Page 126 of The Alpha King’s Hidden Mute Mate

This time was faster, rougher. I pounded into her while water streamed over us, her moans echoing off the bathroom walls. When she came this time, she bit down on my shoulder to muffle her scream, and I followed seconds later, grinding deep as I spilled inside her again.

We stayed like that for a long moment, both shaking, both overwhelmed. Then I carefully set her down and held her steady when her legs wobbled.

"You okay?" I asked.

"I'm—" She looked up at me, eyes soft. "I'm perfect."

I smiled, cupped her face in my hands, and kissed her gently. "Good. Because I meant what I said, I'm not done yet."

She laughed and swatted my chest. "You're going to kill me."

"What a way to go, though."

She rolled her eyes, but she was smiling, and when I pulled her close again, she came willingly, melted into me like she belonged there.

Because she did. She always had.

A month later, we held a wedding in that same garden.

Not the grand kind, with hundreds of nobles invited—but a small ceremony, attended only by our closest people.

The proper wedding I owed her.

Lily was the flower girl, wearing a white dress, a wreath matching Mia's on her head, scattering petals everywhere along the path. Edmund officiated, his voice catching several times while reading the vows, having to clear his throat to continue.

I stood under the flower arch, watching Mia walk toward me. She wore a simple white wedding dress with no elaborate decorations, just a silver ribbon tied at her waist. Her hair was pinned up, a few loose strands by her ears, a white rose tucked behind one. She looked so beautiful I forgot to breathe—not the carefully styled beauty, but a composed, certain beauty, like she'd finally returned to where she belonged.

She reached me, stopped, and looked at me.

"You going to cry again?" she whispered.

"No," I said, voice rough as sandpaper. "I just got something in my eye."

"There's no wind in the garden."

"Then you're too bright. Blinding me."

She smiled, that smile brilliant as a blooming flower in the sunlight.

Edmund cleared his throat and began reading the vows. But I barely heard any of it—all my attention was on her, on her curved lips, on her slightly trembling lashes, on the silver ring on her finger catching the light.

When it was my turn to say vows, I pulled out a piece of paper.

"I wrote this down," I said, unfolding the note. "Because I didn't want to screw it up."

She raised an eyebrow. "Go ahead."

I looked at the paper, took a deep breath, then began.

"Mia Turner. Five years ago, I met you at the Howling Ceremony. Back then, I thought I was the luckiest wolf in the world—because I'd found my fated mate. Later, I learned that fate didn't give me a gift, but a test. And I—I failed it."

I paused.

"But you know what? The most miraculous thing is—fate gave me a second chance. Not because I deserved it, but because you were willing. Willing to trust me again, willing to give me another chance, willing to let me into yours and Lily's lives. Your voice captivated me and controlled the entire kingdom. The prophecy came true."

I looked into her eyes and felt my voice shake.

"I can't promise the future won't have difficulties. But I can promise one thing—from today until my last breath, I will use all my strength to love you, protect you, and guard our family. I won't make you face the storm alone again. I won't let you cry alone in the night again. I won't miss any moment you need me."