by Susan Bliler
“Please,” Recker begged. “Believe in me, Alex.”
Her mind snapped back to all those countless nights when she sat beside the dumpster behind the diner staring up at the stars and pleading with the universe to believe in her. She knew what Recker was asking, and she didn’t know how she could deny him. How could she not believe in him and still expect the universe to believe in her? She couldn’t.
“Y-yes,” she whispered so quietly that Recker had to dip his head.
“What?” he asked. “What did you say?”
She could already hear it though. His tone of hope-filled urgency had Alex pinching her eyes closed as she nodded, secretly praying that she wasn’t the biggest damn fool on the face of the earth. “Yes,” she answered more loudly.
“Alex,” Recker breathed, both hands cupping her cheeks. When she opened her tear-filled eyes and looked at him, he asked again, “Alexandra?”
She nodded, lower lip trembling. She knew if she spoke, she’d lose her shit, so she just kept nodding.
“Fuck,” Recker dropped to a knee taking one of Alex’s hands with him.
She startled hard, trying to jerk her hand back. “Wait! What are you doing?”
“If we’re doing this, we’re doing it all the way. Marry me, Alexandra.”
“But…your Angel…”
His brows snapped into a frown. “Is standing before me. You’re the Angel of my choosing, Alex, and that makes you all the more significant.” Squeezing her hand, he let his expression soften. “Alexandra Hayworth, will you do me the immense honor of sharing your life with me until our time on this earth ends? Will you be mine and let me be yours, forever?”
Alex was crying now, unsure what to say. Honestly, she hadn’t been prepared for this type of commitment from him. She squeezed his hand back and finally answered, “Yes. Yes, Recker.”
A smile crashed his face, and he shoved up off his knee to crush her to him before lowering his mouth to hers. The kiss was sweet but too brief because he pulled back to beam at her. “Soon. Let’s have the ceremony soon.”
Chapter 31
“Don’t be a wangless dork,” James snorted and shoved Recker in the back. “Get your ass in there and just ask!”
Recker rolled his head on his shoulders feeling more anxious than he should about his meeting with the Chief of Surgery, Jenny Houlton. Honestly, he was a little afraid of what she’d tell him.
“Grow a fucking set, man.”
James shoved him again, and Recker turned on him with a snarled, “Push me one more time…”
James stared at him blankly before shrugging and then lifting a hand to shove Recker again. “Is that good? Or do you need more? I’m trying to be encouraging yet gentle, but if you need…”
Recker growled and rolled his eyes before giving James his back and barking, “Wait here.”
“Here, here?” James threw at his back. “Or is like the Crow’s Nest okay because a beer sounds really really good.”
Recker opened the door to Jenny’s office and threw a wave over his shoulder, “Fuck, whatever.”
The door to Jenny’s office closed on James’, “Okay, I’m gonna go have a beer…well, more than a beer. Probably like seven beers, depending on how long it takes you to…”
James’ rambling from the hall had Jenny lifting her head from the work on her desk as she looked at Recker and then glanced over his shoulder as the door clicked closed silencing James.
“Recker,” she greeted glancing at the clock on her wall. “You’re four minutes late.”
“Yeah,” he rubbed a hand over the back of his head. “Sorry.”
“My time is valuable. Don’t be sorry. Be punctual.”
He nodded.
“Well?” she prodded. “What do you need?”
Goddamn, this Walker woman was intimidating.
“I have a question.”
She tilted her head. “I assumed.”
He swallowed hard trying to figure how exactly how he wanted to word it when Jenny sighed, her delicate brows furrowing. “Did you not hear the whole my time is valuable spiel?”
“Uh, yeah!” Dropping his hand, he rushed out, “What happens if I gift a woman my halo?”
Jenny just kept right on frowning at him.
“Not a woman,” Recker amended.
Jenny’s brows hiked. “A man? I knew you and James were close but…”
“No! Fuck, no! I do mean a woman, but I mean a human, not a Walker. Not my Angel.”
