“I’d rather rip it off you.” He rumbled, but did as he asked, his hands warm on my bare back. He brushed against the bite mark on my neck. “Are you covering this up?”
I reached for the scarf I’d planned to wear with the dress. “Maybe. You can’t seduce a marked woman.” I wrapped the scarf around his neck and pulled him in closer to me. “And they can’t see yours.”
“They don’t have to.” He ran his hands from my hips to my ass and squeezed. The hem of my dress rose to a hazardous level. “I won’t be able to take my eyes off you all night.”
We got tangled in a kiss. One of those slow, lazy ones that led to much more as we danced to the beat of our own thundering heartbeats. “Let’s go,” he said and I groaned in protest. “I want to show everyone you’re mine.”
Cass looked like sex on a stick in a bright red wrap dress that clung to every curve. Delaney wore a pale pink dress and strappy gold sandals with sky-high heels that definitely weren’t made for walking. We didn’t have many chances to get all dolled up in the heart of the Idaho forest, and as much as I didn’t want to leave when we were upstairs, I was more excited about the party now that I saw everyone dressed up.
“You look amazing. Love that scarf.” Cass whistled low as she circled me.
“Thanks.”
She stopped, squinting and came in closer. “What’s this? Holy shit, X marked you?”
“He did what?” Major came over to investigate like I was a sale item in the window of a department store. He turned back to X. “What the fuck?”
“What the fuck yourself.” X growled. “Did I have to ask your permission?”
“No, but a heads up would’ve been nice.” Major backed away from me, but disgust still showed on his face.
“We wanted to ask you to join our ceremony,” Cass said, pouting.
That would have been amazing. “We can still do it.”
“A little anticlimactic now.” Major shook his head.
“What? You weren’t going to ask us?” Shea made a fake roaring noise and dove for Delaney’s throat, pulling her backwards, feet straight up in the air. He kept doing it, the noise drowned out by Delaney’s shrieks of laughter. All I could see besides her feet were her hands making the chopping motion. They were adorable.
“You should’ve said something.” X nudged his brother.
Cass’ face brightened. “You’ll still be my attendant, right?”
“Of course. I can’t wait.” The mark on my neck throbbed. The ceremony would’ve been nice, but I wasn’t sorry we did our own thing. It had been perfect; in the forest, just me, X, and the stars.
**
The parking lot of The Redheaded Stepchild overflowed with cars; they clogged the road, and a line snaked from the door with people waiting to get in to the club.
“You weren’t kidding.” I whistled low when we pulled in. “I didn’t know this many people lived in Granger Falls.”
“These parties are legendary,” X explained. “It’s everybody from the forest, and people come from all over Idaho. Major only meant to have one or two of them, but they were so popular, they wouldn’t let him stop! He had to sell tickets to keep things in control.”
“But we can walk right in, I take it.” We followed our group to the back door. A few people called out to the Lowes from the line and they waved at their friends. I realized I’d never seen X or his brothers relaxed, having fun. Even at home, they’d laughed and joked but they were always on edge.
“We have a table.” X had to speak against my ear to be heard over the heavy metal band. I had no idea where all these people outside would fit, we could barely move. I squeezed through the crowd, clutching X’s hand until we got to our table.
The Channings were already there with the Forever Home girls. Kiera held up her glass of water in salute. The top she chose tonight didn’t hide her baby bump at all. I was so proud of her. Cass made a beeline for Kiera, and Delaney motioned to her baby bump. Kiera glowed, putting her hands on her belly as she nodded in confirmation.
“Later, stranger,” I said to X after hugging everyone. I turned to Trina. “Wanna dance?”
“Sure.” She looked puzzled, but followed me out to the middle of the swarm on the dance floor. X stood at the edge, arms crossed, eyes glued to me. I ignored him, dipping my knees and stepping into Trina, dancing a little bit too close to her. I loved to dance. It was the one thing I missed about my ex and living in Atlanta. So many good places to hear music and let loose.
