by E Hall
“No, I’m with you.” My tone is flat, resolved.
“Why do I get the feeling that’s less because you want to be with me and more because of me?”
“What’s the difference?” I ask, already knowing the answer.
Of course, she’s sensed my distance. Our kiss was pure sunshine, but we’re fated mates, connected. She knows something is up. I don’t want to lie but cannot bring myself to tell the truth. Nor can I let myself think about what could happen if this goes wrong.
The problem is, my wolf sense tells me it will.
Chapter 15
Kenna
Growing up, I always envisioned a glitzy portrait of Las Vegas with its lights and shows. As we near the city, billboards advertise the chance to win big and resorts with multilevel swimming pools. One says, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Another advertises a wedding chapel.
“Want to get married?” Corbin asks.
I laugh darkly, especially considering the gravity of our conversation about nine-hundred miles ago. “I don’t think I’m dressed for the occasion.”
Corbin’s lips quirk.
We’ve taken the driving in shifts. I’m bedraggled, road-weary, and am in desperate need of a shower. “I stink like cheese curls, potato chips, and sticky—soda, candy, sweat.” I pull a face.
“My wolf doesn’t seem to mind.”
I wrinkle my nose.
Corbin pulls off the freeway, and we roll past casinos featuring celebrity shows and concerts. He stops the car under the valet at a swanky casino. The valet takes the keys to the minivan with a pucker of his lips.
“Take good care of Rhonda,” I holler.
Corbin takes me by the hand, leading us to the entrance. The glass double-overhead doors whoosh open with invitingly cool air. We walk through the lobby and then directly to an elevator. I know well enough this is a moment to play it cool.
An attendant pushes the button for the penthouse.
I repeatedly have to rehinge my jaw as it drops in awe.
“I’m awaiting an explanation,” I whisper when we step into the suite.
The design is modern with sleek lines and clean angles. A sectional leather couch faces an expansive view of the Strip and the desert beyond.
I spin in a slow circle.
“Food to the left. Shower to the right. The view, nearly three-hundred and sixty degrees,” Corbin says.
“When did you arrange this?” I poke my head in several of the rooms, each with a bathroom.
“Last night when you were sleeping. As delightful as those beds look, we won’t be staying the night. I figured we needed to refresh for a couple of hours. Plus, Pack Sandstorm owed me a favor, and I figured we needed a break from the road before we head to Mexico.”
Corbin steps closer to me, draping his arms around mine and planting his hands on my low back.
I shiver with delight.
“I know well enough that most women like a wedding with a gown and flowers. But a wolf wedding is different. The ritual for sealing our lives and wolves together as fated mates is very primal. You might say, earthy with lots of howling and running.”
“You’d have to ask me to marry you first.”
Corbin’s lips quirk. “I already did.”
“Properly,” I say, casting him a look.
“Go shower,” he says. I can’t help but feel like that was an Alpha order, but don’t argue because the prospect of water and soap sounds divine.
When I emerge from the steam, Corbin whistles to himself from the other room. I’m about to pull out my freshest pair of jeans and a tank top when I spot a dress on the bed. It’s off-white and silky with an overlay of lace. The bodice comes to a slight V and is fitted with thin straps. The flared, knee-length skirt meets the top with a delicate ribbon circling the waistline.
I glance around and then slip it on, spinning in front of a mirror. A pair of shoes sit in a box on a nearby chair.
I dry my hair and pull it off my neck, leaving a few wisps loose to frame my face. With a swipe of mascara and my favorite cherry Chapstick, the look is complete.
When I see myself in the mirror, my breath catches. Compared to how I looked when I arrived, this is a complete makeover.
As I step into the main room of the penthouse, I know what’s coming and anticipation makes my stomach flutter with butterflies.
Looking dapper in a tuxedo and dress shoes, Corbin leans against the wet bar and looks up when I step into the room. His wolf let out a low growl. My wolf replies with something like a purr.