Jenny tilted her head back as her mouth rounded in a silent ‘O’. “You wanna know if it’s possible to collar a female that isn’t your one.”
He dipped his chin in a nod.
“I’m assuming we’re talking about your charge, Alexandra Hayworth? You want to know if Alex would be affected by any initial flash and whine that typically accompanies the affliction.”
Recker nodded, “Yeah, that.”
Jenny shrugged. “Dunno. This is a case of first impression for me and for StoneCrow. No one’s ever claimed a female or male that wasn’t truly theirs.”
“She is mine,” he snarled.
Rolling her eyes, Jenny held up her hands in a placating gesture. “Don’t get pissy, you know what I mean.” Jenny folded her arms against her chest, using one finger to tap against her chin. “Although, there was the time that Conn collared Aries before he knew she was his. But, she did end up being his, so…” She shook her head, “I don’t know.”
Recker frowned at her.
“Look, I’m assuming nothing will happen. If she’s not your Angel and you gift her your halo, nothing should happen. No flash of light, your halo won’t sing, she won’t pass out, no physiological mutation will begin. Gifting your halo will just be symbolic.”
Recker frowned hard. “And if my true Angel should ever appear,” he wasn’t sure how to ask this.
“And there’s the pitch.” Jenny shoved back from her desk and stood, skirting it before hiking a knee and taking a seat on the front edge. “If you meet your Angel, you will be afflicted. It can’t be stopped.”
“You can’t turn it off?”
“You give me more credit than I deserve, Sentry.” She paused a moment. “No. I can’t turn off the affliction, and even if I could, Monroe would never permit it. He isn’t just an advocate of Skin Walker procreation. He’s the advocate. I’d lose my job here. I’d be asked to leave the estate.” She stood and circled back around the desk before dropping into her chair. “Don’t expect me to experiment on you. It ain’t happening. If you choose to do this, you do so knowing that you’re marrying Alex, but could one day encounter your Angel. An Angel that won’t be denied.”
“Well, I’m doing it,” he declared. “I’m asking Alex to marry me and the night of our wedding, I’m collaring her. She’ll be mine fully, so if you have any concerns...”
He let the sentence die off. He’d been hoping that if confronted Jenny would show her hand and tell him one way or the other whether or not his samples were compatible matches to Alex’s. He should have known better. For Jenny to do that, she’d first have to admit that she was using this stupid ass breeding program as a front to get samples. He knew what it really was. James was privy to information a lot of Skin Walkers weren’t because he was one of Commander Conn Drago’s Sentries, which meant they served at Apex under Tyce Steele. Tyce, a Dominant like Monroe, didn’t believe in keeping secrets from his men, which was the exact opposite treatment Monroe bestowed on his men. Because of James’ loose lips, Recker knew that the breeding program was actually an affliction program. Jenny and Monroe weren’t trying to find matches for men and women who were merely compatible with each other. No, Jenny had somehow figured out how to isolate whatever in the hell it was that made a Walker afflicted. She’d learned how to pinpoint a reaction before an affliction even struck. She could match a Walker’s sample to his Angel before said Walker even knew his Angel had been found. Right now, Alex could be his, but Jenny wasn’t talking.
Fffff
uck!
Jenny pursed her lips before offering, “No. No concerns. There’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to collar her.” Taking up her pen, she dipped her head back to her work and offered a dismissive, “Congratulations.”
***
Four days later, Alex beamed at the sight before her. Walkers mingled with human staff beneath a lighted pergola that had been decorated with hundreds of flowers that came from God knew where because it was still just early spring in Montana. The night was surprisingly warm for the season, but there was no confusion as to the fact that it wasn’t really outdoor weather yet. The scent of the large bonfire burning in the stone pit near where the bar was set up mingled with the smell of new growth pushing up through the dried leaves that still littered the ground. It was a magical time, a magical night, and the ceremony had been perfect. Alex beamed just remembering Recker’s vows the emotion in his eyes as he’d delivered them.
