Here's your official invititation to Ollie and Corey's big Texas Wild! Wedding.
According to my notes, I've been planning this for about 6 months now. Lurd! I hope you enjoy it. It was harder than heck to get right - but believe me, I gave it my all. And I think Ollie and Corey are happy.
Their reception will be in the next section and believe me - our boys are gonna throw down as soon as they get in Corey's childhood bedroom to change their clothes...
I hope their joy makes this insane world a little brighter. I hope it makes you a little happier.
Chapter 22: One Last Morning Before Forever
I woke up in my old bedroom without my Ollie in my arms, and I didn’t like it one little bit. Lurd. Why did I ever agree to spend the last night of my single life away from my sweet grounding center?
Yeah, I know… Ollie always thinks I’m the one who grounds him. And come on, “ground” is such an overused word anyway… except that it perfectly describes what Ollie does for me. Exactly what he gives me. Damn, I just hoped that he’d managed to sleep better than I did. Even after the Joe T’s margaritas I’d had, I still tossed and turned all night without having my pup to cuddle with.
Thankfully, I wasn’t even close to being hungover, but I also wasn’t any closer to being calm or collected either. As soon as the sun flooded the very room we’d first woken up together in, I couldn’t stay in my lonely childhood bed any longer. It was a little before 7:00, and if I couldn’t sleep, then I could at least wake up my dads - and my mother and stepfather - in the most constructive way possible.
I made my solo trek to the kitchen, remembering the morning I’d made this same journey with my newly “adopted” Ollie pup just over a year ago. I could recall it perfectly: it was a dark morning with storms threatening. It was also the morning we’d decided it was time to boldly declare our love and fully commit to each other. Ollie had sincerely asked me to take his virginity - and he’d managed to convince me he was truly ready.
I was forever grateful he had been able to deliver one of his best heart-melting speeches and make me realize that it really was time to consummate our new love.
And of course - in pure Ollie style - we decided to celebrate our decision by making a huge breakfast for Dad and Ted (and then buying some wildly inappropriate pool attire later). Ollie loves his breakfasts, and I love making them with him; it’s one of our favorite dances. My butterflies fluttered around my heart at the memory.
Lurd, Corey! Do. Not. Start. Crying. Just keep it together.
I knew I had no choice. If I wanted to make it through this big day without my pup - and without breaking down - I needed to jump into my early-morning task with all my heart. I started by mixing my secret pancake batter - er, so yeah, the one Dad also knew, mostly because he was the one who’d taught it to me.
Oh. My. Ollie.
I couldn’t keep from getting wistful as soon as I started performing his parts of our intimate morning tango. I fried the bacon, trying to get it to his level of crispy-yet-still-chewy perfection, while also doing my best to recreate his slow-cooked scrambled-egg masterpiece. I finally had to laugh at myself when I realized my eyes were already watering by the time I slid his two best dishes into the oven to stay warm while I turned my attention back to my magical batter.
Before I could complete all my tasks, the enticing smells did their job and gently woke Dad, Ted, and even Mom and Ben. They all jovially made their way into my morning workspace, yawning and stretching in their tighty-whities - yep, we’d been in this family configuration long enough that even Ben knew the routine. Mom was in a nightshirt, but still just as comfortably informal as the rest of us boys.
It’s not like I even remotely had inappropriate feelings for any of my fathers, but damn, they all looked good. In my eyes, my three handsome dads had simply always been the solid foundation of support and love that I’d relied on my whole life. I’m here today because of these four amazing people. I didn’t come from a broken home - I came from a wonderfully expanded one.
A delicate wish followed a winding path through my overly emotional brain. Ollie and I always joked about “making more puppies,” but there had to be a way I could truly give my sweet man a son or daughter of our own. A child we could be the foundation for.
I knew the world offered plenty of options… but for us - for my Ollie - it would have to be something meaningful. Something that felt like family from the very beginning.
I finally greeted my parents’ sleepy faces with a sincere, “Good morning, Dad, Uncle Ted, Stepdad Ben, and Mom! Y’all know that’s not something I get to say very often. I’m so happy to have all of you together for our big day.”
After two bone-crushing, proud-papa bear hugs from Dad and Ted, we finally sat down to enjoy the feast I’d just barely managed to pull off without breaking down into full-on tears. The only way I’d made it through was by staying laser-focused on my soon-to-be husband - imagining he was with me every step of the way.
Dad quickly caught my distant, reflective look as I was absent-mindedly pushing my eggs around my plate, and he refused to let me slide down into an early-morning pit of torment. “Corey, my beautiful, sweet son, I can’t tell you how proud I am to see you so… well, rattled, but still trying your best to put on a brave face. Nothing could show us more clearly that you’re not just in love with Ollie…”
He almost cringed, knowing he was about to quote the most cliché line in rom-com history. “Corey, it’s so obvious that Ollie completes you - perfectly. Exactly the way Ted completes me, and Elizabeth completes Ben. I couldn’t be a happier father.”
Mom quickly chimed in, “We all couldn’t be happier - or more proud - parents right now.”
Before I could blush to death, Ted jumped in. “Not to give away too many secrets that I’ve been entrusted with, but if it’s any consolation, Ethan and Daniel both texted me last night about how distraught Ollie was without you.” His wink was a dead giveaway that he was about to drop some top-tier dad-joke intel. And we all know that my muscle-bear ‘uncle’ lives for his dad jokes.
