by B. N. Kasner
Liam placed Lani's hands into Gene's shaking hands when they finally reached the wedding arch. He took a deep breath to control himself. Turning both of them towards Greg, he pulled Lani closer to him with a arm around her waist. He wanted to be able to touch his young while they heard the poem. His whole family was there, and Gene wanted his child included.
“Tonight two souls shall become one.
For, at first sight, their hearts were won.
With your true mate,
follow along with the path of fate.
Vow to always show,
and you will know.
The love you share is pure.
Of that, we are very sure.
Do not fret.
For there is no threat.
Blessed beneath the Goddess's light.
She will protect you with all her might.
May you live a happy life.
I now pronounce you man and wife.”
With the white satin ribbon tied tightly around Gene and Lani's wrists, he leaned down and sweetly kissed his wife. Holy honey, I have a damn wife.
"Is that how you kiss your wife? I think I- damn it, no one can take a joke around here." Gene could only assume someone hit Isaiah on the back of the head since he was thoroughly enjoying the taste of his wife. "Now that's better."
“Leave 'em be, wolf.” He knew he could count of Grace to have his back. Family always sticks together.
“Alright, that's enough.” His dad chuckled from the front row. Gene slowly pulled back, but Lani followed him. He'd never felt so happy in his life, and if the happiness he could feel through the bond was anything to go on, Lani was on the same page as him.
The total guest count came to sixteen, not including himself or Lani. They had double the number of people his table could seat. Lani plopped down on his lap without any encouraging. Ella, Annie, Emma, and Vivienne soon followed. Grams hesitated until Scott patted his thigh with an expectant look. He pulled her close once she sat down, making her back flush with his chest.
His dad sat at the table because he was the father of the groom. There was one free chair left, and Gene wanted his sister to sit there.
“Grace, sit down.” He nodded to the empty seat beside him.
“Carter should sit with you guys. I'll stand with the wolves.”
"No, he's your brother. Sit and eat with him." Carter pulled the chair out further for Grace. He wanted to growl, but Lani put her hand on his thigh, rubbing slow, soothing circles. Isaiah sat in the chair instead.
“If no one's gonna take it, then I will.” He started to stuff his face.
“Beat it, wolf.”
“Gene, this is your house. He can't tell me to beat it. Right?”
"Carter, you can't tell-" Gene stopped himself, taking a deep breath to stop from snarling with his wife in his lap. "Damn it, get outta the chair." Isaiah grabbed his plate and made for the wall where his brothers were laughing at him.
“Now, Grace.” She still hesitated. He gave her a “what the hell” look.
“I feel awkward sitting with all the mates and couples.” Shit, he felt like an asshole.
"This is the only time I'm gonna tell you this, so don't take it for granted." He sighed. Gene really hated letting go of some of his over-protectiveness concerning Grace. "Grab one of the guys, so you don't feel left out." Grace looked shocked, and the silence at the table told him, the others were as well.
Through the bond, Gene felt how proud Lani was of him. Maybe letting go wouldn't be so hard if he had Lani there to coach him through it. Isaiah started to stand, but Carter pushed him back down with a hand to his shoulder. As if it was nothing, Carter lowered himself into the chair and sat Grace on his knee. He kept his mouth shut. This is for Grace.
After cutting the cake, which was chocolate, Gene felt Lani tensing beside him.
“What's wrong?” She had a faraway look in her eyes. “Wife?” Her eyes turned violet when they snapped to him.
"He's here." Lani whispered looking at the curtain covering the dining room window. No sooner were the words out of her mouth that their doorbell rang. Gene didn't wait to start barking out orders.
"Dad, Scott, Nathan, Greg, Corey stay with the females. The rest of you come with me." He bolted from the dining room, ripping the front door open to let in a flurry of snow. Of course, the coward would come in a damn blizzard. Right there on his front door was a half taped photo. "Find him." He roared before shifting. Mason's bear flanked his right side, while Alex was on his right. Their group headed left while Carter, Isaiah, and Liam went right.
