husband," I said.

He kissed me then, soft and sweet, and I felt that familiar warmth spread through my chest.

The next few weeks passed in a blur of wedding planning and work and doctor's appointments, true to his word, Tristan made sure I only worked two days a week and even then he'd check in multiple times to make sure I was okay.

He even suggested I moved my office to his, or the other way round.

"I'm fine," I'd tell him every time. "Stop worrying."

"Can't help it," he'd say. "You're carrying my babies."

The dynamic between Kiara and Derek hadn't improved much, they still bickered constantly in the group chat and apparently in person too according to Sarah who'd witnessed one of their planning meetings.

"They're like an old married couple," Sarah said one day when we were discussing. "Constantly arguing but somehow still getting things done."

"Should I be worried?" I'd asked.

"No," Sarah had said. "They'll figure it out eventually, or they'll keep arguing, either way the wedding planning is moving forward."

And it was, somehow despite Derek and Kiara's constant bickering, everything was coming together, the venue was booked, the flowers were ordered, the catering was arranged, every week we checked something else off the list.

"We're actually going to pull this off," I said to Tristan one night as we lay in bed going over the latest updates.

"Of course we are," he said. "Did you doubt it?"

"Maybe a little," I admitted. "Two weddings in four months while pregnant with twins seemed impossible."

"Nothing's impossible," he said. "Not when you have help."

He was right, without Sarah and Kiara and even Leah helping with the planning, without Orion and Derek handling the logistics, without Tristan making sure I didn't overdo it, this would have been overwhelming.

But with everyone working together, it was actually manageable.

The only thing that hadn't happened yet was the race, Derek's last race that Tristan had promised we'd go watch, it was scheduled for this Saturday and I was excited and nervous at the same time.

"You're sure you still want to go?" Tristan asked on Friday night.

"Positive," I said. "Can't miss it for anything." He didn't say anything, just pulled me closer to himself.

Saturday evening came and we all piled into Orion's truck again, Sarah and Orion in front with me, Tristan in the back, they'd gotten Leah to watch the kids for the night so we could all go.

We got there just in time before the race started.

People kept coming up to Tristan, old racing friends who wanted to say hi, people who'd heard he'd gotten engaged and wanted to congratulate him, it was clear he'd been well liked in this world.

"You should race," one guy said to Tristan. "One last time, for old times' sake."

"I'm retired," Tristan said firmly.

"Come on man," the guy pressed. "Everyone wants to see you race again."

"Not happening," Tristan said.

But I could see him looking at the bikes, could see the way his eyes lit up when, could see that part of him missed this.

"You should do it," I said quietly.

He turned to look at me. "What?"

"You should race," I said. "One last time."

"Athena," he started.

"I know you miss it," I said. "I can see it in your face, race one more time and then you can say goodbye to it properly."

"I don't know," he said, but I could see him wavering. "I didn't bring my bike"

"Derek could give you his. Please?" I said. "I want to see you race. The babies wants to see you race."

I know using our babies as an excuse was bad, but I couldn't help it.

That did it, he looked at me for a long moment and then sighed. "Fine," he said. "One race."

The crowd went crazy when word spread that Tristan was going to race, Derek found him a bike to use and Tristan spent the next twenty minutes getting familiar with it.

"You didn't have to convince him to race," Orion said to me while Tristan was preparing.

"I know," I said. "But he wanted to, he just needed permission to want it."

"I'm glad you guys are happy," Orion said, putting his arm around me. "You know that?"

"I know you are. I'm glad too." I said.

I adjusted on my sit, preparing to watch Tristan do what he'd always loved doing.

Because I didn't want him to lose anything, I wanted him to have it all.