Page 71 of Fated to the Wolf Prince

FORTY-ONE

Brielle

The bridal suite inside the pack lodge was stunning, with an enormous picture window taking up almost one whole wall. It looked out over the pristine forest where the nearest snowcapped mountains jutted up into the wide twilight sky. Leigh was curling Shay’s hair, so I’d finally escaped her clutches to stand at the window and justbreathefor a moment.

Gracelyn stood outside, and I could see her from here, a bright, flamingo-pink, stretchy wrap strapping little Dawn to her chest as she barked orders at the wolves running to and fro with flowers, candles, and Goddess knew what else she’d pulled together on such short notice. She was fully healed from the birth and back where she liked to be: in charge.

She was also wildly relieved that the Omega Defense League had checked little Dawn and declared her beta, meaning not a threat. They’d promptly left the state, or so I’d been told. I’d still been unconscious when they did the check.

Bonding ceremonies often took more than six months to plan, with elaborate guest lists and extravagant food brought from all over.

But we agreed we didn’t want to wait. He already held the other half of my soul; waiting any longer would just be painful.

The full moon was tonight, which meant Kane and I would be bonded in just a few short hours, amid both of our packs, surrounded by the beauty of his lands and the love of our closest friends. I didn’t need anything else, and he didn’t either.

The small, persistent ache in my chest wouldn’t let me forget that my parents weren’t here and wouldn’t get to see this. My mother would be proud I’d found my fated mate. My father would be proud I’d kicked Jasline’s ass. Even if they couldn’t be here in the flesh, I knew they were here with me in spirit.

They had to be for me to have made it this far on my own.

No, not on my own.

I turned my back to the stunning view and masterfully orchestrated preparations and gazed lovingly at my two best friends. They each wore a cocktail dress, in colors that complemented their natural skin tones.

Shay’s was a dazzling gold, the tight slip underneath hitting her just above the knee, while the full skirt flowed down to the floor. Two slits from her waist to the floor showed off her long, toned legs and beautiful brown skin.

Leigh’s was nearly opposite, the winking bronze material sculpted to her every fit curve, her gold-spun hair and bronze eye makeup making her look like a fairy. Well, maybe asinfulfairy. The hem of the dress barely covered her butt, making her legs look a mile and a half long of creamy perfection.

Those two were going to have alphas drooling over them all night.

I, however, had dressed for one alpha and one alone. The dress was customary for a bonding, backless and with no shoulder straps, so my neck and shoulders were fully bare for Kane’s bite. It had a modern edge, though, with low-slung straps over my biceps and a deep cut down the front, nearly to my navel. The lines were clean and crisp, and it shone in sapphire blue and white crystal, offsetting my natural complexion. It fell to the floor in a soft tumble of smooth satin, with a risqué slit all the way to my right hip, so I could move freely. Leigh had highlighted my cheeks, so I looked rosy and fresh, while Shay had helped me with the bombshell, tousled curls. Clipped to kiss only one shoulder, so the other would be free.

If I knew Kane, though, he would be carefully removing each and every one of those precisely placed pins and picking whichever shoulder he wanted.

I was okay with it. A shudder ran through me, and my scent must have spiked, because Leigh wrinkled her nose at me.

“I’m just saying, I know it’s the big night. But Brielle will forgive you if you can’t make it. She’s adoctor, for Goddess’s sake!” Shay was using her stern voice, which was very rare for our reserved bestie.

“What’s wrong? Why wouldn’t she be able to come tonight?” I turned the question on Shay, because Leigh was too stubborn to ever admit a weakness, even if it was so we could help her.

I wasn’t proud of the feeling of panic that threatened to seal my throat shut at the idea of not having Leigh’s strong, brash presence at my back tonight aseveryonewatched the public portion of the claiming under the moon. It might be worse than facing down Jasline. Or Gael, and he wasfarmore intimidating than any she-wolf I’d ever met. What if I forgot the words? She was the one who was supposed to know them all and whisper them in my ear if my mind went blank!

“Look at her! She’s panicked. A little fever isn’t going to keep me from showing up for my bestie. Iamcoming, so stop looking like that,” she chided me gently.

“Okay, but only if you let her check you out. You really are burning up, Leigh.”

She rolled her eyes, but didn’t back away when I very unscientifically held my wrist up to her forehead. Shay groaned.

“What? I don’t have my medical kit, but she shouldn’t be much hotter than either of us. It’s a decent method. And you’re right, she’s scalding. Are you sure you feel okay?”

“I’mfine.” There was a small growl behind the words, and I squinted at her. My usually jovial bestie had been snapping and snarling alotthe last week.

She couldn’t be going into heat, could she? It would be unusual for an unmated female to go into heat, unless her bond mate was close by. As far as I knew, Leigh wasn’t vibing with anyone here, and most of the single male wolves had left at Kane’s orders. Unless someone in one of our packs was triggering her? It couldn’t be anyone from Johnson City, or else she’d have found him ages ago. But we hadn’t spent much time with anyone outside the inner circle of Kane’s pack.

She-wolves had fairly light and regular periods, until they were bonded. And then, once or twice per year we went into heat, meaning we were fertile and able to get pregnant with our mates. I’d never experienced one, and I didn’t think Leigh or Shay had either.

It would be strange, given that most heats weren’t triggered untilaftera mating bite, but it wasn’t impossible. There were stories of she-wolves being triggered early and finding their mates through the heat craze. Stranger things had happened in the last two weeks.

“When was your last—”

---