Chapter 19

Chapter

Nineteen

L ater in the afternoon, the two rigs filled with Renata's livestock arrived. She, Branson, and their friends went to help unload. While Piper and Simon helped Renata with the horses and oohed and ahhed over them, the rest of the wolf-shifters herded the sheep and goats into pastures that had been made ready for them.

"I think it's a good thing the carts didn't make it up to you. I'm not sure they would have fit," said Simon. "But back at Tanglewood we have a Meadowbrook Cart that ought to work, as well as a couple of others."

"Bran said we'd go shopping once we got things settled," said Renata.

"Very good. But if you're going to live at Oxford, you should bring them down and leave them with me. Suri, our head groom, would go nuts having a matched set of Cleveland Bays. She's always wanted to do combined driving," said Simon.

"That's what I was working toward. Bran said he saw it done once and thought it looked like fun."

Simon ran his hands over the backs of Romulus and Remus. "Beautiful animals. They'd certainly get the job done."

"This gray is gorgeous," said Piper. "Percheron and Arabian?"

Renata nodded. "He is the most fun to ride, once he figures out he can't intimidate you."

"I think at the very least these two bays should come south," said Simon. "They won't be properly appreciated up here. Ravenscar is one of the premier breeders of Cleveland Bays in the world."

Mariah, who was standing with them, shook her head at her mate. "He loves horses. They scare the shit out of me. But Micah told me to indulge him, as a good polo pony costs more than a Harley."

Bran laughed. "I want her to do what makes her happy, as long as part of that is being with me."

"My mother and I were saying that you guys are a new breed of alpha," said Mariah. "You've been raised in packs with a strong maternal influence. Don't get me wrong, I know your father and all the other alpha males are stronger and more courageous than most other alphas of their generation, but more honorable men have never been born. But they married their equals—women who chose them as well as got chosen."

"I agree," said Bran. "My father always says a good alpha is only as strong as his mate. He maintains that my mother, and the rest of them, chose their own destinies and chose to be happy."

Mariah nodded. "My mother and Skylar Grainger say the same thing."

Skylar Gautier, goddaughter of Skylar Grainger, joined them. "I heard from my friend at the Yard. The Darkness is on the move. It killed someone just south of here and then another in Leicester. I think it's storing up energy for the long flight back to New Orleans."

"Do you have any idea who the host is?" Bran asked.

"No. But trace evidence says Caucasian male, which doesn't really narrow it down."

"I think we ought to tell the others and make plans to head for the States."

Skylar nodded. "If it wants the Gautiers, it'll strike at Rivière Du Loup."

"Agreed. I wish we had more to go on than Caucasian male." Bran.

"It'll reveal itself soon enough. It needs to feed. Kat said it has a ravenous appetite," said Skylar.

Kat nodded as she joined them, her arm wrapped around Jed. "It takes a lot of energy to switch from one host to another. If it hasn't fed since it fled Simon's father, it's going to be looking for quick but effective kills. It can feed on strong, negative emotions—fear, anger and the like, but it really needs the lifeforce to replenish its strength." She shivered and Jed pulled her close, rumbling softly to her as he kissed the top of her head.

After the group had regathered, the paired couples put their arms around each other and headed up to the house. Branson smiled as Travis brought his sister into his embrace with Skylar. Abby slipped from the side of the house to join them.

"If I know my parents—and I do—there will most likely be a small celebration this evening during which Renata and I will take our vows. I hope you all will attend."

"I don't know that any of us packed appropriately for something like that," said Simon with a worried look.

"Jeans and a T-shirt will be fine," said Bran. "This is Ravenscar, not Tanglewood Castle."

"If Renata wants something special to wear, I think Mother has something in mind," said Abby, extending her hand to Renata.

Renata took the offered hand and followed Abby away from the group. She turned to look at Bran with most beautiful smiled he'd ever seen. "I have sisters," she said with a radiant smile.

"God help me," muttered Branson.

R enata followed Abby to a side entrance of the house. It led to what appeared to be stairs that were used by the staff.

"You haven't known my mother or me very long. If you don't like it or don't want to wear it, she'll be perfectly okay. I think she's secretly hoped all of her daughters would wear it and you are most definitely one of her daughters now."

Abby opened a set of large double doors, and they entered James and Shea's chambers at the other end of the hall from hers and Branson's. The rooms were at one end of the house, and it was quiet here. Renata assumed that the alpha and his lady's rooms were expansive, and she confirmed it when they walked into the suite.

"Abby, quit being so dramatic," said Ella with a smile.

"I think the pack was hoping that you two would exchange vows this evening. Is that all right with you?" asked Shea.

"Nothing would make us happier," said Renata.

"For my bonding ceremony with James," explained Shea, "my sister Catherine and I looked everywhere for something for me to wear. We scoured all of London, Paris, and Milan to find what I thought was the perfect dress. I wanted it to be timeless so that if I ever had daughters, they would have the option of wearing it. You are the first of my daughters to take a mate."

"But I'm not your daughter."

Shea smiled. "You are now. I couldn't save your mother, but I can be sure her daughter is safe and loved for the remainder of her life."