He could barely contain himself. “Apparently, Ollie had his first alcoholic drink and his first three-way last night.”
I stayed quiet, refusing to let Ted lead me down the path to his fatherly rabbit hole - I knew a trap when I saw one. And while he was gearing up to spill more of his entrusted secrets, I had to admit… I was already impressed with Ollie’s accomplishments.
Ted’s eyes gleamed with benign mischief as he let a telltale little chuckle escape. “Ollie decided he just couldn’t sleep alone in y’all’s bed last night, so he asked if he could join Daniel and Ethan in theirs - right after that big onyx obelisk of yours nearly killed them while they were, er… consummating their engagement on an air mattress.” Ted’s grin wasn’t judgmental in the least, but I could tell he was expectantly waiting for my reply.
I rolled my eyes, “Please tell me no one was hurt - and that Ollie at least kept his tighty-whities on.”
Ted’s face somehow beamed even brighter. “According to the last text I got, Ethan and Daniel survived their near-death experience, but the mattress didn’t. And they all even made it through the embarrassment of facing the tall blanket forts the three of them woke up to this morning.” He winked before finishing, “I’m thinking y’all might get to have a tan-line-free summer with your college friends after last night. Well… and after our big family honeymoon in the Caribbean.”
I shot Ted an incredulous look. “Wow. So my Ollie had his first drink and then slept naked with his best friends?” I shook my head, half in disbelief, half in awe. “Lurd. What’s the world coming to?”
Dad pulled me into a hug. “The world is finally just feeling the magic you and Ollie bring everywhere you go.”
He stayed in proud-father mode as he continued, “Corey, you played your role as a noble bachelor for almost too long. You never let yourself commit to anyone you felt wouldn’t - or couldn’t - be yours forever. Every time I watched you break up with the wrong guy, it both killed me and made me prouder of you. I understood that you’d never settle for anyone less than the one man who was meant for you. But I was also as nervous as any father would be - worried that while your high standards may keep your heart protected, they might also keep you alone for the rest of your life.”
I swear, my father’s smile was the warmest, most loving look I’d ever received from him. “Corey, when you brought your lost pup home to us last year, Ted and I felt it immediately - we knew that our boy had finally been made whole. And the fact that our Ollie is just as distressed as you are over spending one little night apart proves everything we already knew. Today is going to be the perfect declaration that our two amazing sons are ready to start the rest of their lives together, as a married couple.”
Dad and Ted - and Mom and Ben - pulled me into an unexpected group hug before I could even groan at yet another mention of everyone’s current favorite dad joke. So instead, I let my inner thirteen-year-old boy melt into their comfort and simply accepted the love and support they were offering. And sure, maybe a few tears made their way down my cheeks in the process.
For the first time this morning, I finally felt completely at peace… right up until I couldn’t keep from picturing my pup, in our house, feeling just as alone. My only wish was that my love was getting a similar hug from his grandparents and his best friends.
Lurd, my Ollie. We really can’t seem to take being apart for even a single night.
****
After our long, torturous night and day of being separated from each other - while still texting LG and making sure that every detail of our wedding plan had been taken care of - I received the most unexpected, yet somehow wonderful text from Ethan.
Ethan: Mr. Wolf, I just flipped a coin in front of your pup, but I wouldn’t let him call it. So… what is it, my man? Heads or tails?
I blinked at his non sequitur - yet obviously serious - question.
Corey: I’m not sure I understand. But, um… tails?
Ethan: Congratulations! You get to be the bride!
I finally understood what he was talking about. We’d tried our best to figure out how we could both walk out to our podium at the same time and reveal ourselves to each other in tandem, but our venue was simply too open for that to happen without a bunch of contrived props that we didn’t want to deal with. So it all came down to this surprise coin toss.
And since I’d just “won” the bride’s entry time, it meant that my Ollie would be standing there, waiting for me at the podium, when I finally made my appearance at the start of our little aisle to forever.
Chapter 23: Sit Down, Shut Up, Here We Go!
If anything, the weather was even milder and more perfect than what my Apple Watch had promised. We were graced with a beautiful deep-blue sky that only grew richer as the sun began to sink, adding hues of gold, red, and orange to the edges of our early evening.
The temperature had never managed to climb above eighty-two degrees all day - a Texas miracle by any standard for this time of year.
I was dressed in the uniform we’d agreed on with our coordinator, something LG had playfully dubbed a “Linen Texas Summer Wedding.”
Ollie and I were - at least I assumed he hadn’t changed anything - both in half-buttoned, loose-fitting white linen shirts contrasting with fitted khaki linen pants. We’d also agreed on wearing brilliant blue suspenders instead of belts. Everyone who saw us model them insisted they somehow brought out the best in both of our differing shades of blue eyes. And lastly, we were wearing new matching white tennis shoes. It was the most comfortably stylish I’d ever felt.
The two boys who’d somehow been allowed to sleep with my groom - naked - were dressed in the same shirts, shoes, and suspenders, but with more reasonable khaki linen shorts. They were on usher duty, making sure our guests made it to the correct seats. Just because Ollie and I had decided to suffer through the agony of full-length pants on a Texas summer evening didn’t mean our friends had to as well.
