FINAL CHAPTER OH MY GOODNESS!  Well, maybe, depends on how I end it since I wing each chapter.  Enjoy! :)

Chapter Quote:
“Real love, even in moments, is worth more than any of us can say.”
~Unknown
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Chapter 21: Bridal Rose

Arya 

New Years’ Eve, 11:45 p.m…

The Lightwood and Nightshade pack trekked up the ski slope to get the best view of the fireworks.  Arya trailed in the back with Melinda, Carrie, Casey, and Reyna.  The four wolves were gossiping something about Ryan Reynolds while Arya remained silent.  It’d been two weeks since Ren had returned, and nothing about his memory had improved.  Arya felt completely awkward and unsure of herself around him.  She hated that feeling, she didn’t know how to respond to him feeling that way.  Her solution ended up just to avoid him as much as possible, at least while alone.  Somehow though, she always seemed to end up alone with him someway somehow.

At the moment, Ren was with Shiloh and Loren, discussing something with them.  She tried to eavesdrop but since there were so many conversations going on, it turned out impossible.  When the group reached the top of the hill, they huddled in groups to stay warm.  Arya and her group stood in the very front, chattering away.

Someone slipped their hand into hers.  She glanced down in surprise before looking up.  Ren stood next to her, staring at the sky, a smile on his face.

“You look beautiful tonight,” he said.  Arya took in what she was wearing, wondering what he found so great about it.  She wore Ugg boots, skinny jeans, and a puffy, warm coat.  Her hair had been curled, but it was difficult to see since her hood was up.

“Thanks,” she replied.  Her mind raced with why he was holding hands with her.

“So, I think it’s time we talked.”

“About what?”

“Why you’ve been avoiding me.”

Arya felt her heart pound from guilt, but she gave the honest answer. “Oh, uh, I wanted to give you space.  I mean, I didn’t want to be the overly clingy girlfriend to the guy who is an amnesiac and thinking he was still going to marry his ex.”

Ren laughed. “Okay, I understand your reasoning, but I wanted to get to know you… again.”

“Maybe I was worried you wouldn’t like me the second time around.”

“I may not have acted like it, but I’ve been in love with you since they all told me what happened and I know you were dying at the time, but you were really adorable curled up on that chair asleep,” he admitted.  Arya heard a few girls going “aww.”  Turning around, she raised an eyebrow at Casey, Carrie, Reyna, and Melinda.  The girls scrambled ungracefully away.

“I’m glad to see the packs getting along,” Ren said.

“Overall.  I still don’t know what’s going to happen.  I mean, Shiloh and Loren still hardly speak to each other when I’m around.”

“Oh, I think one of your pack mates has been working on Loren.”

“Oh?”

Ren smiled. “I think he and Melinda have a thing going on.”

Arya turned around and searched for her omega and old second.  Sure enough, she found the two of them together, standing close to each other and smiling.

“I’ve been talking to Loren and Shiloh, trying to work something out with them.  Shiloh is not budging about being your second, and I’ve convinced Loren that in ten years, people change.  You’re not the same person he knew.  However, he’s not really cut out to be an alpha so I offered to let him be my second.”

“Seriously?” Arya raised her eyebrows.

“Yes, and he agreed after some convincing.”

“So he’s your second and Shiloh’s still my second?  Wow.  I don’t know how you pulled that off but way to go.  Hang on, if you’re Loren’s second, then my old pack is your pack.  I wanted both of my packs,” she growled.

“He’s still your pack.  I mean, unless you’ve called off our engagement again,” he replied with a smirk.

“I- how did you know about that?”

“That part Ansel and Neville told me.  They left out a lot of your side and my side because well neither of us told them everything.  I’m not sure if I want you to want me to propose again.  I don’t know if I could top my first proposal but at the same time I welcome the challenge.  I mean, attaching pictures to a rose that goes along with the meaning of the color of that rose was very time consuming.  And our pack didn’t even understand until I told them.”

“Wait… how do you remember that?  I never told you that, and you act as if you just know it.”

“Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you,” Ren said slowly.  A smile appeared on his face. “The Healers worked their magic so I kind of sort of have all of my memory back.”

Arya stared at him. “You got your memory back and you forgot to tell me?”

“I wanted to surprise you,” he said hesitantly.

“Do you know how much I want to ki-” he cut her off with a kiss right before multiple explosions went off in the sky.  Arya cupped Ren’s face, loving the sensation he was giving her.  When he pulled back, he explained sheepishly, “I hope you meant kiss me.  Whether or not you did, I wanted to kiss you into the New Year.  Supposedly starting the year off well means the whole year will be good.  And in my book, kissing my fiancée is a wonderful way to start.”

“I was going to say kill you but kiss you works too.  When did you get it back?”

“Earlier this afternoon.  So in my defense, you were busy the entire day so I didn’t have time to tell you until just now.”

“Fine, I forgive you.”

“However, just to make sure, we’re still engaged right?”

“Damn right we are,” Arya answered before kissing her fiancé more.
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Melinda 

Two years later… 

Arya, Cassie, Carey, Melinda, and Reyna sat in the dressing room.  Arya was in her wedding dress, fiddling with her ring.  She was nervous and excited all at the same time.  Melinda was too.  She couldn’t believe her alphas were finally getting married, especially after all they’d been through.

