Page 126 of Beneath the Blue Moon

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Just a few more hours until she’s mine. Well, legally anyway.

I watch her, surrounded by her friends, all of them whispering and laughing.

She turns my way, and our eyes meet. She smiles, mouths “I love you,” and turns

back to her friends. Can I possibly love her any more than I do now?

“You’ve been watching her like a hawk all night. She’s not

going to disappear, bro.”

I turn to Michael, accepting the beer he offers. He leans on

the wall next to me and surveys the room. It seems like all of Canid is here.

Casey really went all out for this “pre-wedding party.”

“Nervous?” he asks.

“No.”

“Really? You’re about to commit to one woman for the rest of

your life, and you’re not nervous?”

“Nope. She’s the only woman I need.”

“Whoa. This mate thing is serious. I hope it doesn’t happen

to me anytime soon.”

“And I hope it does. Then, you’ll know true happiness.”

I pick up Shae’s scent and look to the door to see her

entering with her parents. I know my dad handled the guest list, but I should

have approved it first. Damn; I hope she doesn’t cause trouble tonight. She

leaves her parents’ side and makes a beeline for me. For some reason, her smile

is oddly optimistic. Michael walks away, leaving me to deal with her alone.

“Hello, Ethan.”

“Hello.”

“How are you?”

“Amazing.”

Her smile falters, and she quickly puts it back in place. “Where’s

your bride-to-be?”

“Stay away from her. I don’t want you upsetting her.”

“I just want to offer my congratulations. It’s not like I’m

going to attack her in front of all these people.”

“Stay. Away. From her. Am I clear?”

“Crystal.”

“Good.”

I walk away and head for my future wife. She’s been away

from my side for far too long tonight. As I approach, her friends move aside,

clearing a path for me.

“I was wondering how long you’d be able to stay away.”

“Oh? How did I do?” I ask.

“Eh… okay.”

I pull her into my arms and Sandy groans behind me.

“You two are sickening.”

She grabs my hand, pulling me away. Casey giggles, wiggling

her fingers at me. Good-bye? What the hell?

“Go. Find your brothers or Charlie… somebody, anybody. This

is girls’ time,” Sandy continues.

“Now I see why you two are friends. So bossy.”

“Go.”

I leave reluctantly, following my nose to where my brothers

and friends have congregated.

“They ran you off, huh?” Brick chuckles.

“It seems I’ve been banished, Brick.”

“Good. You’re clinging like a little pussy,” Michael says.

Only he would dare say a thing like that to me; however, it

doesn’t stop the others from laughing. I reward them by giving them the finger.

As I take a pull of my beer, I glance in her direction and see her heading

upstairs with her bridesmaids—Sandy, Anna, Jan, and Carlene. Josh bumps my shoulder,

and I turn to see the Millers approaching.

“Ethan! Congratulations, son,” Mr. Miller says.

“Thank you. I’m glad you could make it.”

“Me, too. Shara here would have loved to have you as a

son-in-law, but what can you do?”

Mrs. Miller gives me a weak smile and nods in agreement.

“It’s okay, Ethan. We all understand how this works. I wish

you all the best.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Miller. I appreciate that.”

“Have you seen Shae?”

“I saw her earlier, but—”

A scream coming from upstairs cuts me off. What the fuck?

I drop my beer and take off toward the sound, eight men following closely.

“Casey!”

“Uncle Ethan, in here!”

Anna beckons me to the bedroom, and I skid to a halt when I find

that Casey has Shae pinned to the floor. I grab her by the waist and pick her

up, placing her behind me. Charlie moves forward, helping Shae up.

“What’s going on here?” I demand.

“That bitch! Ugh!”

Casey tries to move around me to get at Shae, and I block

her. Shae shrinks farther behind Charlie.

“Casey.”

She looks up at me, tears glistening in her eyes. Her bottom

lip trembles and I watch the fight leave her body.

“My dress… Look what she did to my dress.”

That’s when I see the bundle of white in the corner and the

scraps of satin and tulle scattered on the floor. A pair of scissors sits on

top of the bundle. Anger bubbles inside me as I turn to Shae; I’m all out of

patience where she’s concerned. Charlie steps aside and she cowers against the wall.

Her eyes are wild, darting around the room.

“Ethan—”

“Shut up! I warned you, didn’t I? I told you to stay away

from her.”

Charlie clears his throat behind me, and I realize he’s

reminding me there are humans in the room. I’ll deal with her later.

“Get her out of my sight.”

Casey is sitting on the bed, her head in her hands. Sandy is

next to her, trying to console her.

“Could you all give us a minute please?” I ask. Once we’re

alone, I kneel before her. “Sweetheart?”

She raises her head, and my heart constricts at the sight of

her tears.

“Between your mother and your ex, I just can’t catch a break.”

“We can fix this.”

“Can we? It’s just another sign, Ethan.”

“It’s just a dress. I’m sure Madelaine—”

She stands abruptly, walking away in anger.

“It’s not a dress. It’s the dress. I’m not

getting married unless it’s in that dress.”

“What are you saying?”

“The wedding is—”

“Stop.”

There is no way she’s calling off this wedding. I storm to

the top of the stairs and shout for Madelaine. Back in the room, I find Casey in

the corner, what’s left of her dress in her lap. Madelaine rushes in, quickly

assessing the situation. She crouches before Casey, removing the dress from her

hands.

“Don’t worry, sweetie,” she says. “I still have the one you

tried on in the store.”

She looks up at Madelaine hopefully, wiping at her tears. “You

do?”

“I’ll just make a phone call and have my seamstress bring it

here. We’ll work all night on the alterations if that’s what it takes.”

Madelaine walks out, tapping on the screen of her phone. I

sit next to Casey on the floor and pull her onto my lap. She wraps her arms

around my shoulders, burrowing her face into my neck.

“Nothing’s stopping this wedding, Casey. Got it?”

“I got it.”