Chapter 348

Tessa’s POV

A month after the big battle 4 years ago, Amelia called me and told me that they had taken Ruby to the most elite healers in California where Amelia is originally from. Carter hadn’t left her side since they took her there. They were able to get her heart beating once again, but she remained in critical condition for a little over a year.

Nobody, including me, was allowed to see her. The only ones allowed near her were Carter, her true love, and Amelia, her mother. However, Amelia tried to keep me updated as frequently as possible but for a long while, it didn’t seem like Ruby would ever wake up.

But 18 months later, she finally woke. It was a long road to recovery though. Even though she was healing and awake, both Carter and Amelia thought it would be best if she remained in California and stayed isolated until she was 100 percent ready to return. Apparently, she suffered some serious PTSD, along with minor memory loss and the loss of her powers proved to be too much on her body.

She spent several months after her initial wakeup with healers trying to recover to the best of her ability. Then, once she was ready, they brought her to the vampire academy in California so she could finish her vampire education where she could finally graduate.

This school was a bit stricter towards her than the school in this area. They didn’t allow her any phone call rights or visitation. I couldn’t imagine how alone she must have felt. However, Carter remained in California, refusing to leave the state without Ruby.

He spent a lot of time with Amelia who had gotten over her hatred for vampires and became a mother figure to Carter.

He also temporarily joined another vampire tribe who ended up being good friends of Carter whom he hadn’t seen in over a century. He wanted to be around his own kind and not just witches, so he spent a lot of time in this tribe, continuing his work as a warrior while he waited for Ruby to be released from the academy.

In the almost 3 years that Ruby had been at that school, Amelia only gained one update from the headmaster stating that Ruby was experiencing some prophecy abilities. This made Amelia excited because it meant that Ruby’s powers had returned to her. Amelia called me to tell me the good news.

That was over 2 years ago, almost 3 years ago, and I hadn’t heard from her since. I don’t think any of us really knew when she’d be graduating or if she was truly okay.

But now Ruby was here, at my wedding! In my arms!!

“I can’t believe you are here,” I whispered, still racked with sobs.

She chuckled and held me even tighter.

“You have no idea how badly I’ve missed you,” she breathed. “We have so much to talk about. But right now, you need to get married.”

Ruby pulled away slightly so she could look at my face.

Amy gasped, Hannah covered her mouth, and Laura groaned.

“We have to redo her makeup before she goes out there!” Amy complained.

“No,” Ruby said, cupping my face with her hands and wiping my tears with her thumbs. “She looks real and raw and beautiful. She’s ready.”

This made me cry even more as I wrapped her back in my arms.

“Mommy… who this?”

I looked down to see Amaya staring up at Ruby with big eyes.

Ruby gasped and pointed at Amaya.

“Is that your daughter?”

I nodded and scooped Amaya back into my arms.

“This is Mommy’s best friend, Ruby,” I told her. “Ruby, this is my daughter Amaya.”

“Hi there,” Ruby said, giving her a half-wave.

“Mommy…” Amaya whispered in my ear. “She’s pretty like a princess.”

I smiled.

“Yes, she is,” I agreed.

“Okay! Positions!!” Laura barked for the final time; irritation twinged in her voice.

I put Amaya on the ground, turned toward Laura, and nodded.

“Okay, let’s do this.”

Ruby gave me a final squeeze.

“We’ll talk later,” she told me as she looped her arm with Carter’s and smiled up at him, a loving look in her gaze as she rested her head on his shoulder.

My heart swelled and I didn’t think I could cry anymore, but more tears flowed out of me.

My father wrapped his arm through mine and smiled.

“Happy?” He asked.

“Did you know about this?”

He nodded.

“We all did. It took a lot to not say anything. She graduated from the academy a few weeks ago and now she’s going to live in Joseph’s tribe full time. Joseph spent the last couple of days preparing everything for their return. That was the main reason Laura said you couldn’t see him for the last couple of days.”

I gasped.

“Those sneaky assholes,” I said, but I couldn’t help but laugh.

I had my best friend back!

I immediately began to sob.

“Okay, stop saying things that are making her cry,” Laura huffed as she dabbed my cheeks with a tissue. “Ruby and Carter are already walking down the aisle. The bridesmaids and groomsmen are going next and then the flower girl.” She smiled at Amaya when she said that last part.

