The Biker Alpha Who Became My Second Chance Mate Chapter 183

Athena

I stood in front of the full-length mirror in the bridal boutique's private fitting room, turning slightly to see how the dress accommodated my growing belly.

At five months pregnant, I was showing much more than I had when we'd first done fittings, and the seamstress had done an excellent job with the alterations.

"Perfect fit," the seamstress said, adjusting the fabric one last time. "The adjustments accommodate your belly beautifully. You'll be comfortable all day."

"Thank you," I said, running my hands over the bump. Both babies were active today, little flutters of movement that made me smile.

"You look absolutely stunning," Sarah said from behind me, her voice thick with emotion. She was already tearing up, and we hadn't even gotten to the actual wedding yet.

"Don't start crying again," I warned her, though I was smiling. "You've cried at every single fitting."

"I can't help it," she said, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue. "You're just so beautiful, and this is all so perfect, and I'm so happy for you."

Kiara, stood beside Sarah in her bridesmaid dress.

"She's right though," she said, adjusting the strap of her dress. "You look absolutely gorgeous. Tristan's going to lose his mind when he sees you."

I smiled at the thought. We'd been legally married for months now, but the anticipation for this ceremony, the one where we'd exchange vows in front of everyone we loved, felt just as powerful as signing that certificate had been.

"Okay, let's get you out of this," the seamstress said, coming over to help me with the buttons.

As I carefully changed back into my regular clothes, maternity jeans and a flowing top that accommodated my belly, my phone buzzed with a text from Tristan.

How's the fitting going? Missing you.

I smiled and typed back: Perfect. Missing you too. How's your day?

Derek's driving me crazy with wedding logistics. When did he become a wedding planner?

I laughed out loud, causing Sarah and Kiara to look at me questioningly.

"Derek's apparently taken over wedding planning duties," I explained.

Kiara rolled her eyes. "Of course he has. That man has an opinion about everything."

"You two still haven't figured out how to coexist peacefully?" I asked.

"Why would I want to coexist peacefully with someone who thinks he knows everything about everything?" Kiara said, but there was a spark in her eyes that suggested she enjoyed their verbal sparring more than she wanted to admit.

"He doesn't think he knows everything," Sarah defended, though she was grinning. "He just... has strong opinions."

"Strong, wrong opinions," Kiara muttered.

We finished up at the boutique and headed to lunch, the three of us settling into a corner booth at our favorite café.

Leah called earlier that she couldn't make it today, and I didn't mind. Because I knew she had a life of her own.

The conversation naturally drifted to the wedding, and I pulled out my phone to show them the updated timeline Derek had sent me that morning.

"See? This is what I mean," Kiara said, scanning through it. "Who needs a minute-by-minute breakdown of the rehearsal dinner? It's dinner. We eat. We practice walking down an aisle. Done."

"Derek likes things organized," I said diplomatically.

"Derek likes control," Kiara corrected. "There's a difference."

"You're going to have to work with him, till this wedding is over," Sarah pointed out but I could see the look on her face. "He's the best man, you're the maid of honor. You'll be paired up for everything...walking down the aisle, the photos, the reception entrance, the toasts..."

Kiara groaned. "Don't remind me."

"It'll be fine," I assured her. "You should have fun."

"When Derek is there? Doubtful" Kiara said, but she was smiling.

The rehearsal was scheduled for Friday evening, exactly one week before the wedding.

The venue was beautiful, a historic estate with manicured gardens and a gazebo where we'd exchange our vows.

Tristan and I had fallen in love with it the moment we'd seen it, and now, standing here with the late afternoon sun casting golden light over everything, I knew we'd made the right choice.

Everyone was already there when I arrived, I had to visit the most important people to me, before coming.

Tristan was talking with Orion near the gazebo, Sarah wrangling Lily who was running through the garden in her flower girl dress (she'd insisted on wearing it to the rehearsal).

Derek checking something on his phone with his characteristic focused expression, and Kiara standing off to the side looking slightly uncomfortable in her bridesmaid dress.

The moment Tristan saw me, his whole face lit up. He excused himself from Orion and came straight over, pulling me into a kiss that made me forget we had an audience.

"Hi," he murmured against my lips.

"Hi yourself," I said, smiling up at him.

"You look beautiful."

"I'm in jeans and a t-shirt."

"Still beautiful," he insisted.

"Okay lovebirds," Derek called out. "We have a schedule to keep."

Kiara made a derisive sound. "Of course we do. Heaven forbid we deviate from Derek's precious timeline."

Derek's head snapped toward her. "The timeline exists for a reason, Kiara. So that everything runs smoothly and no one is confused about where they're supposed to be."

"Or," Kiara countered, walking over to stand in front of him, "we could just relax and let things happen naturally without micromanaging every single second."

"Micromanaging?" Derek's eyebrows shot up. "I'm ensuring organization. There's a difference."

"Is there though?" Kiara asked sweetly.

I exchanged a glance with Tristan, who was trying not to laugh. Sarah came over with Lily, who was now holding a basket of fake flower petals for practice.

"Are they fighting again?" Sarah asked in a whisper.

"They're not fighting," I said. "They're... communicating."

"Aggressively," Tristan added.

The wedding coordinator, a patient woman named Margaret who we'd hired to manage the day-of logistics, clapped her hands together. "Alright everyone, let's get started. We have a lot to cover."

She directed us all to our starting positions. Lily would walk down first as the flower girl, followed by Sarah, then Kiara, and finally me with Orion, who was to walk me down the aisle.

I'd forgotten about that part. When I was asked who'd walk me down the aisle, I didn't think twice before calling Orion.

And he was honoured to do it.

Derek would be standing up at the gazebo with Tristan as his best man, along with two of Tristan's friends from the mechanic store, who were also serving as groomsmen.

"Let's do a run-through," Margaret said. "Music will start here..." She gestured to where the string quartet would be positioned.

"Lily, that's your cue to start walking. Remember, slowly. You're not racing. And make sure you and Liam are in the pace."

Lily nodded seriously, gripping her basket.

She bent low "Make sure you walk with your sister slowly, understood?." Liam nodded too.

"Then Sarah, count to ten after Lily and Liam reaches the halfway point. Then Kiara, same thing. And Athena, you'll wait until Kiara is about three-quarters of the way down before you start."

We all took our positions at the back of the garden. I could see Tristan standing at the gazebo, Derek beside him, both of them watching us.

"Okay, let's go!" Margaret called out.

Lily started walking, taking her role very seriously as she carefully tossed fake petals every few steps. She was adorable, her little face scrunched up in concentration.

Liam walked beside her, perfectly.

Sarah went next, walking at a measured pace, and then it was Kiara's turn.

Except Derek apparently had notes.

"A little slower, Kiara," he called out. "You're walking too fast."

Kiara stopped mid-aisle and turned to look at him. "Excuse me?"