The Alpha's Companion

Chapter 35 - The Wedding

Lacey spent the rest of the day preparing for the wedding. Lacey was glad that Julien had understood and helped her through her family's betrayal. Her only regret was that her mother wouldn’t be present. But than again, Lacey understood why.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

"Come in!" Lacey yelled, with only a few short hours to go until the wedding, her nerves were starting to get the best of her.

"Is the bride here?" Madame Pomeroy walked in with an assistant with a long, blonde ponytail, heavily done makeup, and wearing a business dress suit, carrying a garment bag draped over both arms.

"Madame Pomeroy," Lacey rose from her seat and gave her air kisses over both cheeks. "It's a pleasure to see you again." Then she looked over at the garment bag. "Is this it?"

The woman nodded. "Yes, this is your wedding dress."

Then she proceeded to instruct her assistant to take it out of the bag. When she unzipped the bag and held it up, it was the most beautiful dress that Lacey had ever seen.

"Oh! Madame Pomeroy!" Lacey gasped. "This is gorgeous!"

The woman smiled, pleased at Lacey's reaction. "Well, let's not waste any time. Let's see how it fits."

They spent the next moments helping her put on the dress. It was even more lovely on. It had a sweetheart neckline and was sleeveless, fitted in the bodice and hips, and then flared a bit at the knee, reminding Lacey of an updated version of the mermaid style dresses the Hollywood starlets wore back in the nineteen forties. It was made of white silk, satin, and lace and shimmered when she walked. Then Madame Pomeroy had her assistant open a box, revealing white satin high heels. When Lacey was finally dressed and ready, she truly felt like a princess for the first time in her life.

"Now, the piece of resistance." Madame Pomeroy smiled, opening a jewelry box revealing a dainty tiara.

"Oh, it's gorgeous!" Lacey was moved to tears when she saw it.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

"Come in!" Lacey yelled, letting Madame Pomeroy’s assistant help her with the tiara.

Gwen walked in and gasped. "Oh, Lacey! You look stunning!" She walked over to Lacey, her eyes wide, and took her hands. "Julien is a very lucky man."

"Thank you, Gwen," Lacey said, realizing at that moment that Gwen was the only friend she had in the castle. "Would you sit on the bride's side at the wedding?"

Gwen smiled as she gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "I'd be honored."

"Well, are you ready?" Madame Pomeroy asked. "I think it's time to start heading down."

Lacey was surprised that the time had flown by so quickly.

Then Madame Pomeroy looked over at Gwen. "Would you be a dear and make sure that Julien isn't in the hallway? I want to make sure he’s surprised when he sees her walking down the aisle."

Gwen nodded. "I'd be glad to." Then she pulled Lacey in for a quick hug, careful not to muss her dress or makeup. "I'll see you in there, okay?"

Lacey nodded. "Gwen, thank you... for everything."

Gwen smiled. "It's a pleasure to call you my friend." Then she headed out the door and started barking orders. As little as she was, Lacey was surprised that she could sound like a drill sergeant when she wanted to.

"Ready?" Madame Pomeroy asked, smiling.

Lacey returned the smile, nodding. "Yes." And she knew it was true. This was the first steps she would take leading to the rest of her life with Julien.

They walked slowly down the stairs and soon, Madame Pomeroy and her assistant led her to the Grand Ballroom.

Then, Madame Pomeroy turned to face her. "Well, this is the end of the line for us. I'll see you in there."

Lacey nodded. "Thank you."

The woman tilted her head to the side. "The pleasure is all mine." Then she and her assistant headed inside, while Lacey waited in the hallway alone.

While she was waiting, a good-looking gentleman approached. "Lacey?"

She nodded. "Yes. Do I know you?"

He shook his head. "Unfortunately, no. My name is Arkin Emerson, the Alpha of the Shadow Pack. I am your birthfather."

Lacey looked at him and realized that he was the man that Julien had been walking with and talking to outside the window. "How did you know? Why are you here?"

He gave her a slight smile. "Julien called me." He bit his lower lip and released it. "I'll understand if your answer is no, but I'd like to walk you down the aisle, if it's all right." Arkin let out a deep breath. "I'm sorry that I haven't met you before now, but I didn't want to disrupt your life. I only wanted what was best for you."

Tears of joy filled Lacey's eyes, glad that he was there. "I'd be honored, sir."

He nodded, tears filling his eyes, too. "Please. Call me Arkin."

Suddenly, the music changed to the Bridal Chorus, and Lacey knew it was her cue.

A broad smile spread across Arkin's face. "Well, they're playing your song." He offered her his arm. "Shall we?"

Lacey took his arm and let him lead her to the huge double doors. Then she glanced up at him. "Thank you."

He smiled, nodding. "No. Thank you."

Lacey nodded to two groomsmen, one holding each door, and they opened them at the same time. Lacey and Arkin stepped up and Julien was standing at the other end of the aisle, looking dashing in a black tuxedo and tails with an ascot tie, and white shirt, and no one else was there, except the minister. Lacey was glad that it would just be the two of them standing at the altar.

The music changed and her birthfather looked down at her, raising his eyebrows. "Ready?"

"Yes," Lacey replied, and she walked down the aisle, escorted by her real father. At the end of the aisle, he kissed her hand and placed it in Julien's. Julien smiled as he tucked her arm in his and they turned to face the minister.

"You look lovely," Julien said, his eyes filled with emotion.

"So do you," she whispered.

He raised an eyebrow, smiling. "I look lovely?"

Lacey giggled. "No. You look beautiful."

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered today...." the minister began and soon it was time for them to say their vows. He turned to face Julien. "Do you, Julien Carmichael Grey, take Lacey Rose Taregan to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do you part?"

Julien smiled down at her. "I do."

The minister smiled and turned to Lacey and repeated the same vows.

When he was finished, she looked up at Julien and said, "I do."

"Then by the power vested in me by the state of Iowa and the Great Council, I now pronounce you husband and wife." Then the minister turned to face Julien. "You may kiss the bride."

Julien looked at her and smiled. Then he dipped her and gave her the most passionate kiss she had ever experienced as everyone cheered. Then he brought her back up and pulled her to his chest, smiling. "I promise to cherish you, all the days of my life."

Lacey had tears in her eyes as she nodded. "And I promise to cherish you for all the days of mine, as well."

"May I present to you, for the first time ever as man and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Julien Grey!"

Everyone stood and cheered as they walked out into the hallway. Then Julien turned and said, "You just made me the happiest man on earth."

Tears filled Lacey's eyes. "Thank you for calling Arkin. It was very thoughtful of you."

Julien tilted his head to the side and smiled. "I thought that you needed some family here at least."

When they turned and greeted everyone as they came out, Lacey realized that Arkin and Gwen were the only people there for her.. And as everyone offered their congratulations, Lacey knew that Julien's pack had also just become hers, as well.