September Moon (35 page)

The wedding party was small. The entire event was cozy, consisting of less than a dozen guests. The Stony pack seemed to be shrinking.

When it came time to take Shaz’s arm and follow Jez and Bryce out the patio doors, a sense of panic struck. One foot in front of the other, I managed to clutch my pink and white rose bouquet and descend the patio steps without falling on my face.

Shaz held tightly to me as if he knew I was afraid of embarrassing myself. Staring straight ahead at Coby made me forget my clumsy fears. He stood in front of the archway with the minister, waiting anxiously for his bride.

As we parted, Shaz gave my hand a squeeze. We lingered for just a second longer and then let go. I took my place next to Jez and turned along with everyone else to watch Kylarai’s entrance.

The setting sun cast her in a pale orange glow. She walked alone, taking slow, even steps. Shaz had offered to give her away, but she had wanted to give herself to Coby. It was insanely romantic. The guests rose as she passed by. She joined Coby at the front and already her eyes shone with unshed tears. The energy jumped between them, creating a warm, loving atmosphere.

As the minister spoke, the rest of us looked on, each lost in our own thoughts. I could feel Shaz’s gaze upon me. Our eyes met and so many things stormed against the dam I’d built inside that I was sure it would come crumbling down.

This would never be us. We would never bind ourselves together this way, declaring til death do we part. Though my spirit was elated with joy for my friends, it mourned the loss of something I had never had to begin with.

My sorrow shone in Shaz’s eyes. It was an unspoken dream our wolves shared, to be mated always. The human within knew better though. In that moment, as we listened to our friends declare their undying love, we were forced to let go of a future that would never be ours.

My wolf didn’t understand. She whined and scratched at my insides, demanding I go to Shaz and nuzzle him, to show him that our love lasted even if our time together didn’t.

Breaking eye contact, I stared at my feet and willed myself not to cry. It was a ridiculous need brought on by the intensity of the moment. Maybe later I would mourn the picket fence life I never knew I wanted. Then again, maybe I never would.

Giving myself a mental shake, I concentrated on my two dear friends. Coby was as handsome as ever in his tux with his short, dark hair combed into place. His hazel eyes were all wolf. He was still new to our kind and easily overwhelmed. He held tight to Ky’s hand.

They seemed to be oblivious to the rest of us. So caught up in their eternal vows, they had eyes only for each other. Again I felt reassured that good things can come of evil. Perhaps it was the greatest trick the light ever pulled on the dark.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” the minister said, closing the Bible in his hands. “You may kiss the bride.”

Coby pulled Kylarai into his arms, kissing her with a tender display of emotion. She touched his cheek with the soft caress of a woman who had found her soul mate.

I did cry then. It was impossible to stop the tears that escaped me. Touching a hand to my face, I was relieved to find them clear and pure. Blood tears at a wedding wouldn’t go over well.

The guests applauded and cheered. A few whistled. Jez leaned in close and whispered, “I’ve never been so jealous in my life.”

I nodded, choked up and unable to speak. She pulled a tissue from her cleavage and passed it to me, turning my tears into laughter.

It didn’t take long for a dozen werewolves to go from serious ceremony to reception party. The guests took their turn lining up to congratulate the bride and groom before hitting the open bar where they helped themselves to drinks.

Kylarai had decided a buffet style was easiest. She was right. The caterers had set everything up and then left.

Speakers placed at varying points around the yard pumped out a lengthy playlist of tunes. Though she’d wanted a live band, it hadn’t worked out due to the short time frame she had to plan.

I lingered near the table that passed as the bar. With a glass of whiskey in hand, I watched my best friend’s face beam. She moved about the yard, making small talk with the same wolves who had demanded I be removed as their leader.

“Are you feeling sorry for yourself?” Jez sidled up with a raspberry vodka cooler in hand. “Because that shit isn’t allowed at weddings.”

My lips twitched as I hid a smile. “Me? No. Of course not.”

“Good. I’d hate to have to slap it out of you.”

The sun had set. Darkness stole into the backyard, broken up by a few strategically placed yard lights. People would start to shift soon. What would a werewolf wedding be without wolves?

