Chapter 52

“No fucking way,” Ellie said.

I looked at Geoffrey. “Does she seem angry?”

“No, miss. It looks like she’s been crying. Frankly, it’s the most subdued I’ve seen her.”

“Iz—”

Looking back at my sister, I shrugged. “You know what he can do, El. If she wants to talk, I’ll give her one more chance. Don’t worry, I’m not going to let her stay.”

She looked unsure, but I followed Geoffrey out of the suite. “I put her in one of the sitting rooms so she was out of the way while the guests arrive.”

“Thank you, Geoffrey.”

He opened the door, and sure enough, Angela stood there. In a t-shirt and jeans, she definitely wasn’t planning on coming to the wedding, which was a point in her favor. “Angela.”

“Hi.” She shifted her weight from foot to foot, clearly nervous. “I know I shouldn’t be here, but I didn’t have your phone number, and I wasn’t going to ask Beau for it, so I needed to try.”

“Try what?”

“To apologize. I’ve been a royal cunt to you, and it was because of all the things Beau said about you. Guess we were both taken in by versions of him that weren’t real.”

I was pretty sure my eyebrows had gone to visit heaven the way they were hiding in my hairline. Those were the last words I ever expected out of her mouth. “Oh. Wow.”

She laughed once without humor. “Yeah. I’m not going to make you listen to what he said about you. There’s no point, and it’s clearly not true. I owe you an extra apology for the bachelorette. I was very very drunk, but it doesn’t excuse the things I said. I was… god, I was so angry because he made me believe you had ruined his life and I was the one who had saved him from you. I really am sorry.”

Before I could say anything, she continued. “And I’m not here for you to accept it. I don’t deserve that. But I wanted you to hear the apology.”

“I appreciate it. Really, I do.” It wasn’t easy to admit when you’d been wrong, especially when you went so far in one direction. If anything, I was impressed she was doing this. “We all do things for love, or what we think is love. You’re not the first, and I’m not either. But I’m glad you have a clearer view of who he really is.”

“Me too.” The devious nature of her smile told me she wasn’t done with Beau, and I didn’t even want to imagine what she had planned for him. “Um, the jewelry. I didn’t know. Would you like it back?”

“No.” Even if I did, it was so steeped with all of this, I doubted I could even look at it. “When I left, I made sure I took everything I couldn’t live without.”

“Okay. I’ll probably donate it somewhere then. I don’t feel like I can keep it either…” she trailed off, lost in her own thoughts before she snapped back. “I appreciate you hearing me out. I know we’re not friends, and I don’t think we will be.”

We both smiled, but I said. “Friends is probably a stretch.”

“I’ll settle for you not completely hating me.”

“Done.” I held out my hand for her to shake. “If only because most people wouldn’t have been brave enough to come back.”

Angela shook my hand. “Thank you. I hope the wedding goes well.”

And then she left without another word.

I nearly crashed into Rowan’s chest when I exited, stumbling when I see him standing there in a tuxedo. Holy. Shit.

The suits from my parents’ anniversary party were one thing. Tuxedos? Whole new ball game. “Are all of you wearing those?”

“Yes.” He chuckled. “Like what you see?”

I spread my hands over his chest and felt his heat beneath the clothes. “Almost as much as I like what’s underneath.” Then I paused. “How did you know I was in here?”

“Ellie sent up the alarm and said you might need backup. But considering you look absolutely perfect, I think you held your own.” The heat in his eyes made me wish we had more time before the wedding, and in our bond I felt every word he didn’t have to say aloud about how I looked.

Up in the suite one of the stylists did my hair in big waves before pulling it back and up into something elaborate, and I was in the dress she’d chosen—a purple rich enough not to wash me out.

“Thank you. I’ll tell you about Angela later.”

“Later, the five of us are going to be peeling this dress off you slowly and worshipping every inch of skin as it appears. So if you can tell us while we’re doing that, feel free, little flower.”

Arousal welled up in me, perfume filling the corner of the hallway. “You can’t use your words against me like that. Not at my sister’s wedding.”

“Oh, but we absolutely can.”

“Rowan.”

He guided my body against his. “I’m not going to ruin your perfection… yet. But know this. Every single member of your pack loves you and loves the idea of you being wet for us when it’s the least appropriate. So tell me if you want me to stop, otherwise…”

Otherwise, every hole you have is getting used, Omega. We’re going to wring pleasure out of you until you can’t take it anymore. His words from the heat echo in my head.

“Otherwise what?”

“Otherwise,” he leaned down and whispered, “I will use my words against you so you’re fucking dripping for us while walking down the aisle.”

I should have told him to stop. I should have told him I couldn’t risk a wet spot on the back of my dress when I sat down. I should have done a lot of things, and I did none of them.

