by Belle Harper
I wouldn’t give up on any of my mates. Ever.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Lexi
After the night we had, I wasn’t ready for today. It was not that I didn’t want to go, just I was so tired. Kiara was so nice; we didn’t get too much time together when we met. But she was with me through so much that I wouldn’t miss this special day of hers even if I need some more sleep. She was having her ceremony at eleven and it was almost ten and I hadn’t showered or dressed yet. But Galen was on the ball, thank god one of us was, the rest of the guys were in bed sleeping.
We all crammed in there last night. It was uncomfortable and hot, but I didn’t want anyone to leave, and I think they all felt the same. After what had happened with my powers, and everything feeling what Raff was… we needed to stay together.
“Come on, get up. I have your clothes ready and hanging up in the bathroom, jump in the shower, wash your hair and get dressed, when you come out, I will do your hair for the ceremony.” My brows raised at that.
“Mmm… do you know how to do hair? And you’re only just telling me this?” He looked a little sheepish as he smiled.
“YouTube.” I chuckled. Oh, he was seriously the best. I gave him a hug and ran off to the bathroom, I could smell the smoke on my hair from last night, we all just collapsed when we got home. Didn’t even have a shower.
The dress that was hanging behind the door was floral, and to the knees. It wasn’t me, but I could see how it would suit today. When I saw the underwear he had left me I laughed. Oh, naughty Galen. I hope the wind didn’t blow my dress up. Or everyone would see my ass in this little thong. The bra was gorgeous, with little bits of pale green laced through the white lace of the cups. I smiled as I turned the shower on; I think I will strip that dress off for him when I get home… no more period; I was horny as hell. And it would be nice to get lost in each other. Just for a while.
There was a knock at the door as I was zipping the dress up, my wet hair wrapped in a towel. “Come in,” I called out. My makeup was done, I went with a more natural look, no smokey eye. I sprayed some Britney Spears perfume I found on the counter. I assumed it was for me. Unless Galen used it, which even if he did. I wouldn’t care. I would still use it. We would both smell nice together. Galen opened the door and popped his head in. I watched from the mirror as his eyes roamed up and down my body. A smile crept over his face, and he winked before clearing his throat.
“Love, you look amazing.” He walked in and wrapped his hands around my waist, and we looked into the mirror at each other. He kissed my neck, before pulling out a necklace. It was my Drongor stone, the one from my aunt. I hadn’t worn it yet; I had been too scared to lose it. When he draped it across my throat I touched it, it was beautiful.
“I would love to stay in here with you all day, but Ada is here. And Tobias has dropped in also. He didn’t realize you were busy today, but he is waiting out with Ada.” My eyes widened. Tobias was here, I turned in Galen’s arms and he kissed my cheek. Before running his hand under my dress and grabbing my ass. I grabbed his ass back. I winked at him as I walked out to see Ada staring at Tobias, like not just staring. She had her elbow propped up on the counter and her cheek in her hand as she gave a little chuckle at something he said. I rolled my eyes, didn’t she know who he was?
“Tobias, I didn’t know you were coming.” That sounded normal, right? Like he didn’t tell me, so I didn’t expect him here.
“No, sorry. I thought I would pop in, I wanted to see if you wanted to go to lunch with me. But I see you have plans here with your friend, Ada.” I nodded, and she smiled at me, like she had forgotten he was my father.
“Ada, I’m so glad you got to meet, Tobias. My father.” She sat up straighter and nodded.
“I forgot, wow. Hi, Lexi’s dad. It’s nice to meet you, I didn’t realize you looked so young. Like, well, Lexi told me. But like wow. What kind of lotion do you use? It must be amazing for wrinkles. I missed meeting you last time you were here, with the whole saving lives and stuff. But—” she kept on talking, like Ada does when nervous.
“I like your friend; she is very friendly.”
“Okay, so I just have to get my shoes, I’m sorry we can’t stay long. We have to be going. I grabbed Ada’s arm, and she jumped off the stool and giggled. I almost laughed at that.
