In front of everyone Tucker pulls me back into his arms; face to face. “Trouble can be fun when you’re doing it with the right partner.” Without giving me a chance to respond he slams his lips to mine. It’s a rough, demanding kiss, that shouldn’t be making my stomach do somersaults but somehow is.
I should be fighting, pushing him away, but his delicious assault is making me putty in his hands. The kiss doesn’t end until he releases me. In a daze I watch as he lifts his fingers to brush my swollen lips.
“That’s a good way to put her in her place.” I hear one of the Savage boys say. And those words snap me out of my daze. I move to step away from him, but he’s already dropped his hand to my waist to hold me in place.
Making my voice sugary sweet, I lean into him and say. “I’m glad you’re so into trouble.”
“Oh, I am.” He growls, gripping my waist harder and pulling me closer.
“Good.” I drop the sweetness and glare at him. “Because once we’re mated your furry behind’s going to be in it all the time. The kind created by you pissing me off, and me putting you in the dog house. And the kind I create to keep you on your toes.”
His mouth drops open in shock and his grip loosens, so I take the opportunity to step out of his reach. I turn on my heels. As I’m walking away I throw over my shoulder. “Better get prepared, mate. The fun begins tonight.”
Chapter 15 - Tucker
"She agreed." I say still in shock. Bonnie's going to complete our mating. I feel like I’ve won the lottery and the super bowl all on the same day.
"Calm down, Tuck." Pike says, grasping my shoulder to stop me from pacing.
"I've got to make this perfect."
"You will."
"How the hell am I going to make it perfect? We're in the middle of the woods!" I start pacing, again. "There's so much that needs to be done, and nowhere to get anything in time."
The Savage twins, Rex and Rhett, chuckle. Rex shakes his head. "He's acting like a bitch."
Forrest smacks both boys on the back of their heads. "Behave. A mating ceremony is a big deal. Tucker has every right to be nervous about making tonight perfect for his mate. I pray to the heavens when you two finally find your mates that they put you through the ringer."
"Ha! I doubt there's anyone in the world, let alone two people, who could put up with these two simpletons long enough to be mated to them." Hayden Abbott laughs.
"Hey!" The twins say in unison.
"He's just jealous he doesn't have our good looks." Rhett says, throwing a rock at Hayden. Hayden dodges the rock and picks one up to throw in return.
“Good looks! My tail! You two look as if you've been beat with an ugly stick."
The twins make a move to tackle Hayden but Forrest grabs them by their collars to pull them back. "If you three keep behaving like pups I'm going to put you each over my knee."
The three of them grumble apologies. Forrest releases the twins, and then focuses back on me. "How can we help you with tonight?"
I search my brain for the most important task that needs done. Tillie and Amelia said they'd help find Bonnie a dress to wear, not that I could've helped with that any way, so the next item on the priority list would be a location. There's not going to be much to choose from out in the middle of nowhere. It's either trees or cabin, but still I've got to try to find somewhere that fits the occasion. "A location would be nice."
"You could have it by the springs." Hayden suggests. Not bad but it doesn't seem like the right spot.
"No. I know just the place." Heath says, then standing orders. "Follow me." Pike and I follow while the others stay at the cabin. Heath guides us deeper into the woods, going higher into the mountains. It's a hike, and I'm starting to question the man's sanity. Finally, the trees open up into a clearing. He stops and motions to the area. "There's perfection befitting a mating ceremony."
I'm doubtful of his claim, but I go ahead and walk over to where he gestured. To my complete surprise I find exactly what he promised. Perfection. At the end of the small clearing is a cliff with a view that hasn't been tampered with by the modern world. Blue skies with big fluffy clouds as a back drop. A valley below is filled with shades of purple, pink, blue, and white wildflowers. Surrounding the valley in shades of green are the tree covered mountains of West Virginia. This place is a slice of heaven.
I feel Pike's presence as he comes to stand beside me. He releases an awed. "Wow."
