Midlife Wolf Captured My Heart (Fated To The Wolf #7)

26. Sadie

Three weeks later, Sadie was standing in the nursery, looking pleased with the progress. As promised Eric and her father had painted the room. She found some border wallpaper that had cartoony animals and lined the room. The top half of the walls were white and the bottom half were blue. She hung the collage Dakota had made for her on one of the walls.

When her mom saw the walls, she shook her head. “You aren’t having a girl, are you?”

“’Fraid not, Mom. Dakota James is on his way.”

Her father raised an eyebrow. “Dakota James?”

“Yeah. I figured we would call him Cody for short.” She knew that her father didn’t like her choice for the baby’s first name, but they wouldn’t hassle her about it, if for no other reason than they knew exactly how stubborn she could be.”

“Cody it is.” Eric hugged his sister.

She hugged him back, grateful for her brother. He had been checking on her daily and they became closer than they ever were before.

Opal sighed heavily. “Well, I guess it’s a good thing that I haven’t gone out to buy a ton of clothes.”

“Don’t worry, Mom. I’m sure Eric will find a mate before too much longer and they can have a ton of girls.”

“Really?” Eric asked.

Sadie giggled. “Yep. I’ve seen the way that the women around town look at you. You could have your pick of mates.”

“I’m not quite ready for that. Maybe in twenty years.”

“You’d be almost fifty. I think you’d better figure things out sooner. You know your father and I went through the mating ceremony when we were eighteen.”

“That’s way too young.” Eric shook his head vigorously. “I have some time yet. I just got out of the army. I get to enjoy my freedom.”

It had only been three weeks since Dakota had been gone and Sadie missed him, although she had stopped crying herself to sleep. She would have this baby and maybe work on one of the book projects that had been floating in her mind. “I won’t stop living just because he’s gone.”

She had to laugh. Dakota was very obvious about leaving and she had thought it would be easy to deal with him being gone from her life. Sadie thought she would be left with great memories and it would be easy to move on with her life. “I never counted on that whole ‘falling in love’ thing.”

A loud ringing sound startled Sadie, as she relaxed on the couch with a book. She dropped the book and sat up confused for a minute, looking around her. Then, it dawned on her that it was the doorbell.

“Who in the hell is dropping by this time of night?” she muttered as she checked the camera. Her heart nearly stopped when she saw who was at the door.

Flinging open the door, she stared at the man on the steps in disbelief. “Dakota. What are you doing here?”

“Hi, Sadie. Can we talk?”

“Yeah, sure, I guess so. Come in.”

Dakota stepped inside and followed her to the living room. He sat in the chair across from the couch, where she sat, cross-legged, holding a pillow to her chest.

“How was your trip?”

“It was great. I got so many amazing photos and videos. I have enough for my next book and a documentary. Maybe the awareness raised will increase donations to the protected forest.”

“That’s awesome.”

Certainly, he didn’t come here just to tell me how his adventure went. Why is he here, anyway?

Dakota looked at Sadie and leaned forward. “I didn’t come here to tell you about my experience with the cloud leopards, although I hope to show you my videos and photos later. I came because I missed you.”

Sadie’s jaw dropped and her heart skipped a beat.

“I thought about you constantly when I wasn’t focused on my work. You were there for every breath I took. I knew when I went up on that mountain after you’d been kidnapped that you were my fated mate. I couldn’t figure out how to make it work between us.”

She sucked in a huge breath of air and waited for him to continue.

“Sadie, I’m in love with you. You are a part of my heart and soul – my very existence. I still can’t give up traveling to different places and capturing the lives of animals with my lens. But I’m wondering if you could be happy with a compromise. I could make Angel’s Creek my home base. I would be here at least sixty percent of the time, working on my books, editing the pictures, and doing all of the other stuff like that. My time in the field might be two weeks or up to a month, but I would still be here, with you the majority of the time.”

She stared at him, silent for a moment, unable to believe her ears. Resisting the urge to pinch herself, her mind raced to process what she just heard.

“Sadie?”

“I’m sorry. I’m just in shock. Are you sure you could be happy with that?”

“Of course, I’m sure. Like I said, I’m in love with you. I know that you’re my fated mate, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

He grinned mischievously. “Besides, I’ll need a young, healthy person to take care of me when I’m old and decrepit.”

Sadie laughed and nodded. “I can definitely live with that compromise. I’d rather have you most of the time, even some of the time, than none at all.”

Dakota got down on one knee and opened up a box. Pulling out a gold ring with a marquis diamond, he took Sadie’s hand. “Sadie Andrews, would you do me the honor of going through the mating ceremony with me?”

“Yes, I would.”

He slipped the ring on her finger and kissed her.

When the kiss ended, Sadie smiled at him. “There’s something we need to talk about.”

“Is it what you wanted to talk about before I left?”

She nodded. “You’re going to be a father.”

His eyes opened wide. “What?”

“Dakota James is on his way and will be here in about four or four and a half months.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I couldn’t. You had to go to Bhutan. I didn’t want you to feel trapped here. None of us would have been happy.”

