by Milly Taiden
Lucilla nodded, adding, “Matheus had them move tomorrow’s beach barbeque to tonight, and the hotel event planners are coming up with something for tomorrow night, leaving you two set until Sunday to recuperate.”
Hands on her hips, Lyssa walked to survey the dress with Terez. “So in other words, you have nothing to concern yourself with except showing up on Sunday.” She pursed her lips. “I think I have an idea that’ll work for this mess.”
Becca leaned back, closing her eyes. “As long as you’re not planning to put me in some hoochie-mama monstrosity or some hippy-dippy, tie-dyed creation, I’m good with being surprised.”
Lyssa clapped her hands again. “Yay! Terez, you’re with me!” She winked. “To the laundry!”
30
Becca’s eyes fluttered open to soft feathery kisses along her neck and collarbone. She inhaled, lifting her hand to Jaylon’s thick hair as his lips slipped to the fading pink scars on her shoulder and chest.
“I hate I came so close to losing you. A few inches to the left and—”
“Ssh, stop.” Becca tugged on his hair. “It didn’t happen, and I could say the same about Giselle’s blade and you. Something bigger protected us. I believe that. Besides, I think one of Alastair’s shots was meant for poor old Jasper. He and I are both lucky the bastard had awful aim.”
Jaylon rested his chin on Becca’s chest and looked up at her. “I know I haven’t said it before, but I love you, Becca. You’re in my blood and all, but it’s more than that. Deeper now.”
She nodded. “I know. Me, too.”
“You, too, what?” He grinned.
A smirked tugged at her lips and he crawled higher so his mouth was a breath from hers. “Well?”
“I love you, too, wolf boy.”
“Good, Miss Kitty.” He kissed her soundly and then moved to get up, smacking the side curve of her butt and full thigh. He pulled on a pair of sweats and then switched to a chair to put on his sneakers.
“Where are you going?” she asked, sitting up from the pillows.
The covers fell away from her naked breasts and Jaylon groaned. “You’re killing me, Smalls.”
Becca flipped the covers back and got out of bed, padding across the carpet to stand nude in front of his chair. “Seriously, where are you going?”
“Nowhere if you keep standing there all luscious and pink.”
She put a hand on her hip, waiting.
Jay ran a hand through his hair. “It’s bad luck to see the bride before the wedding, right?”
She had to laugh. “We’ve been shacked up for two days, Jay. Everyone knows we started the honeymoon before the ceremony because of what happened, and now you want to keep to tradition?”
He stood from his chair and slipped his arm around her waist, pulling her body close, his lips closing over hers. “Yup,” he murmured.
“I think you’re a little late. It’s already our wedding day.”
He scooped her up in his arms and walked back to the bed, depositing her on the mattress with a soft bounce. “It’s not yet dawn, so technically it’s not our wedding DAY.” He crooked his fingers in quote marks.
“Technicalities.” Becca lay back on her pillow, letting her hand slip onto her belly, sliding it slowly toward her shaved mound. “Sure I can’t tempt you to stay?”
He groaned again, but shook his head. “Tonight. I promise no sleep for you at all, so rest up. I plan to use you well, my soon-to-be-wife.”
Jaylon slipped out of the room leaving Becca with a flush of anticipation and wetness between her thighs. “Tonight indeed.” Her sex jumped at the thought. “If I can last that long.”
“You dyed my wedding gown hunter green? Am I a bride or one of Robin Hood’s merry men?” Becca stood stunned, with her mouth open.
“You said to surprise you.” Lyssa grinned with her arms wide. “So—surprise!”
“Green. I’m getting married in a hunter green dress,” Becca repeated, shaking her head.
Lyssa pulled the plastic cover the rest of the way off the hanger. “Not just hunter green, but medieval style. Look at the details we added. The drop waist with the silver looped chain, the square neckline instead of sweetheart, and Terez even added strips of matching velvet to the boning in the corset.”
She held up what looked like floaty bell sleeves in some kind of loose, gossamer fabric. “And these. We can’t forget these.” Lys tugged one onto Becca’s arm, fastening the silver clip around her upper arm. “Faux sleeves! Aren’t they great?”
