In late April, scattered spring showers brought a wildflower super bloom to the Southern California coast. Sweeping swaths of purple and yellow dominated the patchwork, broken up by blotches of white and orange against a lush carpet of green grasses. The warm wind swept across the hillsides and set the blossoms to swaying.

Mary and Demetri were married in Wooly Acres' south pasture to be close to the grazing flock. Before family and close friends, the couple exchanged their wedding vows in the shade of the old oak tree where Mary had first seen her beloved shifted to a great golden ram.

The pastor said, "Throughout this ceremony, Mary and Demetri have vowed, in our presence, to be loyal and loving toward each other. They have formalized the existence of the bond between them with words spoken and with the giving and receiving of rings. Therefore, it is my pleasure to now pronounce them husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride!"

Giddy elation lifted Mary, brightening and lightening her entire being, and she would've sworn she was floating two feet above the ground. In breathless anticipation, she tilted back her head and gazed up at her new husband. Dressed in a traditional black and white tuxedo, no man had ever looked more handsome than Demetri did just then.

With a deft motion, Demetri lifted the gauzy veil from her face. Passion burned in his bright blue gaze. He tipped his head toward Mary, and their lips touched in a gentle kiss. Mary closed her eyes, swaying toward him, but she remembered to move her bridal bouquet out of harm's way. In the space of a heartbeat, the entire world ceased to exist beyond her lover. Demetri had kissed her countless times, but this embrace was unique and remarkable. Even forewarned, Mary found herself unprepared for the euphoria that swept through her as their mate bond took hold. Their souls met and merged, combining to form a greater whole that was both mysterious and sublime. Without hesitation, she surrendered herself to it...to him, the man she loved.

Her lifemate.

Applause broke through Mary's reverie, and her awareness of their audience splashed her like cold water. It startled her into opening her eyes. Disappointment filled her when Demetri ended the kiss. She'd been so engrossed in his touch that they could've made love with witnesses. The notion flitted through her mind, and a hot flush stained her cheeks.

"My beautiful blushing bride..." Chuckling, Demetri gathered Mary into his arms and cradled her against his powerful chest. The man radiated an aura of sublime confidence...and more than a smidge of smugness, too. Mary suspected he relished the macho ritual of carrying his bride to and from the proverbial battlefield.

"Hold up." Tammy rushed to perform her duty as Mary's Maid of Honor. She gathered the flared train of the gown while Jace Argo, Demetri's half-brother and Best Man, looked idly on.

"I guess I should've chosen a more practical dress. It didn't even occur to me what a production it'd be getting out here," Mary muttered in the grip of terrible embarrassment. She disliked being the center of so much attention. Although, really, there was no other dress she could have worn.

The classic, wedding gown had belonged to her mother and was also her Something Old. She'd modified the dress, adding lace appliqués knit from the wool of her flock as Something New. Tammy had loaned Mary a matching sapphire pendant and earrings—Something Borrowed, Something Blue.

"Don't be silly. This is your day. Enjoy it." Tammy straightened with her arms full of dress train. "Okay, we can go."

Demetri started for the gate, heading back to the farmhouse where their reception would be held. Gathered in pairs and small groups, their guests followed. Colleen, of course, skirted the edges of the human herd, making sure no one strayed. In the natural course of things, it couldn't have happened any other way.

"So Mrs. Larsen..." Midway, Demetri bowed his head, placing his lips against the shell of Mary's ear. His sultry, suggestive whisper sent shivers down her spine and inspired naughty notions.

"Yes, Mr. Larsen?" Mary loved the way the silly formality sounded. She gripped his lapel tighter and smiled shyly from beneath lowered lashes.

"I thought that went pretty well. You didn't even threaten to have me fixed."

Mary snickered. "Only because you gave up on your misguided ideas that I'd ever promise to obey."

"But it's traditional." Demetri affected a wounded tone, but Mary knew him well enough to see past his facade. The man was a shameless tease.

"I suspect you'll get over it." She pursed her lips and patted his chest with false sympathy.

He sighed. "I suppose I'll survive. Each new decade brings new challenges. Wait and see."

Huh. Mary blinked. She parted her lips, but didn't speak. Her thoughts traveled the path of: Oh, that's right. I'm immortal now, too. The thought left her confused, uncertain, and skeptical. While she grasped the basics of never aging or dying well enough, it remained an abstract concept. She suspected it'd be years, maybe even decades, before she truly grasped the full implications.

Fortunately, things happened too quickly for her to dwell on it overly long. Before she knew it, they'd reached the site of their reception, an outdoor pavilion that'd been erected alongside the newly constructed barn. The tent had an arched canopy with alternating white and gold drapes. The centerpieces were wild flowers gathered from the surrounding hillsides, the same as Mary's bridal bouquet.

Mary stood on the farmhouse's front porch to toss her bouquet over her shoulder to the small group of eager bachelorettes. When she let the flowers fly, excited shrieks and laughter flew into the air. But then an angry cry and the sound of a scuffle erupted. Mary whirled in time to catch the end of the spectacle.

"Let go, you mutt! It's mine!" Tammy shouted at Colleen. The woman and dog rolled together in a tangle, wrestling for the bouquet. A furry blur, Colleen burst from the scuffle with the flowers in her mouth. The cattle dog raced off across the yard. Stumbling, Tammy rose to her feet. She kicked the dirt and shouted curses after the four-legged thief.

Hilarity rocked the spectators. Mary pressed her hands to her sides and succumbed to the contagious mirth. She laughed until she cried. Demetri wrapped his arm around her shoulders; he alone kept her upright.

The whirlwind events sped along. Tammy returned, untidy and unkempt, triumphantly brandishing one-half of a battered bouquet. The professional photographer claimed a precious hour of their lives. Pose, smile, say cheese! And repeat. It all happened too fast. More than anything, Mary wanted to slow time, stop it in freeze frame, so she could savor each and every second to the fullest.

After pictures, they gathered in the pavilion. As the best man, Jace held up a champagne flute and offered the first toast.

"I want to thank everyone who was dragged out to witness the union of my oldest brother and his beautiful bride. I stand before you both as not only a part of your family... Sorry he dragged you into this family, Mary..." Jace dropped a wink.

"Don't apologize. I can handle Demetri." Mary flashed a sassy smile, and earned an appreciative round of laughter from their guests.

Demetri shot his brother a dirty look, promising payback.

Jace continued, "I vow to be here when you need me, whether it be to wrangle up some sheep, to listen to you complain about my brother's...less than endearing qualities, or just for a fun night with family. Mary, you are welcome in our lives."

Mary mouthed a quiet thank you and refrained from the urge to shake her head. Demetri had warned her that his brother was a huge ham. Her husband wasn't kidding.

"Demetri, you may be a pain in my ass, but I wish you all the happiness in this world. Life is full of hardships. Use each other to weather through them and everything else will fall into place. Here's to Mary and Demetri! May you live happily ever after!"

Jace raised his glass.

"To Mary and Demetri! May you live happily ever after!" Their guests answered in chorus, and the band struck the opening chords to the wedding song.

As the music played, Demetri swept Mary into his arms for the first dance. All attention riveted on the bride and groom, but the lovers only had eyes for each other. They moved as one...together forever.

The End.

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