by R. E. Butler
Scarlett looked at the dresses and sniffled at the sweet gesture. Dana put her arm around her. “It’s okay, hon. Whatever your family issues are, you’ve got some sweet mates.”
“I know,” Scarlett said. She picked up the first dress, a cap sleeve white lace dress, and carried it into the bathroom. After she’d quickly changed, she stepped out of the room and turned in a slow circle.
“Oh, that’s nice,” Dana smiled, her hazel eyes crinkling at the corners.
“Thank you.” Dana handed her the next dress, and Scarlett went into the bathroom and changed. The second dress, a strapless organza, was too close to the gown she’d been trying on for her other mating ceremony and she couldn’t get it off fast enough. But the third gown was perfect. The moment she put it on and looked in the mirror, she knew she’d found the perfect dress. It fell just above her knees and had a beaded floral design on the hem, with an illusion neckline – white mesh fabric over a sweetheart bodice. It was the cutest dress she’d ever seen and a far cry from the one she’d been stuffed into just a week ago.
When she stepped into the main room, Dana clapped her hands and smiled broadly. “Oh, honey, it’s so beautiful! Do you like it?”
“I love it! It’s perfect!” Scarlett hugged Dana and fought the tears that tried to surface again. She thanked Dana and headed back to the bathroom, where she changed into her regular clothes, then carried the dress back to Dana.
“I’m going to leave it upstairs in the guest bedroom. Max said that he wanted you to get ready upstairs because the bathroom attached to the guest room is nicer.”
“Aw, that’s sweet.”
“He invited us back for your ceremony in the morning. I hope that’s okay.”
“Of course!” Scarlett said as Dana put all three gowns into a garment bag and zipped it.
“I think a sunrise ceremony is so romantic.”
“It’s about as different from wolf pack ceremonies as I can get, and it’s fitting – we get to start our life together at sunrise, the start of a new day.” Although in truth, her life had changed irrevocably the night she met her mates. Touching her stomach with her palm, she thanked her lucky stars she’d gone to Melody’s wedding and had followed her instincts that night.
* * * * *
The alarm buzzed shrilly at five thirty a.m. Scarlett sat up abruptly and then had to rush off the bed to make it to the bathroom in time.
Morning sickness sucked.
Wes handed her a wet washcloth and Ray rubbed her back. They were getting pretty good at handling her unpleasant new morning habit.
“How long is this going to last for you, sweetheart?” Ray asked.
“I don’t know. I think it’s different for every woman.” She sat back on her heels and wiped the cool cloth over her chin as Ray flushed the toilet. “I read that some women have it until three months, others longer. I never asked my mom what her pregnancies were like.”
“Well, when we get settled in Ashland and the wedding date is set, you can ask her yourself when she comes for our ceremony,” Wes said.
She frowned. “Why are you saying it like that?”
“What, love?” he asked, his brows rising.
“That we won’t be in touch with my family until our wedding is planned and we’re living in Ashland.”
Wes helped her stand and she brushed her teeth. She watched them in the mirror as they exchanged a glance. She turned off the water and turned, leaning against the counter. “What?”
“We’re not sure that we should go rushing to Bent Creek,” Ray said, speaking slowly, as if he were measuring every word.
“Oh?” She folded her arms. “When did you decide this?”
“Don’t be mad, Scarlett. You said you thought your pregnancy changed everything and that we could go to your family and share the news, but what if it doesn’t really change your dad’s mind? What if he doesn’t care and tries to take you from us?”
Her stomach flipped and she glanced at the toilet, wondering if she was going to throw up again.
Ray added hurriedly, “We won’t let him take you from us, but that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t try. He was going to give you to a stranger, which to me sounds like the most insane and cruel thing a father can do to his child. If he doesn’t think that’s crossing the line, then who the hell knows how far he’ll go in the name of getting what he wants.”
