by Cara Adams
He and Reuben hurried to Indigo’s side and walked with her back to the barbecue pit area. Everyone was lining up for drinks, but the catering team had expected that, and coolers filled with water and soda were ready and waiting. He handed her a bottle of water, chugged one down himself, and then took out two more. Behind him Reuben had done the same.
Indigo teased them both. “What? No watermelon or muffins this time?”
“Soon,” said Reuben.
“We didn’t have time for breakfast yet,” added Stone.
“It doesn’t matter. We’re having barbecue for lunch,” said Indigo.
“But that’s hours away from now.” Stone was hungry. All that exercise on an empty stomach was hard work.
Indigo giggled but followed them over to the trestle table with snacks and picked up a bunch of grapes.
Stone watched her and couldn’t resist teasing her. “No finger sandwiches this time?”
“They’re all gone. But I did find out who made them, and I’m determined to get some of her recipes today.” She turned around as if to go and do it right away, but Reuben grabbed her arm.
“Let’s sit and rest for a bit first.”
Stone heaved a sigh of relief. They hadn’t even talked to her properly yet. He didn’t want her rushing away from them until he’d spent some time with her.
They found a group of chairs and sat down, sipping their second bottle of water. Stone really wanted to know if she regretted having sex with them last night, but couldn’t think of a good way of phrasing that, so he finally asked simply, “How are you feeling this morning?”
“Good. I’m fine.” She smiled at them both and nodded again. “Everything is fine.”
He took her hand and held it. Reuben matched him on her other side, and they sat quietly for a long while, not talking much, just being together and holding hands. Waves of contentment rolled through Stone. This was perfect. Himself, his partner, and his woman, all together. Not doing anything special, not rushing around or having to meet deadlines, just relaxing together. This would be the perfect life forever. He could picture them like this after a day’s work, just chilling, holding hands, looking out over the endless beauty of the desert.
There was just one tiny problem. Well, two actually.
First, it was much too soon to ask Indigo to mate them. And second, if, no when, she did agree to mate them, where would they live and what would they do to earn a living? He supposed Indigo could create her craft wherever they lived, although his place or Reuben’s would be a damn long drive to deliver her stock or shop for supplies. But what about him and Reuben? If they lived at Junctionville, what would Reuben do all day? And if they moved to the Jenners’, would there be a place for him on the farm? He knew next to nothing about growing plants, and they already employed several workmen. It would be horrible if his arrival meant some hardworking man had to lose his job.
Damn. This was going to be more difficult than he’d expected.
Chapter Four
Reuben had enjoyed the morning immensely. Although dancing wasn’t his greatest skill, it’d been good to have a true workout, and it made him feel more comfortable about this coming evening. He’d been a bit worried that he’d make a fool of himself on the dance floor, and not dancing with Indigo simply wasn’t an option. However, he was pretty sure he’d remember most of what he’d learned.
The people running the dance class had worked everyone damn hard, but the lessons had stuck in his head, and Reuben figured he was ready for the night now. After that, he’d sat and relaxed with Indigo and Stone, and that was damn good as well. They hadn’t talked much. They’d just sipped coffee and hung out together, and he’d loved the time they’d shared. People had wandered by and spoken to them from time to time. Other times they’d sat in silence, but it was a companionable, friendly silence. It had all been very good.
That rest time had been followed by a truly scrumptious cookout. Chloe had told him the meal had been especially designed to fill people up so they didn’t need much to eat again until a late supper during the ball. The catering team, along with his smart little sister, had as sure as hell delivered.
He watched as half a dozen trucks pulled up in a line behind the barbecue pit, and the drivers all came across to the food area. Each one collected a cooler and carried it to his truck, and then the Alpha appeared.
“Anyone who wants to come to the lookout, go climb in a truck. Kids under ten have to be accompanied by a parent.”
Reuben stared at Indigo. “That’s where we went last night, right?”
“Yes. It’s an amazing place. Let’s go.” She jumped to her feet, and he and Stone followed her across to the line of trucks. She gripped the side of the truck bed and hauled herself up easily, climbing inside and sitting with her back to the cab. Reuben copied her and so did Stone. Within about ten minutes probably half the pack had crammed into the trucks, and they headed out across the desert. Reuben looked around himself with interest.
The desert was always different. People who didn’t understand it often thought it all looked the same, but there were so many changes in it from hour to hour and day to day.
Patches of sand were lighter in color. Hidden between outcrops of rocks were grasses and sometimes wildflowers. Where there was moisture in the soil, scrubby bushes grew, and even the soil changed color according to the composition of the minerals in it. It was brown or yellow or orange or a mixture of all of them. Just like the rocks. They, too, came in a hundred different shades of yellow, tan, brown, beige, or ochre.
The trucks couldn’t follow quite as direct a route as Indigo had led them on the night before, and they couldn’t go particularly fast over the sandy, rocky soil either. In fact, Reuben thought, they would have taken almost as long to get there as he, Stone, and Indigo had done in wolf form.