“You were willing to raise this child by yourself so I could be happy?”

She nodded. “We both would have been happy. I would have been here with the kid and you would have your adventures. Cody would be a part of you, so I could still have that.”

He grinned. “I guess we’ll have three generations of people in our own little family.”

Dakota picked her up and carried her to her bed. Their clothes disappeared and they made frantic love as though there was only now. Then, they made love again, slowly, as though they had an eternity.

The mating ceremony was two weeks away. They decided that it would be better to have it sooner rather than later since she was pregnant. Sadie and Dakota would spend a couple days together and then he would go to Montana to get his pictures of wolves in the late fall and early winter. He would be back in time for the baby’s birth.

Eric and James visited Sadie the night before the ceremony.

Her father looked at her very seriously. “You know we don’t approve of you going through the mating ceremony with Dakota.”

“I’m aware, and I understand all your reasons. But the heart wants what the heart wants. Daddy, I’m in love with Dakota. He is my fated mate. We have worked out a solution that will make both of us happy.”

James sighed heavily and nodded. “We’ll support you and welcome him to the family.”

“Thank you, Daddy.” She hugged her father and then Eric.

The next afternoon was a whirlwind of activity. She dressed in the jade green tunic that was customary for the females of her clan. They would be married at twilight in a clearing at the base of the mountain, with Zac officiating. Members of her clan and his pack would be present to help them celebrate.

Opal, Talia, Beth, Savvy, and Taryn had descended upon the house around nine. Opal made scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast for everyone. Sadie was just glad that her stomach had stopped rolling every time she smelled food.

They spent the morning hanging out and talking. They ordered pizza for lunch and then they got busy preparing for the wedding. Talia curled Sadie’s hair and Taryn painted her nails. She put a little bit of eyeliner and eyeshadow on with a dab of lip gloss.

Then, Opal and Talia helped her put on the tunic.

Opal clapped her hands in delight. “You look gorgeous. Your red hair really enhances the color.”

Sadie smiled at her mother. Talia, who would be her matron of honor, wore a blue tunic.

Finally, it was time. It seemed to take forever to drive the short distance from her house to the clearing, but they eventually arrived. Her father was waiting for her.

“You look gorgeous, Baby Girl.”

“Thanks.”

“Are you sure you want to do this?” he joked.

“Dad.”

James laughed. “I had to ask.”

Sadie looked around. Fairy lights had been hung from the trees. The area was crowded with people who wanted to help them celebrate the beginning of a new life. The pine scent in the cool air was intoxicating. She couldn’t believe this was real. Part of her was terrified that she would wake up and she would discover this was a dream.

Her father nudged her. “It’s time.”

Talia and Sadie walked down the aisle ahead of Sadie. Then, everyone stood as James walked Sadie down the aisle between them. Her eyes were locked on the sexy man who waited for her. He looked regal in the dark blue tunic that represented his pack. A half smile played about his lips as he watched her approach.

James put her hands in Dakota’s. “You’d better take care of her or I’ll kick your ass.”

Dakota chuckled. “I promise.”

Zac was clearly amused. He cleared his throat and started the ceremony. “Friends and family. We are gathered here today to witness the mating of Dakota Higgins and Sadie Andrews. In our world, finding a true mate is a rare and precious gift. Sadie and Dakota have found in each other, not just partners for life, but a companion for their hearts and souls.”

He looked at Dakota and then Sadie. “Are you ready to exchange your vows?”

They both nodded.

“Dakota.”

“Sadie, you are my heart, my strength, and my home. From the day we’ve met, you’ve loved me unconditionally. Your courage inspires me, your kindness humbles me, and your love completes me. I vow to be your protector and partner, in this world and the next. I promise to stand by your side through all of life’s storms and to dance with you when the sun shines. I will cherish every moment we share. You’ve taught me the true meaning of belonging to a family and my pack. I promise to honor that every day of our lives together. I vow to be your rock and your safe haven. Sadie, you are my mate in every sense of the word. I love you more than I ever thought possible and I can’t wait to start this new chapter of our lives together.”

Sadie felt the tears in her eyes. She tried to blink them away, but one dripped down her cheek. Dakota gently wiped it away with a finger.

Zac nodded to Sadie.

“Dakota, everything in my world changed the moment you walked into it. You transformed from the man I admired to the man I fell in love with. I promise to stand by you. I vow to be your partner in life’s adventures and support your dreams. I promise to cherish the bond between us, to nurture it, and to let it grow stronger with each passing day. I promise to be your love, your best friend, and your confidante. I vow that we will face life’s challenges together and we will celebrate life’s joys as one. I love you and I’m honored to be your mate.”

Zac smiled. “By my power as the alpha of the Nightshade Wolf Shifter Pack, I decree that Sadie and Dakota are now mates and will journey through eternity together as one.”

Everyone jumped up and clapped for them. Sadie looked at Dakota. He smiled and lowered his head. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he pressed his lips to hers. The crowd faded away as their passionate kiss spoke of incredible love and the melding of two hearts and souls. It was a love that was destined to last for an eternity.

***

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