She opened the garment bag that hung on a hook on the wall and Renata gasped. The long A-line silhouette gown had a court train and was made of ivory lace over a nude silk sheath. The neckline had a deep scoop in the front as well as a deep, open back with wide-cut lace straps. It was finished with fabric-covered buttons.

"We're similar in size so it should fit well, and we have seamstresses here at the house if you're interested in trying it on."

"Interested? That's the most gorgeous thing I've ever seen," said Renata.

Shea had been right—the dress fit well and only required slight alterations.

"The tradition is for the bride to be barefoot until she comes out of seclusion and her mate presents her with new shoes," said Shea.

"Mother, you do know that Father made that up because he thought keeping a reluctant mate barefoot would increase the chances of her not running."

"He did?" said Shea, seeming to be genuinely shocked. "That rat! He did tell me once long ago that he thought we ought to get a gilded cage to hang in the main foyer for any future bride in our family to spend time in before she took her vows. I told him he'd never sire children if he tried pulling that crap."

"Which is why they have a small, gilded bird cage on a stand. Father had it made for her," said Ella.

"Your father has a rather warped sense of humor," said Shea. "Now, I'm having lunch sent up here, so you and Bran don't see each other again before the bonding ceremony. I invited the other girls to join us."

"Mum likes to gather all of us together and plot against Father and the boys. We've had some wicked fun doing all kinds of things to them."

Piper, Skylar, Kat, and Mariah joined them. Renata sat in the window seat, watching her friends and family enjoy themselves, telling stories and laughing together.

Abby sat down beside her. "I just wanted to check in and make sure you're doing okay. It's kind of been a big day for you."

"For all of you as well. Your brother brings home his fated mate who spent four years being stupid. And her father is the man that tortured your mother for over a year. Then you find out that the reluctant mate is also a sorceress… Good times," said Renata with a grin.

"Hmm. That's not how I see it. My big brother, who can be a real alphahole when he tries finally figured out how desolate his life would be without her, and his fated mate deigned to allow him back into her life. Turns out she's the kick-ass magick wielder we need to beat this big bad thing. As for DeMoncada, none of us gets to pick our parents. Your mother sure as hell didn't pick what happened to her. But you're here and are such an incredible she-wolf. That will give my mother a great deal of peace. She has agonized over what happened to your mother for years. Like it or not, you're stuck with us."

Early in the evening, after the sun had set and the moon began to rise, Renata and Branson took their vows under a bower of crepe myrtle symbolizing love eternal. As they pledged themselves to each other, a localized phenomenon occurred in the night sky that could only be seen off the shores of an ancient Roman signal station—shafts of colored lights danced across the sky.

W atching the brilliant display of color, the malevolent force waited. It was growing stronger and soon it would be able to strike back at all those who had tried to destroy it. This time there would be no escape.

C urious as to what the Darkness has planned for the Gautiers? Click here to read the finale in Touch of Destiny.

She's defied fate her entire life. He walked away from their destined bond. Can they reunite in time to stop the darkness determined to eradicate his pack?

Piper has always lived life on her own terms, refusing to let anyone dictate her path—not even destiny. A strong-willed she-wolf, she's known since childhood that her fated mate is Rémy Gautier, the son of the Alpha of New Orleans. But when he turned his back on her years ago, she vowed to forge ahead without him.

Rémy believed walking away from Piper was best for them both, but time has only intensified his longing. Now he's back, determined to claim her heart and unlock the secret that has kept the Wolf Meadow pack strong—the ancient lore of the dire wolves. Yet winning back her trust won't be easy, especially when old wounds run deep.

As the malevolent Darkness resurfaces, intent on annihilating Rémy's pack, they find themselves thrust together in a battle for survival. With the help of an elemental sorceress, Piper and Rémy must confront the evil threatening their world. But first, they must face the pain of their past and the undeniable passion that still burns between them.

Will they overcome their fractured history to fulfill their shared destiny, or will the Darkness tear them apart forever?

Touch of Destiny is the enthralling fifth installment in the Fated Legacy paranormal romance series. If you crave second-chance romances, resilient heroines, steadfast alphas, and a fight against ancient evil, you'll be captivated by Delta James's riveting tale.

W ant to know more about Branson's parents, James and Shea? Read:

CAPTURED AND CLAIMED

She never wanted to be a wolf. That won't keep her mate from claiming her.

Taken captive, held prisoner, and turned against her will by the leader of a rogue pack, Shannon Livingston was just about to be sold at auction. Then an alpha wolf decided she belonged to him.

The moment James Norris sets eyes on Shannon, bare and on display yet still fierce and proud, the former special-ops agent knows the beautiful spitfire is his mate. Disobedience quickly earns Shannon a sound spanking, and despite her fury at his bold dominance, her helpless arousal is undeniable as she is claimed hard and thoroughly with her well-punished bottom still burning.

But when another band of wolves attacks the auction before James has time to put his rescue plan into action, mistrust born of harsh experience leads Shannon to seize her chance to escape. When her mate tracks her down, will she remain defiant or surrender to her instincts at last?

T urn the page for a First Look into Touch of Destiny