The one thing their uniforms - costumes? - didn’t have was the amazing embroidered wolf head on our shirts. Ollie and I each had one over our left pec, hidden under a Velcro rip-away patch (cleverly disguised as a pocket), ensuring our day would be full of surprises - maybe even a few completely unscripted ones.
Our parents were allowed to dress however they felt most comfortable. With all the love and care they’d given us over the years, the least we could do was make sure they felt welcomed and relaxed while being part of our wedding. Our main goal was to include everyone we could and simply let them be their best selves - all while letting them know just how important they were to our pack.
****
Our guests were seated and Riley faithfully sat beside Ethan as he and Daniel stood like guards at the start of our aisle. The scene grew golden in hue. The magical pre-twilight hour cast everything in a warm glow, exactly as it had the evening I had accompanied Ollie to his new home. I suddenly had to fight back my first tears of the ceremony as I remembered the joy of introducing my pup to his new family.
Reverently stepping onto our aisle’s white carpet, I realized… Oh. My. Ollie. This is actually happening - like right freaking now.
I hadn’t been allowed to see, hug, or even catch my mate’s scent all day. Yeah, I know that’s a little fringe, but come on. I’ve woken up to my Ollie’s comforting musk every day for over a year. I knew my love had to be dealing with the same withdrawals right now.
I thoughtfully chuckled. Lurd, I really need to check the clinical definition of codependency soon.
I was in a daze as I let myself be joined arm-in-arm between my father and mother. We’d practiced everything. I’m the alpha. My Ollie needs me. My Riley depends on me.
So why am I the one who’s suddenly about to totally lose it?
We have - I have - everything planned.
Come on, Corey. Just step forward.
I let my gaze leave the carpet and finally rise to take in the view of what was waiting for me - standing there beside the podium - this was it - Go Time…
** Ollie’s perspective **
I saw him.
My wolf - walking down the aisle toward me - between his father and mother.
Oh. My. Corey.
How had we ever survived so long without each other? How had we somehow made it through our lives on our own before we met?
I suddenly realized that even though I had technically lost the coin toss, I might’ve ended up on the lucky side of it. I got to be escorted by Ted on one arm and my mother on the other. I marveled - never imagining there could ever be a universe where any of this was possible.
With the support of two of my three parents who loved me unconditionally, I somehow made it down the aisle without collapsing. Now I was standing at our wedding podium, barely keeping my composure, waiting for my wolf… Trying to make it look like I was the strong one.
I looked into his eyes… and my heart stopped.
I let myself slip into a dazed, euphoric state - standing frozen, watching my man walk down the aisle to join me at our podium. He was radiating a love that, from this moment on, I knew I would always be able to rely on, no matter how far apart we might ever be.
My Corey, you are so incredibly beautiful. I’ll never stop being honored that you chose to be mine. I never imagined there could be a way for you to look more stunning than you did the first moment I saw you walk through the door of our fated clinic.
…
A man I assumed had to be Corey stepped out from a doorway and called my name… This Corey person was my perfect man. I stood up, and he offered me his hand - politely ignoring my uncontrolled, hero-worshipping, deer-in-the-headlights gawk … I noticed that he was even taller than my own 6'3” stature. With beautiful dark-blond hair, a full beard, and, a good bit of chest fur poking out of his scrubs. Most importantly - right now, anyway - he had the kindest sky-blue eyes I’d ever seen.
…
I now understood that I had been totally wrong.
My Norse God, this is the moment I want forever engraved into my memory: seeing my wolf being led down the aisle by the two amazing people who brought him into the world.
Into my world.
** Corey’s Turn **
My Ollie. I had no idea...
I thought I’d fallen in love with you so completely when my eyes first landed on your beautiful, brave, and obviously so very scared face. You shattered all my defenses the moment you stood up and bravely took my hand in that uninviting waiting room on that fated day…
…
“Ollie, when I opened the waiting room door this morning and saw you - this big, beautiful boy who was trying so hard to be brave, but was so obviously terrified and alone - I felt instincts sharper than I’d ever felt before. I wanted to grab you, hold you close, take you home, and protect you forever.
…
I now understood that I had been totally wrong.
I can’t believe how much more I’m in love with you right now. Seeing you standing there - confidently, proudly, yet still a bit terrified, between our dad Ted and the mother you’d thought you’d lost.
My Ollie, you’ll always be my pup. That’s never going to change. But please tell me you know that you’re also my equal, my foundation, my… well, my alpha too. I could never be this brave without you, my love.
** Ollie’s Perspective **
The emotion-stirring notes of Beethoven’s Sonata No. 8 - Second Movement soared as Corey’s procession made its way down the aisle. The moving chords slowly faded away as our parents took their seats and our Justice of the Peace, the Honorable Simon Stevens, cordially took over the proceedings. Which was good, because all Corey and I could manage at the moment was simply staring at each other with wide eyes full of love, gratitude, and amazement - already glistening with unshed happy tears.
We each tried our best to will the other the strength we needed to keep from breaking down as Simon began his speech.
“Good evening everyone, I’m Simon Stevens and I’ve been blessed with knowing Corey and his wonderful family since he was just a boy. I was given the privilege of watching him grow into the wonderful man that he now is. And of witnessing his joy over finding Ollie - the man he’s pledging his unending commitment to this evening.
