by Ranae Rose
“Did it look chewed or beaten up?”
“It looked almost new.”
“What happened after you tracked down his den?”
Daniel compressed his lips into a thin line as his cheeks turned faintly red. “He’d been watching me from nearby, I guess, and saw me checkin’ out his stuff. He came out of the trees and we had a confrontation. To be honest, he was more dangerous than I’d originally pegged him as bein’ – he knocked me down a bank and I guess I hit my head on rock. I hardly had time to realize I’d been bested before I was out like a light.”
“Were you aggressive from the get-go?”
Daniel turned a little redder. “Mighta been. What right does he have to be camping out near the edge of our territory and snooping around?”
Jack’s brow furrowed for a moment, making him appear thoughtful. “Why don’t you two go home and get cleaned up? Mandy and I are headin’ into town for a while.”
“That’s it?” Daniel asked, his expression incredulous. “You’re not gonna go after the outsider?”
“Not now,” Jack said. “Noah and April are on patrol – they’ll know if he enters our territory. I’ve got somethin’ more important to see to.”
Daniel looked like he wanted to ask what could be more important than hunting down the stranger, but held his tongue as Jack rounded the car and held the passenger side door open for Mandy. As she slipped inside, she noticed Daniel and Clarissa’s gazes lingering on the V-neck of her dress. At first the attention seemed perplexing, then she remembered – the wide neck revealed a little bit of her mark, just a couple of the puncture wounds Jack’s teeth had made. It was one of the things she liked about the dress. She raised a hand and traced the smooth scars as Jack pulled out of the driveway and guided the car down the mountain, toward civilization.
****
The county clerk’s office was anything but glamorous, but Mandy buzzed with excitement as she and Jack neared the counter where a middle-aged woman waited, peering at them over her glasses. “Can I help you?” she asked.
“We’d like to obtain a marriage license,” Jack said.
“All right.” The woman’s gaze flickered towards Mandy’s belly and lingered for a moment before she turned on her heel.
Mandy didn’t care. Let the woman think what she wanted – this was no shotgun wedding.
Mandy’s heart swelled with cheer as she and Jack produced the multiple forms of ID required by the state and began filling out paperwork, printing and signing where the woman pointed with her pen.
When Mandy reached the section where she had to fill in her father’s information, she carefully wrote Michael Alec Foster, marveling at the novelty of it for a moment. Her father’s name had rarely been spoken in her household while growing up; typically, it was something she used only when filling out forms. She wrote down that he’d been born in Georgia, though there was no way she could give his address – he could’ve been anywhere on the planet, or even dead, for all she knew.
When all was said and done and Jack had paid the fee, they had their marriage license in hand. “This can be used anytime within the next thirty days,” the clerk said. “After that, it will expire.”
Together, she and Jack left the office and the building, seeking their car among the dozens of others that filled the parking lot.
Mandy placed the license in the glove box, careful not to bend it.
“Ready to go home and tell the others?” Jack asked.
Mandy nodded. If they’d wanted, they could’ve married that afternoon – a relatively short drive could take them to a tourist town like Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge, where wedding chapels abounded. But Jack, who hated crowded places and treasured the peace and quiet of the wilderness, had often used terms like ‘traffic jam central’ or ‘cesspool of tourism’ to describe those places, and Mandy liked the idea he’d come up with – getting married at their cabin, with the rest of the pack and a few close friends and family members present. After all, what better place for the alpha couple to marry than inside their own territory, the land that their predecessors had defended for generations with blood, sweat and tears?
“I’ll call my mother this evening,” Mandy said, watching the trees fly past as they headed for home. “There’s not enough time to send an invitation.”
****
“I’m glad that all the invitees are shifters – except for my mother, or course.” Mandy pulled a tulle drawstring bag closed, sealing a handful of little chocolate favors inside. “I don’t think it would go over very smoothly if I informed the people I knew back in Nashville that my baby shower is happening the day before my wedding.” She could just imagine the rumors and behind-her-back laughter that would race around her old work place’s office if her former co-workers knew.
Clarissa smiled and shrugged as she hand-selected an assortment of chocolates for the favor bag she was putting together. “Love comes fast in the shifter world. So do babies, more often than not.”
That was true enough. Mandy could easily remember the instant ardor that had driven her into Jack’s arms shortly after they’d met. They owed their impending parenthood to the power of that fierce attraction; they’d had unprotected sex right off the bat – something that Mandy never would’ve considered doing before she’d met Jack. The mating pull was like that for all wolf shifters, so she probably wasn’t the only one who’d had a baby shower and a wedding so close together.
“Besides, it makes sense,” Clarissa added. “Most brides have a bridal shower, but you and Jack already have all the things you need for your home – all you need is baby stuff.”
“That’s true,” Mandy admitted. Aside from a couple adorable things she just hadn’t been able to resist purchasing, she didn’t have any of the items she and Jack needed for their child yet. They’d waited on purpose; until the nursery was finished, they’d have to store baby supplies in awkward places, like the cabin’s main space or their own bedroom.
