Page 15

F aye

I walk toward my men, with the guard behind me slowly drifting back at the sight of Eli.

The guys stand in a circle talking, noticing that everyone who catches sight of me stops what they’re doing and stares.

Even the people around my men are behaving strangely, eyes downcast, shoulders slumped, and I realize it’s because of Eli’s presence.

Whether he likes it or not, the other wolves can’t help but respond to his nearness.

When I get closer, Cayson looks up and smiles, but then concern washes over his face, and I remember that I’d been crying. That my face is probably flushed. That my eyes are probably red.

Oh, shit.

“Faye!”

All the men turn to look for me, and their expressions instantly change. Concern, worry, and rage flit over their features within seconds. I internally prepare myself for the most protective men in the world, reminding myself that their emotions come from a place of love.

I stop in front of them and attempt a smile. “Hi.”

“What’s wrong?” Ezra asks, taking my hands in his, his eyes sharp and assessing.

“I will kill the person who hurt you,” Xander says, scanning through the room, as though my assailant might still be here.

Eli’s cool rush of power flows through the group, and some of the omegas nearby flinch at the feeling. Maverick simply raised a brow, as if waiting. Waiting for me to name his target.

It’s all… so sweet.

“I’m okay. I’m okay, I just got a little emotional when I was talking to Addilyn,” I say, laughing wetly, the tears rising up again at this show of affection and protectiveness.

Maverick steps forward, wrapping me in a hug. Then, one at a time, Xander, Cayson, and Ezra hug me too. Their touch instantly soothes something deep inside of me, making me feel loved and safe all at once.

“It’s good to have you with us,” Eli says, when it’s his turn to wrap me in his arms, his deep voice making a shiver roll down my spine. “You raise the emotional intelligence of the group.”

“Hey!” Cayson says, mock hurt. “Are you saying I’m emotionally stupid?”

“I didn’t realize it needed to be said,” Ezra deadpans.

Cayson punches his shoulder. “At least I can hold my liquor.”

Xander turns red. “I don’t drink much.” Then glances at Maverick. “Unlike some people.”

Maverick smirks. “Ezra invited us over for drinks. Sorry for drinking.”

“I didn’t mean get smashed drinking one hundred year old whiskey!” Ezra says, looking scandalized.

Maverick laughs, a big belly laugh.

“And then there’s the guy who drinks liquor like water,” Cayson says, looking at Eli.

Eli grins. “They say do what you love.”

I shake my head at all of them. “It sounds like you guys have been having some fun.”

Cayson shrugs, looking mildly embarrassed. “We’ve been bonding a bit over the past few days, while you’ve been healing. We were kind of going crazy just hovering over you all the time.”

I smile. “I’m glad you guys got a little time to focus on something other than me.”

“We were still focused on you,” Maverick says, winking at me.

I blush. Of course they were.

“We should start,” Xander says, gesturing to the people around and how their omegas are all dressed in various pieces of cloth vaguely resembling dresses.

The designer seems to materialize from thin air, a short, frank-looking beta with a hooked nose. “We should get started before you run out of time.”

Maverick and Eli help me up onto the little pedestal while Xander closes the curtains for our area.

I don’t fail to notice that the other ladies had their curtains open, which I know damn well is because my men are so overprotective, but I let it go.

Their eyes track me as I take off my dress, revealing the simple bra and shorts I’m wearing underneath.

“A dress,” I say after a moment, tone laced with amusement. “Remember?”

“Right.” Cayson coughs, then grabs a shining piece of material and holds it up to my bust. “I’m thinking a two-piece.”

“I like that,” Maverick says, grinning and grabbing some of the same cloth. A moment later, they’ve pinned it up on me—a halter top and a short little skirt that barely covers my ass.

“Wow,” I say, turning around, “not leaving a lot to the imagination, guys? You want me to give the entire Selection a show?”

I see the realization hit them, and it’s comical. Like they’d imagined me wearing this dress for them and only them.

“Definitely not,” Ezra growls. “Move over.”

“She needs more clothes,” Xander agrees.

And, I swear, the designer rolls his eyes behind them.

Ezra, Eli, and Xander start pulling out a plain black fabric, draping it over my body liberally.

I press my lips together, watching as they tug on it so it covers even my ankles.

When I lift a leg, pushing it through the opening of two panels, Eli shakes his head, pressing two fingers to my ankle and tucking my leg back inside.

“We should add a hood,” Xander says, grabbing another piece of fabric and covering my head with it. I burst out laughing when I catch myself in the reflection.

“I look like I monk,” I say, bringing my hands together and bowing to each of them. “I’m not really sure this will qualify as a dress.”

“Does it have to be a dress?” Ezra asks, eyes narrowing. “Perhaps we should ask about the rules again. Besides, you’re always cold. This will keep you warm.”

“I’d also like to eat my food.” I laugh, showing how weighty all the extra fabric is in my arms.

“We’ll feed you,” Xander offers, eyes bright.

“What about this?” Cayson says, starting to cut away the excess black fabric. Maverick joins in, trimming up the hem so it falls just above my knees, and following the designer’s advice to pinch the fabric so it pleats and gives me more wiggle room.

Cayson cuts away the sleeves, but leaves the neck high so my cleavage is completely covered.

“Acceptable,” Ezra says.

“Needs more,” Xander says, grabbing a sheer, sparkling fabric and wrapping it around the skirt of the dress.

“Oh, I like that,” Ezra says, helping them to pin it on. “Faye looks good in anything sparkly.”

“I think most people look good in sparkles,” I counter, but when I turn to the mirror, admiring the dress, I’m actually surprised at how good it looks on me.

I realize that, while I’m normally pretty tan, I’m paler from my time at The Selection, which makes the black even more appealing on me. Are these guys secretly good fashion designers? I think they might be.

“I like it,” Maverick says, nodding.

“Hello?” someone calls outside our curtained area.

“Come in,” Eli says.

A short man in a perfectly tailored green suit enters our area, and I instantly recognize him as one of the lead designers. He stops short, bows his head to Eli, then glances over at me, his eyes widening. I hope he’s pleasantly surprised.

“You’ve done an excellent job,” the designer says. “Are you sure none of you have any fashion training?”

“We’re sure,” Ezra deadpans.

“We just know what looks good on Faye,” Cayson says, his eyes shining in the lights as he gazes up at me.

In the moment, I feel the most pure, unadulterated shock of joy in the center of my chest. How can I possibly have five men who know me well enough to know what I’d look good in?

“Alright,” the man says, “go on and step down. We can get this off of you and put it together for dinner tonight. If you head to the other side of the ballroom, the men can help you select your jewelry, shoes, makeup, and hair to complete the ensemble.

I let the designers help me take off the outfit, as they make notes about what goes where. My men start to filter out, already arguing about which shoes will go best with the dress, but Eli hangs back.

“Faye,” he says, as the designer continues taking notes beside me. “Would it be possible for me to steal you for lunch today?”

My heart flutters at the idea of him having me for lunch, and I try to keep a blush from rushing over my face. He’s my mate, after all. These thoughts, I’m realizing, are normal. I should feel this way about a man I’ll be tied to for the rest of my life.

“Of course,” I say, nodding, my heart pounding as I look down at my feet.

Eli nods once, then turns and leaves, following the rest of my mates, while I smile. Life isn’t easy, but it’s pretty damn good.