She shook her head. “No alpha in his right mind would take a pregnant, mated female as a mate. Even if my dad wasn’t happy, he couldn’t do anything about it.” She wanted to argue for them to take her to Bent Creek in a few days so she could close that chapter of her life, but a little nagging feeling in her mind told her they were right. In all honesty, she didn’t know what her dad would do. She’d never been close to him, and for the last few years, as the noose of her future had tightened, she hadn’t cared to be around him at all. He’d held her future in his hands her entire life. Now that her future was her own, what would he do?
She reached for her mates and they hugged her tightly between them. “I don’t want to fight. If you think it’s better to go to Ashland and then invite my family down there, then I agree.”
“We’ll keep you safe, but there’s nothing wrong with being careful. The pride will have our backs and we’ll have yours,” Ray said.
“Okay,” she said.
They left the bathroom and she tugged on a robe that Dana had left for her. The pink chenille robe had big, colorful flowers on it and was like being wrapped in a warm hug. She loved it, even if it was kind of corny looking.
“I’ll see you in a little while,” she said at the bottom of the stairs.
Ray and Wes kissed her and she climbed the stairs and opened the door. Max and Miles were in the kitchen and she stopped to make herself a cup of tea. To her surprise, Max lifted a tray containing a covered plate and a steaming mug of tea.
“Ray and Wes asked me to put this together for you,” he said, following her to the guest bedroom.
“That’s so sweet, thank you,” she said as she opened the door and walked inside. He followed and put the tray on a long dresser with a mirror attached.
“Give a holler if you need anything,” he said, smiling at her. Then he walked out of the room, closing the door softly behind him.
She looked around the room. The white walls were bare except for two pictures hanging in frames. When she took a closer look, she discovered they were Ray’s and Wes’s senior pictures. She touched the edge of one wooden frame. She wished she’d known them longer, but it wouldn’t have mattered to her dad even if she had. Pushing away the darker thoughts, she moved back to the dresser and lifted the lid from the plate. On it, Max had placed a row of crackers, apple slices, and a small plastic tub of peanut butter. She picked up a cracker and nibbled, making sure her stomach wasn’t going to revolt again, and turned to look at the room. On the bed were a pair of white ballet flats, a white and silver striped bag from a lingerie chain, and a bouquet of pink-tipped white roses tied with a pink bow. She finished one cracker and drank some tea, sweetened with honey the way she liked, and then she sat down on the bed with the tray and ate. Sunrise was at 7:31. They wanted to start the ceremony right at sunrise, so she didn’t have a whole lot of time to mess around. She smiled, thinking about Wes and Ray taking turns in the basement bathroom and getting ready.
After finishing her light breakfast, she showered and then used a hair dryer that someone had left on the counter for her. She thought that it was most likely Ray and Wes together who had made sure she had everything she’d need, from her makeup bag sitting on the counter to her favorite shampoo and body wash on the edge of the tub.
She pulled out a tissue paper wrapped package from inside the silver bag. She smiled as she pulled the tissue paper apart and found a white satin convertible bra and bikini panties. Checking the sizes, she was not surprised to find that they were exactly what she currently wore. Dressing in the sleek garments, she marveled at her mates’ thoughtfulness. After e
xtracting her gown from the bag hanging in the closet and putting it on, she tucked her feet into the ballet slippers and went to the bathroom to put on makeup.
She didn’t wear a lot of makeup as a general rule, but this was a special day so she used mascara and a bit of lip gloss. Her cheeks were flushed enough that she didn’t need blush. Going back into the bedroom, she looked at herself in the mirror over the dresser. She pulled her long, golden hair over one shoulder, smoothing the tresses with suddenly trembling hands. This was it. She was going to stand up in front of her mates’ family and friends and exchange vows, and then later on they would mark her. The ceremony might be something they made up, something her father could say was meaningless to him, but the marks were forever, and the baby she was carrying was proof that her life was her own now. She hadn’t chosen her mates eight weeks ago, but she was darn sure choosing them now. She’d had a taste of life with them over the last few days, and she knew she’d never want anything – or anyone – else.
