Page 5 of Wolf Fated
I glanced at my watching, wishing this would hurry up. The comedy show Dawn and Mom were watching would be over in forty minutes. And really, I shouldn't even be here. I should be getting ready to walk down the aisle and become a wife.
"Got somewhere to be?" the dark-haired man asked.
"Just my wedding," I said before I could stop myself.
Stephen gave an uncomfortable laugh. “It’s minor, Axel, it’s not for nearly two hours still.”
"No shit?" Auburn guy leaned forward. "What the fuck are you two doing here, then?"
My sentiments exactly, but I couldn't say anything. Stephen would already blame me if anything went wrong since I said something. He'd say I ruined the vibe or something. Which, Stephen usually won whenever I joined him. It was when he made bets and gigs without me that he always seemed to lose.
"She's my good-luck charm.” He reached around and swatted at my ass.
I glared at him with every fiber of my being. It was only because this was important, and we had company that I didn’t tell him off.
Stephen continued like he hadn’t just embarrassed me. “And we're hoping you guys will pay for our honeymoon and beyond with this game."
"That's arrogant of you, isn't it?"
My skin prickled at his insinuation, but I could say nothing because he was right.
"Why do you have your bride-to-be here at a poker game?" Axel frowned, shaking his dark head. "That's just low, man."
"Yeah." Drake's sapphire gaze raked over my form before flicking back to my face. "There are much better things you two could be doing."
"Shut up and play." Stephen wiped the back of his neck.
"All right." Nathan threw a bag full of gray chips onto the middle of the table. "I see you and I raise you."
Heat crawled up my neck. I'd lost count of the pot because there were so many chips piled in the center and spilling down the sides like a mountain of yellow, orange, and gray chips. At least there weren’t any flags or patriots. In total it represented more money than I'd ever seen in my life.
"You going to sweeten the pot or just gawk?" Nathan drawled and a shiver went right through me.
"What about them two? You folding?"
"Nah." Axel pulled a wad of cash from his jacket and tossed it onto the chips. "I like these stakes just fine."
"Only live once." Drake sat an envelope down. "Deed to our mansion up the road."
Mansion? Holy fuck.I mean I knew from Stephen's description that this was a high-roller game but seeing it in action and the amount of money here was making me both giddy and nervous as fuck. I clutched the back of Stephen's chair, praying that this was all going to be worth it.
"Isn't it bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding?" Nathan pulled out a cigar, but didn't light it, just twirled it in his fingers.
"Brookie don't believe in that shit." Stephen cleared his throat. "Now show your cards."
"Now, wait, wait," Axel peered at his cards again, then at the pot. "You got to match us."
"All I got is a couple of oranges left." Stephen looked back at me. "Give me your engagement ring."
"What? Fuck no."
"Do you have any money in your checking account still?" Stephen frowned.
I shook my head. All of it had been used for the wedding that still hadn’t happened.
"Fucking shit." Stephen stood, drawing me to the back of the room. His hand hard and tight on my arm. "You know I have a winning hand, Brookie. You'll get it back, I promise."
"No." I jerked from his hold, crossing my arms. "No way. I'm not going to let you pawn my ring on some bet."
