33. Grey

33

GREY

T he vows are short and sweet, but I don't mind that. I say them with every ounce of conviction inside me. When the priest asks if there's anything I want to add, I look right into Lexi's eyes and tell her how I feel.

"You are my world, my first and last breath, the reason for my heartbeat, Lexi Ryall." She smirks at the use of her human last name. The one she insisted I call her because she refused to be lumped in with Franco. "I can't promise to be perfect, but I swear to honor and protect you with everything I am. And I promise to love you with every single cell of my body—wolf and man—for as long as I live."

Lexi's eyes glimmer with tears.

Then, I listen as Lexi repeats her vows to me, her voice wobbly with emotion.

"Is there anything you'd like to add?" the priest asks her.

She takes a deep breath. "Jericho Grey Diavolo, I didn't exactly see you coming—which you made sure of." Someone in the front row snickers. "And honestly, at first, I couldn't wait to get away from you. But even before we were friends, you protected me. Then you gave me roots. Somewhere and someone to belong to. I've never had that before. And now that I do, I don't plan to ever give it up. I love you."

When it's time for the rings to be exchanged, I slide a simple wedding band onto her finger alongside the diamond. My eyes catch on the twist-tie still tucked beneath her engagement ring. Then she holds a matching one up for me and, with a laugh, I let her wrap it around my ring finger.

We share a smile, and hers is so luminous, and proud, and full of love that it stops my heart.

The priest says something, but I'm too busy kissing Lexi to hear him. She makes a sound of surprise, but it's quickly drowned out by a voice that suddenly yells, "Wait! Stop! Alpha down!"

Fuck.

I'd been so caught up in Lexi's words and the wonder of knowing she meant them, I'd almost forgotten the plan.

Heart racing, I break the kiss, holding Lexi's arms firmly as Dutch comes running down the aisle. The guests are stunned, but my father's men are already closing in on him. They weren't permitted their guns inside the church, which is a relief. Otherwise, there's a good chance Dutch wouldn't have made it this far.

"Alpha down," Dutch repeats, his expression shocked.

My father stands up. "What the hell's going on?"

"It's Franco…" Dutch trails off, clearly winded. His face is flushed. He looks confused and more than a little disturbed.

On the other side of the aisle, Santiago pushes to his feet alongside Conrad and Toros.

"What about the alpha?" Santiago demands.

Dutch looks at the general with wide eyes and says, "He's dead."

The crowd offers a collective gasp.

I stare at Dutch, my eyes boring holes into my friend, willing him to finish it.

Before the crowd can drown him out, he points at Lexi. "The alpha's body is in her room. His throat's been torn out. I can't scent anyone inside that room but her." He pauses to catch his breath before adding, "She killed him." He points at Lexi as he declares, "By pack law, Lexi Giovanni is declared high alpha of the Mafia Wolf Pack."

The crowd is silent for a full weighted breath—and then they erupt into chaos.

I look over at Lexi, bracing myself for shock, or surprise, or even panic. Her eyes, a beautiful dark green, flash golden amber, narrowing to slits like a predator's. Then she blinks, and the change is gone.

Confusion roots me where I stand. Scanning her, I search for some sign that she's been bitten. But her skin remains unbroken.

The wolf inside her surges.

I feel it as certainly as I can feel my own.

My gaze catches on her arm. Two days ago, it was broken. Now, it moves with ease.

Healed.

There's only one thing that could've done that.

Horror spreads through me, inky black and heavier than any alpha power. Her gaze meets mine with the same alarm I feel.

In unison, we say to each other, "What have you done?"