The morning light spilled through the curtains of their resort room, the sound of waves faintly humming beyond the glass balcony. It was the day—small in the eyes of the world, but monumental for them. Today, they would sign their marriage certificate.
Kaein adjusted his tie in the mirror, fingers trembling slightly. Not from nerves—he had faced battles, responsibilities, and expectations all his life. But this moment was different. His reflection stared back at him, and in the corner of the mirror he caught Lior, watching with that gentle, mischievous smile.
"I still can't believe it," Kaein murmured, smoothing his collar. "When we first met… I never thought it would lead here."
Lior leaned lazily against the doorframe, arms crossed, yet his eyes softened. "I did."
Kaein turned to him, startled.
"I didn't know how or when," Lior admitted, stepping closer until he was close enough to fix the tie Kaein had fussed over. "But the moment I saw you, I thought—there you are. Like fate threw me a rope I didn't know I needed."
Kaein's throat tightened. He whispered, "Back then, I couldn't even imagine… marrying you." His mind drifted back—nights spent in silence, stolen glances, the ache of a crush he buried deep because reality seemed too cruel. And yet, here they were.
"Look how far we've come," Lior said softly, his forehead brushing against Kaein's. "From pretending not to stare, to pretending not to want… now to never pretending again."
They both laughed quietly, the kind of laugh that carried memories of scars and healing.
Later, at the coastal registry office, they sat side by side at a plain wooden desk, papers neatly stacked before them. No extravagant halls, no crowd—just the sea breeze sneaking in through the open window, and the quiet presence of Kaein's family who had traveled to witness it.
The registrar handed them pens. Kaein's hand shook slightly as he held his pen, staring at the empty line where his name should go. He glanced at Lior.
Lior smirked. "We've already marked each other forever. This is just the world catching up."
Kaein exhaled, smiling despite the tears burning his eyes. Together, they signed.
And when the registrar finally stamped the paper, sealing it in ink, Kaein felt something unexpected—relief, joy, a warmth that spread through him like sunlight on cold skin.
They were already bonded, body and soul. But now, in the simplest, most human way, they were recognized as what they had always been: each other's.
As they stepped out of the office, hand in hand, the sea stretched wide and endless before them. Kaein whispered, "I was yours from the moment I looked at you. I just didn't know fate would be kind enough to let me stay."
"And I," Lior replied, pulling him closer, "will make sure fate never takes you from me again."
The waves crashed, sealing their vows with a rhythm older than time.
---
That evening, the coastal sky burned with streaks of orange and pink as the sun sank into the horizon. Kaein's family had insisted on celebrating, not with loud banquets or speeches, but with a quiet seaside dinner.
They chose a small restaurant facing the beach, its wooden deck lit with hanging lanterns that swayed gently in the breeze. The scent of saltwater mingled with grilled fish and warm bread.
Kaein's mother fussed over him, straightening his collar even though the certificate was already signed. "You didn't tell me you'd grown so thin," she scolded lightly, eyes shimmering. "Don't think you're excused from coming home just because you're married now."
Kaein chuckled, embarrassed, while Lior stepped in smoothly, catching her hand. "Don't worry, Mother," he said with a playful grin, "I'll feed him properly. He won't escape me."
The family laughed, even Kaein despite his reddening ears. It was strange for him, feeling this kind of warmth—ordinary, simple, but piercingly precious.
Dinner unfolded with stories and laughter. His younger cousins pestered Lior with questions, giggling when the Alpha answered with exaggerated seriousness about how he had to "fight dragons" just to win Kaein's hand. Kaein rolled his eyes but couldn't hide the smile tugging at his lips.
Later, when the plates were cleared and only the sound of waves remained, Kaein's father raised a small glass. "To their new life together. May it be steadier than the sea and brighter than the stars."
Glasses clinked.
For a moment, Kaein simply watched—the reflection of lanterns in the water, the curve of his mother's smile, the sparkle in Lior's eyes. He realized then that happiness didn't need to be loud or grand; sometimes, it was just this. Sharing food, laughter, and warmth with the people who mattered.
When they finally returned to their resort, Lior slipped an arm around Kaein's waist. "See? That wasn't so bad."
Kaein leaned into him, sighing softly. "It was… perfect."
The moonlight painted silver across the waves. Behind them, the world rested. Ahead of them, the future opened wide. And for the first time, Kaein allowed himself to believe—not just in fate, not just in survival, but in happiness that could last.