by Lisa Kessler
Bart and Ben still weren’t masters of what could be said in public about being wolves, and Gage’s twin boys were even worse. So rather than worry about the kids spilling secrets, Naomi and Asher kept the guest list small—the Sedona Pack and a few of our friends from the Reno Pack.
Luke and Raven had come down from Reno with Adam and Lana and their twins Madeleine and Malcolm, who was named after his grandfather. Their twins were almost six years old and precocious first graders. Seeing them play with Naomi’s little guys made my heart overflow. And every time Vance picked one of them up, my ovaries started sending urgent messages to the rest of me. I didn’t even know if I could have kids. I was a hybrid shifter. What if they came out more animal than human?
Besides, Vance and I were still getting used to living together. For now, we had sweet Abigail, our furbaby, and she was enough for now.
Speaking of the devil, Abby wandered into the kitchen, sniffing around for anything that might need to be cleaned off the floor. We’d gotten her a big teal bow for the occasion, and Abby seemed to flaunt it proudly everywhere she went.
“You like your formal wear?” I asked her.
She panted and waggled her butt in response. How could I resist that? I rewarded her with a tiny piece of turkey, then straightened up and took off my apron. “Have you got this under control, Piper?”
“Sure thing.” She held up her lighter with a smile. “It all smells amazing.”
“Thanks.” I stuffed my apron in the pantry and fiddled with my teal cocktail dress. “I’m going to check on the bride.”
The bride. Sometimes I had to pinch myself that this day was finally here. A little over a month had passed since the showdown at Vance’s rugby game, and so far things had been quiet out of the facility in Flagstaff. Maybe they were regrouping? I didn’t want to think about it. Today was all about my best friend’s wedding.
As Naomi’s maid of honor, I didn’t get to pick my dress, but thankfully she chose something that not only looked good on me but I could probably wear again sometime.
I knocked on the door to the master bedroom. “How’s it going in there?”
“Come and see for yourself,” Naomi called.
I stepped inside and gasped, my vision clouding with happy tears. “Oh, you look gorgeous.”
Yes, I’d been to the dress fittings with her, but seeing my best friend in front of the mirrored closet door with her long dark hair up and a veil that crescendoed from white to teal, her white dress with teal embellishments fitting her just right, and that smile that radiated pure joy…? It was more than I could take.
Damn. We did it. We had lived. We’d turned a corner.
Secretly, I sent up a prayer that this wedding might be the beginning of a more peaceful chapter for our pack. Vance had spent the past few weeks working with Sebastian on tracking down our only lead as to the other people involved in this new post-Nero organization—Deidra Harlow. They were convinced she must be involved with the Transparency Collective that Duane had mentioned to Vance, but both the group and Deidra seemed to be off the grid, making it tough to find a trail to follow.
A knock came at the bedroom door. “Everybody decent?”
Naomi and I grinned as Raven peeked around the corner. She’d been bitten on Caldwell’s orders the same way we were, but she changed all our fates the day she found her mate. Luke had been the one to rally Asher and the rest of the bitten wolves to overthrow Caldwell. And this wedding wouldn’t be happening without Raven and Luke’s intervention to free our pack from Caldwell’s rule.
The three of us hugged, laughing and crying at the same time. I pulled back, dabbing my eyes. “It’s so good to see you.” I sniffled. “Ugh. We’re all going to ruin our makeup.”
Raven took Naomi’s hands. “I’m so happy for you. You look stunning.”
“Thanks.” She twirled around in her dress and grabbed Raven’s hands again. “I can’t believe I’m getting married.”
Raven grinned. “You are. Luke was so honored you asked him to lead the ceremony.”
I raised a brow. “He did finish the online ordainment, right?”
“Yep.” Raven nodded with a twinkle in her eyes. “He’s ordained now, so this is going to be legally binding. You’re sure about this, Naomi?”
She chuckled. “Definitely.”
Raven checked her phone. “Okay, consider this your five-minute warning. Adam should be here in a sec to walk you down the aisle.”
