Page 188 of As The Shifter World Turns

“Well, yeah, that goes without saying. But he also has a big?—”

Toby chimed in. “Dog starts with d and so does Daire.”

Martin grinned. “Well done, son.” And then he addressed me. “Please don’t mention body parts when you say your vows, Daire.”

“Fine.” I stomped around the roof, a noodle protruding from my lips. “He puts up with my shit. But I can’t say that.” Running my hands over my scalp in frustration, I wouldn’t have any hair left tomorrow if I didn’t come up with something profound. But I wasn’t profound. That wasn’t who I was.

“Why not?” Micah asked. “He loves you despite your flaws.”

It was okay for Micah and Ryder. They were mated and had a family and so did Martin. Well, not the mate part. Martin’s omega had passed away but he was a dad and I was sure he and Neil would mate eventually.

“I have flaws?” The expression on everyone’s face told me they didn’t get my joke. ”Kidding.”

“Speak from the heart, Daire and you’ll be fine,” Ryder suggested.

But sitting in 3B as the clock ticked toward morning, I had almost given up and decided I’d tell Nate that Patch ate my vows. He’d believe that, right?

After managing a few hours of sleep, I showered and studied the pink and blue shirt I’d chosen for the ceremony. Nate had asked everyone not to wear suits or tuxedos but to dress in the most colorful clothes they had. Neil and I had gone shopping and in a moment of madness, we’d chosen that shirt to go with gray pants.

My parents had both raised a brow when I informed them of the dress code but I convinced them to go along with it saying it was what Nate wanted. But I half suspected they’d turn up in suits with tails!

Neil, Martin, and Toby drove with me in the van while the rest of my Sunshine Manor family would come in their own cars as they had babies. I was impressed with their colorful outfits and mine didn’t seem quite so loud.

Nerves were getting the better of me as I gripped the steering wheel and drove the familiar route. Nate and I had to go inside the house to mate and then hold hands when we walked outside and everyone would gather in a circle around us.

When we arrived, I leaned against the car and stalled going into the house while I admired the trees swathed in colorful decorations and the huge sparkly banner that said, “Congratulations Daire and Nate.”

First Ryder’s car and then Micah’s drove up beside me. Everyone tumbled out and their clothes were more dazzling than Neil, Martin, and Toby’s, while Elune and Dyani wore adorable dresses and headbands.

Our friends and family lined the path leading to the house, something I wasn't expecting and Nate stood at the end waiting for me. His shirt was louder than mine and it had images on it as well as his pants. But I couldn’t make out what the pics were. But when I got closer, I froze. My feet wouldn’t move while my heart overflowed with love. It was my face. Many of them covered Nate’s shirt and pants.

And in that instant it didn’t matter if I couldn’t find the words. Without waiting for the actual mating, I ran to him. “I stayed up most of the night trying to work out what to say but any alpha who plasters my face over him is the one I want to spend my life with. I’ll screw up—a lot—but I’ll never stop loving you.”

Nate took me in his arms and planted a kiss on my mouth. “Let’s mate and then get this party started.” He dragged me inside and I yelled over my shoulder, “If we don’t come back, eat, drink, and be merry.”

“Daire!” everyone shouted, including Nate.

“Of course, we’re coming back,” Nate said. “I just have to make this grizzly mine.”

“And I intend to claim my hedgehog.”

80

THE STUFF OF DREAMS

Ryder

“Ryder, come to bed.” Ivor stumbled into the living room and peered at my phone on the table. “It’s four in the morning.”

“Can’t.” The idea that I’d had, that Ivor and I worked on, and had professional app developers create, was a huge success. Maybe it was beginner’s luck but we were making more money from this than Ivor’s salary and what I took from my business combined. My initial idea had been a selfish one, to help me. But when Ivor and I sat at this same table late into the night and expanded the concept, I never dreamed it would kindle an interest in parents and they’d actually buy what we’d created.

“You’re pushing yourself too hard, love.” He checked the time again. “Dyani will be awake in two hours and it’s your day to take her to the office.”

I put my head in my hands. Gods, I was already running on empty. Working on the app business was taking all of my time and poor Trey at the office was bearing the brunt of me not only being exhausted but also not pulling my weight. He was doing my job as well as his own.

I never considered this might happen, looking on it more as a way to help me and maybe a few others than anything else. And even though my brain was frazzled, I’d come to a decision. “I need a manager.”

Ivor slung an arm around my shoulders and kissed my brow. “I’ve got you. Go to bed and I’ll get Dyani up and fed. I’ll wake you in time to go to the office—or maybe a little later.”

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