In several strides, he crosses the room, and palms my elbows with his hands. His smile ignites sparks inside of me.
“Kenna, the second I saw you, smelled you, felt our connection, I couldn’t deny my feelings for you.”
“You mean your wolf couldn’t,” I say shrewdly.
He tilts his head, resigning himself to that truth. “But I quickly caught up. Yes, my wolf loves your wolf, but I love you, Kenna. Whether we’re wolves or not, I want to marry you. Will you be my wife?”
He drops to one knee and opens a velvet box.
My eyes widen as I blink back unexpected tears. My breath catches and my heart fills so full it might burst. “Yes, Corbin. I’ll marry you.” I beam a smile. I cannot believe this is happening.
He slides the ring on my finger and then gets to his feet.
Cupping my jaw, he draws my lips to his. Our mouths press together in a kiss that feels broader than the vista at our feet and brighter than the desert sunshine.
His fingers graze my neck, making me tingly and warm. He’s freshly shaved and his skin is soft against my cheek as we continue to kiss. The word forever comes to mind. We could be doing this forever or at least a very, very long time by human standards.
Corbin’s hand skims my back as he draws me closer, deepening the kiss. Our breathing falls into synchronicity. His heart hammers with mine. I feel an intense pulse between us that can only be due to our wolves.
Before things go further, we part.
Breathless, I gaze at the ring on my finger. The band is platinum and the diamond sparkling in the center has a yellow hue. Smaller regular diamonds surround it.
“Do you like it?”
“I love it.” I don’t tell him that it feels slightly weird at the same time. A few months ago, I wasn’t sure what direction my life would go and I’m now engaged and wearing what is sure to be an extremely expensive rock on my hand.
Corbin places his hand in mine and draws me toward the door. His voice is husky when he says, “There’s a chapel here in the hotel, or we could go to one elsewhere on the strip. I hear there’s an Elvis Presley inspired place with old cars and an impersonator who sounds exactly like the real King of Rock-and-roll.” He chuckles.
“Wait. Now?” I pause, gripping his hand tighter. “Corbin, I want to marry you, but not here. And I’m not so sure I want our honeymoon to be the same as my parents.”
His face falls.
“There is no question that my future is with you, but don’t you want the pack to be there?”
He nods his head slowly. “I understand how you feel, but this is just for us. Believe me, the pack will be there when our wolves seal.”
I eye the Strip below. “What about in a church? A proper service?”
Gripping my arms, he says, “Whatever you want.”
“Let’s be engaged for a little while. I want to show off this rock.” I wink. “It’s beautiful.”
“A beautiful diamond for a beautiful wolf.”
“Where did you get it?”
He shifts from foot to foot. “I’ve had it for a while.”
I playfully whack him. “You’re sneaky.”
“Patient. Years ago, I won it in a bet. Here as a matter of fact. Back when men dressed for the occasion and weren’t just after free drinks and a chance to win at the slots.”
“Sounds romantic.”
“I try. Anyway, I won it and then some in a card game with the Alpha
of Pack Sandstorm.”
“Ah, so was this favor a prize from the game you won?”
Corbin nods. “He was surprised I remembered after almost sixty years.”
“Thank you for understanding how I feel. But I promise I won’t make you wait sixty years.” I peck him on the cheek.
He holds out his elbow. “We have reservations. I doubt they’ll mind if we’re early.”
“You really are romantic. I am one lucky gal.” I laugh.
“Luck has nothing to do with it. Remember, we’re fated to be together.”
After steak and dessert—caramel and chocolate mousse cakes—we return to the penthouse suite to find our clothing freshly laundered and a bag of toiletries to take with us. I carefully pack away the dress, saving it for our wedding.
We get back on the road in the late afternoon. Corbin drives again. Towers of red rock and blooming prickly pear shooting up from the sand eventually gives way to rough cobbled mountains separating the desert from the rugged coast.