When they arrived, everyone climbed out of the trucks and scrambled up the rocky outcrop, finding their own route to the top and exclaiming as they saw the pool of water. Reuben enjoyed watching everyone’s excitement, and it was good to see it all in daylight. But it’d been special seeing at night, just the three of them. He was glad Indigo had brought them here, even though it was fascinating to see it again.
It was just as he’d been thinking before. The desert was ever changing for those who looked at it through discerning eyes.
“Isn’t it amazing to be going on an outing as a group? Apart from school, this is the only time I’ve ever been on an excursion like this. It’s so cool to be with the pack,” said Indigo.
Reuben grinned at her enthusiasm.
“I agree. I’m happy at home with my family, and we get to talk to people who come by the store all the time. But being with the pack? Yes. It is something truly unique,” said Stone.
Reuben nodded. He’d never really thought of it before. He’d certainly never felt the lack of pack gatherings, but he was proud of Chloe for initiating them again. It really was good to be with a pack like this.
When they returned to the Alpha’s land, people started lining up for showers, talked about preparing for the party, or disappeared to their tents to take a nap. Reuben wouldn’t have minded taking a nap himself, but he was determined to spend time with Indigo.
“What are your plans now, Indigo?”
“The women are off to have girl time. We’re getting our hair and nails done. I haven’t had the opportunity to do that since the prom so it’s really cool fun for me.”
Reuben felt a flash of guilt. He and his brothers had all left school the moment they were allowed to, so none of them had graduated, and Chloe had copied them. None of them had ever been to a prom. Had Chloe missed this vital kind of girl-time partly because of him?
“Is Chloe coming with you?” he asked.
“Hell yes. Almost all the unmated women are going. And there’s no need to look worried. We’re all very happy living in the desert and not going to big parties, but once in a while it’s exciting to get prettied up.”
H
e nodded and hoped she was right. As they walked back to their tent, he said, “I hope Chloe doesn’t feel cheated by not having graduated high school and had a prom of her own.”
Stone stopped and stared at him. “Chloe? Chloe who organized this entire event? If she’d wanted to go to her prom, I guarantee she’d have found a way.”
Reuben smiled. “You’re right. She’d quite determined. As is our little Indigo.”
* * * *
Indigo stretched out her legs, admiring her freshly painted toenails. The women had taken over the Alpha’s guest suite, and piles of clothing, hair products, and makeup littered every surface.
Jasmine flopped into the chair beside her. “It seems weird to spend hours preparing for a party. I haven’t ever done this before.”
“Not even for your prom?” asked Indigo.
“No. I didn’t go. I moved house several times, living with first one and then the other of my divorced parents, and didn’t care about either school. Actually it’s pretty amazing I even got a high school diploma.”
A woman with long black hair spoke next. Her name was Summer Grussell, and Indigo had only met her here at the gathering. “One of the girls I was friends with did her debut. They spent like weeks learning how to dance and speak politely and dress nicely. She said it was really special and much more fun than the prom, although much more strictly supervised. There was no chance to slip outside with a boy and kiss.”
“Where did you do to school, Summer?”
“Wetherby.”
That explained it. She didn’t know anyone from there.
Other women came across as their toenails were finished, and the conversation moved to hairstyles and their costumes, as well as talking about the unattached men at the gathering. Indigo rested back in her chair. Shape-shifters bred far more males than females. Her family was unusual in having one girl and one boy, although most didn’t have five sons like the Wishram family did.
But it was very different being surrounded by wolf women doing something so intensely feminine as having their hair and nails done before a party. Chloe had been a genius to organize this girl-time together. Other parts of the gathering had been a lot of fun, but getting the women together for a few hours of pampering was really special.
By the time the ball was about to start, Indigo felt more beautiful than she ever had before. Her makeup was perfect, her fingernails and toenails sparkled with glitter and matched her outfit, and her hair was swept into an elegant updo instead of her usual ponytail or messy braid.
She’d made her own costume, as had many other people. Hers was designed to not be too hot and heavy because she’d thought the inside of the big party tent might become quite overheated with so many people in it.
Surrounded by all the other women, she made her way to the tent, wondering if Reuben and Stone would recognize her easily and if she’d recognize them. Damn, that was a thought. All five Wishram men looked quite similar. What if she couldn’t pick Stone from the others?
Quite a lot of people were already in the tent, and her brother, Patton, had turned on all the little lights inside it. Once again she was pleased by how nice it looked. Her decorations were simple, but they worked.
Her face was hidden behind a mask, so she felt free to stare at the crowds looking for her men. Reuben should be easy to recognize with his over-long blond hair. Maybe tonight she’d get to run her fingers through it. Maybe tonight she’d get to try some other things with him as well.
Indigo swallowed and determinedly stopped thinking along those lines. She didn’t need wet panties before the party had even gotten underway.
Maybe one third of the people hadn’t bothered to dress up. That was why all the tables had some masks on them. People could participate even if they hadn’t been able to get organized beforehand. Another third had gone all out with amazing costumes. Some of them had been used before, likely for Halloween—pirates and princesses, comic book and movie characters. But others were clearly new and freshly made. Long cloaks in shimmering colors and delicate face masks. Some of the pack were evidently talented people when it came to sewing and creating things.
