Page 18 of Arranged Wolf's Nanny
“Too pregnant?” Lola laughed. “Trust me. My studies are the only thing keeping me sane at the moment.”
Rosalia pressed her lips together, looking back down at her hands, suddenly ashamed of herself. Of course, Lola could study while pregnant. She could do anything she liked. Rosalia was just so…unused to seeing such easy freedoms.
Daisy pulled another strand of her hair back, twisting it before pinning it in place, a contemplative look on her face. “Have you been to college, Rosalia?”
Rosalia smiled, “No, I haven’t…had the chance.”
Daisy hummed, and through the mirror, Rosalia caught Cassie and Lola exchanging a look.
“Do you want to?” Daisy asked, spritzing some floral hairspray.
She swallowed. “I…I’ve never thought about it. Perhaps one day.”
Helping her stand, Daisy gave Eva a bright smile, “Why don’t you go and find the bouquet while Rosalia gets into her dress? I think your Uncle Nicolas has it.”
“On it,” Eva said with fierce determination, practically running out of the room.
Daisy chuckled as she left. “She’s such a sweet girl.”
“She is,” Rosalia agreed, letting Cassie help her out of her robe to begin the arduous process of lacing her into her wedding gown. It was beautiful, and highly traditional, with a fitted bodice and hazy, diaphanous skirts and ribbons wrapped all the way up her bare arms. Instead of white, as the humans favored, it was a deep forest green. A symbol of connection to nature.
“You know,” Daisy said, her tone deceptively innocuous, “Rick would let you go to college to study. If you wanted.”
Rosalia blinked at her. “I’ll…bear that in mind.”
“You don’t need to be scared of him,” Lola added, before her cheeks colored slightly. “Sorry! I don’t mean to say that youarescared of him, it’s just…”
“He can be…intense,” finished Cassie, her voice inflecting upwards at the end as if asking a question. “But he’s an honorable male! Very loyal. Protective of the pack, you know?”
“Too protective, some might say,” Daisy said, throwing Cassie a look.
Cassie waved her hand, “Oh, that? That’s all ancient history now.”
“What’s ancient history?” Rosalia asked, no longer able to contain her curiosity or growing sense of dread.
Cassie winced. “Before I joined the pack, there was…um…anincident…”
“What sort of incident?” Rosalia asked, her stomach dropping.
Daisy and Cassie looked at each other, seemingly caught in silent conversation, before Daisy turned away abruptly and gave a falsetto laugh. “Let’s not rob Dane of material for his speech! No doubt he’ll be bringingthat oneup for everyone to enjoy.”
The wrappings of her dress suddenly felt very tight, her head swimming, her stomach roiling in nausea.
Oh God.
Oh God, what was she getting herself into?
Cassie seemed to notice the raw panic on her face, because she rushed over, helping Rosalia sit, barking orders at Daisy to get some water. As the two of them flapped around with increasing panic of their own, Lola sat beside her, a sheepish look on her face.
“I really am sorry.”
Rosalia waved a hand, the other pressed against her chest, trying desperately to calm her racing heart.
“My pack growing up was similar to the Green Mountain Pack, I think,” she continued. “Not many opportunities for females to rise beyond being…well,females.”
“It’s quite all alright, honestly,” Rosalia said, hoping her eyes didn’t reflect the swirling tornado within her. “I’ll be fine.”
“It’s okay if you’re not fine,” Lola said, taking her hand, “I know it may be hard to believe, but…no matter what happens, we’re here. That may not be much of a comfort now, but I hope it will grow to become one.”