"This is why we refer to the state as West by God Virginia. She may be one of the poorer states when it comes to money but the Creator sure gifted her with a richness of natural beauty." Heath says from my other side with a look of pride clearly on his face.
"You have that right." I agree my eyes going back to the view.
"We’ll have to carry Bonnie and Bloom up here." Pike throws out, not even waiting on me to confirm this as the location. There's no way I'd not honor my mate with a view like this, and he knows that.
"The boys have one of those side by side ATV's. We can use it to bring the girls here."
"Okay." I agree right before the three of us fall into silence. I use those peaceful moments to go over more details that need to be handled for the ceremony. I make a mental note to ask if there are candles in the cabin that we can use to light the space. It'll be dusk when it takes place and Bonnie doesn't have enhanced abilities of a wolf like the rest of us. Although it would be funny to see her stumbling around in the dark at my mercy, I know it won't earn me any favors by putting her in that situation. She'd more than likely shoot me if I tried.
I turn and look at the clearing behind me. We won't be able to bring chairs in for the Savage pack to sit on, but it's a small group so maybe we can figure something else out for seating. I hope this all will be enough to please my mate. She acts like she's only giving in because of her need to be Bloom's Guardian, but I can hear her thoughts. She feels our connection, what we can be together, and wants this just as badly as I do. I can't mess this up. It would give her the opportunity to doubt me. She's stubborn. And if I mess this up I won't get another chance to prove myself.
"Bloom's trying to find something blue to give Bonnie. She's wanting to give her that wedding tradition, even though this isn't going to be a human wedding."
I look back at the view with the array of flowers doting the valley. "Tell her I'll handle the something blue, and the bouquet."
"And tell her Tillie and I have the something new covered." Heath chimes in.
Pike nods in understanding as he closes his eyes to concentrate on relaying the message to his mate.
"Something new?" I quirk my eyebrow in question at the older wolf.
"Every bride needs a little protection for their mating night." He answers cryptically with a devilish grin on his face.
Shit. I don't think I'm lucky enough for him to be referring to condoms. Condoms I can handle. Anymore weapons added to Bonnie's arsenal…not so much.
Chapter 16 - Bonnie
I'm sitting on the edge of Tillie's quilt-covered bed, with my hands placed firmly in my lap to hide the fact that they're shaking. Amelia and Tillie are digging through a closest for what they swear will be the perfect dress for me to wear to this damn ceremony I got myself into. What was I thinking? Oh yeah, I was thinking I'm falling for the big wolf, and mating him won't be that big of a hardship, especially if it means I'll be able to protect my best friend. As for my so-called best friend, she's missing. The freakin' traitor! She should be here to calm me down before this minor freak-out I'm having turns into a full-blown meltdown, and I end up running into the woods to get away and end up lost in BFE. What can be more important than talking down your best friend, right before her off the cuff pseudo-wedding? Nothing! I hate showing weakness, but I really need her beside me to get through this.
Amelia and Tillie spin around with matching grins on their faces.
"You're scaring me." I say, watching them with apprehension. This can't be good. They look like two lunatics who've escaped
from the psych ward. Well-aged lunatics, but that's neither here nor there.
"We have the perfect dress for your ceremony." Amelia beams.
"Oh, you do." I say hesitantly. These two live in a cabin buried deep in the woods, so I'm placing bets on this dress being straight up Little House on the Prairie. Laura Ingalls probably loaned it to Tillie herself.
"We do. But before we show you please keep in mind that I wore it in a different time." Tillie warns.
"Oookay." Totally going to be a prairie dress. I'm foreseeing a high collar and ruffles.
"We didn't do the huge elaborate dresses you all have these days. Our mating dresses were much simpler."
"Just show me." I command, wanting to get this over with quickly. I force a smile on my face, so I won't hurt their feelings when they show me this old lady dress. But the smile becomes genuine when they pull-out the dress and hold it up.
"Tillie." I say in shock as I stand up and move closer to examine it. I run my hand over the lace in awe.