“Wait, I didn’t get to do your hair.” Galen pointed to a spot he had all these things laid out, a brush, comb, pins. Wow, he was really prepared.
“Shut the front door. Galen is doing your hair?” Just then the bedroom door opened and Ranger walked out, yawning and scratching his chest. He was wearing black boxers and nothing else. He sleepily looked at me and then his eyes scanned the room and he stopped.
“Ah, hey Tobias. Ah… it’s a beautiful morning.” I could see the nervous look in his eye. When his eyes met me again he winked, “you look good babe. Wasn’t sure when Galen picked that out, but then anything looks good on you. Ada, you too look very nice.” He kept walking to the front door and Galen pushed me to sitting. My hair was still damp as he took the towel off and it fell around my face.
“Hey, come on in.” Who the hell was Ranger talking to now? I pushed the hair out of my eyes and watched as he invited Noah, Saint and Zara into the already small room. What the fuck was going on?
“Hey,” Noah smiled and waved to Ada and then me. Saint gave a strained smile and nodded, and Zara had the biggest beaming grin. Like she was up to something.
“Hi girls, oh wow Galen. You’re doing Lexi’s hair. That’s so wonderful. I was coming over to see if she needed any help. As I have lots of experience, Ada? Did you want me to do your hair?” I could see Ada standing to the side, squirm a little. She looked over to me and I shrugged. I had no idea.
“Your hair is beautiful like it is, I thought I would just offer if you wanted.”
Galen reached down to a comb. “I have plenty of supplies, I went to the store earlier in the week and got everything.” My mouth dropped open. He planned this a week ago?
Ada dropped to the couch, looking between Noah and Saint. I think Zara caught on, “boys go wait outside. Your friends aren’t even ready yet, they are all in bed. Let the girls have some space.” She was so tiny compared to Noah, it was cute watching her shoo him away, and Saint grumbled something and left. But not before she smacked his bum. I was a little surprised at that, Ada too.
When Zara looked back to us, she must have seen our expressions. I heard Galen chuckle.
“Oh, he needed a smack on his ass. You don’t talk back to a momma.”
Tobias made his way to the front door. I had almost forgotten he was here.
“I shall call you in the week, Lexi. We can have dinner then. I hope you both have a lovely day. The weather will be perfect for most of the day, I do believe a storm will pass through in the evening. But wish the happy couple my best, and if there is anything I can do to help. Don’t hesitate to call me.”
When he left the atmosphere in the room relaxed. And Zara started to brush Ada’s hair. “Tobias is very attractive; I wonder if he is dating anyone?” I almost choked on my own saliva. “Ada, that’s my father.” I turned to her and Galen tsked at me and pulled my head back to where it was.
“What, I was just saying it out loud. Everyone is thinking it, he is. Like to be fair, he looks like your big brother. Not your dad.”
Zara laughed and added. “He is a DILF, but don’t tell my mates I said that.” My mouth dropped open and I heard Ranger yell out.
“I heard that, Zara.”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Lexi
My hair was amazing, Galen really did an amazing job, there were curls and was half up, half down. And he even wove little flowers through it. Ada’s hair. Zara was amazing at braids. She had done this braid across the top but it was soft and slightly messy; she put the same flowers in there and curled the rest. She looked amazing. If someone didn’t ask her to prom soon I would. Since the guys had made no move to ask m
e. They did all rush out of the bedroom just as I was leaving to mark me, which wasn’t as nice when they smelled of smoke. But when they were happy, they let me leave. Which was good, because we were probably running late now.
“Did you lovely ladies need a lift?” Noah asked as we walked out to Ada’s car. Then it dawned on me.
“Are you kidding me, are you going to follow us again?” Zara quickly intervened.
“No, they are not. And they have something to say about that. They should have told you. No one will follow you girls today, Rawlins pack will keep you safe.” Noah looked to his feet and scuffed them on the ground.
“I’m really sorry about scaring you both. That wasn’t what we meant to do. We just wanted to keep you safe.” I nodded, that was a nice apology. When Saint didn’t say anything Zara reached up and smacked the back of his head. My mouth dropped open.
