by Belle Harper
Ada’s mom really wants her girls to meet someone, and from the looks here, that won't be a problem. I hadn’t seen Huxley yet, although I could see her scanning the crowd for him.
I felt bad about what happened on Thursday, with Ranger and I shouldn’t have touched him. I just didn’t know it would set him off like that. The music started and everyone stood; I followed them up and turned. This was just like the movies. I saw and heard people as someone moved down the aisle. But I couldn’t see, Ada was having the same luck. We were seated in the middle of two other couples. And we were short compared to most shifters.
The people behind us turned to the aisle, and that’s when I first saw her. Destiny, wow these girls were a spitting image of each other. How did I not even see that when I was at her house last week? I guess I just thought they were just of Ada.
She was wearing a baby pink dress to the knee, her skin was a golden tan, whereas Ada was paler. She turned and smiled when she saw us, and I waved. I put my hand down, oh that wasn’t embarrassing. There was a man walking behind her, he was wearing the same as Jax was, boardshorts and a cream shirt.
Then another young woman was walking behind him. She smiled and mouthed hello to Ada. Then Huxley… wait.
Ada stiffened and turned to me. Her eyes wide. He was part of the bridal party. He turned and looked to me, Ada was still facing me as he smiled and nodded. I couldn’t help the huge grin I gave back; Ada’s eyebrows were in her hairline when she saw me. I chuckled, and she turned back, just in time to see Huxley turn to look behind at her one more time.
Oh, my heart swooned. I felt like I was in a romance novel.
When Kiara came, I understood what Michelle had said. Her dress was just spectacular. It was cream lace, fitted at the top and then flowed loosely around her waist to the floor. It flowed down into a small train behind her. A man, I assumed her father had a big smile on his face as he walked her down. The song the guy on the guitar was playing was just perfect. I just realized it was “what a wonderful world.”
Everyone sat down and I did too. Ada held my hand, and I squeezed back as we watched the Alpha as he cleared his throat.
“Everyone we are gathered here today—"
Chapter Forty-One
Lexi
Okay, if anyone says they don’t cry at weddings there was something wrong there. Oh my god, I was so glad I didn’t do my usual smokey eye look, I would have been a panda by the end of the vow, and Michelle was amazing. She came prepared and handed up tissues. The guys, Elian and Dylan, wrote their own vows, and so did Kiara. And that set me off with sniffles and a lone tear.
“We need to go do a make-up check, then I will go introduce you to Destiny and maybe… you know. Find people.” I held her hand as we ran across the green lawn and to the huge mansion the Rawlins Alpha had. It was funny how similar the two packs lived, I wondered if it was the same for Kenneally.
A group of older men were hovering around a table full of different dishes of food.
“Hello there, are you looking for the ladies' room?” the one with graying hair asked. We both nodded, and he pointed down a hall, “and it’s the last door on your left.” We walked as fast as we could, and once there we locked ourselves in.
“Oh, this is so bad, like when I see him now I can't even breathe.” I looked at Ada through the mirror.
“What? Who?” Huxley? Her eyes flared, and she pointed in a circle.
“You know who, oh god.” She started pacing. What the hell was going on, she was all chatty Cathy earlier about him, and now she was hyperventilating in the bathroom.
“Sit down, breathe. What happened?” she sat down on the lid of the toilet. And took a deep breath and started to spill.
“He asked me to prom. Yesterday. When you were at Josh’s adoption. And I didn’t know what to say, I freaked out and ran away. And I was all ready on the way here, I was going to tell him yes, but now I see him. What if he changed his mind, you know? Like no one has ever asked me out. Not like that, I haven’t even been kissed.”
I took a step to her and squatted, held her hands. I didn’t know that; I thought she had kissed guys before. But then she never said she had.
“Well, okay, I did kiss a boy on summer camp when I was twelve. But that wasn’t a real kiss. But I didn’t tell you, even though I was going to ask you what I should do, it’s just… if he said no. I would have been so embarrassed to tell you. Like here you are, Lexi. This amazing, cool chick and you have four perfect boyfriends. FOUR! And I can't even get one.” She held up four fingers and flashed them to me twice.
