“If you’re good tonight, maybe I’ll let you carry away the girl,” Shelly teased, running her hand up his chest.
“Woman,” Argo growled and went to grab her, but she ran off with the children and the other females toward the petting zoo.
“I want to know who chose these costumes,” Remi grumbled as he tried to adjust his pumpkin costume, which could actually be scary, almost like that horror movie.
“Are you a good clown or a scary one?” White Eagle asked. “And how the hell did Tarzan get this skimpy thing to cover his stuff?”
“What are you complaining about? How the hell they moved around in these metal things, I have no idea,” Nikola said, almost falling backward when he took a step forward dressed as a knight of the round table.
Castor grunted. “Do I look like an elf?” he growled, touching his now-pointy ears.
Bo burst out laughing, shaking his head. “I guess we might as well get used to this, because I have a feeling we’re not going to have a choice. Plus, we wanted something special for the little ones and we got it,” he said as they were suddenly surrounded by children, each asking questions and wanting to be held.
For the next two hours, Bo didn’t see much of his woman as she played with the children. He helped hand out cider, read a Halloween story to a group of kids, and talked with Argo about the safe room for the children and others. They had decided to make the common room the storeroom since all tunnels leading to it could be closed off if need be. One of the unused storefronts would hold food and supplies.
The lights seemed to dim and a stage lit up the middle of the commons. Jack, Melinda, Anthony and Jax, Anthony’s younger brother, stood on it, dressed in their costumes and tuning their instruments.
Bo glanced at the other men as they joined him and Argo. “Did you know they created a band?” he asked Dane, who shook his head.
“I guess we’ve been so busy missed a lot of things.” Dane sighed. “I’ll be glad when we can start to concentrate on settling in, then the battle that is brewing.”
“All of us will.” Iceman and Gourd appeared behind them. “Their main ship has been located, and from the looks of they, too, are preparing for a battle.” Iceman nodded to Owen as he moved over to join their group. “How is Valda?”
Bo frowned. “What’s wrong with Valda? Do you need our help?”
“Apparently my brother, Kanji and his team have been leaking information to the Heliokillers all along. We have been monitoring him and his team since they arrived.” Iceman shook his head. “I would never have believed he’d risk his own daughter like this. I’ve called Gourd here to inform him of the latest news. My brother and his team seem bound and determined to find Gourd’s mate before they do. I don’t know what they will do when they find her, but we can’t take the chance. Aurora has asked us to call for more help, and I have to agreed to allow your Empusa and Gaia. They are all now working together and will hopefully find Gourd’s mate soon.”
Bo glanced at Gourd, who looked furious. “I take it you haven’t confronted Valda’s father, then?”
“No, it would give away too much and believe me, my companions are not happy about it. But we can’t risk the safety of everyone here even for our mates sake and then we must consider Valda. What it would knowing we eliminated her father do to her? My brother has sent two more ships, since it would seem there are more of these creatures than we thought.”
At seven feet tall, Gourd was a force not to be messed with, and the power radiating off him while he was furious had everyone giving him a wide berth. Even Iceman and his family seemed to pacify the man and his group when they asked for information, indicating even their world was a little intimidated by him.
As if sensing their moods, the women slowly moved into their group, pulling their men out onto the dance floor. Gourd turned to leave, but Valda strolled out of one of the tunnels and headed straight for him.
“Dance with me,” she asked him, and Owen nodded, stepping aside as if knowing it was important for the two. Both of them had been betrayed, Gourd by a friend the Valda by family.
Gourd smiled at Valda, taking her into his arms and dancing her out into the commons.
“Are you going to stand there all night, or are you going to let this wench get away from you?” Shelly teased Bo.
Bo allowed his cat to surface, hunting his prize, twirling her around as they joined the others on the dance floor. Little Anna dancing with Buck had Shelly laughing. It had been too long since Bo had heard her enjoying herself, and it eased the tension in him that he hadn’t even realized he’d had.
