“Who me?” Jared asked, after checking himself in the mirror. “Of course not. Esme is my mate forever. Getting married is only the outward sign of our mating. Why should I be nervous?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” Granger said, running his hand through his hair. “Aren’t you afraid you’ll mess something up? The ceremony seems so important to the women. Is Esme upset that we moved the wedding up to December?”
“No, I think she was glad we didn’t wait. Hey, stop worrying, it’ll be fine. Come on, it’s almost time for the wedding to begin.”
Jared opened the door that led into the sanctuary where the guests had been seated. Granger followed him to the front of the church and stood next to him. Unable to help himself, Granger kept looking at the door in the rear of the sanctuary, wondering when the women would arrive.
His father, sitting in the second row, caught his eye and winked, while his mother’s smile lit up the room. Seeing them and their happy faces helped Granger feel that everything would be all right. The ceremony today was icing on the cake. Brenda was already his mate and nothing would change that.
The door opened suddenly, and Granger whipped around to see… Mathis walk in and hurry to the front of the church. Granger sighed. He missed Brenda. She had slept with the women last night at the Alpha’s lodge, while Jared joined him at the cottage.
“I just got news that Ouelette is back in the country,” Mathis said, a growl in his voice. “I had to check it out before I could come to the church. I thought he would stay out of sight longer than a few weeks. I’m going to do something about him and soon. Sorry, I’m late.”
“You know the pack will help you if you need us, so no worries,” Jared said, shaking his hand.
“Hey, Granger, you’re looking a little pale, everything all right?” Mathis asked, stepping in line next to him.
“I want everything to go well. Have you got the rings?” Granger asked. Please Asena, let him have the rings.
“Right here, I have to say, your designs are exquisite. When I claim my mate, I’d love to commission a ring from you.” Mathis patted his jacket pocket.
“Of course, I’d be happy to…wait, you said ‘claim.’ Do you know who your mate is?” Granger turned to look at Mathis. Which of the women could possibly be the mate of this complex man?
“Shh, the music’s started. Look, the women have arrived,” Mathis said, in a hushed whisper.
Granger whipped around the other direction to face the back of the room. There they were, just now entering the sanctuary. Brenda looked down the aisle and caught his gaze. He was transfixed. His mate wore a silk chiffon dress that hugged her curves, showing off her long legs and narrow waist. Susan handed her a bundle of flowers and she looked away from him, breaking the spell she so easily cast upon him.
Granger glanced at his friend to find Jared transfixed with his mate, Esme. Esme and Brenda linked arms and walked down the aisle followed by Susan. Everyone in the church stood, but nothing mattered except the women coming down the aisle toward them.
Brenda smiled softly as she came closer. When the women reached the front, Granger couldn’t wait to claim his mate for all to see.
§
“Ladies and Gentleman, I am pleased to present, Mr. and Mrs. Wolfe, and Mr. and Mrs. Thibault,” the pastor announced to the church.
Brenda glanced up at her mate. Thank goodness, he decided she was worth all the trouble she caused him. Granger slid his arm around Brenda’s waist and pulled her close. “Je t’aime, Brenda,” echoed in her mind.
“Je t’aime, Granger, toujours.”
§
“May Asena bless your mating with long life, sweet dreams, a full den, and time to play together.” Mathis raised his glass and sipped at his champagne, having finished the toasting of the newlyweds.
As he lowered his glass, his gaze unerringly went to the one woman he couldn’t ignore, Margot Martin.
She looked exquisite in her blue gown, her hair done up in a French twist. She smiled at something her mother said, but even from this distance, Mathis saw the pain in her sky blue eyes. Pain that pierced his heart, because the fragile woman trying so hard to be brave was his mate.
Epilogue
Asena, mother goddess of the lycans, entered her sleeping chamber. She was dressed in a simple pale blue silk suit and pumps. Moonstone and amethyst beads graced her neck, complementing the silver wolf-head amulet in the center.
“How was the wedding, my love?” her mate, Tengri, asked from the bed.
“It was very nice. Our children’s children prosper and grow. I am glad it is finally done. I never expected Brenda to be so difficult.” Asena reached up to let down her hair.
