Right this way, please.”
When I drop them off, the wedding planner beckons me over to where the rest of the groomsmen and ushers stand.
There’s a complicated order and timing for who walks down the aisle.
We went over it last night at the rehearsal, but I only paid attention to my job-escorting Aubrey.
I catch my breath when she rounds the bend with Ruby and Scarlett.
All three are in strapless brick red gowns, tight around the torso and flared at mid-calf, like mermaids.
Aubrey is stunning.
Her hair is piled high on her head and tied with a red scarf.
Her breasts swell at the bodice of the dress, looking ripe and eager for my handling.
Like Brick’s sisters, she’s wearing pearl-drop earrings and a three-strand pearl choker-probably gifts from the bride.
I like seeing her in finery.
I like her in paint-splattered overalls, too, but right now she looks more royal than any of Manhattan’s elite.
My hands are on her waist, my lips tasting her neck before I even realize I moved.
“You look incredible.”
“You look like a billion bucks.
Oh yeah, you are a billion bucks.”
She flashes me a smile.
I keep my hands on her waist.
It occurs to me that I don’t want this moment to end.
Initially, this thing with Aubrey had a limited timeline.
We’d work together, perform our joint duties for the wedding, and after that, we’d go our separate ways.
But I don’t want to give her up.
My wolf seems to think she belongs to me.
She’s busy doing her Maid of Honor duties, though-squeezing Madi’s mother’s hand and glaring in solidarity when Madi’s paternal grandmother walks down the aisle.
I think I heard something about her father not being invited since he’s never taken an interest, and it would be uncomfortable for her mom.
Aubrey fist bumps Ruby’s pups, April and August, before they trot down the aisle as flower girl and ring bearer.
Vance, Jake, and Sully walk down the aisle by themselves.
Nickel escorts Scarlett.
Eagle escorts Ruby.
And then it’s our turn.
I wrap Aubrey’s hand around my elbow and walk down the aisle with her.
Halfway down the aisle, I catch a scent that sends my wolf roaring to the surface with life-threatening danger.
One second.
Two.
I have the adrenaline rush back under control, just as I taught myself years ago.
I grind my teeth and take a quick sweep of the guests.
There.
I see the back of his balding head.
Mother.
Fucker.
My asshole dad somehow wormed his way into the event.
If he does anything to ruin this wedding for Brick and Madi, I will serve him his own liver on a platter.
Aubrey
I straighten Madi’s gown as she and Brick walk down the aisle together to the applause of their guests after the ceremony.
It was perfect.
Madi looked incredible in her custom Dior gown.
Seeing her mom and brother walk her down the aisle together was poignant and sweet and a good reminder to her wicked grandmother, Eleanor, who ensured that those two-and me-were the only family Madi had growing up.
Madi’s bouquet of dark red roses matches the brick red-for obvious reasons-of our bridesmaid dresses, and we hold white bouquets to contrast.
Catherine, Madi’s mother-in-law has on a beautiful red dress, which makes sense, since it’s her favorite color.
She did name all three of her children with shades of red.
Good thing I wore waterproof mascara because I cried through the whole wedding.
It wasn’t over losing my best friend-I am so genuinely happy for her.
Especially now that I understand Brick is a wolf, and Madi literally took on a new pack.
There was so much she couldn’t share with me before that she can now.
Billy offers his arm to me, but his face is wooden.
His eyes flashed silver when he saw me in my gown-a sign I now realize means his wolf is showing because he’s turned on.
But now he looks distant.
Something happened when we were walking down the aisle.
I want to ask him about it, but ever since the conversation I overheard between him and Brick, I’ve been giving him space.
He’s trying to figure out if I’m his fated mate, and I’m sure that’s complicated by his long history of bias against humans.
It hurts a little, but I’m trying to be understanding.
If he chooses me, I want to know it is out of love, not scent.
Not some animal instinct that he’s trying to resist.
I don’t want to be the mate he wished he wasn’t attracted to.
I deserve a man who truly desires me.
He escorts me out to stand beside Brick and Madi in the receiving line, the way we rehearsed last night.
I steal a glance at his face again, but it’s a cold mask.
“Are you okay?”
I ask.
He doesn’t answer me.
He doesn’t even look at me.
Ouch.
But then he says in a rusty voice, “My father is here.”
Oh. Oh shit.
His abusive, shifter-supremacist father.
No wonder he went wooden in there.
Brick overhears and shoots him an inquiring look.
“I have no idea how he got in,” Billy says, “but I’m about to handle it.”
“Let him stay unless he tries something.
I have nothing to hide.”
A muscle jumps in Billy’s jaw.
He doesn’t answer, but his eyes flash with the silver hues of his wolf.
We stand and greet the guests.
I only know Madi’s family, so my job is to stand and look pretty.
Most everyone in attendance is here for the Blackthroats.
Ruby is a natural hostess, but Madi exudes a certain power and leadership I haven’t seen in her before.
She’s no longer the nerdy Princeton grad who can out think anyone.
Now, she has CEO energy.
Boss Bitch energy.
Alpha of the pack vibes.
I love seeing her like this.
No wonder I felt left behind.
She’s evolved with quantum leaps.
The last of the guests exit.
Billy scans the place.
“Did he not come out?”
Billy shakes his head.
“No.”
“Maybe he left.”
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