The snow was coming down thicker and wetter than Gene was able to track in. Letting Mason take the lead, he had them change directions. No matter which way they went or who took turns scenting, it was useless. He'd gotten away. Again. It was time to use the plan, the one that made his wife bait and made Gene's fur stand on end.
Chapter Nineteen
Lani couldn't stop shivering. The feeling that had washed over her had been just like the last time Jeremy had left dead roses on her parent's porch back in Kansas. The leftover men had made a barrier between the front door and the archway leading into the dining room. Ella had come over to hold her hand.
“How did you make it?” Lani had never came right out and asked her. They'd just picked up their friendship where it had been left off.
“Faith and hope.” Ella whispered, leaning her head on Lani's shoulder like she had when they were kids. “I prayed to the Goddess every damn day in the beginning. Treated my clothes like treasures because they were all I had to remind me of Corey. As the days went on, it got harder to cope with everything. Then Mason found me.”
"I should've come with you." Lani leaned her head back against the wall and closed her eyes. She wasn't going to cry.
“No, it was my journey to take, not yours. If you would've came along who would've told Mason where I was?” Ella only paused long enough for the question to sink in. “No one. I'd be dead. None of these shifters would be safe from their alphas. My brothers wouldn't be free from William. So many things would be different. Never doubt your path.”
“Goddess, when did you get so wise and alpha like?” Lani let out a teary laugh.
"Someone needs to be the calm after Mason's storm. Did you know I still have the clothes I left with?"
“I can believe it. You always were a pack rat.”
“Asshole.” Ella bumped her shoulder with her own before mimicking Lani's position against the wall. “Mason finally convinced me to let them go, since I have Corey back in my life.” She took a deep breath before smiling wide. “He asked Mason if he could call him dad.”
"No fucking way." Lani bumped her back, feeling like they were fifteen again and gossiping about boys. "Corey's that comfortable with him?"
"Yeah, it's amazing to watch them together. He asked to call me mom. Corey doesn't remember our mom, and hell, to be honest, I've raised the boy anyway."
“Goddess, look at us. All grown up and shit.”
"Yeah, and shit." Annie chimed in standing in front of them. "Nathan's worried about the guys. They've been out there for a while now."
"Don't worry. They're okay. Mason's frustrated, but not hurt."
“Good, I'm going to let Nathan know.” As Annie left the dining room, Lani heard the front door open. Gene was the first one around the corner. He looked wild, feral, and hot as sin. Just because they were in a stressful situation didn't mean Lani's sex drive didn't work.
“We couldn't catch a scent with all the fresh snow.” He hauled Lani into his arms, giving her soft touches all over. She sent as much love as she could through the bond. He needed to know everything was going to be okay. Eventually.
“It's alright. I have faith that you'll get him.” She caressed his jaw, brushing her thumb along his lower lip. Lani leaned up kissing him quickly but softly.
“I lost the note in the wind.”
“Good. We have a mating to celebrate.”
“What?”
“I haven't got to dance with my husband.” Her adorable mate still looked confused. “I'm not going to let him ruin this for us. Are you?” She asked with a raised brow.
“Hell no.” He whispered just for her to hear. “My wife wants to dance, whose with me?” He shouted, looking around the huddled group. They'd been through the ringer lately, and sometimes the best medicine was laughter.
“Red's been eyein' me all night.” Isaiah ran a hand through his black curly hair with a smirk. “I can't let her down now.” Carter scoffed at him, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Stop, there's enough of me to dance with all of you." Grace smirked but laughed out loud at the look of pure outrage on Gene's face. Jackson just put a hand on his daughter's shoulder, leading her out of the room. Grams, Vivienne, and her mom, along with the help of their significant others, had cleared the living room of all the chairs.
“Any request's for the first dance?” Grams asked as she flipped through the radio stations.
"Track eight, third CD down." Lani pointed to where the CD's were laying in the entertainment center. Gene laughed as soon as the song started.
