“I see you took my advice.” Brandy twisted her curly red hair into a ponytail, rolling her skateboard back and forth with one foot.
A tall slender boy with deep bronze skin, stood beside her.
“It was good advice,” Dove said. “I just made enough to pay rent. This Rune?”
He eyed Brandy. “You talked about me?”
Brandy covered her face.
“Did she say good things?”
“She implied you’re a prankster.”
Rune tucked Brandy’s head against his armpit.
“Rune!”
“This girl is my air, and I steal her breath away.”
“Yeah. Uh huh, tell that to your girlfriend. See where that gets you.”
He messed up her hair. “She won’t mind.”
Brandy pushed him.
Rune licked his lips, smug smile on his face.
“He likes to pretend we’re a couple, but we’re not. Just best friends.”
Rune huffed in outrage. “Just friends?”
“He’s ridiculous.”
“And you’re cute.” He pulled her to him.
“Stop it,” Brandy said.
Rune grabbed one of Dove’s bags and sniffed it. “Oh my, these are strong. I’ll take two.”
Dove opened her pouch and took his $20.
“Keep the pennies. I’ll get the nuts when I go.”
“Sure.”
Brandy stomped her skateboard, clapping it to her hand before taking the pike. She swooped down and up the slope, her wheels a loud roll.
A stranger wiped out nearby, knee pads scraping the concrete.
∞∞∞
Damon saw Dove from the parking lot outside the chain link fence that surrounded the skatepark. He spotted the few freckles she had on the back of her neck. His chest tightened. It’d been so long since he traced them with his fingers, whispering how much he loved her.
Damon took a deep breath and got out of the car.
Rune and Brandy turned pikes while Dove gulped ice water.
Damon used his vampire speed to whip behind Dove and tickle her sides.
She jumped with so much force that her hips tossed the table.
Brandy came over the ledge. Her wheels met peanuts and slid back.
She swung her arms for balance but fell.
Rune caught her just as her head tapped the concrete. The impact with his arms made her ribs crack. She gasped.
Blood puddled beneath her.
Dove moved mechanically to the edge, leaning over to barf.
Damon wrapped his arm around her waist and held her hair.
Her bile slunk down the walls, thinning as it got closer to Rune and the dying girl.
Rune swept Brandy’s hair back and cried over her. “No. No. You can’t leave me.”
When Dove finished puking, Damon pulled her away. He spun her toward him and cupped her cheeks, leveling his green eyes with her brown.
“You okay?”
Dove’s hands trembled.
Rune wailed.
Others in the skatepark made their way to his cries.
Damon jumped into the pit and touched the girl. She and her blood disappeared. “Nothing to see here. Just spilled peanuts and a sad customer. You should all go home.”
Like robots, they accepted this and left.
As soon as they left, Damon slapped Rune. “Snap out of it. You love her? She love you?”
Rune nodded.
“Then as second in command, I give you permission to change her.”
The act would upset the balance in their favor since Prince Mavrick was ill. That had been the reason for coming to the park: to gather his vamps and deliver the news that war was coming sooner than they’d planned. They needed to level up. But turning someone without first getting a lover’s license was illegal. Damon would take the punishment.
Rune bit his wrist and placed it to Brandy’s mouth.
As soon as Brandy drew breath, Damon returned to Dove. He’d seen her lost in her head before and knew just how to end it. A kiss, but she’d likely slap him.
He threw water in her face.
“Sorry,” Damon said. “I only wanted to surprise you. Never imagined it going that way.”
Dove blinked slowly. Her hand passed over his big ear and through his burnt orange hair. “Damon?”
“Dee.”
She hadn’t seen his green eyes in so long.
She slapped his freckled cheek.
“You drenched me.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know what else to do.”
∞∞∞
Rune held Brandy and cleaned her mouth with his shirt.
“Blood?”
“You were dying.”
Damon cleared his throat. “We need to leave.”
“Am I a vampire now?”
“You’ll be one soon.” Rune dried his tears. “Takes a few days. Are you mad?”
“Your girlfriend—”
“Broke up with me because she could tell I wanted you.” Rune rubbed his thumb over Brandy’s lips.
Damon snapped twice. “Let’s go.”
“Give him a break; he almost lost her.”
“He’s fine.”
“You never were good at reading people.”
Brandy brought her lips to Rune’s.
“I’m fine,” Damon said. “You were the one with all your secrets.”
“I told you everything.”
“Facts, not feelings.”
“I didn’t want you to hurt them. The witches hate your kind already.”
“Do you? Is that why you kept us a secret? Too ashamed to be with a vampire?”
Dove drooped, voice low. “I was never ashamed of you. I wanted to protect us.”
“Did you ever love me, Dee?”
He moved her hair out of her face.
“Yes. But it’s too late for us.”
“I still love you.”
She hugged him, not able to watch his face when she told him she was getting married.
“A werewolf?” It was the worst sort of betrayal.
“A second, like you. I’d stop the war if I could.”
Damon broke away. “You should marry a human, Dee.” His shirt was wet too now. “My people won’t lose again. I don’t want to murder your husband. Your werewolf husband.” He seethed. They’d broken up because she couldn’t leave her parents for him. She’d left them for Hunter.
