“Holy fuck.” Max winced when Reverend Glaston reached out and smacked him gently upside the head, much to the amusement of the guests. Emma merely winked, her expression full of laughter.
The rest of the wedding went off without a hitch, both Max and Emma expressing their love for each other in clear voices, but Sarah barely heard it. Her gaze was drawn again and again to her mate, not surprised to find his never left her. She had to resist the urge to play with the diamond engagement ring he’d given her a few days before. He hadn’t given her a chance to say no. She’d woken up to find it already on her finger, his purring contentment humming through her. She’d been wearing it ever since.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
Sarah blinked and turned back to the ceremony to find Max tugging Emma into his arms.
“Max, wait for me to say it first, please.” The reverend was looking over his glasses at Max, who just grinned and shrugged. “Max?”
“Hmm?” Max was staring down into the glowing eyes of his mate.
The reverend nodded. “You may kiss the bride.”
Max bent down and kissed Emma reverently.
Sarah felt tears start up, the beauty of the moment, the love of the Pride and the newly married couple so full and sweet she couldn’t contain it.
But over it all, she felt the love of her mate, her Gabriel, and all was right again. She blew him a kiss, not surprised when his eyes sparkled with gold.
Yup, all was right with her world.
***
The reception was a blast. Max and Emma had chosen Cinderella’s Castle Courtyard for the reception, a classy, elegant venue with a dash of fun that matched them to a T. The only dark spot was a small fight between Chloe and Jim, but only a soft, whispered word in Jim’s ear had been needed to stop the fight from going much further.
Strangely enough, the Pride seemed much more accepting of Belle now that she was no longer a member. Marie Howard even shook Belle’s hand, something Sarah would never have expected, although the lingering distaste Sarah could sense was carefully hidden behind Marie’s social mask. Belle accepted the gesture graciously, but Sarah knew the Luna would never trust Marie again.
Sarah stood in the shadows, watching Chloe dance with a dark-haired man, and sighed. She was going to have to get used to that sight. Gabe might have explained that Chloe was no more than a friend to him, but it would take time before she was completely over the feelings she got when she saw the two of them together. Oh, she trusted Gabe. His love surrounded her constantly, as if he was consciously wrapping her up in it, never allowing her to forget who she belonged to. Still, it hurt deep inside to watch them together, despite all of Gabe’s reassurances. She had the feeling that only time, and a steady diet of Gabe’s brand of loving, would make those sensations go away completely.
And one thing she could think of to do to help that along was to see to it that Jim and Chloe got together. Maybe watching the Fox claim her reluctant mate would finally bury the jealousy she felt towards her once and for all.
“Hey.”
Sarah turned to smile up at Rick, surprised the Wolf had sought her out. It wasn’t that she and Rick hadn’t spoken before. She’d actually done what she could to make sure he knew how bad things had gotten for Belle before he whisked her off to the Poconos. She gave him a silly, exaggerated bow. “Your Alphaness.”
He snorted. “Cute.” He nodded towards Gabe and Chloe. “You have nothing to worry about, you know.”
Sarah stared at him, shocked. “Um, okay?”
His lips twisted. “He’s not into Chloe that way.” His entire face relaxed as his gaze came to rest on Belle. “He looks at you the way I look at Belle.” Rick grinned down at Sarah. “Trust me, the only thing on his mind right now is how quickly he can get you back to your room and get you naked.”
Sarah blushed. “Are you sure about that?”
“More sure than I want to be, trust me.” He took a sip of his wine with a grimace. “I...can hear him.”
Sarah blinked. “You mean...?”
Rick nodded. “Not sure what exactly that means, but yeah.”
Sarah was fascinated. Belle had told her about Rick’s psychic connection with the rest of his Pack. She never thought it could extend outside of it. “Can you hear anyone else?”
“You, Sheri, Adrian, Max, Emma, Becky, Simon... Do you people think of anything other than fucking, by the way? And they call us dogs.”
Sarah nearly choked on her wine. “What about the rest of the Pride?”
He frowned. She could just about feel the force of his thoughts roaming the party. “Faintly, but they’re there. If I was far enough away I doubt I’d hear them at all.”
“Do you think it has something to do with Belle?”
All of that energy suddenly focused on the Luna, who tossed a sultry look over her shoulder at the Alpha Wolf before returning to her conversation with Emma. “More than likely. She’s the first Puma Luna, after all. For all I know our kids will be Wolves with retractable claws.”
“And amazing psychic powers?”
Rick shrugged. “If it’s meant to be.” He grinned at something he saw over Sarah’s much-shorter head. “I’ll see you later, Omega.”
“Later, Wolfman.”
He huffed a laugh, shaking his head as he wandered off.
Sarah looked up, startled at the fireworks suddenly going off overhead. She wasn’t the least surprised when strong arms circled her waist. Soft lips brushed against her neck, the prickles of her mate’s five o’clock shadow sending delicious shivers down her spine. And in the darkness and the magic, Gabe claimed her again, his teeth sliding beneath her skin and marking her for everyone to see, in or out of dreams.
www.danamariebell.com
About the Author
Dana Marie Bell wrote her first short story when she was thirteen years old. She is now a USA Today bestselling author.
Dana lives with her husband Dusty, their two maniacal children, an evil ice-cream stealing cat and a dog that thinks barking should be an Olympic event.
You can learn more about Dana at: www.danamariebell.com
Look for these titles by Dana Marie Bell
The Gray Court
Dare to Believe
Noble Blood
The Hob
Siren’s Song
Never More
Halle Pumas
The Wallflower
Sweet Dreams
Cat of a Different Color
Steel Beauty
Only In My Dreams
Halle Shifters
Bear Necessities
Cynful
Bear Naked
Figure of Speech
Indirect Lines
Heart’s Desire
Shadow of the Wolf
Hecate’s Own
The Wizard King
Warlock Unbound
*Maggie’s Grove
Blood of the Maple
Throne of Oak
Of Shadows and Ash
Song of Midnight Embers
The Nephilim
*All for You
*The Fire Within
Speak Thy Name
Poconos Pack
Finding Forgiveness
Mr. Red Riding Hoode
Sorry, Charlie
*Published by Carina Press
For more on Dana Marie Bell and her books, please visit http://www.danamariebell.com
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