“Really?”
"Yep." "All I Want For Christmas Is You" by Mariah Carey filled the room, as other couples started dancing and singing along. Lani had never seen Mason or Ella smile the way they were right then. Grace started out dancing with Jackson, who then got interrupted by Corey of all people. The pup's cheeks were pink, and he fumbled a bit but got the hang of it by the time the song ended.
Grace whispered something in his ear and kissed his cheek making his ears match her hair. She tilted her head back letting out a loud laugh. Since this was Lani's homemade CD with her favorite Christmas songs on it, "Santa Baby!" by Eartha Kitt came on next. Isaiah muscled his way in-between Corey and Grace to take over as her dancing partner. It didn't last long. Where Corey had been standing too far away, Isaiah was to close.
“Let me show the woman how it's done.” Alex smirked, twirling Grace right out of Isaiah's arms. Damn, it looked like Ella's brother was putting the moves on Grace. She was even blushing. He lasted the rest of the song, making Grace smile and laugh. “I'll Be Home For Christmas” by Rascal Flatts slowed things down. Grace took a step back from Alex and looked to Carter.
“Dance with me?” She held her hand out. For a moment, it seemed like everyone in the room stood still. Dear Goddess, don't embarrass her in front of everyone. Thankfully, he wrapped her up close in his arms, swaying them to the slow song. Alex put an arm around both of his brother's shoulders, moving them from side to side. Her father-in-law had a sad smile on his face, so Lani gave her mate a kiss on the cheek before walking over to him.
“Wanna dance, dad?”
“Yeah.” He coughed, and she recognized the gesture as one her mate did whenever he was emotional. “You didn't have to do this.”
"Yes I did, that's what family is for." She rested her head on his chest, looking on as Gene danced with her mom. When the song was over, Grams changed it to a regular station on the radio. The rest of the night, they swapped dance partners. That way no one would feel left out. As far as mating ceremonies went, Lani thought it was the best one she'd ever attended.
She may have been a little bias but, what the hell, she was allowed to be. After all the craziness of the last month, Lani was happy to see everyone with a smile on their face. She was sure tomorrow it would be back to reality and dealing with Jeremy, but that evening? It was about living, loving, and being surrounded by friends and family.
****
Gene didn't want to wake up or move. His naked wife was wrapped around him, using him for warmth and pushing all her soft curves against him. He began nibbling on her mating mark, morning sex with Lani was fantastic. Fuck, any sex with his wife was fantastic, there was no doubt about it. In his lust induced haze, something was eating at the back of his brain. Something other than eating his mate, which was sounding like a great idea.
Of course, as soon as Lani rolled over to kiss him, Gene remembered. The fucking photo, and on our damn wedding day. Just because he hadn't caught Jeremy yesterday, didn't mean he was going to let it go. Oh no, when Gene finally got his hands on him, he'd be lucky to make it out of the encounter alive. He wished he could continue what he'd started with his mate but knew the safety of her and their young was more important.
“Sweetheart, we've gotta talk about last night.” He placed tender kisses all over her face until she was giggling and fully awake.
“About Jeremy?”
"You've got it." He sighed dropping back down on the bed. How was he going to tell his pregnant wife that he'd agree to use her as bait for her psychotic stalker? Goddess, if it sounded as bad out loud as it did in his head, Gene was fucked. Lani could be as sweet as pie with him, but she also had a quick temper.
“What's got you so anxious?” She propped herself up on his chest. The blue tips of her hair tickling his chest.
"This dumbass plan Carter cooked up." She just raised a blonde brow at him. Apparently, they were going to have this conversation before breakfast. "We know that both Noah and Jeremy are here. On one of the photos I found there was a logo for a place over in New Westward. Isaiah had the idea to stake the place out and grab them when someone shows up. It was a good plan but-"
"They're probably using a different location each time so it would be pointless."
“Exactly. Carter, uh..”
“Just spit it out, you're making me nervous.”