“Over this past - exciting - year, I’ve also gotten to know Oliver. In that short time, I’ve found that there are very few men who are as brave and strong, as loving and caring, and as committed to his family - all of his families - as he is.
“There is no question in my mind, Ollie is the perfect companion for the Corey I know so well.
“I’m hoping that since you’ve been invited here this evening, that you truly know at least one of these two amazing men who are dedicating themselves to each other. So, I feel safe in saying that all of us here right now… We all understand, we all see, we all feel, just how deep their love and devotion to each other has become. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever known two other souls who were more destined to be together.”
Simon smiled, inviting our guests into his speech, “Yet they somehow decided to spend an entire year reassuring us all that they truly were meant to be each other’s forever.
“Now, let’s get a little interactive for a minute - and let y’all become a part of their celebration.
“I know I can’t be the only one who was more than a little amazed when I saw how deeply in love these two souls instantly were - how committed and happy their lives suddenly became. So tell me with a show of hands: How many of you never believed these two hopelessly-in-love pups could actually wait an entire year - after announcing their engagement - before finally getting married?”
The crowd’s respectful laughter and sudden flourish of raised hands played perfectly into Simon’s strategy. He gleefully declared, “Exactly as I thought!” just before our friends serenaded us with a round of loving laughter.
Simon’s eyes danced around the captivated crowd. With a knowing smile, he continued, “Well then, that can only mean one thing: y’all definitely know our two men as well as I do… and as well as their family does. And that means there’s only one more question I need to ask.”
He softened his gaze as it swept over our friends and family. “May I see one final show of hands? How many of us here will admit that we’ve been positively affected by witnessing the amazing love between Ollie and Corey?”
Another round of happy chattering and smiling followed as nearly everyone started raising their hands to the sky once again, showing their love for their two grooms.
Before everyone even had the chance to get their hands all the way up, Simon broke character for just a moment and gestured toward our two suddenly blushing ushers.
“Ethan, Daniel - don’t you two dare keep your recently engaged hands down. Show off those beautiful new engagement rings to everyone, and prove that, as Corey said last night - true love always fosters more love.”
After a sincere round of clapping and congratulations directed at our ushers, Simon was able to continue.
He opened his raised arms in a grand gesture of inclusion, “Everyone here - all of us - we are part of the legacy Corey and Ollie are building. Even before this evening’s ceremony, that legacy has already become something to cherish, something to believe in, something to inspire us all. Their deep, pure, unbridled love goes far beyond the two of them - and their perfect pup. It’s a tangible signpost we can all look to - to help guide us along our path to becoming more loving and understanding people in our own lives.
“These two men didn’t just fall in love - they committed to building a life together. Day by day, they continue to choose each other. They continue to grow with each other. And as deeply personal as their voyage is, they still graciously invite all of us to be a part of their journey.
“Today isn’t just about rings and vows. It’s about family.” Simon glanced down at Susan and Jordan; at Ted and Chris; at Elizabeth and Ben. “The family they were born into. The family they’ve found. And the new family they’re committing to build. So, when we celebrate Ollie and Corey this evening, we’re really celebrating the power of love.
“The power that brings people together, that heals wounds, that gives us a path forward, that creates something bigger than ourselves. That’s why we’re here. That’s why we’re smiling, and laughing, and maybe wiping a few tears away. Because a love like theirs reminds us all of what’s possible.”
Simon took a deep breath as he surveyed the crowd, gauged their attentiveness, and continued. His face unexpectedly turning serious as stone.
“Unfortunately, this is the part where I’m required to ask if anyone objects to this beautiful union - and I swear, I’m usually a little less forewarned. But this evening, I’ve already received a very specific… and legitimate… concern.”
Our whole party grew deathly silent - a few hushed whispers escaped despite everyone’s best efforts to hold them in. I could see it in their shocked faces: No one could imagine anyone having a complaint about the marriage between me and Corey. I was pretty sure our friends and family considered us to be a perfect couple - practically fated to be together.
Our officiant continued, but decided to let the crowd in on the unexpected joke - by letting a sly smile replace his serious expression before focusing on us. “Ollie. Corey. I’ve been handed a note from an anonymous… uh… grandfather, who insists he still needs to know if y’all have ever had a legitimate fight yet.”
Our relieved friends let out a sigh of relief and a comforting laugh.
My eyes searched our front row of guests and instantly fell on my sweetly chuckling grandfather, and I suddenly knew exactly what needed to be said. “So, Grandpa Joe-nonamous… Yes. We’ve even had a few really big ones. But as big as they were, they always seem to start over the dumbest little things. Like me never cleaning my hair out of the shower drain.” I cut my eyes over to Corey and admitted, “Apparently, I shed…”
My wolf jumped in. “And me scolding him a little too harshly for it while accidentally using the phrase ‘my house.’” Corey’s look made it clear he hadn’t forgotten - or quite forgiven himself for - that critical mistake.
I continued, “And ending with me shouting horrible words back at him before realizing how much I never wanted to say any of them.” I blushed, forced to relive the moment. “I went from being angry and hurt to immediately feeling regretful and ugly.”
My love delivered the final line of our confession as he captured me in those loving sky-blue eyes. He cracked the sweetest little smirk, “It’s okay, pup. It gave us both something to apologize for.”