Still she hadn’t recognized Reuben or Stone. Perhaps they hadn’t arrived yet. She supposed there might have been long lines at the showers. She looked carefully at each of the unattached men, discarding them one by one. Hunter Wishram was in a Dracula costume. Forest Wishram was wearing a button-down shirt, but he had a black mask on.
And then she saw Reuben. He was dressed as a cactus, which was very appropriate, given the family business. She looked harder at the man beside him, but it wasn’t Stone. Just then a robot started walking toward her. His head was completely hidden apart from a slit for his eyes, but she smiled. She’d know that confident walk anywhere. Stone.
And in that very moment, as both men approached her from different areas of the tent, Indigo knew she was in love. In love with Stone and Reuben. They were her future, and she welcomed both it and them.
* * * *
Stone could hardly believe his eyes. He’d expected that, because Indigo was a very creative person, she’d come up with an amazing costume, but he’d had no idea what kind of a costume. When he saw her he was struck by blind lust. She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. She was dressed all in white, in a flowing toga from Ancient Greece.
One creamy shoulder was bare, and the other had a knot of fabric gathered to it, which then draped down her back while the dress itself fell from under her breasts to her ankles. Her bare feet were in white sandals with sparkly silver nail polish on her toes. Her hands were by her sides, but he expected her fingernails would be decorated with the same glittery polish as well. He started toward her, cursing his own clunky costume but still managing to make his way through the crowd without actually bashing into anyone.
He saw Reuben heading toward her from the other side of the tent. Reuben was dressed as a cactus, not exactly original, but more imaginative than the seven different Batmans he’d seen so far. He suspected a lot of these costumes had begun their lives as Halloween outfits.
“You’re absolutely beautiful,” he told her and meant it.
“Stunning,” added Reuben, stopping beside him, lifting her hand, and kissing her wrist.
Damn. Why didn’t I think to do that?
“Your hair looks great. It fits the costume perfectly,” he added, admiring it and then looking down to her glittery silver fingernails.
“You both look good, too. I like that your costumes are different from everyone else’s.”
“Mine’s a family joke. Our entire family went to a party once as cacti, and I couldn’t think of anything else for here,” said Reuben.
Stone shrugged. “I’m not very imaginative. We have lots of boxes from the store, and that was all I needed plus a can of silver paint.”
They led her over to one of the tables and sat down, but it seemed to Stone they didn’t spend much of the night sitting. There were games to play, both at their table and on the dance floor. There was a lot of dancing, both line dancing and partnered dancing. He and Reuben danced on either side of Indigo for the line dancing and took turns dancing with her the rest of the time. He noticed Reuben danced with Chloe once and wondered if he should offer to dance with Jaz. Now that Hunter was mated, Stone supposed that made her his sister. But he decided not to.
He also noticed there was no sign of Jaz’s enormous dog, Phideaux, and wondered what she’d done with him. But maybe he was waiting patiently in their tent for her to get home. All the families were here, even the ones with very small children. Phideaux loved playing with the children, but they weren’t minding him right now either.
Once again he shrugged the thoughts off. None of it was his business. Indigo was his business, and she was so beautiful he could hardly bear not to be holding her against him, even though this party was the main purpose for the gathering.
Then it was time for the judging of the costumes. Chloe, the Alpha, and the Alpha’s wi
fe were the judges, and they looked at the children first. Every child paraded around the dance floor to thunderous applause from the gathered pack.
Stone noticed that every child received a balloon and a treat, and in each age group, a boy and girl won a gift.
The adults were judged in groups according to the types of their costumes. In his mind Indigo was by far the most stunning in her group, but Jaz, standing beside her as Bo Peep, was also very cleverly dressed. When it was Jaz’s turn to walk around the dance floor, she stood in the middle of it and thumped her shepherd’s crook on the floor. “Oh no. I’ve lost my sheep,” she called. Quite a few people laughed, but then there was a bark, and Phideaux ran into the tent. He was dressed in a white fluffy coat and he ran straight to Bo Peep and sat at her feet.
The pack went wild laughing and stomping and cheering. It was damn clever, and Stone knew Jaz deserved the prize she won. Well, Jaz and Phideaux. Everyone adored that damn dog.
But Stone was certain Indigo was still the most beautiful woman there.
The party finished very late, and as they left the tent, Stone was ready to walk Indigo to their tent, but she said, “I need to get my day pack out of my car first.”
Of course. She’d need to take her hair down and put away that beautiful costume properly.
She popped the trunk of her car. Reuben lifted out her small suitcase, and then they turned and walked to the tent. Stone heaved a sigh of relief. This was what he wanted. This was where he wanted to be. Alone with Indigo and Reuben at last. Even if she was too tired for sex, he wanted to lie beside her all night and hold her in his arms. Although sex would be better. His dick leaped inside his boxers. Would she let them both make love to her tonight? She didn’t look tired, but that wasn’t a guarantee. He had to remember to always be considerate of her.
* * * *