“Do you want this, Jez?” I asked, watching Shaz across the yard speaking with Coby. “The whole happily ever after thing.”

She took a long swig from the cooler before answering. “I didn’t think so. I doubt I’m really marriage material. But yeah, I’d like the whole happily ever after. Who wouldn’t?”

“You’re not marriage material?” I laughed. “Well, that makes two of us then.”

“Do you think you’re robbing Shaz of this kind of life?” She followed my gaze to where he stood smiling and joking with Coby.

“No. I don’t think it. I know it.” In a very unladylike move, I slammed back the rest of my drink and promptly went for a refill. What the hell? It was a wedding after all.

Jez studied me, curiosity in her emerald stare. “I think you’re wrong. Shaz knows what he’s doing. Don’t be so quick to take the blame for things that are out of your control.” When I didn’t respond right away, she nudged me with an elbow. “Come on, let’s go dance.”

A handful of people had claimed a free part of the yard as a dance space. They danced as couples and singles, spilling alcohol on the dying grass while their laughter echoed in the treetops.

I turned back to Jez. “I don’t think I’m drunk enough for that yet.”

“Well then bottoms up, lady.”

She bumped my drink hard enough with hers to cause whiskey to splash over the side and hit my foot. I squealed and laughed, scolding her for almost spilling on my lovely dress. We were joking around, having a good laugh, which I desperately needed, when I felt that honey sweet energy wrap around me.

I spun around to find Kale standing at the edge of the yard.

Those gorgeous brown and blue eyes lingered on me as he drank in my appearance. Dressed in a black suit, he wore his leather duster and held a small gift-wrapped box in one hand.

I took an extra-large sip of booze before I crossed the lawn to where he stood. “I didn’t expect you to come. But I’m glad you did.”

“I’m not staying long. I just wanted to tell Kylarai how happy I am for her.” Kale’s gaze fell upon the cross lying against my chest. Boldly, he reached to touch it, touching my skin in the process, sending a slight shiver through me. “You wear it?”

“Sometimes. It means a lot to me.” I covered his hand with mine and peered into him. “You mean a lot to me.”

I wasn’t sure why I said it. Perhaps it was the romance of the atmosphere. Perhaps it just had to be said.

I felt Arys before he stepped out of the house onto the patio. Immediately Kale and I each took a step back. Kale mumbled something and swept past me to find Kylarai. I touched the cross, feeling robbed of a special moment.

Arys wore a suit with no tie, his bedroom messy hair the same as always. I loved it though. It made me long to run my hands through his untamed tresses.

“Who invited Sinclair?” He sneered as he approached.

I swirled the whiskey in my glass and frowned. “Who do you think? Kylarai did. Got a problem with that?”

“Should I?”

“You’re kidding right? We are not doing this tonight.”

Arys shrugged and pulled me close. “Sorry. The first thing I saw when I came outside was you in this knockout dress and him drooling all over you. What can I say? I have a jealous streak when it comes to him.”

“I’ve noticed. And he was not drooling.”

Arys silenced me with a kiss. It was a dramatic display, purely for Kale’s benefit I was sure. I broke it off before it could cross the line into inappropriate for public display.

“How was the ceremony?” Arys surveyed the backyard, making note of those present.

“Beautiful. Heart wrenching. I may have been more than a little envious.” The liquor was breaking down my walls, encouraging me to speak candidly when otherwise I might have censored the depth of my emotions.

“I understand. It’s hard at first, to watch those with mortal lives live out their days in ways that you never will. But it goes two ways. You will experience things they will never know.”

I shot Arys a cynical look and scoffed. “Oh, please. You’ve actually been married. Don’t make it sound like you didn’t spend some of your vampire years playing human.”

“I married her because I was pining after you, long before you were even born. Remember that. It was always about you.” His expression was stone cold serious.

Taking my hand, he kissed the tips of my fingers. I sighed. His touch never failed to seduce me. The energy simmered between us, a low-level burn that held the promise of more.

“I think it may have been harder on Shaz,” I admitted. “I suspect he’s starting to accept that he won’t ever have that with me. Honestly, I don’t want to stand in the way of him having it with someone else.”

