Page 27

chapter Twenty-six

Michaela

N ever in a million years would I think I’d be getting married again.

After things with Markis ended, I vowed that if I ever broke that fucking soul tie, I’d never mate with another man. Yet here I am, standing in front of my bathroom mirror in a thin white dress. The long sleeves flair out, covering my hands. The strapless dress shows off my shoulders and collar bone showcasing my vampire markings.

My make up is simple, just a little mascara and lip stain. I’ve braided my hair in a French braid down my back with a few curly tendrils on the side and framing my face.

“What the hell are you doing, girl?” I ask myself for the thousandth time. Is it really worth doing all this just to break your bond with Markis?

“Hell yeah,” I answer.

“You look beautiful.” I turn to my doorway to find my very pregnant best friend and little sister. Liz is wearing a yellow flowery dress with a shawl over her arms. Marley has on a burgundy knee length baby doll dress.

“You know,” Liz says, walking into the bathroom with me. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in white.”

“Trust me,” Marley adds. “You haven’t.”

“And you never will again,” I tell them both.

Liz laughs as she walks over to my side. She tugs at the arm of my dress, adjusting the way it lays off my shoulder.

“Are you nervous?” she asks.

I shake my head. “No. This is all for show. It isn’t real.”

“It could be.”

I laugh at the hopefulness in her tone. She’s just as bad as Marley. My friend was still hoping for one of those situations where best friends marry best friends. I hated disappointing her. This was not that. Enzo was not interested in me in the least.

“What are you going to do when the parasite tries to sleep with you again?”

“Hopefully she will drug me again, so I don’t know what’s happening.”

The conversation he had with his friend two days ago plays back in my mind. Those words hurt me. They reminded me of my many years of never being enough. The unwanted and unlovable child.

I quickly reminded myself that Enzo wasn’t mine and I shouldn’t care about what he says. It helped me to move on. But I won’t pretend as if I’m unaffected.

“So, what can I expect tonight?” I ask Liz, taking my mind off those words.

She sighs, leaning her back against the sink. “You’re lucky. You’ve already done the mating part, so you don’t have to worry about having to get dicked down with a bunch of wolves outside your tent listening.”

“Thank goodness for that,” Marley says walking into the bathroom and taking a seat on the side of the tub.

“Yeah, that’s not happening.”

“You also don’t have to worry about the blood gifts. That’s only for Alphas. Although now that I think about it, you might’ve liked them.” She bumps my shoulder with hers.

For as long as I’ve been with the pack, Liz has not mentioned or asked me about my feeding or blood. She seemed to stay away from that topic. I guess she’s finally warming up to it.

“Chayton told me you will state your vows. The pack will either accept or deny you. Because Enzo is a Beta and second in command, the pack has to accept this union.”

That will be the hard part. I’m still not sure they will agree to this.

“Once they’ve accepted you,” Liz goes on to say. “Enzo will present you with a special present. Something he has made by hand.” She clears her throat, letting me know the next thing out of her mouth she's uncomfortable with or thinks I will be uncomfortable with.

“The pack has requested that you two redo your mating marks. They, ummm… want to make sure everything was done right.”

What she really means is they want to make sure I’m not playing tricks on them and that their goddess actually blessed this union. But I don’t point that out to her.

“Wait,” Marley says, getting our attention. “They have to mark each other again? But Michaela—”

“It’s fine, Marley.” I cut her off before she can say anything.

I know she’s concerned about me transferring energy so soon after I’ve just done it. Plus, we’ve been hard pressed to find any deer around here lately. I haven’t fed since the mating bond. But it’s alright. I’ll go to Lexington soon and feed.

“Oh crap,” Liz says. I turn toward her. “I didn’t even think to ask if you guys had any traditions. What do vampire marriages look like?”

“Expensive,” Marley says rolling her eyes. “They’re elaborate celebrations that last weeks. The groom has to pay a dowry to the bride’s family. He also has to present the bride’s first meal after the vows are exchanged.”

Liz grimaces at the mention of the meal.

“We’re not doing any of my traditions,” I say.

“What about the passing of the blood?” Marley pouts. “I’ve always liked that tradition.”

“What’s that?”

I sigh before answering Liz. “It’s when they place a thin white silk strip of fabric around the joined hands of the groom and bride. One person from each family walks over to the couple and cuts their arms. The blood falls from the wounds down onto the white silk. Once the blood stains meet, the ceremony is complete. It symbolizes the joining of the families.”

“That sounds traumatic and beautiful,” Liz says with a scrunched brow.

