“Saint… He might have taken me hostage, but he was never rough with me.” She looked to the blue sky, fighting for the right words, ones that would convince the brothers she was telling the truth.
“It doesn’t change what he did.” Storm levelled a black look on Lowe when he moved, and she was surprised when the bear stepped up beside her.
“Saint isn’t a bad male—” Lowe started.
Storm cut him off with a scoff. “Yeah, tell that to my mate.”
She could see things were heading south again, knew she had precious little time to convince her kin to back down and leave. That feeling intensified as Knox came to stand on the other side of her.
“I thought you were just a little overwrought yesterday when you argued with me, but now I’m starting to think the bears have brainwashed you.” Cobalt looked her right in the eye, and she wanted to curse him as he added, “I figured you just needed some sleep and you’d forget this nonsense in the morning. See things right, like.”
“Overwrought? Just needed sleep?” She hurled each word at Cobalt as anger built inside her, because he was treating her just as her family did, as if she was delicate because she was female and incapable of making her own decisions. “I’m not a child, Cobalt. What I feel for—”
She cut herself off, losing all momentum as she stared at the brothers, at Ember, feeling as shocked by what she had been about to say as they all looked.
Rath stepped forwards, concern washing across his face, softening his rugged features. His tone was gentle as he held her gaze.
“What do you feel, Holly?”
She clenched her fists beside her hips and wrestled with herself, trying to vanquish the part of her that said to keep her feelings to herself. She couldn’t, because they were the only way to convince the brothers to leave Saint alone and make them believe she was telling the truth and had come here to check on him.
“I feel…” She pulled down another steadying breath, gathered her courage and steeled her nerves as everyone looked at her, including Knox and Lowe. The weight of expectation was crushing, had her wanting to bolt and escape their gazes, but she pushed onwards. “Saint is my fated mate.”
“Took you long enough to figure that out, Holly.”
That deep baritone coming from behind her sent a shiver traipsing down her spine and had her spinning to face the owner of it as shock rolled through her.
Saint stood in the doorway of his cabin, leaning heavily on the frame, his dark eyes warmed by what looked a lot like affection to her.
Her heart lodged in her throat as she stared at him, unsure what to say, deeply aware that he knew what he was to her. She wanted to curse him, wanted to ask him why he hadn’t told her, wanted to run into his arms.
Rath spoke before she could do any of those things, dragging everyone’s attention to him, including hers.
“You’re sure?” His deep voice was soft, laced with concern that shone in his grey eyes as he looked at her.
Holly swallowed hard and nodded, feeling lighter inside as she looked into his eyes and saw he believed her, and stronger for putting it out there.
“I felt as if I was going crazy when I was near him and that I would go crazy without him.” She rubbed her arm through her green jumper. “I needed to get back to him.”
“Sounds like what I went through.” Ember stepped up to Cobalt and slipped her hand into his, linking their fingers as her mate gazed down at her, love in his eyes. Ember didn’t take her gaze away from Holly. “Is there anything else you feel where Saint is concerned?”
The shimmer of heat in Ember’s eyes told Holly exactly what she was talking about.
Holly zipped her lips and threw away the key, because there was no way she was answering that question in public. Her friend knew about her man problems. A problem she really didn’t have with Saint. He had her firing on all cylinders. Just the feel of his gaze on her back was enough to have her blood heating and wicked thoughts filling her mind.
“You could have picked a better day to go running off after your mate,” Storm grumbled and shifted foot-to-foot, agitation rolling off him that had nothing to do with a need to fight the bears.
Her eyes widened as the reason for his uneasiness hit her.
It was his wedding day.
She looked at Rath, feeling horrified as he smiled slightly at her and she noticed the strain in it.
It was their wedding day, and she was ruining it.
She covered her mouth with her hand, wasn’t sure what to say as guilt flooded her, as she cursed herself.