God, I’m lucky.
The sun had just set, and the soft glow from the candles on the tables and the string lights all around made the night feel special. Looking at where Recker stood across the reception area speaking with James, Alex decided tonight was magical. This place was magic. Recker was magic. She’d found something here, something with him and these Walkers. It was that something she’d yearned for so desperately all those nights sitting behind the café. Surrounded by trash and grease, covered in sweat and near-defeated resignation, she’d stared up at the stars and prayed so damn hard that she wasn’t just one of millions of people who were fooling themselves into believing they were meant for something more. She’d believed all the way to her bones that she was destined for something great. Staring at Recker, her eyes flooded with tears. It was him. She was destined for him, and she was so damn happy that they’d found each other.
Staring adoringly at him, the soft piano music faded. The sounds of people’s voices and laughter faded. All that was left was Recker.
As if drawn by her thoughts, his smile slipped, and he turned from his conversation with James to lock eyes with her. His expression was so damn intense that it made her insides feel all fluttery like she was on a rollercoaster. God, she loved that man.
Without a word, Recker left James and stalked toward her, his eyes never leaving hers. The closer he got, the more excited she grew.
He was so damn handsome tonight in his dark suit. The wedding had happened so quickly that Recker wore a tux he’d borrowed from Monroe while Alex was adorned in an elegant ivory gown that she’d borrowed from Cindy. Watching Recker stalk toward her with his dark hair slicked back and his square jaw cleanly shaven, she couldn’t help the elated pride that filled her.
Mine.
The word ghosted through her head and had her blinking hard. Holy hell, she finally understood Recker’s feral possessiveness because right now she was just as fiercely protective of him as he was of her.
When he was two steps away from her, Alex’s skin started tingling like it too was eager to have her mate’s hands on her.
Recker closed the distance between them and immediately, his arms wrapped around her. Dipping down, he kissed her long and deep before pulling back just enough to speak against her lips, mingling their breath. “You look beautiful.”
Alex grinned. “You already told me that.”
“Yeah? Well, you do and I’m never gonna stop saying it, so get used to it, siren.”
Pulling back, she beamed up at him. “Oh, make no mistake, I could get used to it.”
“Well it’s decided then.” He pecked her on the end of her nose. “For the rest of my days, I’ll never stop reminding you how beautiful you are and how much you mean to me.”
“Good,” she beamed because I’ve got some plans too.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah,” she grinned up at him. “A, I’m gonna love you hard, Recker Rhodes, and b, I’m gonna love you forever.”
Squeezing her hard, he bent to nuzzle her cheek. “I like the sound of that.”
Their bodies started swaying to the music, and Recker pulled back to grab her hand, curling his fingers around it as he pulled it over his heart. “Mmmm,” he moaned.
“What?” Alex asked.
“I didn’t know happiness had a smell,” he smiled down at her. “It does.”
“Really?” she chided. “And what exactly does happiness smell like, Recker Rhodes?”
The smile fell from his face, and his eyes turned serious. “You,” he answered quietly. “Happiness smells like you, Angel.”
And she was. She was happier than she’d ever imagined possible. Overwhelmed by the emotion, she leaned forward and pressed her cheek to Recker’s chest as they danced slowly in the center of the beautiful patio area that was surrounded by wrought iron table and chairs. Food tables lined one end while a fully stocked bar sat at the other end right beside the fire pit so people could warm themselves while they had a drink.
Alex’s eyes drifted over the people mingling, and her eyes snagged on where Stoney and Cindy watched her and Recker with sappy looks on their faces. Her eyes filled with happy tears, but she blinked them back when Cindy pointed.
Following the direction, Alex looked over and saw James and Alise dancing. Bodies pressed intimately close together.