The other bonds in my chest turned toward us with interest, feeling what Rowan was doing and how it was making me feel.

“When we get home I’m putting you on your knees in the living room,” he whispered. “Right over Hawk’s face, where he can push this skirt up past your hips and drink all that nectar you’ve been saving for us. Cade will tie your hands behind your back so you can’t move them, and one by one, we’ll take turns licking that needy clit of yours. Long enough for you to get warmed up, nice and slow, the way your body needs it. Maybe we’ll make you suck your own taste off our tongues.”

I moaned, unable to move, knowing it was working exactly the way he wanted it to.

“And finally, when we’ve eaten enough of your pussy to tide us over until our next meal. Then? That’s when the fun begins.”

My whole body shuddered, reacting to his words, growing wet, awareness shrinking down to him and the others in my chest. “You’re evil.”

“Not evil, little flower. Obsessed. Obsessed, in love, and eager. Now get back upstairs. Everything’s about to start.”

Rowan kissed me lightly so he didn’t ruin my lipstick, smirking when I tried to make it deeper and he didn’t let me. Bastard. He would pay for it later.

More likely I would be the one paying for it later. Deliciously. And now that we could all feel each other, they knew exactly how much I wanted to be the one to pay.

Ellie looked up when I came in, looking over my appearance like she expected me to have scratches from a catfight. “Everything’s fine. She’s gone.”

“Just gone?”

“Yup. She wanted to apologize.”

She looked as stunned as I’d felt. “Okay then.”

The wedding planner came in. “It’s time, ladies.”

Our bouquets were made of roses, dahlias, and orange blossoms. Or, as Ocean had designed them, eternal love and commitment. They were beautiful.

Ellie and I were the last ones in the room. Her eyes shimmered with tears. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah. Promise. I’m just excited,” she whispered. “It’s finally here, you know? I can’t wait to marry him.”

I did know. More than she knew. “Let’s go.”

I helped her down the stairs to the foyer where everyone was waiting. Music already played, and the first pair headed outside to the aisle.

Seeing Hawk in a tuxedo had just as much impact as Rowan. “You are going to kill me.”

“So dress in a tux whenever I need you to say yes to something? Noted, baby girl.”

I rolled my eyes and straightened his jacket, noting the matching rose he wore. I loved that it was from my bouquet.

Just before we started walking, I looked back at Ellie and Dad. He hugged her gently, whispering something that made her nod. But their eyes were both filled with emotion. I had a feeling no one in our family was getting out of this with dry eyes.

“You okay to do this without rehearsing?” I teased.

“I think I can manage walking in a straight line,” Hawk laughed softly.

My hand rested in the crook of his arm. “I don’t know. Straight lines can be dangerous.”

“Not nearly as dangerous as curves. Your curves specifically.”

I had to stifle my laughter as we stepped into view of the guests. What he said was clever, and I was so glad to be walking with him.

The moment they saw me, I felt it. The awe, reverence, and intense desire. Rowan’s words weren’t the only thing making my body react. “It still doesn’t feel real.”

“What doesn’t?”

“All of you. Us. Together.”

“Better be real,” he whispered. “If we’re dreaming, let’s not wake up.”

We were almost at the altar. “Deal.”

Hawk took my hand in his and kissed the back of it before we split to stand on either side of the officiant. I saw my guys, all staring at me, and all of them looked so fucking good in their tuxedos. I needed pictures. Lots and lots of pictures.

The music changed, and everyone turned to look. Ellie came down the aisle on Dad’s arm, smiling so wide it had to hurt. She nearly walked too quickly in order to get to Warren, who wiped his eyes when he saw her.

I was right. All of us were teary, and there was no way to avoid it. Tears streamed down Dad’s face as he gave Ellie away, which triggered my own happy tears.

The ceremony was simple and beautiful. They exchanged rings, vows, and a million secret smiles before they were pronounced man and wife to cheering and applause.

Hawk and I followed them out to the music, along with the rest of the bridal party, and I hugged Ellie. “You did it.”

“I can’t believe it.”

“You’d better,” I said. “After all this.”

Ellie laughed. “Fair point. Let’s get all the pictures done so we can party. And I want your whole pack in the family pictures, Iz. Not just Hawk.”

“Really?”

“Wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Hawk hugged me close. “I guess we do need some pictures that aren’t naughty too.”

“You’re insatiable.”

“Janet’s already on board with the group photoshoot, baby girl. It’s happening.”

I blushed, but said nothing, because I wanted the pictures. To feel that beautiful with all five of them in one room. “Let’s start with the wedding photos and go from there.”

Hawk kissed my hand again. “You already know, Isolde. We’ll start anything with you.”