“Oh gods,” she whispered, her brow furrowing as she looked at both males, and then at the sky, charting the position of the sun. It was already getting late. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I forgot… and I only meant to check on Saint and then come back to the Creek, but I fell asleep.”
She looked at Saint. She didn’t want to leave him, but she had to. She wanted to be there at the ceremony with the others, sharing this joyful moment with them. A joyful moment she hoped she hadn’t ruined.
“Ivy and Gabi swore not to divorce us the moment we were married as long as we got you back to the Creek.” Rath ran a hand around the back of his neck, his expression gaining an awkward edge. “So… want to do your alpha a favour and come back for now?”
She glanced back at Saint, loath to leave him. He was holding his shoulder, hand on the bandage wrapped around it, and she could tell he was fighting a grimace for her sake, didn’t want her to feel bad about having to leave him again when he was in pain.
“Our neighbours could join us for this celebration,” Rath said and Storm grumbled something under his breath.
“You rowdy bastards will only keep us awake anyway. We might as well attend.” Saint’s tone was gruff, drew a smile from her that became a frown when he pinned Rath with a hard look. “This truce lasts just the day.”
Rath nodded.
Holly had the feeling that it was going to last a lot longer than that as Saint looked at her, heat and need in his eyes, hunger that echoed inside her too.
“I want to talk to you about what’s happening between us,” he said.
Panic swelled inside her, nerves quick to ignite. She needed a moment, was quick to take the out Rath offered her.
“Later. If I’m any later to my wedding, I might find myself without a mate. You have two hours, bears. Don’t be late.” Rath held his hand out to her and she hurried to him, walked past him and felt him turn to follow her, together with his brothers and Ember.
Holly glanced over her shoulder at Saint.
Already aching to see him again.
Chapter 17
Saint was nervous as hell. Not just because he was going to a damned wedding for cougars of all things, but because he was going to see Holly again. It felt as if he was the one getting hitched as he dug out his best clothes and brushed them down, and neatened his appearance. Gods, he hoped she wasn’t too let down by the sight of him. He didn’t own fancy clothes suited to the occasion. The best he could do was black jeans, a plain black dress shirt, and his heavy snow boots.
He scrubbed his face again, stared in the mirror on the wall near the stairs of his cabin and debated trimming his beard.
Knox opened the door. “Ready?”
Saint wasn’t sure he was. That one word was enough to have his nerves rising, growing stronger, as he reached for the buttons of his shirt. His shoulder burned, ached as he wrestled with the first one, and he gritted his teeth.
“Here.” Knox crossed the room to him, swept his hands away and took over buttoning his shirt for him. The bear muttered, “Still not sure why I have to go. Lowe got a pass.”
Lowe had been given a pass as Knox put it because of the problem in his cabin. It turned out that Cameo was a parks ranger in serious trouble, and Lowe was extremely territorial about her.
Had almost run Saint off when he had gone to speak with him.
“It’ll look better if it isn’t just me,” Saint growled.
“And you need a wingman.” Knox finished with the last button and grinned at him. “Admit it. You don’t want to face a pride of cougars alone.”
Saint refused to admit that, even though it was the truth. He did want Knox there so he had some company, and some backup in case things didn’t go well. He was fully expecting a frosty reception from most of the cougars, and knew from experience that it was going to take a lot for Rath to keep the peace.
“There’s bound to be good food and plenty of alcohol at the party.” Saint strode towards the door and grabbed his thick winter coat, flinching only a little as he pulled it on and zipped it up.
Knox perked up. “Bribery might get you everywhere.”
The bear rubbed his stomach through his own black jacket.
Knox squeezed past him and opened the door, held it for him and closed it when he had passed. Saint took each step down to the ground with care, not wanting to slip and ruin the only passable clothes he had. When he hit the snow, he trudged across it, focusing on the thought of seeing Holly again and talking to her to shake another bout of nerves.
The cold made his shoulder ache, souring his mood as he walked in silence with Knox through the woods, following the track to Cougar Creek. He glanced at the male, caught the worry in his blue eyes before Knox masked it with a smile. He wasn’t worried about the celebration with the cougars. He was worried about his twin.