Shelly looked up as he pulled her close to him. “Even the animals above know something is coming,” she said, looking up. Bo followed her gaze and saw massive creature above in the water watching them below. “He hasn’t stopped staring at us for the past three hours. Anna said he was sad.”
Bo frowned and glanced at their little daughter. “How does she know this?”
“From what Jaycee and your mother can figure out, our little Anna is connected to the animals here on the planet. whereat the petting zoo, the different animals from this place moved right to her. I have a feeling we’re going to have our own little Dr. Doolittle on our hands,” Shelly said.
“Well then, maybe we need to get her a pet,” Bo said. As if on cue Jared came in followed by Matlock, who was in turn followed by puppies—Rottweilers, Dobermans, golden retrievers, and German Shepherds. The children squealed as the puppies ran up to them and greeted them with puppy kisses.
Shelly followed his gaze and smiled. “I take it we’re getting a puppy,” she laughed as Anna came up to him and tugged on his pant leg.
“Can we have one?” she asked.
Bo knelt down to her. “Yep, everyone will have a puppy here. These puppies will help us detect anyone that shouldn’t be here.”
“You mean the bad monsters that killed my momma and papa?” she asked and he nodded. Her little face scrunched up, and then she nodded too. “They will help like all the other animals.” She pointed to the ceiling. “He’s watching too.”
Bo smiled. “What’s his name?”
“I call him Hal. His other name was too long,” she said. “He told me soon I’ll be able to go swimming with him. Do you think we’ll all be able to?” she asked. “He wants all of us to come up and keep him company. He’s lonely. We need to find him a family,” Anna said, all serious. “I know who to ask.” She spun around and to his shock, she went right to where Iceman and Aurora were watching the children.
“This might get a little sad for our Anna,” Bo said as he and Shelly followed her.
Aurora leaned down to Anna, smiling. “So you think Hal needs a family. Someone to keep him company?” she asked, winking at Bo and Shelly.
Anna nodded. “He needs someone now till we can go up there. He’s going to protect the water from those nasty things.” She looked up, waving to the big creature, and sure enough some kind of fin waved back at her.
Shelly frowned. “He’s awful big, Princess. We’ll have to wait and see about swimming with him.”
“Princess Anna, I’ll see what I can do. I have to agree he needs a mate.” Aurora looked to the left at Iceman, who groaned.
Shelly looked over her shoulder at Bo as she and Anna moved toward the puppies. “Now come on, let’s go pick out a puppy,” Shelly said, holding out her hand. “Just so you know, you get to clean up the messes. I have a feeling it will make me sick,” she said as she peeked up at Bo and smiled.
“You’re the—” Bo was about to say “dog,” but Shelly spun around and glared at him.
“You just earned the doghouse,” she growled, taking Anna and stomping away.
Bo glanced at Remi as he stepped up to him. “Never call us dogs. It’s like being called a bitch or something like that, an insult. Do you want us to call you kitty?” Remi asked, setting his cat off. Bo blew out a breath. “Great, now I owe my mate a big apology. But maybe what I have planned will do it.” He s
miled as Remi nodded.
“If I don’t speak with you before the night is over, have a good evening.” Remi looked up. “Remember, we meet in the morning,” he said as they moved to where everyone was fussing over the puppies. Even Valda was smiling as she watched the children, her very own puppy next to her and her men.
Argo and White Eagle joined Bo. “The den has been put on notice. Jack is going to start working with the men in the morning on the second wave of defense, while the women work here getting things prepared,” Argo said.
“Good, now let’s go join the others. How is Buck doing? Everything ready?” Bo asked.
“Yep, White Eagle will take Anna in an hour, and your mom has everything ready,” Argo said. “Oh, and they’ll change our costumes too,” he grumbled. “Well ours, to match yours.”
Bo laughed. Apparently Argo didn’t want to get married dressed as King Kong.
Chapter Thirteen
The band was taking a break as the adults rounded up the children, whose yawns spread like wildfire among them. It had been a great Halloween both for the young ones and the older generation, who had really come alive with the children running around. They would have to make sure to include the older generation in all the community’s activities.
