Shadow of the Wolf

rested on her skin.

She’d accepted him whether she knew it or not. If she hadn’t, he could whisper those words for eternity and the shadow would never have shown itself.

His hands stroked down her sweaty back, tangling in her hair again and tugging her mouth to his. His taste mingled with hers, exploding on his tongue. “I’ve decided something.”

She panted on top of him, burying her face against the crook of his neck. “You can think?”

He grinned. “Oh yeah. Want to know my decision?”

“Mmm.” She kissed his shoulder, and his cock twitched.

Hell, she breathed, and his cock twitched, so that was no surprise. “I could really come to love morning people.”

Lana’s shoulders stiffened. He waited, continuing to stroke her back, wondering if this was the point where she’d back away from him, try to put some distance between them. “Could you?”

“I’m certain of it.” Hell, he’d already fallen. He just didn’t have the courage to tell her yet. She was strong, feisty, funny and the sexiest damn thing he’d ever seen. How could he not love her?

Her shoulders relaxed. “See? Mornings aren’t all that bad, are they?”

“They’re becoming my favorite time of the day.”

Her head lifted, and she squeaked. “Oh my God!” She leapt out of bed and stumbled, catching herself on the dresser. “Shower. Chris! It’s Saturday!”

He sat up, watching her pull a dresser drawer open frantically. “What time do you have to be at Kelly’s?”

“Nine a.m.”

“Hair and makeup?” His cousin Linda had been a frantic mess just before her wedding when one of her bridesmaids was late for the hair appointment. The maid of honor, his girlfriend at the time, had finally called him to track down the missing girl and drag her to the beauty shop. He still shuddered whenever he thought of his normally cool cousin flipping out with curlers in her hair and half her makeup on, screaming so loud she’d set off a car alarm. She’d looked like … what was the phrase?

Oh yeah. Bridezilla.

He was snapped back to the present by the frantic flapping of his mate. “Yes! Oh Lord. Where’s my dress?”

He got out of bed, trying not to laugh at the panic on her face, and went to the closet.

“Calm down, sweetheart. Go jump in the shower. I’ll have clothes laid out for you and your dress ready to go. You’ll just need to grab the right underwear.”

“Thanks!” She raced for the bathroom, pausing at the entrance. “Chris?”

“Hmm?” He smiled at her, wondering at the happy expression on her face.

“I could grow to love mornings too.” Before he could reply, she shut the door, leaving him standing in the bedroom with what he was certain was the stupidest grin ever to grace a man’s face.

She was his.

* * *

“Stop worrying, everything will be fine.” Kerry patted Kelly’s hand, their blonde heads close together. “You look beautiful, the bridesmaids look beautiful, and

I

look beautiful. What’s left to worry about?”

“That’s what you said five minutes ago.” Kelly started to bite at her nail, looked at her manicure, and dropped her hand. “Dennis is here, right?”

Kerry sighed. “Yes, Dennis is here. He even looks vaguely humanoid.”

Lana rolled her eyes and discreetly stepped on Kerry’s foot.

Kerry moved her foot with a strained smile. “Your flowers look great.”

The organ music started up behind the closed church doors. Kelly jumped, the panic back on her face. “Oh God. I’m going to throw up, I just know it.”

Lana grabbed Kelly’s face. This last minute hysteria was typical Kelly. “Look at me.

He loves you. You love him. You’ve dreamed about this day, and that man, your whole life. You’ve had a crush on him since grade school! So get your ass in there and get married.”

Kelly nodded, the fear fading from her face. “Right.” She took a deep breath and blew it out. “I can do this.”

The doors swung open, and Lana took her place in line. “Yes you can.” She threw Kelly a kiss and a wink. “Here we go!”

She started down the aisle, smiling at the man standing at the altar. Dennis looked ready to puke himself, his handsome face slightly green, his eyes glued to the doors of the vestry. Beside him his best man was fidgeting, totally ignoring Dennis and the bridal procession.

Lana looked to the left, seeking out Kelly’s mom, but before she could find her, she saw Chris. He was seated at the edge of the aisle, close enough to touch her. She walked past with a smile just for him. His expression was full of pride and a wistful longing that damn near brought tears to her eyes. She bit her lip, desperately holding them back. She took her place next to the altar, behind Kerry, and looked towards the doors.

The organ music changed to the wedding march, and Kelly stepped into the doorway on the arm of her father. Lana smiled at her friend. The traditional princess-style wedding dress was stunning on her. Lana looked out of the corner of her eye to see Dennis’s reaction.

Dennis, old stick in the mud Dennis, was smiling, tears in his eyes. He watched his bride walk down the aisle, so obviously in love the tears Lana had been trying to hold back slipped from her grasp. Visibly trembling, he took Kelly’s hand in his, mouthing the words I love you. They turned back to the priest, Kelly relaxing, her body leaning towards her future husband’s. Dennis bent his head towards his future wife protectively. Lana hoped Kerry finally understood what it was that drew Kelly and Dennis, two such opposites, together. The love between the couple was so strong she doubted anything could dim it.

Blinking the tears away, she looked over at Chris, only to find him watching her instead of the wedding. His expression held the same look she’d seen so often on Dennis’s face when he looked at Kelly. Protective, possessive, it was full of some indescribable sense of awe that left her feeling bubbly and vaguely lightheaded. The butterflies were back in force, but this time they were practically rioting in the pit of her stomach.

Lana reached up and fingered the small golden wolf’s head he’d slipped around her neck that morning. The delicate tingle of magic danced under her fingertips. She’d known it for a protection amulet the moment it had touched her skin. She’d been stunned to find out it was his own personal amulet, leaving him without some of his protections against Cole.

But she hadn’t argued with him. The look in his eyes had been stark. “You wear this.

We don’t think he has anything personal of yours, but he managed to get to you anyway.

If he tries again, I need to know you’re protected to the best of my ability, especially while we’re out in the open.” He’d stroked the wolf’s head, his expression fierce. “We’ll both keep you safe.”

She’d known he’d been talking about his wolf. The intensity he’d shown would have scared her if it had come from anyone other than Chris. She stroked his cheek, smiling when he nuzzled her. “We don’t have to go. I could call Kelly, tell her I’m at death’s door or something. Maybe it is too dangerous, even with all the precautions.” She’d been up late the night before, working with Grammy and a curiously helpful Zach to create some protection spells they’d be able to pepper around the wedding party, church and reception. She’d already dropped some of Annabelle’s sachets in the limo. The reception area was being seeded with some of the sachets and Lana’s “protection water” by Zach.

Chris, Daniel and Gareth had also done their part, creating amulets for everyone to either wear or carry on them. Grammy had also done something for Gareth and Chris, but by the time she’d started it, Lana had been so tired she’d been sent to bed, exhausted from all the spellcasting.

Chris had shaken his head. “No. Besides, the boys will pout if they don’t get to use the toys we came up with last night. We’ve done everything we can think of to make this outing safe. Enjoy it. It might be the last one for a while.”

She’d followed him out to his car, waving goodbye to the Beckett brothers already driving away. “You really think Cole will try something?”