I… wow, I didn’t know what to say. She thinks I have four perfect boyfriends. I guess I didn’t tell her too much; I kept a lot of the relationship stuff to myself.
“Hey, don’t do that to yourself. You’re always so positive, and he asked you. Ada Stephens. He didn’t ask anyone else—”
She butted in. “How do you know that?” I wanted to roll my eyes, but I wouldn’t do that to her, she was just so clueless on how guys looked at her. Even that Jax guy was checking her out.
“Ada, on Thursday after you went home, he came and asked me if you were alright.” Her mouth dropped, “Yeah, he did. Said he tried to call you and see how you were. But you didn’t answer. I told him to try you later. But first I grabbed his arm. Ranger saw, he seemed okay about it, like it was all good. But later we were waiting for him, Maverick knew where and what he was doing. He was fighting him, Huxley. Ranger challenged him, Ada. I don’t have perfect boyfriends, there is no such thing. Everyone has flaws, secrets… nothing is perfect. But we work on it, help each other. But do you know why he fought him?” She shook her head, her eyes wide with worry.
“Ranger was mad that he spoke to me, and he knew he liked you. He was worried if Huxley asked you out, that Noah would be pushed aside, and he loves him like a brother. I understand why he thought it was a good idea, sort of. I’m trying, at least. But what I’m trying to say is, Huxley won’t have asked anyone else. He will be waiting for you to tell him yes.”
I’m starting to think I will be waiting forever for the guys to ask me, or maybe they just assume I will go with them.
Ada got up and straightened out her dress and hugged me. She didn’t speak for a few minutes as she opened her purse and applied some makeup.
“Thank you, I guess I look at you and the guys and try to work out what’s wrong with me. But you’re right, I was just overthinking and thinking the negative when I usually am more positive. I’m gonna go out there and tell him I will go to the prom.” She turned to me, standing tall with a look of determination on her face.
“You go get him tiger.” She laughed as I tapped her ass on the way out. She chuckled, and we ran out past the food and out to where a huge party was happening. Music, dancing, food and Huxley Moore looking right at Ada.
She turned to me and nodded and surprised me when she took off, long strides to where he was standing. I saw him straighten up, his smile large, a little crooked from the scar. I had never seen him smile so much, and I think that was because of Ada.
I watched as they talked. She swished her dress around a little nervously. He nodded and then laughed. They talked for a few more moments before she gave him a small wave and ran back to me. She was a little out of breath but she didn’t have to say anything, I already knew. He said yes.
“We are going to the prom.” She squealed and wrapped her arms around me, I could see Huxley smiling still and watching us while talking to someone.
Destiny came up with two glasses of margarita.
“Hello, I’m Destiny. Ada’s sister. You must be Lexi, the amazing best friend who is dating Mr Donovani. Shut the front door. That is unreal. Like hell yeah, he was hot when I was at school, and you were the forbidden fruit he was waiting for.” I looked to Ada, and she glanced away. I shook my head and laughed. Fuck it, everyone knows anyway.
“I’m the best friend and you are the sister who had a leather jacket that fit me perfectly, like it w
as destiny.” She snorted and laughed. Oh wow, how many drinks had she had already, it was only noon.
“Oh, that was funny when she told me.” She sloshed a drink on her shoe and stared at it, blinked really slowly and handed me one of the drinks. “Whoops, here, I got you girls drinks. I can’t believe you drove, Ada. I can get one of the guys to bring your car back tomorrow. Dad is being the sober one tonight so us Stephens ladies can get our drink on, but I might be staying here. I don’t know… there are a lot of single guys here. Whoop whoop.” She fist pumped the air, stumbled a little, and I helped her. Giving a worried looked to Ada. She held her other elbow to steady her.
“Okay, so I think I will stop drinking for a while. We had mimosas at breakfast… they go down so well. I’m not a big drinker and the world is spinning a little.”
I looked around and saw the older man from inside come over with a chair; I thank him and we helped her sit in it; she kicked off her heels and stretched back.
“Oh, this is so nice,” I giggled. She was happy and a lot like Ada.