Becca lifted her arm, watching the sheer green shimmer in in the light. “I suppose—”
Terez nodded. “Put the dress on, miss. You can’t see the full effect otherwise.”
Becca dropped her towel and stepped into her wedding gown for the second time, only now when Lyssa cinched the waist and Terez fastened the sleeves, she was completely amazed.
“Oh, Lys!” she exclaimed.
Her friend grinned ear-to-ear. “See? I told you.” She pulled the corset ties, loosening the back. “Now slip it off so we can do your hair. Braids and silver pearls, I think.”
“I feel like something out of a fairytale.”
Lys nodded. “You are, Becca Bee. You are.”
Thirty minutes later, Becca waited at the far end of the aisle just as she had two days earlier. Jasper took her hand and kissed it. “You look even more like your mother than before. She wore Pineland green on her wedding day, too.”
Becca’s lips parted and then she closed them again. “Pineland green?”
The old man nodded. “Yes. A century or more ago it was the traditional color for our Leap. It’s reminiscent of the mountains and woods that were ours.”
Becca’s eyes found Lyssa and she grinned. The woman was her conscience, always there to remind her of what mattered. She blew her friend a kiss and then waited as she walked down the aisle ahead of her.
The music swelled once more and Jasper took her hand, his wheelchair squeaking quietly as they moved at a slow pace behind Lyssa’s lead.
Jaylon looked amazing. A new suit with a hint of green in his lapel made her smile as she reached him.
“Who gives this woman to be mated?” the preacher asked.
Jasper cleared his throat. “I do. In the name of the Pineland Leap and the Leopards of North America, I present our Prowl Leader to be mated to this man.”
The preacher turned to Jaylon. “Do you accept this woman?”
A mischievous glint hit Jay’s eyes and Becca stared him down. Not today, you don’t.
He met her look with a knowing grin and nodded, addressing the preacher. “Yes. As Alpha of the Deep Water Pack and the Wolves of New York, I accept this woman.”
Jaylon moved to take Becca’s hand from Jasper, but the preacher cleared his throat. “Not so fast, my man.” He looked at Becca with a wink. “And you—do you accept this man?”
A mile-wide smile spread across Becca’s face. “Yes, as Prowl Leader of the Pineland Leap and the Leopards of North America, I accept this man.”
Jay took her hand and she leaned in. “Equals, remember?”
He nodded. “Always and forever, babe.”
The preacher continued, but Jaylon was all Becca could see and hear, and when he slipped the delicate gold band on her finger, the gathering erupted in cheers as he kissed her, sealing their union and ending the ceremony. Quick and easy with no more pomp and circumstance than a simple exchange of vows. Neither Becca nor Jaylon wanted to push it after what happened the last time they faced the altar.
The ceremony ended as swiftly as it started, and the music swelled starting the party. Becca and Jaylon mingled, laughing and talking and thanking everyone for their patience and their support, moving along the crowd of well-wishers, finally reaching Jay’s father.
“I’m so happy for you both,” he said, clapping Jaylon in a hug and then kissing Becca’s cheek. “Your mother would be so proud, son.” He slipped his gaze to Becca and gave her a soft smile. “I know you don’t
have much in terms of family, but I want you to know I’m here for you, sweetheart. We all are.”
She hugged him back. “Thank you, Wyatt.”
He dropped his chin and looked at her. “How about Dad?”
She laughed. “Thank you, Dad.”
The three stood looking at the merriment surrounding them and Wyatt lifted his glass toward the dance floor. “Looks like the next wedding will be those two.” He gestured to Matheus and Lucilla, dancing cheek to cheek.
“Why not? Goes to show you’re never too old for love,” Jaylon replied.
“Are you two leaving from here to go out to the Canyon for your honeymoon?”
Jay spared a glance for Becca. “Uhm, yes and no. We need to stop at the Pinelands first. We have some unfinished business to attend to. We’ll head out from there day after tomorrow.”