“I’m sorry too.” Zara growled, that was the first time I had heard a female shifter do that. It was more scary than Alaric. “I am very sorry that I scared or upset you. That wasn’t my, our intention. We just wanted you both to be safe.”
I didn’t know what to say back, so I just nodded, Ada did too. Zara was scary when she was mad.
“Alright, now that is done, you boys can go wait inside. I think Galen was about to start fixing up a big breakfast for the boys.” Aww… I didn’t want to miss that. He has become so domesticated in the past week. I think him not having a full-time job, plus the pack stuff was giving him spare time to do other things. They ran off to the house, Noah waving at Ada before taking off.
“Now girls, tomorrow you come to my place. Around this time. Just bring yourselves, casual clothes, swimsuit and some pyjamas. We are having a ladies’ day with all the females of the pack… the ones under fifty at least. We do this once a month and you are invited as ladies of Kiba.”
Oh wow, yes. This could be good for me to meet the other women. Maybe learn some things about having so many mates, Zara was going to have a lot of questions asked, that was for sure. I knew we really needed to sit down again as a family and work out how to help Ranger, but maybe we could do that tonight when I got back.
“Yes, that would be great. We will be there.” We were going to be late, so I pulled Ada to open the car so we could leave.
As soon as we got in her car, she just looked at me, her eyes wide. “So I guess we are doing that tomorrow?” And she put the car in drive and headed out of the Lovell property. Shit, I forgot about her sister.
“Oh god, sorry Ada. I forgot Destiny was here. You probably had plans tomorrow.” She shrugged. Then giggled.
“Actually, my parents have my aunt and uncle coming over with my cousins to see her, and I have seen them enough. I don’t think they will mind. Zara scares me, like a lot. But she is so nice too. I know she is inviting me because of Noah. But it would be interesting to really get a chance to speak to these ladies. I met so many of them already, but under bad circumstances.” I nodded, I knew what she meant. Zara had been nothing but nice to me, I hadn’t met as many of the Kiba ladies as I had hoped, but then I didn’t seem to have time for much these days. Something new every week.
I didn’t know why, but I looked behind to see if they really weren’t following us. All I saw was a large gray wolf standing on the side of the road. Then another appeared beside him and let out a long howl. Saint and Noah.
I didn’t know what to expect from the Rawlins Pack. Their little town looked similar to Kiba. They didn’t have the same court, but they did have a Rawlins Drive. It was long, there were a lot of houses, they started off like the ones we had seen driving into Rawlins, but they got bigger and bigger as we made our way up to the large golden gates at the end. This was obviously the alpha's house, there were two men dressed in cream colored short-sleeved shirts they weren’t wearing ties. The top button opened. One was wearing what looked like blue and white boardshorts the other in dark shorts. The thing that stood out about them was their hair. One had a wild, beautiful head of curls, it was black with highlights of reddish brown mixed in. The other had a shorter head of curls, dark with a tattoo running up from under his shirt onto his neck. It was a black tribal pattern from what I could see.
Ada opened her window and Mr boardshorts approached the car with a strut, I could see Ada shift in her seat. She was probably giving off a scent that she likes him. He smiled, his white teeth perfect as he rested his arm on the roof and looked into the car. Okay, he was hot, but he knew it. And shit… does thinking about them being hot make them know I think that, because I didn’t think about this before I left. If word got out I was smelling all aroused, Ranger would lose his shit.
“Welcome ladies, you must be Ada and Lexi.” He used his thumb to gesture to the man behind him. “That’s Maddox there, he will take you to where the ceremony is taking place and I can park your car for you. Later just come looking for me or Maddox and we will grab it for you.”
Ada didn’t say anything, oh boy. That was good. But then she is very rarely lost for words.
“Not a problem, and your name is?” I unclicked my belt and reached for my little purse. It matched the shoes I was wearing. I was starting to feel like Galen’s barbie doll with all this shopping and dressing he did for me. But at the same time, I wouldn’t have picked this, or spent anywhere as much as he did on it all. I didn’t want to even know how much these shoes cost. But I suspected a lot.
