32. Lexi

32

LEXI

W ith a pounding heart, I peer through the small opening in the stained-glass window that overlooks the sanctuary below. The church is packed. I'm not sure who invited all these people or even who they are, but it feels as if everyone in Indigo Hills has turned up for what the newspaper sitting on my dressing table has dubbed the "Cinderella Wedding." It's the biggest line of bullshit they could've chosen. I'm not a princess, no matter how many times they call me that, and no matter how much I want it to, I'm pretty sure this story has no happy ending for me.

Even if I'm dressed like a queen.

Slowly, I peel myself away from the sight of the crowd and return to the mirror, where I confront a stranger.

Three hours ago, Vincenzo's guards delivered me to this small second-floor room inside the same church where Anthony's funeral was held just days ago and locked me inside. A heavy garment bag was already here waiting for me when I arrived. Inside, I found a beautiful white dress that fit as perfectly as if it was made for my body.

Hell, maybe it was.

This town, and Vincenzo's role in it, thrives on appearances, so I'm not surprised he spared no expense on my wedding dress. Putting it on felt like tempting fate.

I still haven't spoken to Grey.

Just thinking about him makes my heart squeeze and my eyes prick. I have no idea what he's going to do today. Will he show up? Will he say the vows?

After the secret I kept, I can't blame him if he decides to walk away. Start over. Just like he did five years ago.

After what I've done, I can't expect him to love me. To save me.

Grey was never supposed to be my knight in shining armor anyway. He's the kind of man who puts you in danger before getting you out of it again. I have zero illusions about who and what he is, but that hasn't stopped my feelings for him. Somewhere along the way, I went and fell for the villain. The kind of man who sees someone hurting me and rips out his throat without hesitation. I don't know what kind of monster it makes me, but he's exactly the kind of man I want to marry.

I just hope he'll forgive everything I've done to get here.

Not just the agreement I made with Franco, but the one I made with his father.

I'm still not sure when the full change will hit me. But the venom's already healed my arm and heightened my senses—which only makes my fear worse.

I have no idea how long I sit like this, but eventually someone knocks.

I scramble back just as the door's unlocked and shoved open.

An armed guard peers down at me, frowning. "You have two minutes." I don't answer, and he starts to shut the door before opening it again and adding, "Might want to fix your makeup."

He shuts the door just as I lift my middle finger at him.

Two minutes.

The silence hits me then, and I find myself wishing Violet were here. Or Mia. Someone to say encouraging things that have nothing to do with wars and wolves. Make me feel like I'm just a girl about to walk down the aisle.

But like everything else in my life, I'll have to do this alone.

Careful not to step on my dress, I climb to my feet and walk into the tiny, attached bathroom. Sure enough, mascara has run onto my cheeks in thick, black lines. I wash my face and stare at my reflection, noting my red-rimmed eyes and flushed cheeks.

The door opens again.

"It's time," the guard snaps.

Hurrying, I reapply lip gloss and abandon the rest. It'll have to be enough.

He waves me out first and, with a fistful of my dress clutched in one hand and my bouquet in the other, I carefully descend the stairs. When I reach the bottom, I falter.

My insides twist as a sharp pain pierces all the way through to my bones. I've had other twinges since injecting myself, but not like this. Pure fire burns through me for a long moment.

I gasp, clutching my abdomen.

The guard comes up behind me and nudges me impatiently. "Get moving. The music's started."

Just as suddenly as it came, the pain vanishes, and I look up, my senses suddenly returning with a whoosh.

He's right.

The organ's playing the wedding march. Inside the sanctuary, everyone is already standing.

It's my cue.

Forcing myself to breathe deeply, I adjust my dress and smooth it with clammy palms before starting forward. A few short steps later, I emerge into the crowded sanctuary then stop again, overwhelmed by the weight of this moment. Every head turns to watch me. But their faces are a blur as I sweep my gaze past them and down the long aisle to the front.

The sight of Grey standing there in a dark suit threatens to bring me to my knees.

He's here.

At the altar.

His eyes find mine, and I stop breathing.

The organ pauses on the last note of its song then starts again, this time louder—with emphasis for the bride to get her ass in gear, no doubt.

I start walking.

With shaky hands, I grip my bouquet and try not to trip.

There are murmurs as I pass, comments I don't bother to tune into. Whatever they're saying, it's not for my ears. The only thing I care about is the man waiting for me at the altar.

So I keep my eyes locked on him and put one foot in front of the other.

When I finally reach the dais, he holds out a hand and I take it, stepping up until we're standing side by side. He turns to face me, and a thousand emotions rise inside me as my gaze fastens on his. The crowd disappears. Everything else falls away. There's only him.

His dark, depthless eyes that silently promise to protect me no matter what. The fullness of a mouth so readily capable of making me forget everything but his kiss. Arms that have held me, fought for me. Shoulders I've cried on. And his beautiful tattoos peeking out from beneath his cuffs.

My heightened senses drink him in like I'm seeing him for the first time.

Relief slams into me so hard, my throat constricts with the effort not to burst into tears.

"You look so beautiful," he says, his voice full of wonder.

I attempt a watery smile. "You do too."

His lips twitch. At the direction of the priest, he takes both my hands in his and holds tightly. His touch sends a shudder through me, like my senses are on overload.

Grey's eyes narrow in concern. "Are you okay?" he whispers.

"I'm not sure," I admit, wishing there'd been time to explain what I've done. The serum. My bargain with Vincenzo. He won't like it. But I made my decision, and there's no going back now.

"Everything's going to be okay," he murmurs. His lips quirk up in a secret smile that feels more reassuring than I could've expected. Like he knows something. Or has done something.

Like everything really will be okay.

"Your father—" I begin, darting a look at the faces in the front row. I glimpse only Mia and Razor before his next words call me back.

"Isn't a threat to us anymore," he whispers, eyes gleaming with confidence.

The priest clears his throat.

Grey ignores him, all his attention on me. Like we're the only ones in this crowded church. He lifts our joined hands and brushes a kiss over my knuckles. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you we're mates," he says quietly. "Can you forgive me?"

"Yes," I whisper. "Can you forgive me?"

"I know what happened, and there's nothing to forgive. Now, all I want is for you to know that this is real for me."

My heart swells. Hope turns to something more. Elation, exhilaration, love. "It's real for me too," I whisper back.

He grins, his entire face lighting up.

We turn to the priest, who watches us with raised brows. "Are we ready now?"

"We're ready," Grey and I say in unison.

He squeezes my hand as the priest begins to speak to the crowd.

I squeeze it back.

Maybe it's a Cinderella wedding after all.