Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9

S onya studied her reflection in the mirror above her dresser. She’d never imagined her wedding day, but if she had, this would not have been it. Her groom was a man she barely knew.

Worse, she’d met him only twenty-four hours ago.

Double worse, she hadn’t even kissed him. Wait, was meeting him yesterday worse or better than not having kissed him?

Her mind was going every which way. She buried her face in her hands.

A quiet knock sounded on the door, and then it opened. A tall, muscular woman with flaming red hair stepped inside. From the corner of her right eyebrow, a scar cut diagonally across her face to the top of her lip. Instead of marring her beauty, the injury enhanced it, made her look fierce. “I’m Nora,” she said.

“I recognize your voice from the phone call.”

The woman smiled. “That’s good. Then you know I’m not an impostor.”

Sonya laughed, but then somehow burst into tears. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

Nora rushed to her side and enveloped her in a hard hug. “Oh, honey. There’s nothing wrong with you. You’re in emotional overload. Anyone marrying someone they’ve just met would feel the same.”

“Not only that. I haven’t even kissed him yet.” Why had she shared that stupid fact? The tall woman burst into laughter. The vibrations shook Sonya through the hug. She lingered in the embrace’s warmth a little longer, then freed herself. Reaching for a tissue, she asked, “Why are you here?”

Nora shrugged. “Figured you could use a lawyer in case the Sunbeam pack caused trouble. And if not, maybe you’d need a matron of honor.”

Sonya nodded. “I do. I need that.”

“Lawyer or matron?”

“My brother is walking me down the aisle, but nobody’s standing up with me during the ceremony.”

“Well, consider the position filled. No need to interview any other candidates.” Nora saluted with two fingers.

Sonya understood the woman was trying to cheer her up, and it had worked. She felt better. Or at least she didn’t feel like crying anymore. “Do you live in the pack house in San Francisco?” She’d always wanted to visit the Golden Gate City. Be careful what you wish for. She ordered the voice in her mind to shut up.

“Kind of,” Nora said. “Ulf and I split our time between the pack house in Marin and his clan’s fortress in Washington State.” Ulf had to be her Viking husband.

“I have so many questions, but they’re all jumbled in my mind,” Sonya said.

Nora nodded. “There will be plenty of time for questions later.” She gestured at Sonya’s body. “How about right now we concentrate on getting you dressed so you can say your vows and then finally kiss your new husband?”

Sonya looked down at the robe she was wearing and then back at Nora. “That’s a great idea.”

The other woman had already started flipping through the outfits hanging in Sonya’s closet. “What’s your fanciest dress?”

“I only have casual clothes.” Tears welled in Sonya’s eyes again, and she sniffled.

Nora turned around. “None of that,” she ordered. “Only tears of joy at weddings. And there’s no need to worry. I come prepared.” She opened the bedroom door and retrieved a garment bag. “It would have been rude to offer it if you already had a dress picked out.” She smiled and unzipped the bag to reveal a honey-gold silk gown. “It matches your eyes and the highlights in your hair.”

Sonya stared at the beautiful creation. It was everything she hadn’t known she wanted to wear at her wedding. Glossy fabric covered the nipped bodice and flared in a full skirt from the hips. Long sleeves of gauzy chiffon ended in loops made to slip over her middle fingers. “I’m too short to wear this.”

“Nonsense, you’re perfect. The skirt might be a tad long, but that’s why we have safety pins.” Nora pushed her toward the en suite bathroom. “Wash your face, and then bring me your makeup. By the time I’m through with you, the Sunbeam pack will rue the day they let gorgeous Sonya slip through their fingers.”

Bay pulled at the collar that was choking him.

He’d found a full suit, complete with dress shirt and shoes, in his motel room. A text from Nora had explained where it came from,

Nora

In this, you’ll rival Justice on his best day.

He looked good, or at least he looked like a proper groom. But the outfit restricted his breathing, and not just around his neck. The waistcoat could moonlight as a fucking vise.

He looked out at the people sitting in front of him. The faces were familiar only because he’d seen these same people in exactly this location that morning during the pack meeting. Instead of the folding table, a white metal arch covered in spruce and gold ribbons now stood on the dais. Someone had gone through a lot of trouble to create a holiday wedding atmosphere.

Bay was standing in front of the arch, next to the male elder who’d interpreted Nora’s legal forms that morning. He would conduct the ceremony. The man smiled encouragingly at Bay. “Brides are always late.”

As long as she actually showed up, Bay didn’t mind how long Sonya took to prepare. Until she arrived, he kept himself entertained by returning Dale’s hateful stare. The alpha had claimed a front-row seat, his girlfriend sitting beside him. At least she sported a friendly smile.

Someone stepped up behind Bay and grabbed his elbow. Startled, he turned around and then had to crane his neck to talk with the man who’d snuck up on him.