“Oh sorry, Jaxson, everyone calls me Jax.” I opened the car door and stepped out. The sun was warm on my skin and I walked around to meet Ada, who was still sitting in the car.
“Ada,” I hissed under my breath. It snapped her out of her little moment and she stumbled around, getting her belt off and grabbing her purse. She opened the door and as she tried to get out, the car lurched forward.
“Woah,” Jax called out, reaching in and putting the handbrake on.
“Oh sorry, I forgot to put it in park, I was just so excited to be here, and do you know Huxley? He said he would be here, and I just wanted to know if he was here, now. Or will he be here soon?” Oh, there is the Ada I know. Jax chuckled.
“Yeah, Hux is my cousin. He is here already. Maddox will be able to show you to him.
Ada stumbled towards me, her hand on her throat. “Oh, no. That’s okay. I’m here with my family, Destiny, and my parents. So we are supposed to sit together.”
Maddox came over when Ada stumbled again and held out the crook of his arm, Ada blushed as she took it. He turned to me and smiled.
“Your mate's markings are strong, a warning for me to stay away.” I nodded. He was telling me why he wasn’t offering his arm to me.
I was glad, I was going to avoid touching anyone here.
Chapter Forty
Lexi
Graham and Michelle were seated next to another couple in this big, white open tent in the yard. Fairylights hung from the roof and the aisle was a white carpet through the middle. As we walked down, Ada still on Maddox’s arm I could see the place was full of families, they were all so friendly— just like Kiba— as we walked down. Saying hello, some waving, smiling as we made our way down to the second row there were two seats behind her parents beside two other couples who smiled and said hello as we took our spots. They turned to us with big smiles. Her dad nodded at me and Ada, then turned around again to speak to the man beside him. Ada’s mom was not happy.
“Where were you, you’re late,” she whispered, so no one would hear us. Little did she know that she could shout that all the same, and it would have the same impact here.
“I’m sorry, Galen was doing my hair…” I was going to say Zara did Ada’s hair, but then I didn’t know if that would upset her mom or not that she didn’t let her do it.
She looked to Ada, her hair, then to mine. And smiled.
“Oh wow, he is very talented. I could never do something like that. You both look so beautiful. And there are a lot of men around, you never know. One of you might catch one’s eyes.” She winked at me and Ada
giggled nervously. I just smiled and held in the laugh that so wanted to burst free. Ada poked me and I held my hand over my mouth.
“Don’t you dare,” she warned me, her own smile huge.
“I wouldn’t… and thank you, Michelle. But I already have four boyfriends, I don’t think I could have anymore.” I had told her the other night I was in a relationship like Kiara was. But not that I had double the men. Her mouth dropped open and her eyes widened.
“Oh, oh wow. That’s…um wonderful dear.” I smiled and nodded. I guess she would eventually know, so might as well not lie.
A young guy with an acoustic guitar appeared at the front beside a large man. And when I mean huge, like think Dwayne Johnson. Except this guy had the same wild curls as Maddox. I assumed he was either his father or uncle. This guy was the alpha, I had seen him before, but his hair was tamed and in a bun, I prefer this look.
“Thank you all for attending today. Will our grooms please come to the front?” We all turned and watched as two men were almost bouncing on their way down. Huge big grins, as they accepted handshakes and lots of excitement for everyone here. It was really nice. The way they came down, one jumped in the air and did a three-sixty and landed on his knees. Everyone cheered and laughed. I loved it, this was so different to how I thought it would be.
“Oh, where is your sister?” I asked Ada, I assumed she would be sitting with her parents.
“Oh, sorry. I thought I told you, she is a bridesmaid.” Michelle turned around and added.
“She looked so nice, and I snuck in before and saw Kiara. Oh gosh, her mother is going to cry, oh hell I will cry. I love weddings. This is a little different, that she is marrying two men, but oh. One day I will be the mother of the bride.”