“Don’t you dare say that to him,” Arys warned, running a finger along the back of my hand. “You’ll crush him.”

Guilt and regret surfaced to swim in the waves of emotion crashing through me. “I kind of already did. I encouraged him to join the city pack.”

“Is that why he’s dancing with that old lady instead of you?”

I followed Arys’s gaze to find Shaz dancing with the oldest member of the Stony pack, a sixty-year-old grandmother who doted on her family and kept her wolf a well-hidden secret.

“That old lady would cut your head off with just her claws if she heard you say that,” I laughed. When I spied Kale and Kylarai talking privately together, I tugged on Arys’s arm. “Let’s go congratulate Coby.”

Making small talk with my former pack was one of the hardest parts of the night. I didn’t do small talk very well, finding it awkward and unnecessary. I didn’t for a minute buy their shows of feigned interest in my life any more than I expected them to think I cared about their day-to-day activities.

By the time I made it to Coby, I’d successfully managed to talk my way out of three different conversations and refill my drink three times. I would always respect these wolves. They’d been a huge part of my life for many years. But they weren’t family anymore.

Coby’s hug was extra special. It lasted longer than a standard polite embrace required, which warmed my heart because I knew that he had accepted me as family. It more than made up for the loss of the others. I wouldn’t trade Coby’s affection for all of theirs combined. A lot of wolves understandably despised the one who attacked them. Of all the people who might hate me, he was the one who deserved to most and yet didn’t.

“Congratulations,” I gushed. “Words can’t possibly express how thrilled I am for you both.”

Arys and Coby did the manly handshake thing while exchanging pleasantries. Then Coby flashed me a knowing grin, looked at Arys and said, “Do you mind if I dance with your girl?”

For a guy that hadn’t known me that long, he knew when I was uncomfortable. But with the whiskey burning its way through my veins, I handed my empty glass to Arys and let Coby lead me away.

“Oh dear,” I muttered as I tried to find the rhythm. Feeling a little drunk and very clumsy, I managed to keep up with him without tripping over his feet.

“Thank you, Alexa. For everything. And mostly, for not killing me.” He chuckled, and the sound was so cheerful I couldn’t help but laugh too.

“Don’t thank me. It was Kale who pulled me off you.” I nodded toward the tall, dark, and mysterious vampire engaged in discussion with Ky.

“I owe him a thank you, then.” Coby slowed our pace when the song changed to one with a slower beat. “I just wanted to take you aside and talk for a minute. We don’t really get the chance to do that much.”

“No, we don’t,” I agreed. “I’m glad you’re settling in here, in town with the rest of the pack.”

Coby glanced around at the rest of the guests. “They’ve been great, for the most part. They’re small town wolves though, and you’re not. I know you have a lot to deal with, and I want you to know that I’ve got your back. Always.”

“Coby, you’re too sweet. Really. But you have Kylarai, and soon you’ll both have someone else to take care of. I can’t risk having anything happen to you because of your association with me.”

The wolves were wasting no time pounding back the liquor. For a bunch of everyday types, they sure knew how to let loose when the situation allowed for it. A loud argument about sports was taking place near the patio while two ladies dancing nearby gyrated like the only thing missing was a pole.

“That’s exactly why I want to be involved. I can’t sit here in a small town pretending life is normal when fifteen minutes down the highway things are total bedlam in the city.”

I shook my head and stumbled in a dip in the grass. The whiskey sure did a number on my equilibrium. I was ready for another.

“Coby—”

“Alexa, listen to me. I will do anything it takes to keep my family safe. I trust that you can handle most things, but don’t hesitate to say the word if it becomes too much. You are my family too, and if you need anything, I’m here for you.”

Though I would never willingly put Coby or Kylarai in danger, I knew that this declaration meant a lot to him. He was an Alpha wolf now, even if his pack was small and isolated compared to the city wolves. It was natural and necessary for Coby to grow as a wolf. He needed to make this pledge, and I needed to accept it.

“You’re a good man, Coby. Don’t ever let this crazy world change that.”

As we danced he told me about his big honeymoon surprise for Kylarai. A trip to Hawaii followed by a visit to Italy that she didn’t yet know about. They were leaving in the morning.