Page 3 of Bullied Pregnant Mate (Silver Meadows Wolves #7)

A brief but deep silence falls. There is almost a sense of momentum to it, as if I’m plunging into a deep well, my old life and everything I knew swiftly receding as the dark unknown rushes up to claim me.

I’ll need a little time to get used to this, but I don’t mind meeting the groom tonight. I wonder how soon the wedding will be? Where will we have it? What kind of dress should I choose?

I can’t help smiling as these new thoughts begin to swirl through my head. It’s distracting me from my inner pain just like I hoped it would.

This could even be fun! Finally, I can forget about Jenks.

Lucy’s phone buzzes on the table. She picks it up, reading the text with a smile. “The boys are almost here,” she says. “They want to get everything set up for tomorrow so we won’t waste any time.”

“Tomorrow?” I echo, my voice a tiny squeak.

“Oh, yeah. Sorry, Alisa,” Amanda says. “We actually discussed this before you arrived. The match we’re making tonight has to happen tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” I repeat, dumbstruck. At the moment, I’m not capable of any other words.

“Do you want to back out?” Nell asks. “There’s still time.”

I shake my head slowly, my throat so tight, I can barely breathe. I sure as hell can’t speak. Even though anxiety is racing through my veins so powerfully I’m practically trembling, I still want to do this. My feelings haven’t changed one bit.

“Wait… did you say they are on their way?” I croak, forcing the words out.

“Yeah,” Amanda answers. “Bae was out choosing the groom, and he said he’d text me when he was en route. I guess he found one.”

“ Right now?” I say, almost shrieking. Luckily, my mouth is still dry as a brick, and the sound comes out as a low whisper.

“Are you okay, Alisa?” Amanda asks. “Nell’s right. You can totally change your mind.”

I shake my head. There are so many thoughts racing through my brain, I can’t understand any of them, let alone speak.

This doesn’t change anything! I still need to find someone I can focus on so I forget about Jenks. Nothing has changed except the time frame.

“It was the tomorrow part that had me wavering,” Tara admits. “I just wasn’t sure. I’m glad it all worked out, because I didn’t want to rush into it.”

The other girls nod and murmur their agreement, clear relief in their expressions. It strengthens my resolve to see that I’ve saved them from making a hard decision, and when I hear the door swing open behind me, determination floods through my veins.

Let’s do this. I’m ready!

I swivel around in my seat to face the door, trying to bring a smile to my face. Bae walks in first, nodding hello to us with a wide, easy grin. Next comes Kyle.

The person behind him is still lost in the shadows outside.

I wonder who it is? Someone connected to Bae, probably. Aren’t all the top circle married already?

The light seems to shift as the next person moves into the doorway. I see dark, long hair. A slender, pale hand comes up to brush the unruly locks behind his ears.

I know that gesture…

No!

As he steps through the door, Jenks raises his head and sweeps his gaze around the room. His blue eyes are pale, deep, electric, like a summer sky lit with lightning. The delicate, angled features of his face leap out at me—sharp cheekbones, chiseled jaw, and surprisingly lush, curved lips.

The second he moves his hand away, the long, straight dark hair falls forward again. He lets it hang in his eyes for a second before brushing it back and frowning a little in frustration.

Why doesn’t he cut it? It’s been shoulder-length since high school, and he’s always shoving it out of his face!

Is that really important right now? Besides, I’ve always liked it long.

My fingers start to hurt, and I realize I’ve been gripping the back of the chair so tightly, my knuckles are white. I ease my grip, trying to keep my breathing slow and even.

It’s okay. He’s just here for Bae or something. He’s not the one… he can’t be the one—

Jack is the last person to walk through the door. There is no one else.

Fuck! It is Jenks. It’s really Jenks!

My blood seems to run cold, and time stops for me. I’m in a tiny bubble where everything is surreal and slowed down while the rest of the world gallops on, leaving me behind.

“Yes, of course,” Jenks says, very clearly. I realize I’ve been staring straight at him for a few minutes while the entire conversation has taken place above my head.