A soft knock at the door brought her out of her musings and Max said, “Scarlett, we’re ready when you are.”
She picked up the bouquet and opened the door. Max, standing there in a navy blue suit, smiled. “Oh, honey, you look so lovely. My sons are very lucky.”
“Thank you. You’re not so bad yourself.”
He pretended to dust something from his lapels. “What, this old thing?”
She giggled and took his offered arm.
“Our friends are here, and the boys are waiting. They’re so nervous, Wes won’t stop pacing.”
“Thank you for everything,” she said as he stopped at the end of the hallway and leaned his head around the corner for a moment. The soft strains of classical music filled the air and he looked down at her.
“You’re my daughter now, Scarlett. I’m happy and proud of that honor, and I’m glad you’re part of our family.”
Her eyes stung with tears and she blinked them away as they walked through the kitchen and turned right, stopping at the threshold to the living room. Candles had been placed on every flat surface in the room. The only unlit ones were on a small table in front of the window. Her mates stood in front of the picture window, and Miles, Dana, and Tom stood on their right.
She felt like she was floating as she walked with Max toward her mates. They looked amazing in matching black suits. Their shirts were plain white, and their ties were bright blue, the same shade as her recent eye color change. She released Max’s arm and stepped between her mates. The small table holding their candles was in front of them. Ray and Wes kissed her cheeks, and Wes took the flowers from her and handed them to Dana.
The music was turned down and Ray glanced at his watch. She caught the dial, noting the time was right at sunrise. Ray lifted a lighter from the table and flicked it, the flame erupting quickly. He touched the flame to one of the blue taper candles and then turned to face her, taking her hand.
“I, Ray Miles Fiero, do hereby vow myself to my mate, Scarlett Rebecca Jamison. I swear on my life that I will keep you safe and that I will do everything in my power to make you happy. I was only half a male before you came into my life. I never want to go through those dark days again. My heart is yours forever, Scarlett.”
She blinked at the tears that threatened. She didn’t want to start sobbing because the ceremony was so sweet. Wes picked up the lighter and lit a second taper. He faced her, his eyes glistening with tears as he lifted her hand and kissed the top. “I, Wesley Maximus Fiero, vow myself to my mate, Scarlett Rebecca Jamison.” He paused, taking a deep breath before continuing. “I swear on all that I am that I will be here for you for whatever comes – storms or sunshine, rainbows or clouds. The greatest moment of my life was when you said you were mine. My heart is yours forever, Scarlett.”
She’d spent the previous day thinking about her vows. They’d decided to only say a few sentences to each other, not to make a big huge production of their love. The people in the room with them knew they loved each other. This was just a ceremony to cement their mating – a promise to keep each other safe and love each other forever.
She squeezed both their hands and sniffled, smiling at her mates. Then she let go, lit her taper candle and took their hands once more. “I, Scarlett Rebecca Jamison, vow myself to my mates, Wesley and Ray, for the span of our lives. I swear to be the best mate to you both, to love and honor you both in all that I do. I don’t know where I’d be if you hadn’t come for me. I owe you everything, and I give you my heart forever.”
She could barely see through the tears that filled her eyes, but she knew that Ray and Wes were smiling at her. As they’d planned, they each lifted their candle from its holder and touched the flames to the larger candle. When it lit, they blew out their own candles and set them down. It symbolized leaving behind their old lives and joining together as one.
Ray lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles. Then he slid a ring on her finger and met her gaze with a smile. Wes lifted her right hand and did the same. They both said, “Marry us, Scarlett.”
“Of course I’ll marry you,” she said, then hooked her arms around both of their necks and kissed first Wes and then Ray.
“Then you’ll be ours in every way,” Wes whispered in her ear, “and we’ll be yours.”
They turned as the witnesses began to clap and cheer and Scarlett brushed the tears from her cheeks before twining her hands with her mates’ once more. Their dad was first to greet them, and then their uncle, followed by the Charmings. Everyone went to the kitchen except the three of them, and she found herself held tightly between them. “I wish we were able to be married now,” Wes said, “but I’m so glad that you’re almost officially ours.”
