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Warrick

The pack house is buzzing with activity as we all prepare for our Alpha’s wedding. It’s shining with polish and there isn’t a cobweb in sight. Shifting from side to side in front of the mirror, I make sure every part of my tux is in place, not a hair out of place, and a quick pit check ensures I don’t smell either. Snatching the boutonniere from the bar top, I pop the lid open and grab the delicate rose with baby's breath around it out. Hopefully, I do this shit right. I am just finishing pinning it on in the mirror when Silas walks in.

It’s his wedding day, and he is still in pajamas with his hair in disarray. Does he not realize how important today is?Shit, I’m not the one getting married today and I’m a mess. Granted, it’s for a completely different reason, but still.

He is staring at me with a look of confusion written across his face before he asks, “You good, man?”

I turn around to face him. “Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?”

His eyebrows are still pressed together as he looks me up and down, as if he is looking for some kind of physical sign of my lie. “I don’t know. You have been different the last few months.”

I walk over and clap him on the shoulder. “I’m good, man. Besides, today is all about you and your mate.” I look down at what he is wearing before looking up at him with a smirk playing across my face. “Speaking of, don’t you need to be getting dressed? I know we don’t normally do weddings, but I think it’s frowned upon to get married in pajamas.”

Silas chuckles before he walks to where Nellie hung his tux when she came in, like the tornado that she is. Whatever man claims her is going to have his work cut out for him. “Fine, fair enough. You know you can talk to me whenever, right?” Silas says, as he pulls the tux down from the bag.

“Yeah, man, I know. I just have a lot on my mind lately. But this isn’t about me. Let’s get you out there to that beautiful bride of yours,” I say, before straightening my tux and heading over to the wet bar.

Silas walks into the en suite bathroom to get himself ready as I pour myself two fingers of bourbon. I need something to knock these nerves down a couple of notches. After a few sips of my drink, I check the time and realize we have got to get going orwe will be late. Silas pops open the door to the bathroom as he works on his hair.

Leaning my head into the bathroom, I say, “Hey, it’s time. Let’s go.”

He gives himself one last look before flipping off the light and following me to the door. I swing it open as I give him a bright smile. “You ready for the future?”

He claps me on the shoulder, “More than ready,” before he walks out the door.

I grab my cell out of my pocket and shoot a message to Nova. I have one last thing to confirm before we head down. She quickly sends me a thumbs up message before I pocket my phone.

Everything is in motion, and the butterflies erupt in my stomach. The time is here and I don’t know if I should be excited, or nervous, or both. Fuck. I feel like a schoolgirl getting ready to talk to her first crush. Coughing, I hit my chest a few times with my fist. A failed attempt to dislodge these bubbling emotions. I’ve never felt this way in my life. Actually, I take that back, there was one other time. The first time I looked up in the stands to see Aspen wearing my jersey, cheering me on. I should have known then.

We walk down the double doors that lead to the outside. This is where we will part ways. Nova wanted the groomsmen to walk the bridesmaids down the aisle. Turning to Silas, I clasp both my hands around his shoulders and squeeze.

“You got this, man. I’m so proud of the man you have become, as well as the Alpha. I always knew you had it in you.”

His face lights up with shock.

“Don’t get mushy and shit. I’m just in my feelings, so don’t look too hard into that.” I dust off his jacket, ensuring he is ready before taking a step back. “Now, get on out there to your spot before the scary lady finds out that you aren’t there.”

He hits the door bar with his hip as he stares at me. With a point of his finger at me, he says, “Don’t think we won’t be talking about all that when this is over.”

“I’ll hold you to that, even though I know Nova is going to keep you pretty busy the next few days,” I say with a wink, right as the door closes shut behind him.

Pushing out a heavy breath, I turn around to get ready for the first part of my plan. Caelon and Xavior show up shortly after and I discuss with them the change of plans. See, the idea Nova had was that instead of Caelon walking Aspen down the aisle, it would be me. We didn’t announce it to keep it as a surprise. Both of them agree to the change with a few comments of “finally” and “about damn time”. We are chatting with each other when Caelon taps my shoulder and points behind me.

Turning around, I find Aspen walking with Nellie, Willow, and Hazel. My mouth drops open when she steps around them, giving me a full view of her dress. She is stunning in the muted green off-the-shoulder dress that hugs her breasts and stomach as it flairs down to the ground. My breath catches as the dress shifts, showing a slit going all the way to the top of her thigh. What I wouldn’t give to run my finger up that slit and find out exactly what is hiding underneath it. To run my fingers through her soft curls that are pinned over one shoulder with a sparkling earring hanging down from her exposed ear.

Several things are happening at once. My wolf is perking up as her scent moves closer to us. My dick is hardening as I think ofrunning my nose up the long column of her throat as I tighten my fist into the hair at the nape of her neck. The butterflies are in full flight as my brain tries to give us any sort of coherent thought before she comes closer to us.

Hazel nudges Aspen to bring her attention to me, staring at her. Her nostrils flare the moment our eyes lock and I know right then that she is just as affected by this as I am. Taking a tentative step towards her, I watch every single tic going off across her body. The tightening of her nipples inside the cups of her bra, the quick rise and fall of her chest, and the flaring of her nostrils.Seems someone else is having naughty thoughts.

Eating up the ground between us, I pause a breath away from her, waiting to see what she will do next. I couldn't care less about those around us. There is only one person in my world and she is standing in front of me. Leaning in, I run my fingers down the side of her forehead, brushing the hair out of my way as my eyes stay locked on hers. She tilts her head back as she leans into my embrace.

I suck in a breath as her scent wraps around me, mingling with mine, and creating the best scent I’ve ever experienced. I should have known they would complement each other.

“Warrick,” she says in a breathy whisper.

“I’ve waited months for this exact moment. The one where I got to see you dressed up like Belle in Beauty in the Beast. The moment where I could wrap my arms around you, proclaiming my love to you. 183 days, 5 hours, 34 minutes, and 13 seconds of waiting for this exact moment. Feeling anxious over how you would react and praying to our goddess that I wouldn’t lose the nerve to not only tell you, but to show you.” I lean in closer asshe gasps. Brushing my lips against her ear, I say, “I plan to show you in as many ways as it takes for you to believe me.”

Nellie coughs as we pull back from each other. “Listen, that is hot as shit, and I’m here for it, but we need to get down the aisle. Like we should already be down there.” She glares at everyone as we all move into position.