A couple of minutes later, Cass and Kiera joined us, and after that song ended, they went back and dragged Lyssie and Delaney out, too. I thought both of them would run off—this was so not their thing—but they stayed, twirling around and laughing.
This was everything I wanted when I came to Sawtooth Forest. To be surrounded by friends and family without a care in the world.
Instinctively, I flinched when someone came up behind me and put his hands on my shoulders. I knew it was X from his scent before he leaned in, the delicious heat of his body making me sweat more than I already was. His lips were against my ear. “Can I have this dance?”
“I have a mate.” I spun away from him, matching Cass’ dance moves. She squinted in confusion but kept dancing.
He grabbed my arm and pulled me back into him, close enough that I could feel his hard cock through his jeans. “Of course you do. A gorgeous woman like you would never be single.” Desire burned in his eyes. “Where is he?”
I shrugged, but kept beat with the music. I moved against X’s body, and he took a deep breath, not letting it out right away. “He knows he can trust me.”
“Oh yeah?” X pressed his forehead against mine. “Well, he can’t trust me.”
X spun me away from our group, his hands firmly on my hips. He moved my body to the beat of the music, dancing close to me. It was an easy rhythm to fall into, one we did every night, just with a lot less people around. The crowd disappeared from my consciousness as our gazes locked, our bodies grinding together.
X’s hands fell to my ass, gripping it firmly. The cool air hit the back of my thighs as the hem of my skirt rose to an alarming height. We barely had enough room to move, and I prayed no one would notice. But X did. His fingers caressed the curve of my bare ass, he knee wedged between my legs, jacking the dress up higher. I jumped when he brushed against my pussy.
“What are you doing?” I yelled so he could hear me. The band wasn’t the only thing with rhythm. My core pulsed uncontrollably, blowing my cover of being outraged. X didn’t answer, instead he kissed me, hard. I forced myself away from his lips. “Everyone can see you.”
“Welcome to The Stepchild, baby,” he said against my ear. “Half the crowd is doing the same thing we are, and you haven’t been to Red Heaven yet.”
His fingers slipped inside my panties. I fell off the beat of the song, and X laughed. He pressed his fingers against my clit and circled slowly. There wasn’t a lot of room to work with but he made every bit of it count. I couldn’t relax. Strangers bumped against us. I looked around, and just like he promised, no one had noticed anything, too lost in their own ecstasy to care about anyone else. “Who said I’d go to Red Heaven with you? I told you, I have a mate.”
X licked my neck. My knees buckled, and he brushed his lips over the bite mark. “I’ll make you forget any other man exists.”
I grasped his shoulders and circled my hips in rhythm to his movements. I was about to have an orgasm in the middle of the packed dance floor. “You already have.”
Our gazes locked, time stopped before we kissed. This one was slow and deep, just like the thrust of his fingers, pushing up inside me. I wrapped my leg around his hip, giving him a better angle. This was so dirty and forbidden, and it was the most amazing feeling in the world. X had claimed me with much more than the bite on my neck.
The band stopped playing, but X wasn’t done. I held onto him, moaning just loud enough that only he could hear me. The crowd roared around us as the first w
ave of my orgasm hit.
“Granger Falls, it is fucking good to see you! Who’s been getting busy with their date in Red Heaven?” Wait a minute. That sounded like Shea. X spun us around so I could see the stage. Shea held his arm up, microphone out to the crowd, amplifying their cheering. At first I was surprised it was him and not Major up there, but Major was the brains behind the operation. Shea was the ham.
“Lone Wolf! Lone Wolf! Lone Wolf!” The crowd chanted, which soon dissolved into “Fight! Fight! Fight!”
“No,” Shea laughed when the chant got louder. “I’m not doing that anymore.”
The boos drowned out my cry when X brought me over the edge. He moved my panties back into place and slapped my ass hard before smoothing my skirt.
“All right, so a lot of you had to deal with that Montana bitch. We did, too. But you know she’s gone now, right?” The place erupted. “We get our lives back. We get our fucking forest back. And we have one person to thank for that.”