“We’ll make sure nothing happens to him.” Saint lifted his left hand and placed it on his shoulder, squeezed it tightly through his jacket. “Even if it’s the human female we need to protect him from.”
Saint doubted Lowe would ever forgive them if they were forced to deal with her, but it was better than allowing Lowe to get hurt.
Voices came from ahead of him, pushing thoughts of Lowe and Cameo from his head. The nerves he had forgotten while thinking about his kin rushed back in and he exhaled hard, his breath fogging in the air.
“You sure she’s the one?” Knox said.
Saint didn’t hesitate to nod. “She’s my fated female.”
He smiled tightly at his friend. Maybe a little nervously judging by the amused glimmer in Knox’s eyes and the way he patted Saint on the back.
“You’ll be fine, big guy. Just… I’d say be yourself, but…” Knox grinned as Saint scowled at him.
His steps slowed as he spotted a white marquee ahead of them, one that had been set up in the clearing he had seen the cougars making in the snow. Warm white lights hung in sweeping lines around the top of it, illuminating the sides, and torches had been set around the grass outside it. Those torches led the way to a firepit too, circled it and the logs someone had placed around it.
Knox growled and Saint knew why.
Near the firepit, a huge grill was already on, the smell of meat flowing from it to make Saint’s mouth water, and a table beside it had various dishes laid out and covered, just waiting for the post-ceremony celebrations. On the ground near it, there were two huge buckets filled with beers and wine on ice.
A few of the cougars milling around outside the marquee gave him and Knox funny looks, and he placed his hand on Knox’s arm when he sensed the male’s mood faltering, turning dark again.
“Let’s go in.” He jerked his chin towards the opening in the white tent, where ribbons of lights hung down to the floor on either side.
A long red carpet had been laid out inside, with wooden boards covering the grass on either side of it.
They reached the opening in the marquee and Saint drew up short as he almost ran straight into Flint. The black-haired male gave him an awkward smile and glanced inside the tent.
“Damned guys who were meant to be bringing the chairs couldn’t make it.” Flint didn’t look happy about that as he looked down at a clipboard in his hand. “Everyone is going to have to stand. We’re lucky half the guests made it after that little snowstorm kicked in.”
Saint was beginning to wish none of them had been able to make it through the snow. He didn’t like the way they all looked at him, as if he didn’t belong there. There was no need for them to try to make him feel that way. He knew he didn’t.
Saint shrugged it off, fought a grimace as his shoulder ached, hiding it from the cougar.
Flint looked as if he was going to leave without another word, and then he rocked back on his heels, that awkward edge to his grey eyes growing. “Sorry about the low blow I dealt you. I was courting Yasmin and had to do something dramatic to win her and… well… I shouldn’t have done that.”
Saint came dangerously close to growling at the male, because he didn’t need a reminder of being laid low for a week because of this cougar, waiting for his balls to heal. The only thing that stopped him was the fact he had admitted he had been trying to win his female. His mate. Saint thought about what he would do in order to win Holly’s love, and found there was nothing he wouldn’t do.
Saint lifted his hand and Flint tensed, flinched away a little, and then relaxed as Saint merely slapped him on the shoulder rather than punching him as he had clearly expected. “Apology accepted. Not going to hold it against you. No bad blood between us, cougar… just… don’t come picking fights at Black Ridge again.”
“Thanks, man.” Flint gave him a tight smile and hurried off, heading for the group of cougars. “Come on. Inside.”
Saint caught Knox’s arm and dragged him into the tent, ignored the gazes of the curious cougars who all looked their way and found a quiet spot near the entrance, away from all of them. Knox sighed and Saint knew why. The spot he had chosen was close to one of the patio heaters and the warmth of it was delicious, like standing outside in the summer sunshine.