“Almost?” she asked, smiling as she looked up at him.
Ray’s fingers ghosted over the side of her neck and she shivered. “Almost.”
Wes chuckled and kissed the tip of her nose. “You look so beautiful, love.”
“I agree,” Ray said, kissing where he’d brushed her neck. “I think we have the most beautiful mate in the world.”
She kissed her mates and then they walked into the kitchen together to eat their mating ceremony meal. It was different from any wolfy traditional meal she’d ever known, and she smiled as she sat down between her mates and looked over the feast. There was a bowl piled high with bacon, a potato casserole, a frittata, and a platter of french toast with little bowls of fixings.
“What sounds good?” Wes asked.
“Everything,” she said. The light breakfast she’d had before the ceremony had been enough to tide her over, but the scents in front of her made her stomach rumble.
He set two slices of french toast on her plate, a wedge of frittata, and a scoop of potatoes. She topped the french toast with strawberries, a sweet glaze, and chopped pecans, and then snagged three pieces of bacon. While everyone ate, the Charmings shared their memories of Ray and Wes as youngsters, and Miles and Max added plenty of funny stories about them, too. Scarlett felt right at home at the big family table, and she couldn’t wait to go to Ashland to live at the boarding house with the pride. She’d been jealous of Melody having an instant home and a big family thanks to her mates and the pride, but there wasn’t a need for jealousy anymore. She had everything she needed with her two mates.
When the meal was over, she thanked Dana for all her help and said goodbye to her and her husband. Ray and Wes hurried her out of the kitchen and down to the basement, locking the door before they descended the stairs. Ray picked her up in his arms at the bottom of the stairs and carried her toward the wood-burning stove. Wes followed, turning off the overhead light. She smiled at him over Ray’s shoulder.
“You guys look really handsome in your suits,” she said as Ray put her down on a thick rug in front of the fireplace.
“We wanted to look our best for you today,” Wes said.
Her heart sped up. “You guys always look wonderful to me.” She laughed. “That sounded a lot cornier than I meant it to.”
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Ray rubbed his palms up and down her arms. “Sweetheart, nothing that happened this morning is as important to us as your happiness. We want to mark you, but it’s been an early morning and if you want to rest for a while, we can do that.”
She blinked up at him in surprise. “Really? You think after all that we did this morning that I’d be happy just going to sleep? No, I want you to mark me. I want us to be official, not just almost-official.”
Ray grinned. “Whatever you want, Scarlett.”
“Just you guys, that’s all I need.”
Wes placed electric candles around the perimeter of the wood-burning stove. The soft glow of them lit up the area where they stood, and she grabbed Ray’s suit jacket and pulled him down for a kiss.
He growled softly, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her against him. Wes pressed against her back, his hands sliding up her sides and curving around to cup her breasts. Ray kissed her eagerly as Wes nuzzled her neck, his teeth grazing her skin and making her toes curl.
She felt the zipper loosen on the back of the dress and wasn’t sure who was pulling it down and who was stroking her flesh as each inch was bared as the dress slipped to the floor. Ray cupped her cheeks, nibbling on her lower lip as he ended the kiss. Wes helped her step from the dress and he disappeared for a brief moment then returned to their three-way embrace.
She pushed Ray’s jacket from his shoulders and he shrugged out of it, tossing it behind him. She loosened his tie but he stilled her hands, pulling the tie over his head before he began to unbutton his shirt. Wes undid her strapless bra as Ray began to strip, watching her. Her nipples hardened immediately when Wes tossed the bra aside.
He cupped her breasts and kissed her neck. “I loved knowing you were wearing what we picked out under your pretty dress. I couldn’t stop fantasizing about getting you undressed.”
She tilted her head back to look at him, meeting his mouth as her hands gripped his slacks and tugged. “Get naked,” she whispered against his mouth. Her stomach flipped at the thought of making love to them. She didn’t know how their time would go, but she knew they would take care of her.