The crowd looked around, wondering who that was. My heart thundered in my chest—I’d barely caught my breath from X’s stunt.
“Chandra? Where are you, girl? Come up here! Sawtooth Forest wants to meet you.”
The volume ratcheted back up to full blast and X nodded. “Go,” he said.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” I pushed against his shoulder. “Did you know he was doing this?”
“Does anyone ever know what Shea is gonna do?” He winked.
“Come with me.” I grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the stage. With my free hand, I yanked my skirt down. My knees were still knocking, and I couldn’t believe I had to go up stage now and be introduced to the entire forest.
X knew the way to the stage, and kissed me before sending me up the stairs on my own. A whole new burst of volume erupted when I approached Shea. He high-fived me, then pulled me into a bear hug.
“This woman is unstoppable. Not only did she save X’s life, she kicked Ember’s ass.” More cheers. “Yeah, if it wasn’t for her, we wouldn’t be here. And guess what, Sawtooth? She’s one of ours.”
Gasps spread through the crowd. Shea laughed. “Don’t even think about, fellas. Unless you want to deal with X. And believe me, you don’t. She’s gonna be a Lowe.”
Another chant began. I wasn’t sure I heard it right at first, but then it couldn’t be mistaken. “Chandra! Chandra! Chandra!”
Everything was blurry as Shea walked me down the stairs and led me to X. He pulled me into a hug. “They love you, baby.”
I was home.
Chapter Seventeen
Chandra
“You don’t look a thing like the book,” I laughed. Cass rolled her eyes. Even though today was her mating ceremony, the thing that had been ripped away from her and she’d taken back, she still thought the story was a load of shit. I’d grown to admire that about her. Cass never forgot where she came from or how she got here. She still looked like she stepped straight out of a fairy tale. The little wolf in the Sawtooth Shifters picture book wore a long, shapeless gown, but there was none of that frumpy shit for the future Mrs. Lowe.
“White makes me look like I belong in a casket,” she laughed as Lyssie wove blue roses into her hair. They matched her dress—a short, sassy pinup style that she looked anything but dead in. The belt tied over her swollen belly.
Lyssie worked her magic on all of us. Delaney had picked a pink dress, and her hair trailed over one shoulder in a fishtail braid. My dress was short, lacy, and blush-colored. As soon as I saw it, I knew I had to wear it today. Lyssie had curled my hair and pinned the front back with my mom’s crystal barrette.
Emma was the only one wearing white. She’d been holding on to her bouquet ever since one of the village women brought the flowers over. We were at Cass and Major’s new house, and they’d already made it their home. In the heart of Sawtooth Forest, and pack members dotted the front yard, reminiscing and catching up. As soon as they heard that Cass and Major planned to promise themselves to each other, they wanted to be a part of this day. They’d planned everything. The yard looked beautiful, white tulle draped over the chairs, the trees just starting to bud, and huge buckets full of flowers.
All of us were antsy—the guys had spent the night at the Channing Reserve. Even though the house was full, it seemed strangely quiet without them.
“Have you read the book?” I asked Delaney. She shook her head. “Let me get it for you. It only takes a couple minutes, and you really should know the story.”
I’d fallen asleep reading the book last night, and it was still on my bed. It had seemed so empty without X. Even when he was healing, unable to climb up on the mattress, his presence affected me. I knew he’d always protect me, even before he shifted back to human. The way he pressed against me wasn’t just for comfort. He’d always meant to claim me. When I woke up, I read the book again. Cass could laugh all she wanted, but if I’d never found this book, I wouldn’t be here.
Delaney tapped her hand over her heart when she gave me the book back.
“I knew you’d appreciate it.” My copy was older than she was, and tattered, but someday I hoped to read it to my own kids. “Some of us have to believe in happily ever after.”
I didn’t recognize the sign that Delaney made. Emma watched her do it again. “Magic.”
And that was what I loved about Delaney. She knew how to get her point across in the simplest way. “Exactly.”