Becca smirked. “Your son can be very persuasive when he wants. I hate to say it, but when he gets something in his mind he’s like a dog with a bone!” She burst out laughing as Jaylon growled, fake barking as he whirled her to the dance floor.
“Your son is very astute. Very happy and very perceptive.”
Wyatt turned at the lilting female voice. “Gerri Wilder. I didn’t expect to see you here.”
She nodded. “I don’t often get to watch my matches come to such a happy ending, but this one was special.”
He nodded. “Indeed. If two people ever belonged together, it’s Becca and Jay. What they went through in the past seventy-two hours proves that.” He turned from watching the newlyweds. “And what say you? Is my son correct? You’re never too old for love?”
She smirked, watching the mischief in Wyatt’s eyes. “Perhaps.”
“Are you still at a one hundred percent success rate?”
Gerri nodded with a laugh. “Yes, but it’s getting more difficult each time. For a moment, I thought I’d swung and missed with these two, but my gut was right. They both needed that extra push.”
“And you can still see all that for everyone who seeks your help?”
“Yes,” she answered, her voice soft.
“What about for yourself? Can you see your own future with one special man?”
Gerri shrugged. “It’s complicated. There are rules about that. Personal gain and all.”
Wyatt grinned, leaning in with a wink. “What about for just one night? Are there rules about that?”
She laughed. “That’s the sweetest indecent proposal I’ve had in years.” She eyed him. “I’ll have to think about that one, but you can buy me a drink in the meantime.”
31
“You two should be on your honeymoon, not seeing to this unpleasantness. The joint council of elders can handle this, no problem,” Lucilla argued from her chair at the council table.
She looked at Matheus and he nodded in agreement. “Lucy has a point.”
“I know the elders are more than capable of dealing with this situation, but the actions of these men nearly cost me my life, and worse, they nearly cost me Becca’s. Besides, this isn’t a job for the council on either side. The parties involved are from Pineland. Their fate is up to Becca as Prowl Leader,” Jaylon argued back.
Becca looked out the cabin window while the three argued. Her intuition itched. There was something more to this than met the eye. Something nagged at the back of her mind. A look, a glance…something insignificant, but it told her Jaylon hadn’t told her the whole truth.
“Why else, Jay?” she turned her eyes on her new mate. “There’s something else behind our delay. I’ve felt it all along and you need to tell me.”
He leaned on the edge of one of the gallery tables. “I couldn’t tell you before because I didn’t want to risk Lyssa overhearing. She has no clue.”
At that moment, Becca knew. That day in their hotel suite while discussing the info his men had turned up, Jaylon glanced at Lyssa before answering the question. Not just a glance. A check.
Becca turned fully, her arms crossing protectively in front of her chest. “Why?”
“If you’re going to be Prowl Leader and want both the men and women under your care to trust you, you have to show them you can deal with difficult situations. Situations that test you to the core. Unfortunately, babe, this is just the first of many.”
She threw a hand in the air. “For God’s sake, stop talking in riddles. What is going to test me?”
Jaylon looked at Lucilla who in turn spared a glance for Jasper.
“My darling girl, there are three members of our Leap waiting to be brought before us. Men you know well, yet they played a part in the attacks on your wedding day. We all realize it’s only by the grace of God you were spared, I was spared and Jaylon was spared. As for the two that died,” he paused, “well—they brought their fate on themselves.”
Becca looked between Jasper, Matheus, and Jaylon. “Are you giving each other lessons in evasion, or is this just a man thing? Can I please get a straight answer?” Her eyes fell on Jaylon. “If you don’t tell me what this is about right now, you’ll be going on our honeymoon alone.”
Jasper raised one hand. “Please, Becca. Patience. Believe it or not, Jaylon is trying to spare your feelings. He’s doing it in a clumsy, oafish way, but his intentions are good. As were his intentions with Lyssa. It’s why he asked her to stay behind and get his beach house ready for when you get back from the Canyons.”