Arya’s dress was classic and beautiful.  The whole dress was satin and lace.  It was mermaid style, and the bottom part was tiered.  The top of the dress was lined with Swarovski diamonds and those same diamonds lined underneath her chest.  She wore a diamond tiara with her veil.  Her shoes were Christian Louboutin, five inches tall, making her the same height as Ren.  Melinda didn’t know how Arya managed to walk in them.

The bridesmaids wore dark blue dresses that were one-shouldered.  Melinda was the Maid of Honor; Loren was Best Man.

“Okay girls, time to go,” Mr. Lightwood informed, poking his head into the room.  All the girls stood up.  Arya towered over all of them and actually ended up being taller than her dad.  Melinda, Carrie, Casey, and Reyna walked out to meet their boyfriends who happened to be groomsmen.  Loren smiled at his girlfriend.

“You look stunning,” he said, giving her a kiss.

“Thank you.  You look incredibly handsome,” she replied with a grin.

“I try.  Come on, we’re up first.” Loren held out his arm which she looped hers through.  They started the procession.
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Ren 

Ren would like to say he held himself together during the entire ceremony without so much as a single tear escaping his eyes.  In reality, he started crying the moment he saw Arya walk up the aisle with her father.  It didn’t help that she was crying too.  When her father handed her hand to Ren’s, he felt her shaking.  He steadied her hand, which Arya gave him a grateful smile for.  She handed her bouquet, which was red and white roses, to Melinda, then took Ren’s other hand.

The priest was a Scribe from the Academy.  In fact, almost the entire Academy showed up to watch.  Calla’s pack was there too.  Even some townspeople who knew Arya and Ren’s secret showed up.  Overall, there were three hundred guests.

The wedding took place at the Stanley Hotel, so all the guests were staying at the hotel.  They had somehow managed to book all the rooms and close the hotel to guests for a day to pull off such a massive wedding.

When it came time for the vows, Ren started.  He had memorized every single line, wanting to impress his bride. “The first time we met, you quite literally saved my life.  I went in search for you, not thinking I’d actually be lucky enough to find you.  At first, my only intent was to ask you why you’d done it.  But then I found you, I talked to you, and my intent became completely different.  I wanted to get to know you.  I wanted to get to know your pack.  I wanted to be with you.  We met a lot of opposition on the way-” Ren winked at Shiloh who made a face at him “-but somehow, we both managed to overcome it.  I have never been so madly in love with someone before.  I am who I am because of you.  You are every reason, every hope, and every dream I’ve ever had since that day you saved me.  No matter what happens to us in the future, every day we are together will be the greatest day of my life.  I will always be yours and hopefully, you will always be mine because I love you.  I love you for all that you are, all that you have been, and all you’re yet to be.”

“Well dang Ren, how am I supposed to top that?” Arya groaned playfully, earning a laugh from the tearful crowd.  She wiped a tear gently off her face. “I’m going to start mine when you took a temporary leave in order to save my old pack.  I knew what I had with you, I knew it was extraordinary.  But it wasn’t until we reunited that I realized just how amazing and incredible we really are.  We have made it through the unthinkable.  We’ve fought wars, we’ve fought leaders, we’ve fought each other, but we made it through.  We’re special.  Ever since we met, I’ve known we’re special.  That the way we talk and laugh around each other is different than everybody else.  That I will never meet anyone I can trust as much as I can trust you.  And I think most people search their whole lives to find what we’ve already found.  And you know, before I met you, I never knew what it was like to be able to look at someone and smile for no reason.  And while I can’t end my vow in such a poetic way as you did, I want you to know that in you, I’ve found the love of my life and my closest, truest friend, and I love you more than words can explain.”

By now, Arya was choking out the words and Ren was wiping away her tears.  Everyone was crying, even the guys.  The Scribe maintained his composure somehow, and said, “Renier Laroche, do you take Arya Lightwood to be your lawfully wedded wife?”

“I do,” Ren said without hesitation.

“And do you Arya Light take Renier Laroche to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

“I most certainly do.”

The Scribe smiled. “Then it is my pleasure to announce you as husband and wife.  Ren, you may now kiss your bride.”

“Like they haven’t already,” Shiloh snickered.  Loren punched him on the arm to get him to shut up, but he was laughing.  However, Ren and Arya ignored them.  Ren pulled her veil away and pulled her close to him.  There were a lot of howls when they kissed.  They kept the kiss PG, saving the more mature stuff for later that night.  The newly married couple faced their audience and smiled.  Ren swept Arya into his arms and carried her down the aisle.  Everyone else followed once they were out.

Dinner started an hour later and after dinner, the dancing started.  Ren and Arya took the floor, giving their first dance.  “Wherever You Will Go” played while they danced. 

Ren wondered how their lives would play out, how many kids they’d have, how old they’d live to be, and a ton of other things.  But when it came down to it all, as long as he had Arya by his side, he’d be okay.  As long as they were together, they would be okay.
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I hope you enjoyed the final chapter!  I don’t think I’ve ever finished a story this quickly before :)  THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO FAVORITED THIS STORY, PUT THIS STORY ON STORY ALERT, AND/OR REVIEWED!  You guys seriously kept me going!  If I did it correctly, those of you on Wattpad should be able to see the dress.  If not, just message me in the review that you want to see the dress and I’ll send you the link.  Please review!!

~Love from Wisegirl502