“Carter thinks we should use what they want to lure them out.” He was trying to take the easy way out and have her figure out that she was going to be the bait.
“That sounds like a good plan. What's the bait?” Oh, dear Goddess have mercy on me.
“Not what. Who.”
“Who?" He saw the moment all the pieces clicked in her head. Then he felt the hot rush of her anger through his veins as if it was him who was mad. “Me!”
“And Ella.” He winced at the furious look on her face.
“Does she know about this?” She was really getting into it now. “Mason? He agreed to this shit?” Lani grabbed her phone and rushed into the bathroom, slamming the door shut. Gene hopped out of bed, but she had the door locked.
“Lani, open the door.” He knocked lightly, Gene wasn't about to tear his bathroom door off the hinges.
“Do you know about this damn plan?” Goddess, her anger was making Gene furious.
“Damn it, woman. Open the fucking door.” This time he pounded on the door with an open palm.
“Maybe you should ask Mason what I'm talking about!” Fuck no. His mate was not about to meddle in their alpha's relationship.
“That's it, I'm coming in.” He growled before slamming his shoulder into the door. So much for not taking the door off the hinges. It only took one try to break the door. Their bathroom was big, but not big enough for Lani to dodge him. Snatching the phone out of her hand, she snarled at him, scratching him in the process.
"Mason." Gene growled into the phone while pinning Lani to his chest with an arm around her body, making sure her claws couldn't reach his eyes. He heard voices on the other end of the phone but couldn't make out what they were saying.
“What the fucks going on?” Mason didn't usually scare Gene, but holy honey, he did with that voice. “Why is my pregnant wife over here accusing me of keeping secrets from her?” There was a rustling sound. “Little wolf, calm down. This stress isn't good for the little ones.”
“Don't you dare little wolf me. What is she talking about!” He held the phone away from his ear.
“Are you happy with yourself mate?” Gene bit out, Lani had stopped struggling and was sagged against his chest. There wasn't any anger coming from her now, but he was still worked up. The one thing you didn't do was cause trouble for another couple. Especially your alpha who had a heavily pregnant mate.
“Gene, I've got to call you later.” He wanted to throw the phone across the room, his temper was ge
tting out of control.
“I wasn't thinking.” Lani sniffled, breaking through the fog of anger he was in. “My temper got the best of me.” She was starting to sob. Shit, he hadn't meant for this to happen. “Ella sounded so upset. She can't be that upset this far into her pregnancy." Gene turned her around, so she faced him, and Lani rested her forehead on his chest while holding onto his biceps.
"And Mason, oh Goddess, he sounded mad. So, so, mad. He won't hurt Ella will he?" She peeked up at him, those violet eyes overflowing with tears. Gene wiped the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs.
"Shh. He'd never hurt her. That wolf has Mason wrapped so far around her little finger, and he doesn't even know it." He leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. "Next time, talk to me. Don't fly off the handle and do shit that you're going to regret ten minutes later."
“I was hurt that you'd go along with putting me in danger.” Lani wouldn't look at him, and the disappointment he felt through the bond nearly brought him to his knees.
“Of course I don't agree with it, and if you'd given me a chance to explain, then you'd know I tried to veto the whole damn thing but got out voted. Not to mention, there will be two guards on you at all times and the rest of us will be close by.”
“Fuck.” She whispered, burying her face in his chest. “I really made a mess of things this time.”
“Everyone makes mistakes woman, it doesn't change anything. You know I still love you, right?” That had her smiling.
“Yep, I know.” Her smile disappeared as quickly as it came. “We should do the plan as soon as possible.”
“Why?”
“Because I'm tired of having him interfering with our lives. It's time we took back control.”
“Okay, I'll call Mason and set everything up.” Gene left her in the bathroom to get a shower. He'd really done a number on the door. “Damn it.” He growled under his breath, hefting the door out of the way. Thank Goddess, I'm a contractor. Gene would be able to fix the door by the end of the day, even if it was a thorn in his paw.