“Okay, I get that, and I appreciate the gesture, but I still want to know what’s going on. I thought we were to deal with all this when we got back? That we needed to wait for the elders from the Wind River Pride to arrive.” Her gaze wouldn’t let them off the hook.
Jay nodded. “They’re here. They arrived this morning.”
The door opened and an older man walked in with a woman and a little boy. The toddler was dark haired and as cute as a button.
Jasper raised a hand and beckoned them forward. “This is Becca Duran, our Prowl Leader, and this is her mate, Jaylon Ross, Alpha of the Deep Water wolf pack.”
The older man inclined his head. “I’m Chester Polk. I’m an elder from the Wind River Cougar Pride. I wish we were meeting under better circumstance, although I understand congratulations are in order.”
Becca nodded. “Yes, well, thank you, Chester.”
“We came as soon as your mate wired. Wind River is pretty remote as you may remember, so your news didn’t arrive as quickly as I’m sure he hoped. I’m sorry for your trouble.”
Becca balked. “My trouble? The source of my trouble came from your pride. Alastair showed up flinging ridiculous claims. Unfortunately, you did not arrive in time to save your Prime. He lost his life while trying to murder my mate.”
“If I may ask, who killed him?” Chester asked, looking at them all.
Becca raised her chin. “I did. The details of the attack are in the report my council prepared.”
He inclined his head. “Thank you.”
Becca looked at the man, his unusual regard a little off-putting. “A report is standard protocol. You deserve to know what happened and why.”
Chester shook his head. “That’s not what I mean. Thank you for killing Alastair Reece.”
Becca’s eyes nearly bugged from their sockets.
Chester met her stunned silence with a sad, close-lipped smile. “Your shock is understandable, but you have no idea what that psychopath put Wind River through. A little over two years ago we were a happy pride. Small, but self-sustaining, and ready to move into a more modern place, not location wise, but in our manner of thinking.”
His sad smile softened. “Your brother Charlie visited us around that time. He was trying to find the place where your Leap originated.”
Becca glanced at Jasper for a moment. “I remember that. I wanted to go with him, but Charlie wouldn’t let me. He said I needed to be here in case something happened to him.” Her gaze dropped to her hands at the memory.
“Our scouts were helping Charlie at the time, and Alastair was one of them. He recognized y
our family name from an earlier incident.”
Becca frowned. “There’s no need for you to hedge. I know exactly the incident you mean.”
He nodded. “My apologies. Anyway, that’s where our story changes.”
“Mama?” The little boy hid in his mother’s legs, and a tiny flash of half a face grabbed Becca’s attention. There was something familiar about the child.
“I’m sorry, and you are?” Becca asked.
The woman spared a glance for Chester and then looked down at the little boy before resting her hand on his head. “I’m Eleanor. Eleanor Duran.”
Becca blinked, not sure she heard correctly. “I’m sorry, did you say Eleanor Duran?”
The woman nodded, her hand slipping around the little boy’s shoulders, moving him closer. The gesture was so protective and frightened that Becca didn’t know what to make of it.
“I’m sorry, but I’m not following,” Becca replied, looking between Eleanor and the older male.
“I’m the daughter of the old Prime. The one Alastair killed. I was also your brother’s mate.”
Slack-jawed, Becca looked to Jaylon and her own elders before looking back at the woman. “I don’t understand. My brother didn’t have a mate.”
Eleanor nodded. “Yes, he did.” She shrugged. “It all happened so fast.”
Becca’s eyes widened in suspicion, but Eleanor shook her head. “Please, it’s not what you think. What happened with your brother was nothing like what happened with you and Nick Reece. That family and their crimes were well known to my father. He would never have honored Nick’s claim to you or your property. What he did was awful.”
Becca let out the breath she didn’t realize she was holding, happy Jaylon had slipped in beside her, his arm around her shoulders.
“Charlie and I were a whirlwind romance,” she smiled, “kind of like you two. We were so happy. We were mated in a small private ceremony before your brother was set to return home. I had loose ends that needed to be tied up, and had planned to join Charlie later that summer. We wanted to have another ceremony here in the Pinelands, with you, but—”