Whoever had decorated the marquee had done a nice job of it. Strings of warm white lights had been draped between the walls and the high peak in the centre of the ceiling, and a cream painted trellis arch at the far end had the same lights woven among holly, mistletoe and ivy. All very seasonal.
He didn’t need to tiptoe to see the faces of everyone in the tent, searched them all in a hunt for Holly, only he couldn’t see her anywhere. Where was she?
Rath and Storm entered, both males dressed in black tuxedos, and Cobalt trailed in behind them, wearing a dark blue suit that hugged his broad frame.
Everyone hurried to greet the two grooms, and Rath and Storm smiled at everyone. The alpha even took a moment to look for him, smiled and nodded at the same time as Saint when their eyes locked. He wanted to ask Rath where Holly was as an uneasy feeling grew inside him, a fear she had been taken ill or something had happened to her, but he didn’t get the chance.
Both males reached the arch where Cobalt had settled himself and was flipping through cards he held in a white-knuckle grip, radiating more nerves than the two grooms combined. Flint started the music and the crowd murmured, but Saint was too busy staring at the arch to pay attention to what was happening, his gaze fixed on the holly on it.
He needed to see his Holly.
Saint turned to leave as that need became too great to deny, stopped dead as she stepped into the marquee, a small bundle of white flowers held tucked to her chest in both hands.
Gods, she was breathtaking. Radiant.
A long, dark green satin dress hugged her curves, inflamed him and made him forget where he was. Made him forget his own damned name.
Cobalt growled low, a possessive snarl that echoed inside Saint too. Beside Holly, Ember blushed and cast a self-conscious look at her own deep green dress. They almost looked like twins as they walked as one down the aisle, with their raven hair twisted into a knot at the back of their heads and their grey eyes bright with happiness.
But one thing set them apart.
Ember had a mating mark on her nape.
His heart thudded hard when Holly shyly glanced his way before facing forwards again, and his gaze caught on her nape, on that patch of unmarked skin. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from it, was sure she would be aware of him staring at it, aware of the hungers raging
through him, a need that had him firmly back on edge.
He wanted to be the one to mark her nape.
He wanted to be her mate.
The two brides entered, Ivy wearing an elegant corseted white gown while Gabi had gone for a more conservative modern dress. He tried to focus on them as they approached their respective grooms, tried to pay attention to the ceremony, but Holly stole the whole of his focus.
He needed her.
And he would have her.
Chapter 18
The nerves Holly had managed to wrangle under control returned full force as she caught sight of herself in the mirror again. She wasn’t sure she could do this, and she wasn’t just talking about being a bridesmaid. The thought of seeing Saint had her restless, a little scared, and the thought of him seeing her in this dress had her wanting to run a mile. It revealed everything.
How had she not noticed that before?
The sweeping neckline plunged low, the loose folds of material that hung in front of her breasts baring a hint of cleavage, and the dark green satin hugged her hips and really showed off her backside.
Her fingers twitched at her sides as she stared at herself, as panic mounted inside her.
Ember placed her hands on Holly’s bare arms, pressing against her back as she peered over her shoulder, looking at her reflection too. “You look killer, Holly. Saint is done for.”
Holly hoped that was true. Ember had been telling her that from the moment she had put on the dress and had turned to Ember and sworn it was tighter than before, and far more revealing than she remembered.
“Come on. Let’s go knock them dead.” Ember looped her arm around Holly’s and pulled her away from the mirror, led her to the cabin door where Ivy and Gabi were waiting, checking each other over for what had to be the millionth time.
Holly had pulled Gabi aside when she had entered, had relayed to her what Saint had told her about the day he had tried to snatch her, not wanting her to be on edge around him or afraid. Gabi had reassured her that she wasn’t afraid of Saint and that she didn’t hold it against him, mostly because Storm did that enough for both of them. Holly had a plan to get them together later in an attempt to smooth things over between them and hoped Saint would apologise for his actions.
Stolen by her Bear (Black Ridge Bears Shifter Romance Series Book 1) Page 14