In front of us stood Nathan and Hannah, Patty and Cole, and Bennet and Amy. Nathan had a picture of Bernard in his hands as a tribute.

Amaya stood directly in front of me clutching her basket of flower peddles.

Once it was Amaya’s turn to walk down the aisle, Laura instructed her what to do and I could hear everyone gasping and cooing at how adorable she was. It made my heart swell with pride.

“Ready?” My father asked. I nodded and took a deep breath just as the wedding music started and the doors opened. “Let’s get you married.”

Everyone stood and stared at me in awe as I walked down the aisle, following Amaya and her flowing flower peddles. Joseph stood at the end of the aisle, a large smile on his lips. Carter patted him on the back and the two exchanged some brief words, but Joseph’s eyes never left mine.

I honestly thought my eyes would be dry at this point, but I felt moisture pooling in them, distorting my vision once again. This made Joseph’s smile widen. Amaya ran right up to her father, and he scooped her into his arms, placing her on his shoulders as I neared them; the sight of them made my heart swell even more.

Once we reached the end of the aisle, my father turned to face me and kissed me gently on the cheek.

“I’m so proud of you, Tessa.”

I smiled at him.

“Thanks, Dad.”

I hugged him just before he released me and I joined my hands with Josephs, peeking up at Amaya who still rested comfortably on his shoulders.

“You are so beautiful,” Joseph whispered, for my ears alone.

“I love you so much,” was all I could think to say in return as more tears filled my eyes. He didn’t hesitate to wipe them away with his thumbs.

As the priest spoke, I barely heard a word he said. I was too focused on how perfect everything was. I was finally getting married to the man of my dreams, my best friend was back and standing behind me, my daughter was watching me with love-filled eyes, and any week now I was going to give birth to twins.

Everything is better than it’s ever been.

“Would you like to read your vows?” The priest asked Joseph.

He nodded and looked deep into my eyes.

“The biggest shock of my life was the day you walked into my classroom after we had what was supposed to be a one-night stand. Imagine my surprise when the girl I brought home from the bar ended up being my student,” Joseph said, causing some chuckles. “It hadn’t always been easy between us, but it’s been the most fun adventure I’ve had in my entire life, and I’ve lived quite a long one. I suppose I have your ex to thank after breaking your heart all those years ago and making you go to the bar in the first place. I also have Ruby to thank for pushing you into taking a chance and making you think I was some kind of callboy.”

I burst out laughing; I completely forgot I thought Joseph was a callboy when I first went home with him. I was so drunk at the time.

“I did try to get her an actual callboy, but she was already gone when I returned,” Ruby shrugged from behind me, humor lacing her voice.

I barked out another laugh and shook my head at my best friend.

“It didn’t take me long to fall in love with you,” Joseph continued. “But it took me quite a while to man up and actually do something about it. I was too focused on my pride and reputation that I failed to see the incredible and powerful woman who stood before me. Every day with you feels like a new day where I fall in love with you all over again. Our daughter is proof of our love and our children inside of you are even more proof. I love you, Tessa Campbell, soon-to-be Evergreen, and I’m going to spend the rest of eternity proving that to you.”

Tears fell out of my eyes, and I wanted to kiss him so badly, but it wasn’t time yet. I had to hold myself back, making Joseph, the priest, and those around the church, chuckle.

“Do you have vows you’d like to share?” The priest asked me.

I sniffled and held onto Joseph’s hands even tighter.

“I couldn’t have achieved anything that I have or done anything without your love and support. From the very beginning, you’ve been supporting me. You’ve been my biggest fan for—”

Ruby cleared her throat behind me making me and some others laugh.

“Okay, you’ve been my second biggest fan for a long time. I’m not great with speeches, so I’m going to keep this short, but just know without you, I am not anything. You are everything to me and I wouldn’t change anything about how we met, or our circumstances; nothing. I love you so much and I’ll love you for an eternity.”

Everybody clapped at our speeches, and I doubt there was a dry eye in the place.

The priest finally announced us husband and wife, making us Joseph and Tessa Evergreen.

“Now, can I kiss my husband?” I asked the priest. Just as Ruby took hold of Amaya from Joseph’s shoulders.

The priest smiled.

“You may.”

With those words left in the air, Joseph took no time to claim my mouth, kissing me like his life depended on it.