Page 101 of Deadly Wolf Bite

Slowly, I peel myself away from the sight of the crowd and return to the mirror, where I confront a stranger.

Three hours ago, Vincenzo’s guards delivered me to this small second-floor room inside the same church where Anthony’s funeral was held just days ago and locked me inside. A heavy garment bag was already here waiting for me when I arrived. Inside, I found a beautiful white dress that fit as perfectly as if it was made for my body.

Hell, maybe it was.

This town, and Vincenzo’s role in it, thrives on appearances, so I’m not surprised he spared no expense on my wedding dress. Putting it on felt like tempting fate.

I still haven’t spoken to Grey.

Just thinking about him makes my heart squeeze and my eyes prick. I have no idea what he’s going to do today. Will he show up? Will he say the vows?

After the secret I kept, I can’t blame him if he decides to walk away. Start over. Just like he did five years ago.

After what I’ve done, I can’t expect him to love me. To save me.

Grey was never supposed to be my knight in shining armor anyway. He’s the kind of man who puts you in danger before getting you out of it again. I have zero illusions about who and what he is, but that hasn’t stopped my feelings for him. Somewhere along the way, I went and fell for the villain. The kind of man who sees someone hurting me and rips out his throat without hesitation. I don’t know what kind of monster it makes me, but he’s exactly the kind of man I want to marry.

I just hope he’ll forgive everything I’ve done to get here.

Not just the agreement I made with Franco, but the one I made with his father.

I’m still not sure when the full change will hit me. But the venom’s already healed my arm and heightened my senses—which only makes my fear worse.

I have no idea how long I sit like this, but eventually someone knocks.

I scramble back just as the door’s unlocked and shoved open.

An armed guard peers down at me, frowning. “You have two minutes.” I don’t answer, and he starts to shut the door before opening it again and adding, “Might want to fix your makeup.”

He shuts the door just as I lift my middle finger at him.

Two minutes.

The silence hits me then, and I find myself wishing Violet were here. Or Mia. Someone to say encouraging things that have nothing to do with wars and wolves. Make me feel like I’m just a girl about to walk down the aisle.

But like everything else in my life, I’ll have to do this alone.

Careful not to step on my dress, I climb to my feet and walk into the tiny, attached bathroom. Sure enough, mascara has run onto my cheeks in thick, black lines. I wash my face and stare at my reflection, noting my red-rimmed eyes and flushed cheeks.

The door opens again.

“It’s time,” the guard snaps.

Hurrying, I reapply lip gloss and abandon the rest. It’ll have to be enough.

He waves me out first and, with a fistful of my dress clutched in one hand and my bouquet in the other, I carefully descend the stairs. When I reach the bottom, I falter.

My insides twist as a sharp pain pierces all the way through to my bones. I’ve had other twinges since injecting myself, but not like this. Pure fire burns through me for a long moment.

I gasp, clutching my abdomen.

The guard comes up behind me and nudges me impatiently. “Get moving. The music’s started.”

Just as suddenly as it came, the pain vanishes, and I look up, my senses suddenly returning with a whoosh.

He’s right.

The organ’s playing the wedding march. Inside the sanctuary, everyone is already standing.

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