Chapter 211: I Am Feeling Too Nervous About This
Emily was nervous, and it showed in the way her fingers kept curling around the edge of her gown. She was about to marry all five alphas at once, and no matter how many times she had imagined this day, standing here in the moment made her heart beat too fast.
The wedding gown was breath-taking.
It was a soft ivory dress with layers of flowing silk and delicate lace that shimmered whenever she moved.
The bodice was fitted just enough to flatter her growing figure without feeling tight, and the skirt fell in elegant waves all the way to the floor, spreading around her like a quiet cloud of light.
Tiny crystals were stitched into the fabric, catching the glow from the chandeliers above and making her look almost luminous. Fresh flowers were woven into her hair, and the jewels at her neck and ears added just enough sparkle to make her feel like the center of a dream she was still trying to believe in.
She glanced at Lily’s mother and Ana’s mother, both of whom were looking at her with warm, smiling faces. Their expressions were gentle and proud, the kind that made her feel a little less alone.
They seemed to understand exactly how overwhelming this moment was, and that made her chest tighten in a completely different way.
Tina, who was standing close beside her, reached out and squeezed her hand. Tina’s own pregnancy made her look glowing and soft, and somehow her presence made Emily feel a little steadier.
There was something comforting about seeing another pregnant woman standing there so calmly, as if this huge moment was not as impossible as Emily kept telling herself it was.
Tina’s thumb brushed over Emily’s knuckles in a slow, reassuring motion, and Emily felt her shoulders loosen by the smallest amount.
"Emily, you can do it," Tina said softly.
Emily let out a shaky breath and looked down at her gown again. "But I am feeling a bit nervous."
Tina smiled encouragingly. "Of course you are. Anyone would be. You’re about to marry five alphas at once. That’s not a small thing."
Emily gave a nervous little laugh, half embarrassed and half helpless. "That is exactly why I’m nervous. It sounds unreal when you say it like that."
Lily’s mother stepped a little closer, her eyes kind and warm. "You look beautiful, dear. Truly beautiful."
Ana’s mother nodded beside her, smiling gently. "And very calm considering what you’re about to do."
Emily blinked at that and gave a helpless little smile. "I don’t feel calm at all."
"That’s all right," Ana’s mother said. "You don’t need to feel calm. You just need to walk forward."
Tina tilted her head and grinned a little. "And maybe breathe."
Emily huffed out a laugh despite herself. "Breathing does seem important."
"It is," Tina said solemnly, then added with mock seriousness, "Very important. I would highly recommend it."
Lily’s mother chuckled, the sound light and affectionate. "You’ve already come this far, Emily. Don’t let nerves trick you into thinking you can’t do the last few steps."
Emily looked at her for a moment, then slowly nodded. Her hands slid carefully over the front of her gown, smoothing the soft fabric over her belly as if that could settle her heartbeat too. "I guess I just keep thinking about how everyone is out there waiting."
"And all five of them are probably losing their minds," Tina added, unable to hide the amusement in her voice.
That made Emily laugh properly, the tightness in her chest easing just enough to let her breathe a little easier. "That does make me feel better."
Ana’s mother adjusted one of the flowers in Emily’s hair and smiled. "They love you. That is why they’re waiting."
Emily swallowed hard, suddenly emotional for reasons she couldn’t fully explain. The jewellery felt heavier now, the dress more real, the whole moment more precious.
She rested one hand over the soft curve of her belly and tried to steady herself, feeling the subtle weight of all the attention, all the love, all the expectations that had gathered around this one day.
"I just don’t want to mess this up," she admitted quietly.
Lily’s mother gave her a tender look. "Sweetheart, loving them is not something you can mess up."
Tina nodded. "And neither is being yourself. That’s the whole point."
Emily lowered her gaze, then smiled faintly. "You make it sound so easy."
"It won’t feel easy," Tina said, her voice softening again, "but it will feel right."
Ana’s mother reached for her hand too, giving it a gentle squeeze. "When you walk out there, don’t think about perfection. Think about love. That’s what they’re all waiting for."
Emily took a deeper breath this time. Her nerves were still there, fluttering wildly under her ribs, but so was something warmer underneath them.
The dress shimmered softly around her, the flowers in her hair smelled sweet and fresh, and the jewels around her caught every little bit of light.
She looked at her reflection one more time and saw not just a bride, but someone who had survived enough to deserve this moment.
The gown itself felt like a dream made real. It was an ivory masterpiece with layers of flowing silk that moved like water whenever she shifted. The bodice was fitted with delicate embroidery and tiny crystals that sparkled under the soft lights, while the skirt fell in graceful waves all the way to the floor.
Fresh flowers had been woven through her hair in a loose, elegant pattern, and the jewels at her neck and ears gave her just enough brilliance to glow without feeling overwhelming.
The whole look was regal, romantic, and soft all at once, as though she had been wrapped in light and love and asked to simply become the centre of the day.
"I can do this," she said, more to herself than anyone else.
Tina smiled brightly. "Yes, you can."
Lily’s mother gave her a proud nod. "Now go and marry your five alphas."
Emily laughed through her nerves, then lifted her chin a little higher. "That does sound a lot scarier when you say it out loud."
"And yet," Tina said, stepping aside with a grin, "you are still going to do it beautifully."
Emily looked once more at the people around her, at the smiling mothers, at Tina’s warm expression, at the flowers in her hair and the glow of the dress around her.
Then she took another breath, steadier this time, and let herself believe it.
This was really happening. She was really here. And no matter how nervous she felt, she was ready to walk forward.