“Yeah, well, it’s not happening.” I shake my head.

“Can I at least get him to pay me a dowry?”

Liz and I both turn to look at Marley before bursting out laughing.

“Go finish getting dressed,” I say to Marley. She stands up and runs her hands down the front of her dress before walking out of the bathroom.

“She is getting so grown,” Liz says. “I can’t believe she’s that little baby we used to take everywhere.”

“Tell me about it.”

Liz pushes up from the counter and steps behind me. She moves my hair over my shoulder, allowing the messy braid to hang down between my breasts.

“You look very pretty, bestie.”

I stare back at her through the mirror.

“Thank you.”

“Who knows?” she winks. “Maybe in a few months you might be walking around here with a belly like mine.”

She chuckles. But a tsunami of sadness and pain swirls inside me. I tamp it down, forcing the ache back behind that wall in my mind.

“Maybe,” I say with a smile.

Telling someone that you can’t have kids really brings down the mood, and this isn’t the time for that. Besides, I don’t want her to dim her excitement when she’s around me. And telling Liz that I can’t do the one thing I’ve always wanted to do would definitely bring her down.

“Chayton says it’s time,” she says, smiling back at me.

“Alright, let’s do this.”

Liz, Marley, and I make it to the section of the forest where the ceremony is. The entire pack is here. I think they all showed up to see if Enzo would really go through with it rather than out of support of me joining their pack.

The moment they notice my presence; the crowd grows silent. They divided the pack into two sides. Candles line a makeshift aisle. Standing at the front of the aisle is Enzo, an older gentleman, and Chayton.

Liz turns to face me, a smile plastered on her face.

“Are you ready?”

“As I’ll ever be.”

She wraps her arms around me, her belly pressed up against mine. A small nudge hits my stomach. Liz pulls back from her hug and smiles down at her baby bump.

“Did you feel that?” she beams.

I fight back tears. “Yes. She’s trying to say hello to auntie.”

“She?” she chuckles.

“Yes, she.”

“I think you are the only person who thinks I’m having a girl.”

I don’t explain to her I’m not guessing. She and Chayton want to be surprised, so I let her believe what she wants.

She turns back toward the crowd of wolves. Liz starts her trek down the aisle. The wolves of her pack lower their heads at her when she passes them. Marley steps up beside me. Her excited energy is buzzing through me.

“This is so exciting,” she grins. “Obviously, I wasn’t at the first wedding.”

I cut my eyes over to her.

“For all they know, this is my first and only marriage.” I push the words into her mind.

She shakes her head. “I still don’t know how you can do that.”

“You don’t need to know. Now, walk me down this aisle.”

She grabs my arm, wrapping hers around mine. We walk arm and arm down the aisle. The curious gazes that stare back at me don’t bother me. However, there is a set of green eyes glaring daggers at me. Nadia looks as if she wants to strangle me. I allow her to feel the way she does. Look, if I was watching the man that dicked me down the way Enzo does marry another woman, this would have quickly turned into a funeral.

I turn my attention back to the altar, keeping my head up as I make my way to Enzo. I notice he looks damn near sick to his stomach. That is, until his gaze lands on my outfit. This cotton dress does nothing to hide my body from these wolves.

When I stop in front of him, a growl slips from his mouth and his eyes are glowing with his wolf. Even if I thought for a second that it was adorable how much his wolf desires me, that comment two days ago quickly washed away the thought.

“Hopefully she will drug me again, so I don’t know what’s happening.”

The sting of those words causes me to flinch slightly. His eyes immediately stop glowing.

“What’s wrong?” he asks.

I swipe every emotion off my face and bury it deep behind that wall in my head.

“Nothing. Let’s get this over with.” I tell him.

He looks taken aback by that last comment. But, hey, he’s not the only one unhappy about this thing.

“Dark Woods pack,” the older gentleman starts. “Tonight, we present to you the union of Beta Enzo and the …vampire.”

“Michaela,” I say. The old man looks confused.

“Her name is Michaela,” Chayton tells the old guy.

“Oh,” the old man clears his throat. “The vampire Michaela.”

I roll my eyes at his need to use my species still.

“If any of you see fit to why these two should not form a mating bond, please speak now.”

I hold my breath, waiting for the uproar of members going against this. When nothing but silence follows, I turn to look at the crowd. True enough, they don’t look all that enthused about this union, but no one outright votes against it. Turning to Chayton and seeing the glare on his face, I understand why no one speaks out. They’d never go against their Alpha.

The old guy clears his throat once again. I place my attention back on him.