“Let’s drink and party, we can get my dad to drive us home.” Ada tapped her glass with me, and I looked down into it.
Fuck it, what was one drink?
Chapter Forty-Two
Galen
I received a call at around four from Maddox Coleman, the Alphas eldest son, his second. I got worried, but when he told me that Lexi had a few drinks, spent the afternoon dancing, she was exhausted and asked if he could call me to come get her. She was going to get a lift with Ada’s parents, but they weren’t ready to leave yet and she was.
Ranger and Raff were out for a run, but Mav stayed behind as I tried to work out how to fit a larger bed in the small room of the cottage. Or if it would be better for us to all move out after graduation. Into a larger house in Kiba.
When I got to the golden gates of Rawlins, where the alpha, Erick, lived with his mate and two sons, they greeted me with a very happy Lexi. I jumped out to help her.
“Oh, love. What trouble have you got yourself into?” I laughed as she giggled.
“It was two, okay, that was all. But my feet hurt from too much dancing. Which I didn’t think could be a thing, since I heal so fast. But it is.” I bent down and grabbed the back of her knees and hoisted her up to my chest.
“Thanks guys, my knight has come. It was nice meeting you.” She waved behind us as I walked back to the car. I got her in and seated, and she pulled me down before I could close the door and kissed me.
“Mmm… you taste yummy.” She winked at me. Oh wow, I think two drinks was one too many for Lexi. I would get her home and sober her up.
I carried a sleeping Lexi inside, but she woke when Mav touched her.
“Hey, handsome.” His brows rose as he chuckled.
“Oh, Lexi… you have had a fun time, I see.” I put her down on the sofa, and she reached for me. So I sat beside her.
“Just sleep some love, you will feel better soon.” She nodded and was out in about twenty seconds. Mav came over and draped a blanket over her. I tried to move away, but she grabbed onto me. Well, I wasn’t going to work out a bigger bed in that room anytime soon, so I turned on the TV. And watched some old episodes of Friends.
Mav settled down into the armchair and we watched in silence for three episodes before Lexi moaned and woke up. Her eyes meeting mine, she smiled and stretched.
“Love, feeling better?” I was wondering if it was more the lack of sleep and no breakfast that had her a little tipsy, more so than anything. She had lunch, I assumed, but she seemed better now.
“Oh, yep. I need to pee.” She jumped up and ran to the bathroom. One that five of us share, another reason we should talk about a bigger place.
“Did you want me to leave?” Mav asked me out of nowhere. I gave him a puzzled look. What gave him that idea? Lexi and I were taking things slow. If anything, I should be asking him that question. He deserved private time as well with her, even if it was to talk. I had already had that with her more than him. And I didn’t want him to feel like he was being pushed aside. I had enjoyed our afternoon together, he even kissed me. It was brief, but it was nice.
“Do you want me to leave?” I asked, his brows now going up. When Lexi closed the bathroom door he turned. His mouth dropped open, and I heard him make a strangled sound.
I turned to look behind to see what she was doing, and my cock reacted immediately. She was standing there, in the bra and thong I had bought for her. White, with a small hint of this green that reminded me of Mav’s eyes.
“I thought I would show you—both of you. I love this.” She ran her hand down her body and her whole body moved with it. I sat forward, speechless. Mav growled low. He was affected just as much as me. My fangs itching. Wanted her, wanting him… wanting to watch, join in. I didn’t know what I wanted, but I wanted it all.
I had noticed then she had pulled her hairstyle out, and her hair flicked to the side and she exposed her neck. I couldn’t stop, my fangs descended, and I was over to her in a spilt second.
“Love, you tease me. You awaken the dark in me.” Her hand traced my jaw, her fingers traced my lips. I darted my tongue out to taste her, god I wanted to taste her. But I couldn’t. I promised I wouldn’t. I could end up mortal… or so what we believe. But it was something I wanted. I wanted to grow old with Lexi, with Maverick, Ranger and Rafferty. That was something I didn’t think I could have, but I could possibly with her blood.
She pressed her index finger against my fang and I tasted her blood as she wiped it against my lips. I ran my tongue over them, licking it off and feeling that small bit of her.