"I was mated to Heath in the early seventies." She explains with a smile. That explains the vintage piece.
I take the dress from them and hold it against my frame. “It's stunning." I tell her as I admire the white lace mini dress. The dress falls loosely at mid-thigh with scalloped edges on the hem, as well as on the flowing bell sleeves, and the bateau neckline. It brings to mind women with flowers sewn in their hair, grooving to Creedence. My mind is racing with ideas on how to fix my hair and make-up so it’ll flatter the beautiful simplicity of the vintage dress.
"Thank you so much for letting me borrow this." I tell Tillie.
She pats my cheek. "You're very welcome. It'll make me happy to see it be of use again."
"Would you like us to help you get ready?" Amelia asks.
I shake my head. "No. I think I'll go ahead and start. When Bloom shows up she can finish helping me. But thanks for offering."
She nods in understand. "Holler if you need anything at all."
"I will." I tell her. They both give me reassuring smiles, and then leave the room, shutting the door behind them. I place the dress across the bed before taking a seat at a vanity table with my makeup bag and hair products in hand. I braid the sides of my hair and pin them back, letting the rest hang loose in waves. I go soft with my make-up, doing light pinks on my eyelids and cheeks, and a pink gloss on my lips. Some eyeliner and mascara, and that's done. I slip into the dress, struggling to zip-it up, just as there's a knock on the door.
"Come in." I call.
Bloom walks in carrying one of those recyclable grocery bags. She sets the bag on the bed as she crosses to me. She walks in a circle around me, taking in the whole look. "That's Tillie's dress?" She asks with just as much surprise in her voice as I had when I saw it.
"Apparently the ultimate Guardian was a flower child in her day."
"No kidding. It looks amazing on you." She says, stopping right in front of me.
"Where'd you run off to?" I ask a little too snippy.
She shakes her head at my attitude all the while smiling. "I had to get some things for you."
"So you ran to a grocery store?” I ask, gesturing at the bag she carried in.
She rolls her eyes as she walks away to pick-up the bag in question. "Stop pouting. I brought you surprises." She turns back around, a tiny package wrapped in yellow cloth and tied with a sapphire ribbon is sitting in her palm.
I unwrap it to find her cross necklace. I look up at her preparing to ask her “What's up?” when she beats me to it by saying. "Your something borrowed. I know you're worried about being hurt, but I want you to remember that life and love call for you to have a little faith in yourself and in your partner."
"You're trying to make me cry, aren't you?"
"Absolutely." She teases as she takes the necklace so she can fasten it around my neck. She reaches into the bag, pulls out another cloth wrapped present, and hands it to me.
I tear into it until it reveals a pair of diamond earrings in the shape of little flowers.
"Your something old." She says. Then takes the earrings from my palm and proceeds to put them on me while explaining. "Amelia is giving you these. They were her mothers. My great-grandmother, Lillian's. Amelia said she was a very wise Oracle who guided her Alpha through many challenges in her life. She said to tell you that she hopes they bring you the same kind of wisdom to guide you through life."
My hands fly to the earrings. "These should go to you."
She grabs my hands and pulls them away from my ears. "I want you to have them too. I don't need an object to connect me to the family I never met. Knowing I have this gift in me that she also had is more than enough for me." I hug her because she truly is a sweet person. She pulls back and grabs a third cloth wrapped gift.
I open it to find a black leather scabbard holding a silver dagger. I pull out the dagger to get a closer look. The handle is adorned with an intricate filigree that is also carved into the blade.
"Your something new."
"How?" I ask.
She takes the scabbard, and motions for me to prop my leg up on a chair. I do so, and she straps it to my leg, under the hem of the dress. "Heath just bought it for Tillie. But now they both want you to have it as a mating gift. Tillie said to tell you a Guardian should always have protection on her. Not only to keep her Oracle safe but also to keep herself safe. She hopes the dagger, like your mate, always protects you."