Naomi’s parents had thrown her out a few years ago, and she’d had no intention of inviting them to her werewolf wedding. They didn’t even know they had grandchildren. When Naomi had approached Adam to see if he would walk her down the aisle, on their big day, he had agreed instantly.
Raven stopped at the door. “Need anything?”
Naomi shook her head. “Nope. I’m ready.”
“Good. Everything is going to be perfect.” Raven stepped into the hallway and closed the door behind her.
“This is really happening.” I hugged Naomi again. “I better go find Vance.”
“Yes, you better.” She paused with a crooked smile. “You guys seem pretty happy together. I guess fate didn’t mess up after all…”
“I’m happy to admit, you were right. Fate was good to me.” I went to the door. “See you soon.”
“I can’t wait,” Naomi said as I left the room.
I couldn’t help checking things out in the kitchen—stirring, sniffing, and rearranging—when a big hand slid around my waist from behind.
Vance growled against my ear. “Been looking for you, kitten.”
I leaned back into his chest. “Oh yeah?”
He grabbed my hand. “Come on.”
I laughed as he hustled me out the back door. “I’m in heels! You’ve gotta slow down.”
He shot me a wicked grin over his shoulder and suddenly turned around and literally swept me off my feet. I squealed, clinging to him as he jogged away from the house toward a live oak tree with gnarled branches. As we got closer, I recognized where he was taking me.
“This is the tree you used to shift behind during the new moon. I’d wait for you right here.”
He set me back on the ground. “Yep.”
We were a good distance away from the craziness of the wedding. Even with a shifter’s heightened hearing, none of the pack would be able to hear us. I sucked in the fresh air and finally took a long look at my mate. His hair was disheveled but, as usual, totally sexy, and he looked hot in his tux with a black shirt and silver and teal tie. Like a rock star version of James Bond.
“Wait just a second.” He kissed my cheek and raced for the tree, shooting up the trunk like a nimble cat.
When he dropped to the ground, he had something in his hand. My heart lodged in my throat. What was happening right now? He crooked his finger in my direction, and I held my breath as I walked over to him.
Vance took my hand in his and kissed it, lips caressing my knuckles. “I love you.” He raised a brow. “Are you okay?”
“I think so.” I glanced at his other hand. “What’s going on?”
“Well, I might be about to make a fool of myself, so I thought we should do it away from the house in case I need to save face.” His nervous but playful smile was too adorable. I didn’t stand a chance.
He knelt on one knee, and my own wobbled. Looking up at me, he opened his other hand, exposing a tiny black velvet box. “I know we’ve only lived together for a month, so if you tell me no, I’ll understand, and I’ll ask again another time. You know I’m tenacious.”
My vision clouded with tears, but I couldn’t stop smiling. He popped the box open, and the sunlight sparkled on a beautiful diamond ring, set in a simple white-gold fitting. It was perfect.
He looked up at me with hope in his eyes. “Kaya Blackwing, you’re the best part of every single day. You gave me a future I never dreamed was possible. I love you. I will always love you.” He searched my eyes and whispered, “Will you marry me?”
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br /> “Yes!” I hadn’t meant to shout, but that’s how it had come out.
He grinned and stood up, kissing me over and over. I clung to him, our tongues twining together, making me ache for more time. He broke the kiss and slid the ring on my finger.
I wiggled them and met his eyes. “How did you know what size I was?”
“I had a little help from the bride.”
My jaw dropped. “Naomi was in on this?”
“Yeah. She may have snagged one of your rings so I could get the right size.” He lifted my newly bedazzled finger. “Doesn’t change your answer, does it?”
I laughed shaking my head. “No. I love it.” I wrapped my arms around his neck. “And I love you.”
We made our way back to the ranch hand in hand, back to our pack to celebrate with Naomi and Asher. Our family was growing, and whatever the future had in store, we’d face it together.
I glanced up at Vance and caught him smiling back at me. Heat flushed my cheeks as I shook my head. “Happy is a good look on you.”
He tugged me closer, sliding his arm around my waist as we walked. “Then I must be the best-looking bastard on the planet right now.”