“I want you, Galen.” She pressed her lips to my jaw. My hands reached for her, pressing her against my hard body, showing her how much I wanted her. I just didn’t want to rush her. I was in no rush; I would wait forever if it meant I could love her. When I didn’t answer her she stood on her toes and took my mouth with hers, her tongue darting out into my mouth, running over my fangs. I felt a shiver through my body at the feeling. God… oh hell. I grabbed her throat and pressed my mouth hard to hers in a bruising kiss.
I could smell her, feel her, she was so aroused. So needy that I hungered for her touch. Her touch was everything to me, the way her hands roamed my body had my heart soaring.
“Mr. Donovani.” She moaned against my lips, and that was my undoing.
Chapter Forty-Three
Maverick
I watched quietly as Galen devoured Lexi. She was beautiful, and he was handsome. She wore this little scrap of lace, and everything in me came alive. She was so sexy, she danced for us. I knew in her past she did that for a living, but I didn’t want to think about that. Only that she was mine— ours. My wolf wanted to take her, claim her and Galen then and there. But I didn’t know how or if I wanted that. If they wanted that. Galen was mesmerising as he took her. His jawline sharp, his dark wavy curls made him look younger than his turned age of twenty-one.
He had said he didn’t like his body, I heard him at the football game. The way he compared himself to us. You cannot compare yourself to a shifter. I wanted to tell him we were all built like this. Bigger, stronger. I didn’t have to do much to look this way. It was really unfair to humans who had to work out, do protein shakes and everything. That was something I never had to do, I could eat pizza, chocolate and ice cream every day and still look like this.
I prefer Galen’s body to other shifters. He was smaller, yes, but he had wiry muscle under it all. He had a tapered waist and long fingers. He was like Lexi, delicate, but he was far more deadly than anyone I had ever been attracted to.
I wanted to kiss him earlier, but I wasn’t sure if he wanted to, so I gave him a quick kiss… I guess Galen makes me nervous, but not like Lexi did. With her I know where I stand, she comes to me, kisses me and lets me set the pace. But tonight that was all out the window. She had been with Ranger, she liked how he was. I had more alpha in me, I tended to get more heated. That was why I didn’t be with
anyone after Olivia. It scared me, and I knew that my mate would be able to handle me. My alpha size. I watch as the two of them turn to me, I was so worked up I didn’t even realize they had stopped.
Lexi smiles at me, her mouth a little swollen, her pupils wide as she takes me in. Yeah, I got comfy while I was watching; I had removed some clothing.
“Come, Mav.” She reached for me. She didn’t usually call me Mav, she always used my full name. I wasn’t going to say no to her. I held her hand as she took Galen’s and walked backwards to the bedroom. She licked her lips and Galen flicked on the lamp, I moved to kiss her but she shoved me and I felt the king-sized bed. I shuffled back and stretched out. I was only wearing my boxers, and even those were struggling to contain the hard-on I was sporting. I saw this little glint in Lexi’s eyes as she climbed up on the bed and started to stalk up my body. I rested back on my elbows and watched as my skin prickled at her light touch, her hair falling around her face, all curly and kinky from where Galen had done it for her and now it was all out. I love it down, and as she got closer, I tugged on a few strands towards me.
Our lips met, but it wasn’t sweet. No, this was full of pent-up sexual tension, love, passion as I growled into her mouth, our tongues teasing each other. I bit her lip and pressed her small body to where I ached the most. Her legs parted around me and she rubbed herself against my erection. I held her hips, pulling her back and forth as the friction built up. Fuck, I wasn’t going to last like this. Her hands skated up my chest and into my hair.
“Mav…” she panted as I tilted her head to the side and kissed her throat, her neck and up under the ear before taking her earlobe between my teeth and sucking.
“Oh fuck, yes.” She gasps. My wolf could smell her strong arousal, so thick in the air. But I could smell Galen’s too. He was hovering in the corner, watching us. Why was he watching? He looked like he wanted to join in. I wanted him to join in. We already had the talk, I want to kiss him, touch him. Just the thought of it had my cock leaking.
