Page 118 of Big Knot Energy (Shadowverse)

“I’ve seen worse,” the attendant said with a giggle. She stepped onto the platform and toyed with Issa’s hair before placing something in the makeshift hairstyle.

When she stepped away, Alysia squealed, my mom let out a softaww, and Aryn sniffled.

The adornment was some kind of comb or clip, was covered in pearls and rhinestones, and was glamourous and elegant.

Just like my Issa. My fiancée.

And in less than a year, my wife.

“It’s perfect,” Mom said, pushing to her feet and raising her phone to take a picture.

“It really is, Issa,” Aryn confirmed.

She was struggling to keep the tears from rolling over her lashes. Just because she was an alpha didn’t mean she didn’t have emotions. Kind of like I was an omega but not small and sure as hell not meek or submissive.

Issa turned back to the mirror and tilted her head to get a better look. “It’s so beautiful.”

Her hands smoothed down the dress and she turned and looked over her shoulder in the mirror.

“Do you think the back is too…flashy? Or skimpy?”

“You look absolutely stunning,Korí. I can’t wait for your alphas and your new fathers to see you,” Mom said, speaking to Issa, not me.

Tears glimmered in my beta’s eyes again as she turned and looked Mom in the eye. “Thank you so much for being here. And for…just being. Being you. And being so nice to me.”

Mom wrapped her in one of those big, smothering motherly hugs and patted her back lightly before letting her go.

“You inherited a family when you fell in love with Amir. We’re not going anywhere. And I dare anyone to come near you when I’m around.”

Aryn huffed a laugh then covered it with a cough when my mom turned a glare on her.

Mom was not only an omega, but was as small as Issa, maybe smaller, though definitely curvier after having four kids and being spoiled by her alphas. But she had that stereotypical Greek temper and would go toe to toe with a grizzly bear over any of her kids.

And that now extended to Issa.

Mom and Alysiapulled from the lot while Aryn waited until Issa and I were safely locked inside the SUV.

As if Abdel and Oscar wouldn’t blast a hole through anyone who tried to hurt either of us.

But she was Issa’s friend and was watching over her like the rest of us. She wanted our girl safe. And, while I didn’t know the alpha well, that definitely endeared her to me.

How could I not love someone who loved Issa?

“I can’t wait for the next year to pass,” Aryn said, ducking to press a kiss to Issa’s cheek. “You’re going to be the most beautifulbride.” She turned to me. “And you are the luckiest bastard in the world.”

She’d told us she had a pack, had even spoken about them affectionately, so this felt more like a best friend warning the fiancé to be good to Issa.

And I loved Aryn even more for it.

“Iamabsolutely the luckiest man on this planet.”

Aryn gave me a side hug – avoiding rubbing her scent glands anywhere on me – then stepped away with a wave as I climbed into the backseat beside Issa.

“Home or the nail place again?” Oscar asked. There was humor in his voice, even if his face remained neutral.

“I’m not ready to go home yet,” Issa admitted. “But it’s too soon to get our nails done again.”

Since we tended to use the SUV with the guards during our outings, our alphas had been taking their Harleys to work every day. I couldn’t wait to finally get my Thunderbird delivered to the pack house so I could get back to work on restoring her, then finally take my girl on a joy ride.

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