Even Shelly had been impressed when Carl had come up and offered a few suggestions for a party for Christmas, which wasn’t far away. Shelly liked the idea, but thought a pot luck dinner for the pack to welcome the new members would be even better. This seemed to surprise Carl even as he agreed, telling her he’d get the word out.
Shelly frowned and turned toward Jaycee, who stood next to her. “Do you see Anna anywhere? Last I saw her, she was with Buck.”.
Jaycee slid her arm through Shelly’s and guided her to the middle of the room, where a black satin carpet rolled out to greet them.
People moved to the sides as Anna joined Marsha and Shelly. Anna carried a little basket filled with black and orange rose petals, while Marsha mumbled some words Shelly couldn’t make out. Then Shelly’s costume changed.
Shelly sucked in her breath, staring at the dress she now wore as she ran her fingers down the soft material. She had dreamed of this dress all of her life, since she had seen it in her teens. It was a black-and-orange medieval wedding dress. The corset had a stunning little design that ran up and down her stomach, and the winged sleeves had her smiling as she lifted them up.
“You remembered,” she accused Jaycee, who laughed.
“Of course, I remembered. I think you told me about it a zillion times. Plus, it is the perfect dress. Look,” Jaycee said as all four of Shelly’s men stood next to the stage, waiting for her. Each was now shirtless and wore a long black coat, black leather pants, and a sword at their hip.
“Damn, they’re fine,” Shelly whispered and Marsha laughed.
“You are beautiful, my daughter. I wouldn’t allow Bo to see your dress, but I do believe your men love it also.” Marsha leaned over. “I even heard them growling. Something about how they couldn’t wait to get you home.”
Shelly did have to admit she’d never felt prettier than she did right this minute…
“They planned this for me, didn’t they?” she asked, looking past Marsha to see her mother and father joining them.
“White Eagle came by earlier and told me about the plan and asked for help,” Marsha said. “I’m a very lucky woman to have you as a daughter.” Marsha kissed her cheek as Ben came over and hugged her tight.
“We’ll always be here for you, Shelly, just as your mother and father are.” He stepped back, taking Marsha to the right side of the room, and that’s when Shelly saw Suzanne, Lissa, Jaycee, Delia and Melinda all lined up in matching dresses.
Shelly felt a tug on her sleeve and looked down to see Anna smiling up at her. “I get to be the flower girl with Samantha,” she said as Samantha ran into the room with puppy following close behind.
Suzanne laughed. “Sorry, the little rascal wouldn’t stay home.” Shelly noticed their puppy and Anna’s both wore a tux tie.
“Well they certainly are dressed for a wedding.” Shelly laughed and looked up into Bo’s eyes. “You didn’t ask me, dear sir?” she sent him.
“I don’t need to ask. I’m, after all, your master, am I not?” he responded, his voice almost a purr. “I plan on reminding you of that soon.”
Shelly sucked in her breath. Her mate knew exactly what he was doing. She could even see the fire in his eyes from where she stood.
She tore her gaze away from him to see that Bo wasn’t the only one who had that look in his eyes. Hell, Argo looked as though he was ready to storm down the aisle to get her. White Eagle might as well have been sending up smoke signals from the heat she witnessed from him, but Buck’s gaze was the one that captured her the most. The uncertainty and almost asking if she really wanted to be tied down to him.
“Always, Buck,” she whispered, and the smile he gave her brought tears to her eyes.
Her mother squeezed her hand and kissed her cheek. “We’re proud of you Shelly-Belly. You were always running off going your own way, but now I see it was their way.” Grace nodded to Bo, Argo, Buck and White Eagle. “I have to say, you have some handsome men, my daughter.” Grace fanned her face, earning a growl from her father as he swatted her butt and pushed her away from Shelly.
