“It’s Damon and Anna Victoria’s wedding,” she reminded him with a chuckle.
“So? What do you think they’ll be doing tonight?”
She slapped him playfully on the chest. “C’mon, J.D. said to meet her by the refreshment table.”
Special rope fences and markers had been set up to lead guests around the castle to the massive grounds in the back. There was a huge stone and marble patio where tables and chairs and the dance floor were set up, while three industrial-sized barbecue pits were placed on the lawn just below the patio, along with several tables laden with sides and desserts. The snow-capped Blackstone Mountains made for a spectacular backdrop for the whole affair, and Gabriel couldn’t help but think what a fitting place this was for his best friend to celebrate his wedding.
The bride and groom arrived shortly after them, and soon the guests were coming in. As Anna Victoria requested, she did not want any pomp or fuss around the reception, so she and Damon mingled amongst their guests as they pleased, then opened the dance floor when the sun was beginning to set and everyone had their fill of food, cake, and wine.
Gabriel danced with Temperance three times before he relented and released her to Damon. J.D. took the opportunity to partner with him.
“C’mon,” she said, tugging at his hand. “Before Anders finds me again and starts ragging on me about this dress.”
“Well, I wouldn’t blame him,” he said, glancing down at her outfit. J.D. looked … well, different. Okay, she was beautiful, but he only thought that because he’d never seen her in anything other than T-shirts, jeans, and overalls, and now she wore a green and blue strapless dress that showed off her curves. Her blonde hair was tamed into waves that hung loosely down her shoulders, and she was actually wearing makeup. “Weren’t you two good buddies in Vegas?”
“Ha! I only hung out with him because I wanted to keep Damon from killing him and so he would spend more money on the strippers,” she said. “I hope those girls bought themselves something nice with all the money he spent. And—” She frowned and her back stiffened.
“What’s wrong?”
She twisted him around so he faced outwards, away from the castle. “Your two o’clock. There’s someone in the shadows.”
Swinging his head around, he used his shifter vision to focus in the line of trees at the edge of the lawn. A large silhouette stood still between the shrubs, unmoving. His lion, however, was not alarmed. “Don’t worry,” he assured her. “I think I know who that is.”
“Who?” J.D. asked.
“Krieger,” he said.
Her nose wrinkled. “Who’s that?”
“An old friend of Damon’s.”
“Huh.” Spinning their positions around, she glanced behind him toward where Krieger was. “Then why is he hiding out there?”
He thought back to when he first saw the bear shifter. “Oh, that’s right, you never met him. He’s an old army buddy of Damon’s, and we all went through training together. He’s a good guy, he just doesn’t like being around people.” Gabriel guessed that the former master sergeant probably wanted to be here, but couldn’t bring himself to come forward. He couldn’t blame the guy. Though he didn’t know the entire story, apparently, he’d gone through an even rougher time than Damon.
“Maybe we should ask him to come out? We have lots of food.”
“Nah, we’ll just scare him off.” His brows furrowed. “It’s weird though, he never ventures farther than his patrol area, and that’s all the way up in Contessa Peak. I wonder—”
“Gabriel! Why the hell haven’t you been answering your phone?”
He abruptly stopped dancing as he felt a punch on his shoulder. Releasing J.D., he turned to see Ginny standing behind him, hands on her hips, cheeks puffing from exertion. “Gin? What are you doing here?”
“I’ve been trying to call you for hours. Why haven’t you been picking up?” his sister cried.
“I turned it off for the ceremony and forgot to turn it back on. What’s wrong?”
“What’s wrong? I—shit! I’m too late!” She pointed her chin back at the castle. “They’re here.”
“Who?” He followed Ginny’s gaze. “Oh, fuck.”
“What the hell is going on, Russel?” J.D. asked, hands splayed on her hips.
“Vicky’s here,” he groaned. “And she’s not alone.” No, she definitely was not. Gen and his other sister Gemma were with her, as well as William Woolworth, Vicky’s dad.
“That crazy harpy is here?” J.D.’s eyes glowed. The only person who hated Vicky more than Ginny was J.D., because the lioness always thought the mechanic had designs on Gabriel herself. Pushing her non-existent sleeves up, she gritted her teeth. “I’m going to knock her—”
“No, J.D.,” he sighed. “This is a family matter.” Now it was anyway, because Vicky had brought his two oldest sisters into the picture. “Please, can you just make sure nothing happens out here? I don’t want them to ruin Damon and Anna Victoria’s wedding.” That thought enraged him more than Vicky tattling on him to Gen, which he assumed was the reason they were all here crashing the reception. “I’ll get rid of them right away.”
“I—Fine,” J.D.’s eyes returned to normal. “But if she gets near me, Anna Victoria, or Damon, I’m going to claw her eyes out.” Pivoting on her heel, she marched toward the bar.
He stalked toward the doorway that led into the castle, Ginny hot on his heels. Vicky and her father were standing there, as well as his sisters, and Matthew Lennox who was looking cool and collected, though his body language was protective as he moved between them and the reception