We cross the state line from Arizona and into California. We’re getting so close.
I smile with anticipation and my leg jitters. Before I can stop myself, I ask, “Are we there yet?”
Chapter 16
Corbin
I laugh. “Are we there yet? Since I don’t know where there is, I’m not sure.”
“Good point. My mother said we’d see the rainbow made of stars and surrounded by the moon. Sounds vague and kind of hippy-ish if you ask me. I wonder what kind of resort this is.”
Seeing Kenna smiling, laughing, and joking is a lot better than trying to wipe the looks of confusion and consternation from her face that she wore most of the way here. Granted, it was likely my fault because I’m trying to be the strong, silent type when in reality, she makes me melt inside.
My Alpha isn’t quite putty in her hands because that goes against my nature, but I want to give her every other aspect of myself, especially my hand in marriage. I’m not so old or so fully a wolf shifter that I’m not a gentleman. I also want to lavish her with all the good things this life has to offer—pretty dresses, flowers, cherry Chapstick, and whatever it is she wants and likes.
The other thing is I’m afraid to lose her. When we’ve made pit stops, I’ve seen guys checking her out. I’d feared Clove was interested, though now realize that was foolish. She’s declared herself an Alpha. Yes, she’s allied to my pack—our pack. But that won’t stop other Alphas from sniffing around. Per archaic custom, she’s fair game until we seal our wolves together. Granted, we’re fated mates, but just like Amanda challenged her, it could happen again, but the other way. Another wolf could challenge me for her.
As strong as I am, my greatest fear is losing her. I risked that by being distant, and if her father perceives that as a weakness in me, so be it. I cannot imagine anything worse than having Kenna torn from my life. Even thinking about it carves me out, fills me with dread unlike anything I’ve ever known—worse than losing Logan. I’ll do whatever necessary to keep us together. But I have to be careful because as important as she is, there’s a lot more at stake than our relationship.
The stark desert landscape gives way to palm trees and an ocean breeze as we near the California coast.
“I sense tacos are in our immediate future. Wouldn’t it be fun to drive up and down the coast, checking out beaches and all the food trucks with the best tacos?” she asks.
“That sounds fun.”
“Right? If I live hundreds of years, maybe we can plan an annual vacation and do things like that.”
A tug in my stomach pulls me back into her comment. “If you live hundreds of years?” I ask. “More like you will live hundreds of years.”
She shrugs. “I’m tri-magical, remember? Who knows, I could live three times fewer years than the average magical. Or—”
“Or three times as long.”
“Or there could be a Mate Call-Out or stray silver bullet,” she answers quietly, gazing out the window. “If I contain all three primary forms of magic, couldn’t I be killed as a vampire, fae, or wolf?”
“I don’t know,” I answer honestly.
“All the more reason I have to talk to my father. Maybe he knows. How are we going to pull this off?” she asks, changing the subject.
“Do you mean finding Greyson?” The question pulls me from my cluttered thoughts, reminding me that she has her reasons for this trip—in addition to the more global aims of putting an end to the Klave. And I suppose, so do I.
“I just hope he’s out there somewhere, you know? I mean, I think he is otherwise I wouldn’t have felt so strongly about coming. It’s more than just a hunch, if that makes sense. But then these moments of doubt enter my mind. Maybe that’s the human in me.”
“You are every bit magical. As such, you have extra senses. It’s not something you can understand using human-based logic.”
“I just have to find my father then maybe everything else will click and make sense. Maybe I’ll start to make sense. For the last month, a thick feeling of uncertainty presses against the place between my chest and throat. The more time passes, the more lost I feel.”
“I’m here, Kenna.” I reach for her hand across the console.
“Since graduation, there have been so many last times.”
“There have also been some firsts,” I say waggling my eyebrows.
She hardly suppresses a smile. “But who am I? I’m afraid I’ll never know unless I find my dad.”