“Why do you smile then, if she was so difficult?” he asked sitting up.
“Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle. Brenda is a wonderful addition to my handmaidens. She will find the golden book I left her in the wedding presents. I’ll have to sneak a peek at her face when she opens it and realizes it’s from me.”
“You love your little dramas. Come to bed so I may give you pleasure…”
§ § §
Coming Soon
The Gift of My Mate
Book Nine of the Siberian Volkov Pack Romance Series
Margot Martin has been searching for her mate for years. When she couldn’t find a mate in her pack, she started looking for a mate in the human population, earning her a rather shady reputation. Now one of her human admirers has turned stalker and Margot can only turn to the head of pack security, Mathis Levesque, for help.
Mathis Levesque has known from the first moment he saw Margot Martin that she was his mate, a secret he has kept from her, for her own protection. A member of the Betas council’s “Sable Guard” has made him more than one enemy and Mathis didn’t want Margot to become a target. Now she is stalked by a human business man and Mathis must protect the one woman he can’t give up.
Aerial Magic
Book Two of the Witch Guardian Romance Series
Elise Delaire, the Guardian healer, goes to the bonding ceremony of her best friend. While there, Mabel Avery, the commander of the Guardians, introduces Elise to Curtis Brant. But when Elise shakes Brant’s hand, she realizes that not only is this man not who he says he is, he is also her Destined One.
Owen Avery is on a mission from the queen of the Fae: Apprehend the rogue Fae who is now being called the Red Wizard. Everything is going according to plan until Owen shakes hands with the delectable Elise. Not only can she see through his disguise, but her touch causes his magic-house tattoo to take on color, proving that she is his Destined One. Is he willing to give up his immortality and his home, the land of the Fae, to claim her?
Black and Shadow
Book three of the Shadow Walker Tribe Romance Series
Joseph Running Bear is a member of Shadow Walkers, a covert black-operations unit, and head of security for Isanti, Inc. When terrorists kill one of his men, Joe takes it personally. Once the terrorists are destroyed, Joe is left with guilt and the loss of his friend, Fred Black. All that’s left to do is send the man’s belongings to his little sister in New York City.
Jessica Black heads to New Mexico to find out what really happened to her brother. The police are not cooperative, stating national security concerns. But Jessica doesn’t believe them. Fred would never be caught unawares if he were mixed up with terrorists. In addition, there is the company, Isanti Inc. that her brother worked for, a company he tried to convince her to join. She knows something more is going on. Why all the secrecy and runaround if her brother was simply caught in the crossfire?
Also by Caryn Moya Block
The Siberian Volkov Romance Series
Alpha’s Mate
A Siberian Werewolf in London
My Mate’s Embrace
My Magic Mate
A Siberian Werewolf in Paris
A Siberian Werewolf Christmas
Wolfe’s Mate
Beta’
s Mate
Coming Soon
The Gift of My Mate
The Witch Guardian Romance Series
Destined Magic
Coming Soon
Aerial Magic
The Shadow Walker Tribe Romance Series
Shadow of My Heart
Love in the Shadows
Coming Soon
Black and Shadow
About the Author
Caryn Moya Block burst onto the paranormal romance scene with her debut e-book Alpha’s Mate in January of 2012, which won the “Global Ebook Award for 2012” in contemporary romance. She was also named one of the “Top 50 Indie Authors for April 2012” from E-Reader Reviews. A Siberian Werewolf in Paris was chosen as a finalist in the 2014 RomCon.com Readers’ Choice Awards in the paranormal category.
Caryn has continued to write, giving her readers three different series to choose from, The Shadow Walkers Romance Series, The Witch Guardian Romance Series, and the very popular, Siberian Volkov Pack Romance Series.
Caryn loves romantic movies and stories that end “Happily Ever After.” She is an avid reader and writer who lives in the Virginia Piedmont. Her pack consists of her husband of more than thirty years, two grown sons, a beautiful daughter-in-law, and granddaughter, as well as a cat, a turtle, and four Shetland sheepdogs. She suffers from “Multiple Sheltie Syndrome,” because one is never enough. After seeing her first ghost when she was three, she has been intrigued with the paranormal. She would love to hear from you at [email protected]
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