“It’s not that I don’t believe. But ladies, you know the guys aren’t perfect. Just because things are good right now, we know how bad things can get. I’ll never forget all those days I spent away from Major. I’ll never take him for granted,” Cass said.
Delaney repeated the sign for magic.
Cass sighed. “I suppose you’re right. Never forget the way you feel today. And make sure you fight to make every day just as good.”
“Everyone looks gorgeous!” Connie came in and kissed us all on the cheek. “There are three very handsome gentlemen waiting for you ladies at the end of the aisle.”
“No one knows the surprise, right?” I asked.
My aunt’s eyes widened. “There’s a surprise?”
“Never mind. I guess not,” I laughed. I couldn’t wait another second. “Shall we?”
“You can’t go without your flowers!” Emma called out, dragging Delaney over to the box. Each of us had matching bouquets of pale pink and light blue blooms arranged with white lilies. Delaney handed me mine then picked up hers. We looped our arms together.
Emma was walking Cass down the aisle.
Connie let the guitar player know it was time. As the song began and our guests stood, Delaney and I started our journey. We’d practiced walking in time with the music, but my body tingled and my heart pounded. Delaney clung to me tightly, and I knew she felt the same way. To hell with the plan. We walked as normally as we could.
Shea and X stood next to each other. Delaney went straight into Shea’s arms, and he made the most content sound.
X looked gorgeous. His hair fell in his eyes, but it didn’t stop them from shining with pure adoration. I wondered if they were mirrors, because my heart was so full I thought it would explode. The Lowe brothers were much more traditional than their mates. Each of them wore a black tuxedo jacket with tails and white bow ties, but none of us could follow all the rules. They’d decided to wear black jeans and cowboy boots. It had sounded ridiculous but was sexy as hell. I couldn’t wait to get X alone and rip it off him.
“You are the most beautiful woman on the planet,” X rumbled in my ear. “I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you.”
“I’m the luckiest woman on the planet.” I kissed his cheek, then turned around to watch Cass.
Emma stopped at almost every row. She’d see someone she knew, and pulled Cass over to them, where the guest would give both mom and daughter a hug. There was no missing Cass’ hard, round belly between them, and then they’d pulled her in for another embrace. Guests came to t
he middle of the aisle, everyone wanted to wish her well.
Cass glowed. If she didn’t believe in fairy tales now, there was no convincing her. We needed to rewrite that book and make it her story. All of our stories.
I glanced over at Delaney and Shea, who had missed the whole thing because they hadn’t taken their eyes off each other.
Once Emma finally made it to Connie, Cass took Major’s hands in hers. Major wasted no time, kissing her so hard she dipped backward. The crowd went wild.
“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us today.” Shadow stood between Major and Cass. “Major Lowe is someone who has challenged me all my life and made me a better man. I’m proud to call him an ally and even prouder to call him a friend. When he asked me to be the officiant at his mating ceremony, I was honored. Today symbolizes what we fought so hard for, what tore us apart, and what put us back together. Congratulations, man.” Shadow held out his hand, offering one of those man handshakes, but then gave up the façade and pulled Major into a hug.
Major squeezed his eyes closed when he let go, then blinked rapidly. Holy shit, Major Lowe was going to cry.
Shadow cleared his throat. “We’re here today to celebrate the mating of Major and Cassidy. Mating is something we take seriously in Sawtooth Forest. We pledge each other forever. A lot can happen in a short amount of time. Happiness and sadness, triumph and loss. We believe that each wolf was born to spend their life with one other, two hearts that beat in the exact same rhythm. When we find that wolf, we give them the piece of us that completes them. Together we are whole. Together we are strong. Together we are passion, friendship, and joy. The forest grows stronger because of your love. Major, do you promise Cassidy forever?”
I’d never seen Major look so soft, so vulnerable, so in love. “I do.”
“Cassidy, do you promise Major forever?”
“And one more day.” Yeah, Cass believed in fairy tales. “I do.”
“You may seal your bond with a kiss.”
The crowd cheered as Major dipped Cass into one more long, slow kiss. The first of many on their journey to forever.
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