Brody stood at the head of the church, wearing a tuxedo. The room was full of his and Millie’s friends and family. His friends, Chance and Wyatt, fellow game wardens, had come to support him on his big day.

Both men had found their mates in the months following shifters coming out. It had been a challenging time, but finding their beloved mates was the best thing that had ever happened to any of them.

The wedding march started and the double doors of the church opened down the aisle. Millie stepped out, dressed in lace and silk. She looked like a dream floating toward him. His mate. She was as beautiful as her bear as she was as a woman. She came toward him, holding her father’s arm.

Millie gave her dad a kiss on the cheek and faced Brody as her dad took a seat. The preacher began the ceremony and all Brody could think about was how lucky he was to find a woman like Millie.

After they’d mated, they had decided to go away. Both of them wanted to see the world. To get over their past. With the sheriff behind bars for the rest of his life, Brody took a leave of absence from the sheriff’s department and Millie took one from the hospital.

She’d taken a position with Doctors Without Borders and they’d traveled through Africa and Eastern Europe, helping people in need.

They’d met shifters from around the world and learned about their problems. In some countries, the hatred from humans was even worse than in the States. In some countries, it was barely there at all.

In the end, they’d decided to come home and get married with all their friends and family there. Millie moved into his house and they’d both gotten their jobs back.

When the preacher asked Brody if he would take Millie as his wife, his bear nearly burst from his body to claim her all over again. Instead he just said, “I do.”

When they were pronounced husband and wife, they kissed deeply. Everyone cheered as they walked toward the door. Out in the light, everyone threw birdseed when they made their way to the car for the reception.

Later, out on the dance floor, and after a few glasses of champagne, Brody spun Millie in a two-step to the lilting sound of country music. She’d become a good dancer, and they’d danced every chance they’d had since they’d declared their love for each other that night.

Finally, sweaty and a little drunk, they sat down to talk with their friends at the reception table. The first to come talk to him was his friend Chance Baker and Chance’s wife Summer. They’d been married about a year ago and had a baby son who looked just like Chance.

“We’re out of honey,” Chance said with his baby held against his chest.

“We’ve got plenty,” Millie teased. “How about a gallon?” She stood and took the baby bear out of his father’s arms, cooing at the little guy. Brody loved seeing her with a baby.

“The huckleberry patch is going in tomorrow. I hope you guys are ready for it,” Chance said.

“I absolutely adore huckleberries! I’m sure the bees will love it too,” Millie said.

The baby started to fuss and Summer took him back with a smile, her long dyed dreadlocks falling around her shoulders. “Your honey is the best I’ve ever tasted. It’s so fresh and natural.”

“I treat my bees right,” Brody said. He’d taught Natalie how to tend them while he was away, giving her something to care for after Chris’s death.

Summer and Chance went back out into the party to take care of the baby and Wyatt and Candice came up to the table, smiling and giddy.

“I never thought I’d see the day when you settled down, Brody.”

“Me more than Chance?” he asked.

“Chance looks big, but he’s really a softy. You, on the other hand, are a wild card.”

“Not anymore,” he said, squeezing Millie’s hand.

“I’ve bought you a year’s supply of steaks from my favorite rancher. I put my special seasoning on them so even an idiot can make a good steak.”

“Who are you calling an idiot?” Brody growled, with a good-natured grin.

“Not Millie.” Everyone laughed.

“Be nice, Wyatt,” Candice chided. “It’s his wedding day.”

“Brody knows I’m just messing with him. It’s good to have you back, buddy.”

Candice and Wyatt fell back into the crowd and Brody turned to his new wife. He took her hand and led her back out onto the dance floor. It was a slow song this time. He wrapped his arm around her waist and took her hand. Her eyes smiled up at him.

“I’m so happy,” she whispered in his ear.

“I’m happy too, babe.”

He pulled her to his body, and they the danced across the floor.