“The humans at the store I worked at thought I jumped into things with Noah way too fast,” April said, grinning. “They didn’t get why I was suddenly so serious with someone I’d just met, let alone someone who’d just arrived from Tennessee.”
“Last one,” Violet said, pulling one of the little tulle sachets shut. “Ready to head into town?” She hadn’t curled her hair like she had the day before, but she’d taken the time to tastefully apply flattering make-up again, and her smile was worlds away from the somber expressions she’d worn when she’d first arrived in Tennessee. Mandy hadn’t asked what had happened between her and Ronnie after she’d left the cabin the day before.
“Let me just grab my bag,” Mandy said, pushing back her chair and rising from the table she and the other women had spent the morning gathered around, preparing for the wedding. Clarissa had refused to let Mandy help with the baby shower preparations, insisting that she wanted the décor and games to be a surprise.
A few minutes later, they had all piled into Mandy’s car. Mandy sat behind the wheel; none of the others had much knowledge of the local roads yet, and they’d never been to Gatlinburg, where traffic was busy on even the slowest of days. This time of year, when the mountains were cloaked in stunning fall foliage, it would be packed. Their trip would be fun, though. There were lots of wedding dress shops in the bustling tourist town, which catered to the many couples who traveled to the Smokies to tie the knot – or decided to do so spur-of-the moment while vacationing. Afterward, she planned to take the others to one of the infinite restaurants that dotted the crowded streets – wedding dress shopping and dinner would comprise their first girls’ day out.
“Wow, you weren’t kidding,” April said when they turned onto the parkway that led into Gatlinburg. “This place is packed!”
“It always is,” Mandy said, preparing for a long, slow crawl to the downtown shopping centers she wanted to visit. “The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the country, and most people like to visit th
e other attractions while they’re here too.” For the most part, Mandy preferred the beauty and solitude of the mountains’ more desolate areas – a trait she attributed to her shifter nature. But she wasn’t going to find the perfect wedding dress by wondering around in the woods.
When at long last Mandy reached a parking garage in the heart of the downtown area and found a space for her car, she couldn’t wait to get out and stretch her legs. As she did so, her stomach gave a low growl, and the baby wiggled, as if in response to the sound. “Anyone up for a snack before we get serious about shopping?”
Apparently, she wasn’t the only one with an empty belly – everyone agreed enthusiastically.
“Handling those chocolates was driving me crazy,” Violet said. “They smelled sooo good.”
Mandy grinned, pleased at the perfect excuse. “I know just the place.”
She’d only been to the donut shop once, years ago when she’d come to the Smokies on vacation, but she remembered it so vividly that her mouth watered at the thought. She led the way out of the parking garage and onto the sidewalk that bordered the long stretch of shopping centers, restaurants and attractions. “I think it’s this way.” The part of town it was situated in was memorable, and she knew she was in the right place when she caught a glimpse of a cute German-style building with a peaked roof and dark beams crisscrossing the creamy white store front. “Here we are,” she said, stepping into the village-like shopping center.
The dual-aroma of coffee and donuts drifted out to her like a dream, teasing as it enabled her to zero right in on the shop she remembered. Stepping inside, the air was so fragrant she could almost taste sweet icing and bold coffee. She ordered a cream-filled donut and a cup of decaf and waited for the others before stepping outside and settling down at one of several outdoor tables.
“God, this is amazing,” April said, wiping a tiny dot of cream from her upper lip with a napkin. “Do you come here often?”
Mandy shook her head and swallowed a sip of coffee. “Virtually never.” That was probably for the best – she could only imagine how much weight she’d gain if she allowed herself to indulge in the shop’s treats on a regular basis. “Jack would rather spend an afternoon watching paint dry than visit crowded tourist spots.”
“Yeah, it is kind of cramped,” Violet said. “We’re lucky we got a table.” The others had quickly filled. At the closest adjacent table was a couple with a toddler; seeing them caused Mandy to imagine how she, Jack and their child might look together about two years in the future, and the next was taken by a middle-aged man in hiking gear. The rest were occupied by all sorts of tourists, from those who looked as if they wanted nothing more than to shop ‘till they dropped to those who seemed more interested in outdoor pursuits.
They gave up their table to a family of four after finishing their donuts, and Mandy tossed her empty coffee cup into a trash can as she, Clarissa, Violet and April crossed the street, intent on making the most of their sugar-fueled shopping trip. Their first stop was a two-story store that boasted a window full of all sorts of wedding dresses – hopefully, their assortment included maternity gowns.
“We’ve got several maternity styles,” the sales girl said when Mandy asked, “and a few more regular dresses with loose waists that might fit as well, if you want to try them.”
The sales girl filled a rack next to a fitting room with suitable dresses in Mandy’s size, and all four women began to search through them.
“This one has really pretty embroidery,” April said, pulling out a skirt and exposing the fine stitching to the light.
“I’ll try it,” Mandy said, and carried it carefully into the fitting room.
Five minutes later, she cracked the door and poked her head out. “Could someone zip me up?”
