Novak Raven (Harper's Mountains #4)(72)

“He paid her to say that,” Ryder joked.

“Shut up,” Weston said, shoving his friend in the shoulder. He twirled Avery onto the dancefloor and chuckled, his eyes on her smiling lips. “It’s just like my dream.”

She laughed and slid her hands up around his neck, swaying side to side with him. “Well, I didn’t even have enough imagination to dream of something this amazing. You listened to me. You gave me the wedding I told you I wanted. And I didn’t have to plan or stress. I just had to get dressed and show up. You’re so f*cking awesome. Best husband ever.” She squealed and repeated it. “Husband! You’re my husband. I can’t believe this. After everything we’ve been through…”

“Woman, you fought for me. You hung on when I wasn’t worth hanging onto. I’ll spend the rest of my life hanging on to you back.”

Avery lowered her voice and teased, “You keep talking like that, and I’ll let you f*ck my boobs again.”

Weston arched his dark eyebrows high. “By the way, they look amazing in this dress.” His eyes glazed over as he stared. “All big and pushed up to your chin. Hide my boner.”

She cracked up as he pulled her closer and nipped her neck.

“Weston, Avery, what are you drinking?” Wyatt asked from beside the server.

“Champagne,” Avery said.

“Ew, no.” Wyatt scrunched up his face. “She’ll have a long island iced tea.”

“I’ll have the same,” Lexi and Alana said at the same time. Oh, it was going to be one of those parties.

Weston snorted, and Avery giggled. “This is so freaking perfect. It’s exactly how I would want it to be. Just me and you and the most important people in our lives.”

“Getting drunk,” Weston said, his eyes dancing. “We’ll be lucky if they don’t kick us out of this place.”

“Harper is drinking orange juice. She’ll keep us in line.” Avery hoped.

Their alpha pulled Wyatt onto the dance floor, and now they were slow dancing side-to-side next to Avery and Weston. Wyatt had his hand resting on the tiny swell of Harper’s stomach, and he was murmuring low against her ear. Harper had the sweetest smile on her lips as she hugged her mate closer.

Lexi and Ryder were dancing inappropriately, and Alana was grinning up at Aaron as they two-stepped, the scar on her lip stretching with how happy she looked. Beaston, Mom, and Aviana were sitting at a table, talking easily. She had a feeling Aviana would be a good support for mom in the coming months.

“I don’t know how I got so lucky,” Avery murmured.

Weston frowned at where Lexi was doing a shimmy dance with her butt against Ryder’s pelvis. “Yeah, super lucky.”

Avery swatted his shoulder. “You know what I mean.”

He ran his fingertip lightly over her claiming mark and then the scar from the glass below it. “So you don’t have any regrets?”

Avery shook her head and looked around, still in disbelief that this day was hers. Didn’t Weston see? She’d been hollow before. She’d been a shell, and he’d given her so much, filled her up with emotions she didn’t know existed. He’d given her himself, his heart, and then he’d gone and done even more. He’d given her friends who had come to her aid, no questions asked. He’d given her a place in the best damn crew in the entire world. He’d given her confidence and made her want to be stronger. He’d gone to battle for her, banished her ghosts, banished the ones who had hurt her.

He’d pulled her from the mud, cleaned her feathers, and told her to rise up, little phoenix.

And because of him, she had.

“Of course I have no regrets. I’m right where I belong.” She traced the silver claw mark scars on his neck. “We fought for each other, Weston. I love every mark on me and every mark on you. You laid your body over mine, under the swinging blade of an ax, just to make sure I lived. Just to save me from pain. Just to make sure I was okay. Every mark on our bodies is proof that we’re in this. No matter what comes now, we’ll face it together, for always.”

Her mother had used those words once when she’d admitted Avery was born to betray the Novak Raven. She’d hated them then, but now she was taking them back.

The ravens had failed.

Avery hadn’t been born to betray Weston.

She’d been born to love him. For always.

Weston leaned down and kissed her claiming mark, then kissed the mark from the shard of glass. And then he straightened, cupped her neck gently, and pressed his lips to hers.

Resting his forehead against Avery’s, he softly repeated her oath. “For always.”