“And I don’t want him to kill you.”
They stared at each other until Rune and Brandy met topside holding hands.
“We’re ready. Brandy’s coming with us.”
Damon nodded. “Wait in the car.”
Rune took two bags that’d stayed upright.
Dove turned.
She’d made her rent money, but with the destroyed stash she wouldn’t have money to pay for new supplies. She’d be starting her business from scratch, unless she dipped into the wedding fund.
Damon pulled his wallet from his back pocket. “Here. If it’s not enough, I’ll write you a check.”
“I can’t take your money.”
“I scared you and caused all this. Help me make it up to you.”
She pocketed the money. “Only because this was your fault. I’m not taking any handouts.”
She folded her table and abandoned the mess.
“Dee,” Damon said, as she walked it to her car.
Dove paused at the door. She could hear the hurt in his voice.
“Tell Hunter he better love you with every breath. I’ve dated, but there’s no one. You were it for me. I’ll do what I can to keep him safe for you. I really do love you, Dee.”
Dove slid the table in and cried. She’d been so stupid with Damon. She wouldn’t make that mistake with Hunter. “Thank you, Damon. You don’t know how much that means to me.”
“I just want you to be happy.”
She faced him, drying her tears. “I hope you find someone soon. Goodbye, Damon.”
; Dove got in her car and drove home.
Chapter 6
The Mission
Hunter met Kai at noon just as they’d planned. Kai patted Hunter’s back. “I tried to call you, but it went to voicemail.”
“I left my phone at home. Can you at least tell me who got the license?”
Kai shrugged. “Sorry, man. The couple wants the wedding to be a surprise for the pack. They even enlisted me to perform a crap-ton of task.”
“Like what?” He took a bite out of his veggie sub. Kai had order for them both before Hunter showed up.
“I’ve been on it all day. Mostly planning tonight and tomorrow. Now that you’re here, I could use your help.”
“Dude, I’m grieving not planning my own right now. Why would I help plan someone else’s?”
Kai plucked a pepperoni from his pizza sub. “Because you’ll get married soon enough. Plan while we’re out. Get fitted for a tux. That’s the first task.”
“I don’t have the money or the time.”
“The guy is short on local friends, so we’re evening it out for the photos. They’re paying for your tux.”
“Now I’ve gotta be in the ceremony?”
“They’re friends of Alrik; he chose us. Are you going to say no?”
Hunter dropped his sub. “Let me guess, it’s at 6pm tomorrow?”
Kai’s brows shot up. “How the hell did you know that?”
“Because it’s my wedding, isn’t it?”
Kai choked.
Hunter slapped his back. “You all right there, buddy? Lying got your tongue?”
∞∞∞
Hunter needed a break after renting a tux, picking flower arrangements, choosing a cake, and finalizing the venue. Luckily, Dove had a narrow set of options for him to choose from and superb tastes. The hardest part was keeping Kai on task. He insisted Hunter should look at all the options just in case he resonated with something else, though he maintained that it wasn’t Hunter’s wedding.
It was too suspicious. He knew no couples on the verge of getting married. Besides, Magics didn’t travel far from Dewhurst since their power came from the land. Kai made every purchase on a debit card. Hunter tried to steal it from him, but Kai was too nimble.
“Come on. It’s so obvious. Alrik’s footing the bill to get on my good side before he marries my mom.”
“They’re engaged?”
“Well, not yet, but the look they shared this morning showed me it wouldn’t take long.”
“Fine, if this is your wedding, go buy rings and a wedding gift for Dove. In fact, I’ll buy the rings for you.”
∞∞∞
Hunter watched as Kai purchased wedding rings. He wanted to catch him use the magic card he’d been using all day, but he used his own. Hunter pressed fingers to his smiling lips. “You didn’t have to do that. The fact that you only bought one set proves it’s my wedding.”
“Rings weren’t on the list.”
“Oh, you’re good, but this is my wedding. Just admit it.”
Kai’s phone rang. “Yellow, Dove. Yep. Got him right here, but I’ll warn you he thinks this wedding is his.”
Hunter’s voice was bubbly. “I would feign ignorance for you.” He took the phone. “Hey, baby.”
“Honey, we’re both part of the wedding, but Kai only let you believe it was yours so you’d do all the decision making.”
“So, we’re not getting married tomorrow?”
“That’s what I’m calling about. I’m going to spend the night with the bride. She’ll need help getting ready all of tomorrow and there’s a bridal party tonight, so I won’t be home.”
“You know I don’t believe you, right?”
“You’ll know soon enough. Love you, Hunter.”
“Love you, too, Dove.”
Chapter 7
My Heart Is Open
Hunter enjoyed the lavish dinner and wolf run as if it was his last night single. The morning of the wedding, Alrik treated him to a massage and haircut. The rest of the day he spent carving and polishing a wooden heart for Dove. He finished just in time to get ready for the wedding.
When they arrived at the lake, white chairs with light green and blue ribbons faced a small platform. Hunter shook Kai. An hour from now, he’d marry the woman he loved most.