Our loved ones fell silent at our soul-baring admissions. They gifted us with the kind of reverent quiet that felt like a mass mea culpa. Every longtime couple on the planet intimately knows the feeling.
From the audience, Grandpa Joe knew he was the only one who could absolve us of our past transgressions and allow us to move forward. With an unexpectedly shaky voice, he managed, “It’s okay, my boys. I just didn’t expect y’all to answer my question quite so honestly. But believe me, that absolutely qualifies.” He cleared his throat and tried to recover his composure. “Well then! I guess you two should stop gabbing with this old man and hurry up and get married!” He gave us an approving smile and wink, “You have my blessing.”
I looked at my wolf, wondering how this moment could have possibly been more special… or more embarrassing… or more perfect.
Chapter 24: Wedding Howls
In an unexpected way, Grandpa Joe’s unscripted “granddad joke” had managed to break through my wedding tension and calm my buzzing nerves. Being asked to give such an honest and sincere answer made me realize that we weren’t simply actors reading through a fragile script - giving a performance that would fall apart if we forgot a line or missed a mark. This was our special night and whatever mistakes may happen, none of them could derail it; they would only make it more personal, more memorable, more ours. I was even finally beginning to enjoy the whole event, which was good because…
Our fluffy ring bearer was about to get his big shot at fame. It was time for Riley to carry our rings down the aisle and prove he was the canine superstar we always knew he could be. Ethan knelt down to give our boy a reassuring ear scratch before attaching the ring box to his harness and freeing him from his leash.
Okay pup! Corey and I know you’ve got this!
Riley obediently remained still at Ethan’s feet. Giving his pack member his complete fluffy attention as Ethan rose up and calmly gave the commands we’d practiced. Riley already knew what to do. “Okay Riley, you’re a good boy! Walk to your daddies.”
The fate of our wedding rested in our furry boy’s four white, stocking-patterned paws. All eyes - and more than a few cameras - were on him. And it was obvious he was loving every second of the attention coming from his adoring fans. After soaking it in for a few moments, he finally remembered he had a job to do and directed his attention firmly toward us. Toward both of us.
He saw his Corey! After “losing” him for a whole day, Riley gleefully bolted up the aisle to greet his missing parent, leaving all his practiced doggy dignity dissipating in a wake of floating fur. In another completely uncharacteristic burst of excitement, he jumped up and began sniffing his pack’s alpha, making sure his daddy was still alive after being away from his den for the whole night.
Our audience erupted with excited laughter and cheers. Corey and I shared a private smirk - we both knew our pup could do better. Corey raised his hands to the crowd, “Sorry for our little fluffy failure. It’s our fault, not Riley’s. I’m afraid we’d never thought about our pup’s reaction to seeing me after I had been gone for a whole day.”
I had the next line, “Believe me y’all, Riley worked hard on this and I think we need to give him the second chance he deserves.” I scanned the faces of our friends and family. I could tell that half of them thought we were clearly insane for looking a gift dog in the muzzle. The other half were already preparing to capture more embarrassing puppy wedding moments for TikTok.
I confidently looked down at my black-nosed pup, “Okay Riley, good boy! Go to Ethan again. Now!” He calmly walked back up the aisle to once again sit at Ethan’s feet - as if he’d done all this, well, many - many - times before.
Ethan smiled and gave him a slightly different command, “Okay my good boy - let’s do it like we practiced this time… Get it done!”
We all watched our trained pooch trot back to us like the amazing dog he was… Right up to the midpoint of his journey. I saw him give me a final obedient look just before he stopped in his tracks and sniffed the air. Everyone froze, not wanting to trigger a wrong response.
It didn’t matter, whatever smell he’d caught on the wind was all it took. Riley did a sudden half-crouch with his front legs splayed out in front of him - eyes bright, mouth open, tongue lolling. The position that all dog owners knew all too well. Our boy had shifted into low-gear and all-wheel-drive - ready to bound nose-first into a full-blown case of the zoomies.
Riley started his show with a few impossibly fast spins before shifting into a few tight, crouched circles, and then finally running down the aisle toward me and Corey. He caught my eye but he didn’t even slow down. The crowd was in absolute hysterics and my pup was loving every second of it as his audience continued to roar with laughter and even give a few encouraging cheers.
Keeping all my reactions in check, I realized that this was a lot harder to manage than I’d imagined. I had to keep one eye on our pup and the other on the audience - making sure they behaved. The first chuckle I allowed myself to have, came when I realized that I didn’t even need to worry - NONE of our friends or family were anywhere close to trying to corral our wayward pup. Nope, they were all way too busy capturing the chaos with their phones - so Riley could go viral on multiple social platforms later tonight. Lurd!
By this time, Riley was already halfway through his loop around my side of our seated guests. I watched closely as he rounded the far corner and headed straight back to Ethan.
Our brave Ethan leaned down in a valiant but doomed attempt to catch our out-of-control furry speed demon. Riley readily dodged his flailing arms and danced around the dismayed usher before giving a playful bark and dropping into a full-blown doggy-down “let’s play” stance. He stayed perfectly still, his tail wagging with fake innocence.
Ethan already knew the game he was about to lose, but still felt compelled to play along. He approached slowly, fully aware of the inevitable humiliation that awaited him the moment he got close enough to grab our pup.