“If there is no objection, Alpha Chayton, do you accept this union on behalf of your pack?”

Chayton grins, looking from me to Enzo. “The Alpha approves.”

This time, Enzo is the one that flinches. I don’t ask him why, because it doesn’t matter.

“Enzo,” the older gentleman speaks again. “Do you have a gift to present to your bride?”

Even under the moonlight, I can tell Enzo’s tanned skin pales. He looks at Chayton, and they have one of those private conversations. I slip into his mind, using the back door so he won’t know I’m there.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Chayton growls.

“Look, this was last minute and don’t act like I’m happy about this. I forgot.”

“Enzo, this is a big part of the ceremony. If you don’t take this seriously, neither will the pack. You are the Beta—”

“I’m sorry,” I say out loud.

Chayton and Enzo turned to look at me.

“Enzo gave me the gift earlier, and I was supposed to bring it. I was so nervous about doing everything right, I forgot it.”

“I can go grab it,” Marley suggests. She knew there was no gift, but to sell our lie, she was willing to help.

Chayton shakes his head but smiles at me. “No, that’s alright. We all understand your nervousness. Not long ago our Luna was in your spot, and she was just as nervous.”

The pack laughs at my friend’s expense.

“Maybe later you can show us the gift he made you,” Chayton says this to Enzo.

Enzo nods his head.

“Well, if there is no gift to exchange, we can move on to the mating mark.”

This is the part I wasn’t interested in. I’ve given this man enough of my energy. He didn’t need anymore. However, here we are.

“Vampire, you can take the first bite,” the old man says. It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell this old fart my name one more time, but it’s not important.

Enzo unbuttons his black cotton shirt. He pulls the fabric off his shoulder, exposing my markings on his chest. The crowd around us mumbles. I can’t make out exactly what they’re saying. I just know that they’re talking.

“Vampire—"

“Michaela,” Chayton and Enzo say to the old man at the same time.

I stifle my laugh.

“Yes, Michaela. By the power invested in me as the elder of the Dark Woods pack, and by the permission of the Alpha, you may now claim your mate.”

Stepping forward, I stare into Enzo’s eyes. Trying to make sure he’s okay with this. The tension in his jaw tells me he isn’t. However, he dips his chin, letting me know to go ahead.

Placing my hands on his sides, I lean forward and sink my fangs into his chest. The crowd around us gasp. I don’t take any blood. Don’t think they’d like that at all. Plus, that’s a bit too intimate to do in front of these wolves. So, I quickly pull away from him, but not before running my tongue over the puncture marks. Not because he needs help healing, but because the taste of his blood is like a sweet treat now that we are mates. I lean back, running my tongue over my lips.

His eyes glow down at me for a second before clearing and turning back normal.

“Now,” the old guy says. “Beta Enzo, by the power invested in me as the elder of the Dark Woods pack, and by permission of the Alpha, you may now claim your mate.”

Once again grumbles go around the crowd. Enzo steps forward, pushing down the shoulder of my dress even further. He pulls my body into his. There is no hesitation in him. He sinks his teeth into my shoulder. I whimper at the bite. Unlike me, he takes a large pull of my blood. I can feel my energy seeping into him and leaving me. After one more big pull, he releases me.

I sway on my feet. The crowd gasps. Marley was there immediately to hold me up. Enzo’s eyes narrow.

“Are you okay, Michaela?” Chayton asks.

“Yes,” I slur. “I’ll be fine.”

I can feel Enzo in my head pressing against my wall. He’s trying to get to my secrets again. Even though my energy is low, the wall in my head will always remain strong. I easily shove him out of my mind.

“Great Goddess,” the old man says, not caring that I’m barely able to stand. “We present to you the union of Beta Enzo and the Vampire Michaela. We ask that you bless this union. We unite the pair and accept the vampire into our pack. You will face the pack and repeat your vows.”

This is the only part of the ceremony I knew about. We both turn to face the pack.

“I, Michaela Kiera Jones,” I say, using my presenting name. “Accept Enzo Keane as my mate and bind my spirit to his.”

Thankfully, this isn’t anything like a soul tie. These are just words that connect us.

“I, Enzo Keane, accept Michaela Jones as my mate and bind my spirit to hers.”

The moment the words are out of his mouth, the markings on my arm and chest glow. When I look over, I notice his markings glow too.

“Oh my goodness, the goddess does bless their union,” someone says and a bunch of chatter goes up. It seems everyone is shocked at this, even though Enzo and Chayton had already told them.

Once the glow from our marks subsides, cheers go up around us. The next thing I know, there is a full-blown party going on.