Kai told him to have a seat. “Hunter, I need to show you something. I couldn’t tell you before now because the wedding party is a surprise, but—” He handed Hunter the phone with the text messages.
The number wasn’t Dove’s. “You let me believe it was me until now?”
“I finally convinced you it’s not?”
“Yes. I can’t believe you didn’t show me this yesterday. I’ve been parading around like the groom. Now I feel foolish and disappointed.”
“I told you so many times you weren’t, but you were so happy when you thought you were. I didn’t want to chance you not coming.”
Hunter leaned back. “This sucks.”
∞∞∞
The whole pack arrived in white, green, or blue. They looked beautiful, especially the flower girl and ring bearer, little toddlers. If it wasn’t his wedding, he’d demand the next license and make Dove his. There was still the matter of proposing.
“You think it’d be rude if I propose to Dove at the reception?”
Kai wet his lips.
“I take that as a yes?” Hunter wiped his palms on his trousers. everyone was here but Minerva, Dove, and the bride. His mom must have helped them get ready like she did most brides. “Paddle under the stars on a canoe?”
“Sounds more romantic than upstaging a bride.”
The pack musician walked to the platform in front of the lake and played on a white baby grand piano. Hunter loved the soft melody. Alrik joined, opening his Bible on the glass podium.
Kai tugged Hunter’s arm. That’s our cue.
Kai took the place beside Alrik, and Hunter stood as second groomsman.
A pearl limo parked.
Blue Frangipani petals floated from the flower girl’s hands as she glided down the aisle. She sat at the front.
This would be his perfect wedding, even if they called him a copycat.
The door to the limo opened. Dove’s best friend October stepped out in a green silk dress that complimented her dark skin. She held a small bouquet; the one Hunter had picked out. No escort, since Kai was already on stage.
Next came Minerva in a blue dress. She stood to the side and lifted her palms to the crowd. They stood.
“What’s going on? Where’s Dove?”
Kai grinned and switched places with Hunter. The guests gasped. Hunter was the groom.
His heart raced so fast he could hardly breathe when Minerva aided Dove out of the limo.
He took in the dress first, white with lace, braided green and blue ribbons tied below her ample breasts. Then she was standing, veil obscuring her face.
Minerva escorted her.
All eyes stayed on Dove, except hers, which locked with Hunter’s. He grinned so hard his cheeks hurt. Without looking away, he backhanded Kai’s chest.
Kai shielded himself. “She wanted to surprise you.”
“She’s beautiful,” October said.
Hunter stepped toward Dove. “She’s magnificent.”
Minerva lifted Dove’s veil and took her bouquet before giving away Dove to Hunter.
Alrik began. “We gathered here today to celebrate the love of Dove Riddle and Hunter Griffin.”
“I should’ve said yes to you the first time you proposed,” Dove said when it was time for their vowels. “Now, I get to ask you.”
She knelt.
Hunter and the crowd froze silent.
“Will you marry me, Hunter?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” She held his hands. “I will love you forever. Not only as my husband but as my best friend.”
October and Kai cleared their throats.
Dove rolled her eyes. “I vow to comfort you when you’re sad,
support your dreams, and raise our children.”
He touched his forehead to hers and refrained from kissing her.
He gave her the heart he’d turned into a necklace. “You’ve had my heart since the moment I kissed you. This is just a symbol. I love your laugh, holding you when it storms, that you want to have kids with me. Most of all, I love you. Who you are and the man you’ve made me become to feel even slightly worthy of your love.”
Minerva carried the ring bearer to the stage.
Hunter pulled the rings from his pocket and put them on the pillow.
Alrik had them repeat the traditional vowels, Hunter first, then Dove.
“I do.”
Hunter slipped the ring on her finger.
“Then by the power invested in me as pack Alpha and from the state of Mississippi I now pronounce you Mr. and Mrs. Griffin. You may now kiss the bride.”
Hunter dipped her for a chaste kiss, but she ran her fingers through his hair. He melted, kissing her deeply. Everyone disappeared. They were floating in each other’s arms, magic flowing around them.
October. She had a way with dramatics. She settled them on the floor as they finished their kiss.
Everyone clapped.
Hunter breathed against Dove’s neck. “Can we skip the reception and go straight to the cabin?”
Dove’s stomach chose that moment to growl. “Food first.”
Hunter nuzzled her neck with his nose. “We don’t have to stop tonight.”
“We don’t have to ever again. And I get to wake up with you every morning.”
Hunter couldn’t stop himself. He lost control and went half wolf on her. “I was trying to stay good for the photos.”
“I love my wolf man.”
Dove kissed him, pointy teeth and all. He howled after, and the rest of the pack joined in.
His own stomach growled. “Limo?”
“Yes.”
As they walked to the limo, October made the petals float before them. Dove hugged Hunter’s side. “I can’t believe I’m married.”
“Believe it, Mrs. Griffin.”
Chapter 8
Honeymoon
Dove and Hunter barely stayed long enough to toss the bouquet, which Minerva caught, and eat cake. He swept Dove off her feet and carried her to the limo.
Werewolf Wedding (Generation Wars Book 1) Page 4