God this felt good. All of them together, all of them happy. This felt so damn right that Alex was almost afraid she’d wake to find it was all just a dream.
Pinching her eyes shut, Alex hugged Recker harder. Don’t be afraid to hope, Alex. Look what it got you.
She and Recker danced and mingled. They enjoyed some of the barbecue and drinks, and when Alex finally got a chance, she made her way to her girls where they all squealed and clung to each other in delight as Cindy, Alise, and Stoney raved about how beautiful the wedding had been. Alex had to agree. Everything had been perfect!
Chapter 32
James didn’t like the way Chief was watching Alise. Hell, the wolf shifter hadn’t taken his eyes off her. Maybe he wouldn’t mind if it was some kind of simple interested stare, but no. The way Chief was watching Alise was the way a predator watched prey. Fuck, his lip was even ticked up in a snarl that James was sure Chief wasn’t even aware he wore.
“Chieftain,” he greeted, pretending to study the selection of alcohol on the bar near Chief before he snagged a cold bottle of beer and turned to the shifter. “What’s up, man?”
Without preamble, Chief asked with eyes still locked on Alise. “The woman in green, who is she?”
Glancing over his shoulder at Alise, James canted his head. “Green? Would we call that green? Seems more like turquoise or no, wait! Amanda calls it teal. It’s her favorite color.”
“I don’t give a fuck about the color. The woman! Who is she?”
Okay, now he was just being rude.
“Alise.” James answered gruffly. “She’s Alex’s friend. She’s friends with Stoney and Cindy too, so I’d stop mad-dogging her if I were you.”
Chief’s expression didn’t falter. “Cut the shit. I mean who is she?”
Annoyed now, James let his expression morph into a rare frown. “What does that even mean? I told you, her name’s Alise. She’s Alex’s friend. She’s the best maid, or honorary bride, or bride fuck friend, or whatever the shit they call it!”
“She’s human?”
That question had James stilling his beer raised halfway to his lips. “What does that matter?”
“It matters.” Chief shoved up from where he’d been sitting, and James scowled at him.
“Look, Alise is here with me,” he lied. “And I’d appreciate it if…” He didn’t get to finish the sentence.
Beaming a beautiful smile, Alise turned from the lady she’d been talking with. She was so damn beautiful with her dark hair swept up from her neck. James had heard people refer to necks as elegant before and he’d always laughed at how stupid that sounded, but with her gown hanging off one shoulder, soft skin exposed, James realized Alise’s neck was elegant. She was elegant.
Her lips were painted a bright red that didn’t match her dress, but damn they drew his attention. Thick, sooty lashes lifted when Alise looked up from the glass of wine in her hand, and when they landed on James, his breath caught in his throat. She smiled at him, and it felt like a donkey kicked him right in the nuts. It was hard to breathe, and like a big goof, he lifted a hand and waved at her like he was some pimple faced dork.
Alise giggled and even from here he could hear the tinkling sound. Blinking once, she slid those beautiful gold eyes to the side, and James knew she’d just noticed Chief. How could she not? The big fucker was still frowning at her like she’d slapped his mama.
The second Alise’s eyes locked on Chief’s, James felt every hair on his body stand on end as the air suddenly grew electrified. Alise gasped, and James could only watch in what felt like slow motion as the glass of wine slipped from Alise’s hands. It took forever to hit the ground, and before it even did, Alise’s beautiful face morphed into one of agony. Her body arched, and she let loose a pain-filled scream.
Beside him, Chief snarled and went down hard.
What the fuck!
Every Sentry at the reception suddenly went on alert. A few rushed Alise, and when their hands touched her, she jerked away and screamed even louder like their touch hurt.
Slowly, James tore his eyes from Alise and looked down at Chief. He had a hand clamped hard at his abdomen and the other planted on the ground. His head was up, his lips peeled back to reveal wicked incisors, and his…his eyes were locked on Alise.
“Get back! Don’t touch her!”