Dalton Glassgo wrapped his arms around her. Her father was as tall as Dane, but built like a tank. Dane had their father’s black hair, but Shelly had his green eyes. Dalton was still strong and could still put any man down if need be. That was one of the reasons she always felt protected and loved in his arms. Since Shelly was the only girl in the family, her father and brothers had been very protective of her.
“My baby has grown up, and I have to say you are stunning, little girl. I can’t believe you are a momma now and have two more little ones coming. Although I don’t like the idea of giving you away, wanting you to say small, even I can’t find anything wrong with the men who have marked you as theirs.” Dalton glanced over at the four men standing there. “Each one has a special quality: Argo has his strength, Buck his understanding, White Eagle the patience of a saint, which he’ll need with you, and Bo will bring all of you together, sealing your bond as a family,” her father said, looking back at her.
Shelly laid her head on his chest, listening to his heart beat, just like she had done as a child as she fell asleep in his arms, knowing he’d keep her safe. “I love you so much.”
“Enough. We don’t need you walking down the aisle all teary-eyed,” he grumbled, rubbing her back before pushing her back to stare down at her. “You ready?”
The music started and Jaycee nodded at the two little girls to start down the aisle. “Ready,” she whispered, her gaze going to her men. “Mine,” she mouthed, earning a smile from each of them.
Chapter Fourteen
Jack’s guitar strummed softly behind Bo as his friend playing Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing,” one of Bo’s all-time favorite songs. The perfect song for him and his woman.
Bo had heard the doubt in Shelly’s voice when she’d told him he hadn’t asked her to marry him. Once more Bo risked everything ordering her to say yes.
Her gaze lit up with passion and love that Bo loved to see. His cock hardened, and his cat waited in the background to claim his mate again as soon as they were alone.
Her dress had each of them growling. It not only showed off her curves, but ample amounts of her full breasts—correction, his breasts.
As if Bo hadn’t already loved her to the moon and back, what she did next had even him tearing up. Buck had always been quiet and pulled away from others. Even today, his uncertainty had made him do this. But their Shelly stepped up and proved once more what a wonderful woman they had. Even he couldn’t have chosen her words better than she had.
Argo nudged him and nodded to their little girl and Samantha, who were making their way down the aisle. He smiled, watching Samantha show Anna how to throw the petals in fro
nt of them. Anna and Samantha’s dresses were black and orange with matching tiaras, since both were actual princesses. Samantha’s father Dominic was now king of the demons and blood drinkers, and King Landon, who resided in Dominic, also considered Samantha his daughter. No one wanted to anger King Landon. Bo had seen the damage that dragon could do firsthand.
Both girls giggled while they moved slowly toward him, throwing the unusual black and orange rose petals, but it was obvious someone had found them. Even his beautiful mate had the roses woven in her long hair as did the little girls and bridesmaids.
Bo would have to thank Jaycee and his mother later for making this event special for Shelly. He’d also need to thank Nikola, who had helped him and his family design the ring in his pocket, the choker in Argo’s, and the ankle bracelet in White Eagle’s. Buck had the studs for Shelly’s clit and nipples, which they would put on tonight. The designs and stones on each all matched, and Mystic Fire surrounded the brown diamonds, symbolizing each of them.
To his right, Dane, Nikola and Dominic stood to the side waiting for their women, while Melinda would join Jack onstage after she moved down the aisle. She was the first to walk behind the special little girls.
Anna waved to Bo and he winked at her as his mom waited for her off to the side. Samantha moved next to Blair, who stood waiting for her.
“You know you shouldn’t have seen me all day before the wedding,” Shelly teased them as her maid of honor, Jaycee gave her a hug before moving down the aisle.
“Never will you be without one of us again. Why do you think we didn’t tell you or Marsha beforehand? Plus, if we informed mom beforehand it wouldn’t have been a surprise for you,” Argo said.
“Really? Then one of you will be with me even when I go to the bathroom?” Shelly laughed.
“Enough,” Bo growled. “Get your cute butt down here.”
“Cute, huh? Never knew anyone could have a cute butt, but then again, I do have to say you have a nice one too, the way you fill out those pants.”
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