My friend playfully, but with determination, lunged forward. Our Riley easily side-stepped his reach with Olympic agility. He gave another playful bark before doing a few more victory laps around his thoroughly defeated pack member and then zipped back down the aisle toward us.
And once again - as if on cue - Riley caught our eyes as he zoomed past us. This time, he decided to take a lap around Corey’s side of our very amused audience.
As our black-nosed nemesis rounded his final corner, he locked on to Daniel, who just stood there, not making a move (or maybe giving a silent command that no one but Riley could see). That was all it took; our panting pup politely slowed and trotted past Daniel to once again, calmly sit at the start of the aisle, right between our two entirely-too-composed ushers.
I was finally able to give more attention to the crowd than to our pup, and I was instantly rewarded. I watched as their faces shifted from laughing themselves to tears into a wide-eyed amazement - all of them still completely transfixed by our seemingly unpredictable pup.
With his attention back to where it had kinda maybe always been, Riley pranced his way back down the aisle toward us for the fourth time (if anyone’s counting). This time, he made it past the midpoint, but just as he reached the front row of chairs, Corey and I did our best Siegfried and Roy. We dramatically raised our right hands, giving Riley a “STOP” command that was obvious to everyone.
Our boy immediately heeled and sat between Mom on my side and Chris on Corey’s. All of our parents glanced up at us with a look that made all of our secret practice time totally worth it.
I delivered my final line, “Good boy, Riley! Okay buddy, just like we practiced! Wait…”
My wolf always started our pack’s song. He took a deep breath, lifted his chin to the darkening sky, and began his howl. I joined him a heartbeat later, slipping into our familiar harmony. From the aisle, Riley reared up on his haunches - front paws folded neatly against his chest - as he added his own voice to the song of his pack.
As soon as our howl faded, I gave my final hand signal. Riley dropped back to all fours, sprinted straight toward me, and leapt into my waiting arms - licking my face and giving me my first kiss of our wedding. Our admirers erupted into cheers, whistles, and laughter as Corey stepped over to the pup in my arms to finally retrieve the ring box.
But we didn’t want our friends to stop filming yet. I let Riley jump back down to sit at my side while Corey motioned for the crowd to quiet. They did so faster than I expected. I guess they knew this was our show now… And it definitely wasn’t over yet.
Corey flashed a huge smile as he said, simply, “Welcome to our little wolf pack!” We both ripped the Velcro patches off our shirts, revealing the embroidered wolf heads. This time, it wasn’t just cheers - we got a standing ovation.
I grinned down to see that our pup was as thoroughly pleased with himself as we were. I quietly motioned for him to go to Ted and Chris as they beckoned him. Forever the attention hound, Riley offered his audience a spontaneous doggie-down bow before trotting over to lay himself neatly down between his grand-wolves’ chairs.
I caught LG’s exaggerated chef-kisses gesture from his observation spot behind Daniel and gave him a subtle salute in return.
Corey and I were still shooting congratulatory grins at each other when a wedding miracle suddenly manifested. It turned out our family howl hadn’t gone unnoticed. Before we could continue, the visiting Mexican wolves - pacing in their enclosure just outside our plaza - offered our ceremony a sincere pack howl of their own, as if giving their blessing to our union.
Corey and I immediately came to a tie over who had shed the second round of happy wedding-day tears.
Chapter 25: Wedding Vows
An honestly stunned Simon looked both of us up and down. “Okay boys! I have no idea how you just managed to pull that incredible performance off, but, as far as I’m concerned, you two amazing men - and equally amazing pup - are already bonded in a way that simple marriage can only aspire to be.
“So… Ollie? Corey? May I continue? Or are the real wolves planning on coming out to join us for a second act?” The still over-excited crowd offered another round of hearty laughter. Justice Stevens took control and managed to calm them down - while barely containing his own giddiness.
Taking the ring box from Corey, Simon simply stated: “Corey, will you put this ring on Oliver Carson’s left hand?”
My wolf managed to nod before accomplishing his task and starting his vow. Looking into my eyes, he began…
“Ollie, from the first moment I saw you in that horrible clinic’s waiting room, I knew you had instantly changed my life forever. And since that singular, defining moment, you’ve continued to teach me that love isn’t just about passion - it’s about trust, respect, and laughter. You will always be my sweet pup, my partner, my equal, my home. I promise to always protect you, to always listen, and to never stop howling with you - in joy, in sorrow, for all of our lives. You make me the luckiest man on this earth, and today I vow to spend the rest of my life proving myself worthy of that gift.”
Trying his best to not shed any tears himself, Simon continued, “Ollie, will you put this ring on Corey Rainer’s left hand?”
I tried my fiercest NOT to chuckle as I lovingly glanced up into my Corey’s beautiful eyes and quietly uttered, “Um, my wolf, your other left hand.”
I could only beam at my love’s sudden blush and smirk as I heard his soft reply, “Sorry pup. And we were worried about Riley messing up his part tonight.” I gave him a knowing wink before I began.
“Corey, my wolf, my love. Before you, I thought this kind of love was only a fairytale, something out of my reach. Something I would never experience. Then you found me and convinced me that I was worthy of a love that’s strong, playful, protective, and unconditional. My wolf, you are my safe forest play place, my laughter, my foundation, and my dream come true. You are my home too and I promise to love you through every test we may face, to trust you with my whole heart, and to always remember that the greatest adventure of my life started when I simply said ‘yes’ to being in yours. I know you will never lose me, and I’ll spend the rest of my life proving that I’m grateful for being found.”