I turn around quickly, my cheeks flaming. Knowing Jenks is behind me is a horrible feeling. I feel better keeping him in sight, but staring at him definitely isn’t doing me any good.

“That’s great,” Amanda says, smiling.

I clasp my hands together and try to pretend I know exactly what they are talking about.

“So, we’ll meet there around eleven,” Bae says. “Thanks for getting this so well worked out, Amanda.”

“My pleasure,” she answers, smiling. “We want as many happy occasions as we can get!”

“Agreed,” Bae says, smiling back. “Jenks, do you have anything to say to your bride?”

I turn around slowly, raising my eyes to his. He doesn’t smile, and it’s a shame because his broad, almost manic smile is one of his best features. Without it, he looks like someone slowly dying in a Renaissance painting.

“No, nothing to add,” he says, his voice surprisingly even. “I’m pleased with how this all worked out.”

Does he even recognize me?

“Great,” Bailey affirms, looking relieved. “We’ll head out to your place now and let Carla know. She’s got food and decorations ready; we just weren’t sure of the venue yet. We often do these at Shelley’s.”

“No, I’m good having it at mine,” Jenks says firmly. “My place has always been the party spot since way back in high school. Besides, I want to have a celebration to… I mean, to—”

Jenks visibly struggles and looks down at the ground. My chest tightens, and I feel a sudden warmth in my heart despite myself.

What’s wrong with him? He looks so upset all of a sudden.

Jack claps Jenks on the shoulder comfortingly. “You want to make good memories, don’t you? That’s all any of us want.”

Jenks nods, still not speaking. I still have high anxiety about the situation, but I’m fiercely curious now as well.

I’ve never seen him display that much emotion before. Maybe he’s changed.

Don’t bet on it.

The boys leave, and I turn back to the table, feeling numb. The girls start talking about the ceremony and details like the dress, but I barely pay attention. A screaming panic deep in my bones begs me to run, but I can’t.

The wedding is organized. I’ve committed myself, and the other witches aren’t ready yet. I have to do this…

Beyond that, I’m intrigued by the softness I saw in Jenks’s eyes. I can’t remember a time he cared about anything. An intense curiosity is growing inside me that I have to satisfy.

The meeting wraps up, and I end up going to Lucy’s. Since we returned from the canyon, I’ve lived with my sister, but now I know I have to let go of my old life. By the time we pick up my stuff and get settled back at Lucy’s place, I’m so tired, I can barely keep my eyes open.

Once my head hits the pillow, though, I can’t sleep. I curl up into a ball, wrapping the blanket tightly around myself in a little cocoon. My heart pounds and my lungs ache.

I can’t do this! But I can’t back out, either! Fuck!

At some point, I fall into a light, restless sleep, but it doesn’t last long. The early morning light jolts me awake. I head straight to the shower, hoping it will wake me up properly.

Behind the sound of running water, I hear the other girls arriving. There’s lots of shouting and laughing as they greet each other. Like so many times in my life, I feel left out, and it’s even worse because this day is supposed to be about me.

My whole life, the coven is all I’ve known. This almost feels like being cast out.

“Hey, Alisa! You ready in there? We brought dresses!” Amanda shouts.

I turn off the water slowly and wrap a towel around myself. “Yeah, I’m ready.”

I’m not prepared for the door to burst open. Amanda and Lucy drag me into the living room, and my sister witches practically throw dresses at me as Lucy opens two huge boxes of donuts and forces all of us to eat at least three each.

“Got to keep those sugar levels up!” she laughs, shoving a strawberry-glazed cake ring at me. Since the combined hit of sugar and fat is exactly what I need right now, I take a huge bite.

“So, do you like any of these?” Tara asks me, rummaging through a huge suitcase.

“Not so far,” I mumble through the sugary treat.

“What about this one?” Tara says, reaching under the others. “It’s very ‘you,’ I think.”

She pulls the gown out and holds it up. I can’t hold back a gasp of surprise. She’s right—it is exactly my style. A closely fitted white gown of light fabric covered by an overlay of shimmering silver lace.