I slide the dagger into the sheath and put my leg down. My mind is swirling with Tillie's words. Can I trust Tucker to protect me? I guess I'm going to have to, seeing that I'm permanently tying myself to him. "If this keeps up I really am going to cry." I tell Bloom as I fan my eyes.
She squeezes my arm gently. "Hold out a little longer." She picks up the bag and says. "Your something blue." She reaches into the bag, pulls out a bouquet, and hands it to me. Purple, pink, white, and blue wildflowers are bundled together, and wrapped with the same sapphire ribbon as the presents.
I hold the bouquet to my nose to take in the floral scent. "They're perfect. Thank you."
"You're welcome, but credit for those go to Tucker."
"Really?" I ask, shocked.
She nods. "He picked them himself." The thought of him frolicking through the woods, picking flowers is kind of funny. Though I doubt he was skipping like my imagination has him doing. I giggle at the mental image.
"What?" Bloom asks. I explain my image of Tucker skipping around while picking the flowers and she giggles too. "That would be a funny sight." She gets all serious. "He's doing everything he can to make tonight perfect for you."
The tears spill out of my eyes before I can stop them. "Dang it! I'm messing up my makeup."
She hands me a faded red handkerchief. "Go ahead and cry. I'll help you fix your face when you're done."
"I love you." I tell her between wiping away tears.
"I love you, too."
I sit down on the edge of the bed, gripping the bouquet to my chest. "I wish you could use your Oracle super powers and tell me I'm doing the right thing."
"Oracle super powers?" She giggles, sitting down beside me.
"Yeah, super powers."
"I'm about as close to being a super hero as Super Grover." She bumps her shoulder into mine as her giggles turn into a full blown laugh.
"You have super powers though unlike him."
"Let's call it gifts. Super powers make me think of a man flying around in a cape with his underwear showing."
"Fine. I wish you could use your gifts to tell me I'm doing the right thing. Better?"
"Much." She puts her arm around my shoulders and I lean my head against hers. "I don't need to use my gift to know this is right. He's your mate, Bon. Tucker was born to be by your side, and you by his. Not every moment will be perfect, but if you both open yourselves to your connection the perfect moments will outweigh the imperfect."
"I'll take your word, but if the big oaf breaks my heart I'm stabbing him with my n
ew dagger."
"If he breaks your heart I'll help you stab him. Now, on to something more important."
"What's more important?"
"Picking the shoe's you're going to wear with that dress, of course!"
I hold up my feet and wiggle my toes while laughing. "I was thinking of going barefoot." At her shocked face I explain. "I thought it would fit the dress better, plus I'd break a leg trying to walk through these woods in heels."
Chapter 17 – Bonnie
The ATV lurches up the mountain. I have a death grip on the frame, using sheer will to keep my ass in the seat and not on the dirty ground. I may be a small town girl who knows how to use a gun, but that doesn't mean I enjoy this redneck shit. Bloom is a different story. She’s driving with huge grin on her face. The silly girl loves anything that’ll put a new layer of dirt on her boots.
We hit another bump that threatens to dislodge me from the vehicle and I ask, once again. “How much further?”
“I see the break in the tree’s up ahead. So not much longer my prissy friend.”
“What’s the plan?” I ask, ignoring the prissy comment.
“Pike said for us to park inside the tree line and walk out. That we’ll know where to go from there.”
“Why didn’t we do this at the cabin?” I grumble like a petulant child.
She brings the ATV to a stop and smiles at me. “Because Tuck has a surprise for you. Stop the whining and enjoy.”
I cross my arms against my chest and huff. “If I must.”
“You must.” She says, mocking my tone of voice as she climbs out of the vehicle.
“Where are you going?” I ask, uncrossing my arms.
She motions to the woods around us and states the obvious. “We’re here.” She walks around to my side and offers me her hand.
“This really is the middle of no-where.” I say, taking hold of her outstretched hand and sliding out. I straighten the dress, run my fingers through my hair, and then grab the bouquet out of the seat I just vacated.
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