And to me, he damned sure was.
Acknowledgments
Thank you for reading Sedona Seduction! If you enjoyed the story I hope you’ll post a review online. Even short reviews help readers find books.
I’ve got so many people to thank for this book. First, I’m so grateful to all my readers! I never intended to have a year go by without another book in the Sedona Pack, but 2019 had other plans for me. After suffering chronic anemia and undergoing surgery, I lost my mom ten days later. Everything spiraled from there and for a few months, I couldn’t write anymore.
Through it all, my husband was right there, my rock in the storm. So first, I need to thank Ken for never losing faith in me and holding my hand while I struggled to come back from so much devastation in such a short time. I’m not sure I’d still be standing if it wasn’t for you. You’re my real-life hero and I’m so lucky to have you at my side.
Next up, I need to thank Sher Giambra. Books brought us together from opposite sides of the country, and I’ll be forever grateful. Without your financial backing, I wouldn’t have been able to get this book edited and out on time. Thank you so much for offering me a hand when I needed it most. You’re an angel.
And huge thanks to my intrepid beta readers for this book, Denise Vance Fluhr, Heather Cox, and Katie Roberts who read this book in record time for me. You guys are the best!
I also need to thank my amazing reader patrons from Patreon for jumping on board to support this book too: Anne Rindfliesch, Brenda Henderson Mason, Carol Westphal, Connie Frank, Gina Johnson, Janet Pritchett, Julie Fine, and Olivia Welch! This book wouldn’t have happened without your support.
Next, I need to thank my editor, Danielle Poiesz, from Double Vision Editorial for being so patient with me during the past year of heartbreak. I am so lucky to have you in my corner making the books shine and the characters come to life. I love working with you!
I also want to thank my awesome cover designer, Fiona Jayde! I’m so happy with how this one turned out.
Sedona Seduction was a miracle for me. After being unable to write for so long, the wolf pack lured me back to the keyboard, and I’ll be forever grateful.
And finally, a huge thank you to my Night Angel readers on Facebook. When I was at my lowest you all sent me so much love and support. You all inspire me to tell more stories… Thank you for all your posts, reviews and shout outs. You mean the world to me!
Last but never least, big thanks to my family. You make every day worth living. I love you.
Other Novels by Lisa Kessler
The Muse Chronicles
LURE OF OBSESSION
LEGEND OF LOVE
BREATH OF PASSION
LIGHT OF THE SPIRIT
DEVOTED TO DESTINY
DANCE OF THE HEART
SONG OF THE SOUL
The Night Series
NIGHT WALKER
NIGHT THIEF
NIGHT DEMON
NIGHT ANGEL
NIGHT CHILD
The Moon Series
MOONLIGHT
HUNTER’S MOON
BLOOD MOON
HARVEST MOON
ICE MOON
BLUE MOON
WOLF MOON
NEW MOON
The Sedona Pack
THE LONE WOLF’S WISH
SEDONA SIN
SEDONA SEDUCTION
SEDONA SCANDAL
The Sentinels of Savannah
MAGNOLIA MYSTIC
PIRATE’S PASSION
PIRATE’S PLEASURE
PIRATE’S PERSUASION
Summerland Stories
ACROSS THE VEIL
FORBIDDEN HEARTS
Standalone Works
BEG ME TO SLAY
FORGOTTEN TREASURES
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Lisa Kessler is a Best Selling author of dark paranormal fiction. She’s a two-time San Diego Book Award winner for Best Published Fantasy-Sci-fi-Horror and Best Published Romance. Her books have also won the PRISM award, the Award of Excellence, the National Excellence in Romantic Fiction Award, the Award of Merit from the Holt Medallion, and an International Digital Award for Best Paranormal.
Her short stories have been published in print anthologies and magazines, and her vampire story, Immortal Beloved, was a finalist for a Bram Stoker award.
When she’s not writing, Lisa is a professional vocalist, and has performed with San Diego Opera as well as other musical theater companies in San Diego.
You can learn more at Lisa-Kessler.com