I’m afraid that won’t answer her question but keep it to myself. “I like the girl I see. I love her. I want to marry her.”
Her fingers squeeze mine.
“Trust your instincts. What do humans say? Go with your butt.” I force myself not to chuckle at how ridiculous that sounds.
A smile lifts her lips and a laugh escapes despite her mood. “It’s go with your gut.”
“Oh, right. I knew that,” I say, knowing full well the proper expression, but wanting to hear her laugh again.
She stretches over the console and kisses me on the cheek.
“What else do you know?” she asks as we head south along the coast of California.
“I know that your mother insisted we take Rhonda to remain inconspicuous, so you should probably stash your ring someplace safe.”
She admires it for a moment.
I can hardly believe I got ahold of the diamond after all these years. While I trust Lance, Alpha of Pack Sandstorm, I wouldn’t have been entirely surprised to find out he’d wagered it in another card game. It would’ve been my fault for having left it with him, but the vault at his casino seemed the safest at the time. When I learned we were coming out this way, I had him get it for me.
I wasn’t expecting to ask Kenna to marry me right then, but worry got the better of me.
She takes one more look at it and then slips it back into the box. “If you say so. Corbin, I trust you, your gut, and your butt.”
I laugh.
We pull off the freeway and stock the minivan with food, water, and extra gasoline. I’ve done my share of adventure travel—hiked the seven summits, white water rafting, and explored rainforests. It’s best to be prepared.
And we’re off, rumbling down the freeway with the ocean to our right, bright and crystalline. The sun shines overhead as we get closer and closer to answers, closure, or both. In contrast, as we go south, my stomach flips and flops with a sludgy feeling. Maybe it’s the ruddy roads.
Kenna studies the map on the GPS. “No rainbow-star-moon symbol here.”
“Your mom said we’d know.” Perhaps that’s the cause of the uneasy feeling I have.
It’s not long before we turn westerly, off the main route, and toward the ocean. My hands grip the wheel tightly as I accelerate, sending up a wake of dust behind the van.
“It’s beautiful here,” Kenna says, wearing a smile that’s the exact opposite of the queasiness on my face. “With each passing mile, it’s like I have a growing certainty that we’
re going in the right direction.”
I wish I could say the same. Something about this place is warning my wolf to halt, go back.
“Look, there,” Kenna calls, pointing at a sign that says Punta San Jacinto. “I saw the symbol.”
I put the van in reverse. Thankfully, no one is behind us.
Sure enough, the symbol of the rainbow made of stars and inside a moon glows faintly from the corner of the sign.
I detect mage magic. “I was expecting we’d have to pass through booby traps and guards. Some kind of ordeal at least.”
I take the turn and pull up to a kiosk like at a national park.
A balding mage wearing a green robe stands inside. “Welcome to Bahia Magia. Password please.”
Kenna and I look at each other.
“My mom didn’t mention this part. Open sesame,” she whispers so low the mage wouldn’t be able to hear.
I glance toward the sea in the distance. The tide is mid and dropping, exposing the masts and bellies of boats likely the result of old ships running up against the rocks.
I blurt, “Shipwreck.” I almost instantly regret it because something about this place makes me uneasy.
The mage inclines his head and the space in front of us shimmers as though an invisible barrier blocked the way. “You’ll be at site number four. Enjoy your stay.”
I drive forward.
“How did you know that was the password?” Kenna all but cheers when we’re a distance from the kiosk.
I shrug. “I saw old boats peeking up from the water.”
“You’re a genius.”
That remains to be seen. I have a feeling I might regret this visit.
Signs posted at thirty-foot intervals denote the campsites. Kenna points to number four. It’s just a dirt pad with a cement fire ring.
I park, and we get out.
“Interesting,” Kenna says, rubbing her upper arms. “This feels like the right place in a spooky kind of way.”
We gaze out to sea.
“Kind of like when we first arrived at Lonsdale?” I ask.