I noticed Simon wiping his cheeks - we weren’t his first ceremony, right? I smiled warmly at his show of emotion before he finally managed to continue, “After everything we’ve just witnessed, this final part is merely a formality…
“Oliver Aaron Carson, do you take Corey to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
I absolutely refused to break down, “I do.”
Simon turned to my very soon-to-be husband, “Corey Allan Rainer, do you take Oliver to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
I barely heard my love respond through all my internal buzzing, “I do.”
Our happily overjoyed Justice seemed to be relieved to finally simply conclude, “By the power vested in me by the Great State of Texas, I now pronounce you… Married.”
He swept his gaze over the smiling faces of our family and friends - every one of them shining with happy tears - and added, “Ladies and gentlemen… and one absolutely incredible pup… it is my honor to present: Mister Corey Allan and Mister Oliver Aaron - Rainer.”
He grinned, “You two may kiss your groom.”
As prepared as I thought I was to hear them, those words hit me like lightning - words I’d rehearsed hearing, imagined hearing, dreamed of hearing - yet nothing prepared me for the way they surged through my chest. But this time, I didn’t have to face the tidal wave of emotion alone.
All I had to do was lean into my wolf and let him guide me… just like I guided him. Our first kiss as a married couple, like the first one we shared that had wiped the slate clean of all others before it, was both life-changing and world-building.
We were one now. And we boldly stepped into our next adventure, together - bonded by one kiss, one breath, one pup, and one forever.
** Corey’s Perspective **
After our life-changing kiss - and Riley’s perfect performance - I had another surprise in store for my Ollie. Before he could start walking back up the aisle, I squeezed his hand. “Not so fast, my new husband. There’s one more thing we need to do to make all of this really official.”
Ollie tried to keep a poker face and, as usual, failed spectacularly. The poor boy’s expression landed somewhere between blush, dread, and please don’t make me sing karaoke. He’d clearly thought he’d passed all of this evening’s emotional tests and could now finally just relax.
I let my smile reassure him. “Don’t worry, pup. We both already know this next part by heart.”
I walked around behind the podium and returned carrying a small A-frame step ladder with a textured, concrete-colored foam panel attached to its front - it was my lovingly ridiculous mini-replica of a certain concrete summit my friends called Declaration Point.
Taking Ollie’s hand - partly in a show of love, partly to prevent his escape - I addressed our guests. “So, this might look a little strange. Or even goofy and weird to most of you.”
From the back, Ethan chimed in, right on cue: “No worries, Corey! Goofy and weird is kinda y’all’s thing!”
Daniel finished it: “But y’all make it work!”
The crowd laughed, suddenly looking forward to an unexpected encore.
I continued, “My high school friends discovered a twenty-foot-tall storm-sewer tower with a built-in ladder, on the Trinity River bike trail. They nicknamed it Declaration Point - because you could climb up it and shout your important declarations out to the skyline. I mean, like when a guy and his girlfriend decided …”
My throat closed. Emotions slammed into me harder than I ever expected. All the old loneliness, all the yearning, all the firsts I never got to experience… Along with the overwhelming joy when I finally found my own love to declare. I suddenly had to stop talking before I started ugly-crying at my own wedding.
Maybe this was a bad idea.
** Ollie’s Perspective **
Uh oh. For once, I wasn’t the one doing all the trembling. My wolf was about to lose it.
Thankfully, I knew exactly where he was going with his sweet secret stunt. I stepped in close and wrapped him in a steadying hug and whispered, “I got you, my big strong wolf.”
I turned to our guests. “I’m pretty sure what Corey was going to say was this: When he was in high school, all the straight couples would climb Declaration Point and shout their love for each other over the skyline. Corey never got to do it. Making it even worse, he had crushes on some of the guys who did.”
The crowd gave some sympathetic murmurs and even a few sniffles.
“So… on our first bike ride - which was also on our first full day together - Corey took me there and asked me to follow him up to the top. I had no idea what to expect, but when he shouted his joy of finding me to the skyline, I knew I’d love him forever. I think he wants us to climb this little version and repeat our declarations in front of you all.”
I looked back at Corey. His eyes were shining - mostly recovered, but still a bit undone - but completely in love. “Did I get it right, my wolf?”
“Oh, my Ollie… You just saved me and this whole goofy idea.” He held out a hand. “Will you climb to the top with me - er, or at least to the second rung - because, well, that’s all it’s rated for?”
I grinned, trying my best not to actually laugh at his perfect joke. “Lead the way.”
Once we reached our little summit, we held hands and faced each other. Corey took a calming breath and started his declaration: “I’ve met the pup of my dreams, Oliver Aaron Rainer! I love him and now he’s going to be mine forever!”
I chuckled at the very appropriate paraphrasing of his original declaration and started my response: “My Norse God, Corey Allan Rainer, found me and gave me a new family! I’m so happy we get to be a pack forever!”
The crowd melted, filling the plaza with applause and a chorus of “Awww!”
We leaned in for our second wedding kiss and nearly toppled off the ladder.
Corey jumped down and hurried around to my side of our little summit. “Hey Ollie, trust fall!”
I granted him his silly wish. Only to be rewarded with his surprised oomph! “Dang pup, you’ve grown up.”
