Page 35 of Homecoming

“Because you aren’t right, you idiot!”

“I am not an idiot. I am just wired a little different. If I were an idiot, I wouldn’t pull in six figures.” She smiled with a shrug. “I guess I don’t have to pay for the wedding now either. Cool.”

The bride stared at her. “No. It wasn’t you.”

“Oh, it was me. Don’t worry. I had already made arrangements to be elsewhere during your wedding and notified my brother of my decision. He was good with it.”

Tricia blinked. “What?”

“Yeah. I cut off funding for the wedding, so my brother was taking a loan for it. You will start your married life with debt.”

“But... he just bought that house and that car.”

Mini frowned. “I bought those for him. They were not extravagant, and he needed a car after you took his.”

Her thumbs started tapping, and there was a response in text. “Oh. That’s unexpected.”

Exeter read over her shoulder and laughed. “Well, I can’t say I am sorry about the outcome, but as I will not have to see her again, it is a relief.”

“Mini, what did your brother say?”

Mini held up her hand for silence. Tricia’s phone binged, and when she looked at it, she started screaming.

Sohar got up. “I would like four crewmen to take the launch back with the bridal party. There’s a hefty bonus in it for you.”

Aeryn understood, and Tricia clambered over the table and tried to grab Mini. Aeryn caught Tricia in a wind column and walked her out the door and down stairs until they got to the launch. All the bags and towels were gathered and placed on the launch, and the bridesmaids all settled on the boat, waiting for the crew.

The men nodded. “Thank you, miss.”

“No problem. I can hold her for a few hundred yards, so you will hear two ticks before I let her go. I believe she will either jump into the water or sit sobbing. Not too much in between.”

“We are betas, miss. And we have sisters. We’ve got this.”

She smiled. “Thank you. I think the rest of the day will be a lot calmer.”

They laughed and cast off the launch, backing away and then turning back toward the biggest island of the Wonder chain.

Amby was working on her cell phone. She looked up when Aeryn returned. “I am just sending Ohno a message to move Mini’s stuff to a safe room.”

Ahheel smiled. “I am doing the same.”

Exeter looked at Mini. “Oh, Amby will be your sibling via bond twice over. She is mated to my brother and Ahheel’s brother. So, you are sisters.”

Amby grinned. “That also makes Haravin your cousin by extension, and the child she is carrying a niece or nephew.”

Mini blinked. “Oh, that’s a lot.”

Thera nodded. “It absolutely is. Now, come outside so I can take your photo. This is a moment to capture.”

Aeryn blinked. “You are obsessed.”

“I always have been. Now that I have people to play with, it is so much more fun.”

So, it began that Thera lined the first trio up against the endless backdrop of the ocean, and she got one of the cameras out and began to take photos.

Mini looked at each of her alphas in turn before there were photos of kissing. The sweetest image was one where Ahheel had one arm around Mini’s waist and was holding the extended hand, and Exeter’s hand was over theirs, and he kissed Mini’s temple.

It was cute and sweet, and Mini had a thoughtful expression when Thera chortled and released them from the pose.

---