“Thank you, Tara,” I say, meaning it.

I didn’t think picking the right dress would make this any better, but it certainly has cheered me up.

The girls help me get the dress laced up, and Lucy braids my hair with silver ribbons while Amanda does my makeup. By the time we leave the house, I’m actually pretty excited. The high lasts right up until we stop in front of Jenks’s house.

The moment I see the place, my excitement flips straight into pure terror. The dress is too tight, the braids are giving me a headache, and the mascara feels smeared across my cheeks.

Maybe it was just a sugar rush, not genuine excitement.

“Come on!” Lucy says, practically dragging me out of the car. “Everyone’s waiting.”

That doesn’t make me feel any better.

We go through the huge sliding doors in the middle of the house into the massive sunken living area. From here, I can see the long, wide wooden deck out back. The area to the right towards the kitchen has a covered barbecue area, and the pool and jacuzzi are to the left.

The place looks almost exactly the same as it did in high school.

I didn’t go to many of Jenks’s parties because I couldn’t handle his constant teasing. But sometimes, I went just so I could watch him from afar.

Lucy and Amanda link their arms through mine, walking me through the living area and onto the deck.

I feel like I’m being dragged towards a firing squad.

When we come through the big sliding doors, my heart contracts in my chest so badly, I feel like I’m going to have a heart attack. The decorations are modest, and the crowd is small, but this is still a wedding. Now, it finally feels real to me.

The girls let go of me but keep walking until I’m in the aisle. They slip away to take their seats as I keep moving, feeling that strange sensation again, as if I’m in a bubble detached from the world.

At the end of the aisle, in front of a small podium, I see Carson, Bae, and…

Is that really Jenks?

His long, dark hair has been pulled back into a ponytail. The suit he’s wearing is charcoal-gray and tailored to fit his tall, slender frame. Jenks has never been a physical type, unlike Bae and the others. He always preferred to be painting, playing music, or pulling pranks.

Or planning parties.

The tight waist and flared shoulders of the jacket show off his muscular arms and enhance his height. For the first time, I realize he’s actually taller than Bae. He has a red flower in the lapel that contrasts against the charcoal, bringing out his shocking blue eyes and red mouth.

Oh, God. Oh, fuck.

I’m terrified, but now I’m also powerfully turned on. The pounding of my heart recedes a little as other parts of my body throb with radiant heat.

Keeping my head high, I walk with careful steps to the podium and gently take Jenks’s hands. A shock passes between us that’s so powerful, we both jump, but neither of us lets go.

As I look into his eyes, I don’t know what I expect to see. This is the bully who tortured me through high school. The guy who was so mean to me, I often fled to the girls’ bathroom to cry alone. He made me scared to raise my voice at all.

And the guy I couldn’t stop wanting, no matter how hard I tried.

In Jenks’s eyes, I don’t see any malice or mischief. All I see is sorrow, a pain so intense that it can’t be hidden, even though it’s obvious he is trying to bury it behind his irreverent humor the way he always has.

His fingers tighten on mine, and I squeeze back. In that moment, as I’m lost in his eyes, something passes between us, and my curiosity ignites again.

Something’s changed. This is not the same Jenks.

“You may kiss the bride!” Carson announces quite suddenly.

My heart does a flip, then pounds straight up into my throat. Black spots crowd my vision, and I sway a little on my high heels.

Jenks leans forward, so I do, too, turning my head so he can kiss my cheek. My body feels frozen. I cling to his hands in case I actually lose my balance and fall over.

To my surprise, Jenks lets go of my hands and reaches for my waist. Before I can react, he pulls me close and presses his lips to mine.

Trapped in his grip, I can’t react. All I can do is respond. My hands grab his shoulders as he tilts me back a little to kiss me even more deeply. His mouth is hot and insistent as he kneads my lips with his, making fire ignite within me.

When he pulls back, a little cry of disappointment rises in my throat, a plaintive sound. Jenks smiles, one of his sudden, sharp grins that always means mischief is at hand.

Warmth floods into my body as I begin to imagine what sort of mischief that might be.