“I brought a ring,” Ulf said, looming over Bay.

Fuck, he’d forgotten all about a ring. But that was a human tradition. Was it also a shifter tradition? He’d never been to a shifter wedding. “Do shifters exchange rings when they mate?” Bay asked.

Ulf stared at him for several beats. “Do I look like a fucking shifter?”

“You’re married to one,” Bay said. “Did you give Nora a ring when you married her?”

The Viking lifted his face to the ceiling and sighed loudly. “First of all, my sj?lsfr?nde and I are handfasted, not married.”

“Whatever. Did you give her?—”

Ulf put a finger on Bay’s lips, shutting off his words. “Second, my true love, the keeper of my heart, my queen, is first a warrior, and second shifter.” He paused. “Perhaps I should have said that first. When I said ‘first of all.’ I don’t think I should have listed her person second.“

Bay jerked his head to the side, away from Ulf’s annoying finger. “I won’t tell if you don’t.” Between the confusing number of firsts and seconds, he wouldn’t be able to explain to Nora what her Viking meant, anyway. “The point is, did you give her a ring when you said your vows?”

The Viking nodded. “Of course.”

“So it’s part of the handfasting tradition?”

The blond hulk shrugged. “Maybe.”

Bay wanted to shake him, but he’d need more than one person to move this mountain of a man, and the elder didn’t look like he’d be much help. He counted to ten and then asked in a calm and measured voice, “How did you know to give her a ring?”

“She wanted one.” Ulf winked and flashed a big grin. The fucker had been messing with him from the start.

“Give me that.” Bay snatched the box from the Viking’s hand. Ulf’s left eyebrow rose. “Thank you,” Bay muttered.

A burst of music sounded from the speakers, and the so-called guests rose and turned toward the door in the back of the room. Nora walked down the aisle, tall and regal as usual. She wore a long green dress that matched her eyes. When she saw Ulf, she smiled big.

“ Min vackra ?lskling ,” the Viking whispered. Bay didn’t have time to ponder what that meant, because, behind Nora, a vision appeared.

Sonya had spun gold into a dress that showed off her sexy curves, yet came across as demure. A blush made her cheeks glow as she walked, holding Karim’s elbow. The little dude wore a mini version of Bay’s suit. A big grin adorned his face as he strutted toward the dais.

When they arrived in front of the arch, Karim placed Sonya’s hand in Bay’s. The familiar sizzle charged up Bay’s arm as his skin touched hers. “If you hurt her, I will kill you,” Karim told him. The smile had left the kid’s face, and his ebony eyes were bottomless pools of seriousness.

“Noted,” Bay said. His wolf rumbled quietly. A yip sounded in response, and Karim’s beast peeked out momentarily through the kid’s eyes. Sonya’s little brother raised his chin and stepped up to stand next to Ulf.

“Good speech,” the Viking told him, earning a dimple-flashing smile.

“Who are you?” Karim asked.

Ulf pointed at Nora. “I’m with her.”

“She’s pretty,” Karim said.

“She’s taken,” the Viking grumbled. Karim just smiled back.

The elder started talking, but Bay couldn’t follow the ceremony because his vision had narrowed to include only Sonya. The elder read some sort of statement, and then there were words Bay had to repeat, and then words that Sonya repeated.

Ulf nudged him at one point and whispered, “Ring.” So Bay retrieved the black velvet box from his waistcoat pocket and placed a diamond band that miraculously was the correct size on Sonya’s finger. The number of glittering gems on the band told Bay he’d have to make a big dent in his savings to pay the Viking back, but the glint of appreciation in Sonya’s eyes made it all worth it. Plus, wolves lived for a long time and Bay had done well on the stock market during his decades as a shifter.

Then the elder said some more words, and the Viking nudged him again. This time, he didn’t whisper. Instead, he pursed his lips and made a weird sound. Finally, Bay understood he was mimicking kissing.

He lowered his head until he was a breath away from Sonya’s lips. She gazed up at him, her pupils dilated. “Are you all right?” he whispered against her luscious mouth. It took all the strength he had not to devour her lips.

“Kiss me already,” she said, and leaned forward to do just that.

Her lips against his were the best thing he’d ever tasted. They were firm and warm, and he couldn’t get enough of them.

When her tongue darted into his mouth, Bay groaned and pulled her tight against his chest. He wanted more. Needed more.

Someone tapped his shoulder.

“Go away,” he growled, and continued to devour Sonya’s mouth.

“Dude, save some for the wedding night,” Ulf whispered in his ear.

Bay froze, remembering where he was. He slowly straightened up, making sure he supported Sonya until she was standing on her own. “I got carried away. I’m sorry,” he whispered against her mouth.

“Don’t be.” She nipped his lower lip with sharp teeth. “That was one hell of a first kiss.” His bride grinned.

His mate.

Our mate , his wolf rumbled.