Clarissa pulled the zipper up, and Mandy stepped out of the dressing room and onto a low platform in front of a three-way mirror. “Hmm.” She twirled slowly, checking out the dress’ fit from multiple angles. Unfortunately, any way she looked at it, the gown made her look as if she were full-term and carrying triplets. “Maybe something a little less bulky?” If she wore such a full skirt she’d look like a house standing beside Jack, who was guaranteed to look trim and perfect in a tuxedo.
“How about this?” Clarissa pulled a sheathe-like gown from the rack.
“Looks like a more flattering fit,” Mandy said, reaching for it.
It was flattering – too flattering. After Clarissa zipped her up and she stepped onto the platform, she almost felt embarrassed. The dress showed off her pregnant figure … all of it, including and especially her breasts. The plunging neckline left little to the imagination. “I think I’d prefer something a little more demure.”
The third dress was it – the dress. Mandy hadn’t counted on finding a dress so quickly, or one that she felt absolutely sure of within seconds of donning, but it was difficult to imagine a more ideal gown. “What do you think?”
She spun – carefully – on top of the platform. The white A-line skirt flared slightly around her ankles, and she could just imagine it fluttering in a mountain breeze. The neckline revealed a hint of cleavage but was reasonably conservative, and a combination of elegant beading and embroidery circled the high waist, which rested just above the upper swell of her belly. Overall, it was breezy, elegant and simple – perfect for a mountain wedding.
“It’s beautiful,” Violet said.
“I love it,” Clarissa declared, and April agreed.
Mandy stopped mid-spin, the skirt flaring as she faced the light pouring through the window – and locked gazes with a stranger.
A man stood on the sidewalk, still in the middle of an ever-flowing stream of tourists, several yards away from the wide display window. He stared directly between two dressed-up mannequins at Mandy. His blue eyes were bright, his gaze intense and his expression … thoughtful? Wistful, maybe? Whatever it was, she certainly hadn’t expected to find it on the face of a strange man watching her show off her new-found wedding gown.
“What is it?” April raised her brows and cast a glance over her shoulder, following Mandy’s gaze.
But the man had turned on his heel and was already disappearing into the crowd. With a last flash of the green hiking backpack he wore slung over his shoulder, he was gone.
“The man from the table across from ours at the donut shop,” Mandy said, her memory buzzing to life. “He was watching me through the window.”
Chapter 8
“Well, you do look beautiful,” Clarissa said.
“Thanks, but…” Mandy stepped down off the platform, feeling suddenly uneasy about being on display. The man’s gaze hadn’t seemed lavicious or sexually charged, just … strange. “I don’t think it was that sort of look.” Besides, there were dozens of women milling about in every direction – how many men would make it a point to spy on an obviously pregnant bride-to-be?
Violet was frowning as she stared out the window at the place where the man had stood. “What did he look like? We should keep an eye out for him on our way out of here, just in case he’s some sort of creep.”
“Middle-aged,” Mandy said. “Tall with an athletic sort of build. Brown hair, blue eyes. Green backpack.”
“How about a veil?” April suggested after a few silent moments passed.
Mandy kept the dress on so she could try different veil styles with it. In the end, she chose a classic style – a long veil made of fine mesh with a pretty lace trim.
Clarissa wisely suggested that Mandy select a wrap to match her dress, as it would doubtlessly be cool outside on the day of her autumn wedding. It didn’t take long for Mandy to select a simple one that complemented her dress and would guard her at least a little against the seasonal chill.
As for shoes, she selected a pair of white flats – after her last job interview, she wasn’t about to don heels. Her footwear would be hidden beneath her skirt anyway.
The last order of business was ordering Jack a tux; Mandy had taken hi
s measurements at home and written them down on a scrap of paper. After selecting a classic style he’d look great in – he looked great in anything, even old jeans and faded flannel shirts – she placed the order and arranged to pick it up in a couple days.
“I can’t believe how quick that was,” April said when they breezed out of the shop about an hour and a half after they’d entered.
“Leaves more time for dinner,” Clarissa said as a light wind gusted by, sending their bags swinging.
Mandy clutched the bag that held her veil – the others had insisted on carrying everything else – as they emerged onto the sidewalk. Remembering that odd moment on the platform, she scanned the crowd for any sign of the man with the green backpack, but he was nowhere to be seen. Maybe he’d been looking for someone else, or maybe he’d just been checking out the shops. If it hadn’t been for the moment they’d locked gazes, she wouldn’t have thought anything of it.
****
“Look at that!” Clarissa beamed as she leaned over Mandy’s belly, pointing to where a tiny foot was visible, pressing out from the inside as the baby wiggled and stretched.
Only it wasn’t a human foot with a heel and five little toes – it was a paw. “Wow.” Mandy carefully pressed a fingertip against the foot. She’d known that the babies of two werewolf parents sometimes shape-shifted briefly while in the womb, but she’d never witnessed it before. The phenomenon was yet another reason why she was so lucky to have Clarissa around – if an ordinary OBGYN had seen the paw straining her round belly, they would’ve freaked out.
“Amazing, isn’t it?” Clarissa said, taking off her stethoscope. Mandy’s bed was serving as an examination table, and Clarissa’s bag of medical supplies rested on the floor beside it. “Just a couple more months and he – or she – won’t be able to do that anymore. At least, not for quite a while.”