I gently elbowed his ribs before turning toward our cheering friends and family. “Okay everyone, thanks for putting up with us this evening. I think we’re done now.”
I took my schoolboy, class-clown husband’s hand. “Let’s go party!”
Chapter 26: All Aboard!
Our guests filed out through the tree-covered path from our wedding venue to form a human tunnel for us to walk through. The zoo didn’t allow anything to be tossed at the married couple. Instead, we shook hands, fist bumped, high-fived, or simply gave a quick touch to all of our guests as we made our way toward the zoo’s exit.
As we walked out into the main parking lot, I saw a simple, unadorned golf cart waiting for us. I’m sure my husband easily read my puzzled face. “Corey? I thought we were going to have a limo waiting for the wedding party.”
Corey gave me his first smirk of our married life. “Time for another surprise, my married pup! Come on, a limo is so boring, and we’re not that old yet. I have a much better age-appropriate idea for leaving the zoo.
He gave me a very exaggerated bow before uttering his cheesiest line of the night. Thankfully, I was the only one within earshot, “Your golf cart awaits, my love.”
Then to the golf cart driver, “My good sir, will you please take us to our next transport?”
Unsure what to think, I decided to once again simply trust my Corey. I gave him a sweet kiss before I cuddled into his chest while the driver steered our, er, wedding chariot out of the parking lot. And… straight to the old zoo train ride station! The train I’d spotted - again - on that first bike ride we’d just told our guests about.
“Corey! No way! You’re beyond amazing. So, you’re telling me that I finally get to take a ride on the zoo train? This is too perfect. Thank you my thoughtful, brilliant, over-planning, wolf.”
While we were standing where our golf cart driver had dropped us off, sharing yet another passionate kiss, two more larger carts pulled up beside us. The first carried Ethan and Daniel, Ted and Chris, Elizabeth and Ben, and our superstar pup Riley - who instantly bounded over to his dads for his own well-deserved wedding kisses.
The second cart dropped off Grandpa Joe and Grandma Laura, Kevin and Anna, and Mom and Jordan. Kevin came over for a hug and asked, “Do you two wedding wizards mind if we catch a ride with y’all?”
I smiled at the sight of all of my most important people suddenly surrounding me. “We’d love to have y’all join us on the start of our new journey. Well… But first, Grandpa Joe… You can come along too, as long as you’re not going to spring any more pop quizzes on us.”
Grandpa Joe didn’t blush, he simply bellowed out a hearty laugh and decided to crush me and Corey in a hug, “You two were incredible tonight. Your honest response to my fun little question made me the proudest grandfather on the planet. You’re going to be an unstoppable team for the rest of your lives.” He wiped his eyes, “I love you my boys.”
****
Our little marriage train pulled away from the zoo station and started its journey toward the river bridge. The bridge that had first caught my attention seemingly so long ago. Twilight had fully settled in, and an almost-full moon had started its rise. There could never be a more perfect ending to our wedding. In fact, there could never be a more perfect moment, period.
I couldn’t stop myself; I wrapped my arms around my husband and started another passionate kiss. Riley jumped over the back of our bench and into our seat as he decided that, like introductions, marriage kisses seemed to be a pack-wide requirement. While Corey and I laughed at our pup’s sweet antics, I glanced back over our moonlit, open-air, train car only to be blessed with the sight of all of our dear friends and family sharing their own loving kisses. Giving us a final precious wedding gift.
The trip went faster than I expected, and I noticed Corey’s mood darken as we started to cross the Trinity river bridge. “Corey? Are you okay?”
He gave a pale, sheepish grin and nervously glanced over the side of our train car.
I immediately understood. “Oh, my wolf! I can’t believe you’re being so brave just for me. So… I take it that we’re a little too close to your fear of muddy water.” I saw his reply already written in his eyes so I answered for him, “We are, aren’t we?”
He nodded.
I gave him a reassuring hug, “My sweet, brave, selfless husband, I’ve got you. We’re in this together - for the rest of our lives.” I kissed him once again to help keep his mind off of his fear.
When our train pulled into the Trinity Park turn-around a few minutes later, we were greeted with our not-so-boring stretch Hummer limo. After we boarded and were all gratefully sitting on much more comfortable seats, Chris spoke up to our driver, “Thank you for chauffeuring us tonight. If it’s okay with you, please take us on a little sightseeing trip down Seventh Street and around downtown a few times before even thinking about heading to our house. We have a few bottles of Champagne back here to celebrate with.”
Ethan piped up, “See Ollie, it’s a good thing we got you through your fear of alcohol last night.” He winked, “You owe me, pup.”
I found myself blinking back more unexpected tears, “I think I owe everyone in this limo more than I can ever repay. I love every one of you so much, it overwhelms me.”
Sitting to my left, Ted was within bear-hug-striking distance and he didn’t waste his opportunity, “Sport, we all owe you even more. You accidentally stumbled into our lives and made them forever better, brighter, and more magical. Our love for you overwhelms us just as much.”
Corey may have scored the first happy tears of our wedding, but I just beat him in volume. Trying to wipe all my tears away with my linen sleeve, I finally managed to blurt out, “Come on guys, let’s just pop the Champagne!”
If you enjoyed this story, consider visiting the author's website.
To get in touch with the author, send them an email.
