If Not for You

RHIANNON

I run my fingers over the sheer red material of the dress I’ll be wearing this evening.

I’m surprisingly not nervous. Over the last week, I’ve grown closer to everyone. Isaac has been patient and kind as I’ve tried to adjust to this new world.

I’ve met all of the members of the pack, even if it was just a quick “hello,” and they’re all incredibly kind. They seem genuinely excited to have me here.

I’ve grown closer to Cel and Laren, too. We planned every detail of the party and ceremony together.

I wiggle, adjusting my strapless red bra into place. My dress is red even though this is basically my wedding day.

The Valentine’s Day theme made a big white dress feel out of place, especially since wolves don’t do that.

I found the dress while out shopping with Laren. I knew it was the one immediately. The red chiffon fabric is layered, giving it a flowy look. It is off-shoulder, which I hope drives Isaac wild.

The bodice is tight until it transitions to a loose, flowing, tea-length skirt.

I feel beautiful as I look at myself in the mirror. Cel styled my hair into loose waves and I let Laren apply whatever makeup she wanted to. She excitedly did a full glamour look with a smoky eye.

I’m surprised by how much I actually like it. I forgo panties, planning on torturing Isaac. This bet was a horrible idea.

Isaac has been so grumpy. I know that it’s partially due to Madelyn not finding any leads, but most of it is the bet.

It would be a lie to say that I have been unaffected by the bet—I’m not in the best mood either.

Having Isaac at my fingertips but being unable to touch him, or have him touch me, has been brutal.

Both Noah and Laren asked me if everything is all right between us. I couldn’t help but laugh. His bad mood didn’t go unnoticed by everyone.

I thought he was going to give in several times, but he’s as stubborn as he is horny, so he was able to push through it.

“Time to go.” Laren pulls me from my thoughts. It’s almost sunset as we walk down the trail toward the gazebo in the center of the compound.

Chairs have been spread out around it for everyone to watch from. A neighboring pack of three hundred has been invited.

Having over eight hundred people watching makes me shudder. I hope I don’t trip.

The gazebo is decorated with flowers and candles. Everything is glowing and beautiful. Each detail we’ve been planning came together perfectly. It looks like something out of a fairytale.

As I step onto the small path between rows of chairs, Isaac turns to face me. Suddenly, the hundreds of people surrounding us disappear.

There is no one here but him. With trembling knees, I walk toward him.

The look on his face makes my heart pound in my chest. He looks so happy, but there is emotion behind his eyes. There is a soft fondness in his features as he watches me walking toward him.

His dark hair is perfectly styled, as usual. He’s wearing all black but for a red pocket square. He looks so handsome it makes my heart flutter.

When I finally reach him, he takes my hands in his and mouths, “You look incredible.”

His father speaks. “Ladies and gentlemen, members of this pack and honored guests, we are gathered this evening to celebrate Luna Annie. We celebrate her bond to this pack and to her mate.”

He steps forward and takes one of my hands from Isaac.

“Do you vow to be loyal and true to your mate? To be his calming stillness when the world is chaotic, to love him and stand beside him?”

“I do.” My own voice surprises me; it’s clear and steady, with no signs of hesitation or nervousness.

“Will you lead this pack as the alpha’s beloved mate? Do you pledge your loyalty and service to this pack, to love and protect them?”

“I do.” I can’t help but smile.

He turns to Isaac. “Do you accept the responsibility of being her mate? Of loving, respecting, honoring, and protecting her?

“Do you vow to stand beside her, as her mate and the alpha, to lead this pack together?”

“I do,” he says, his voice confident and unwavering.

“Members of the pack, will you accept your luna, love and protect her, and allow her to do the same?”

There is a thundering chorus of cheers and applause.

As we practiced, I step forward to kiss him, but he surprises me by stepping back. His father hands him a small box and my heart stops.

The roar of the audience is now a distant buzzing. He is all I can focus on. I can vaguely hear his father dismissing everyone to the celebration.

He smiles and opens the box. A beautiful ring shines in the candlelight.

He slips the ring on my finger as a tear falls down my cheek.

“I love you, little mate,” he whispers as he pulls me into his arms.

I look down at the ring on my finger. The round diamond, set into a thin band lined with diamonds, sparkles on my finger.

“Do you like it?”

“It’s beautiful.”

“Exchanging rings isn’t a tradition we practice, but I want you to know that I’m willing to keep some of your traditions.

“I know that you’re giving up a lot to be here, to be my mate and the Luna of my pack.”

I smile up at him, his words swirling around in my head. While I appreciate his efforts, I don’t really feel that I’m giving up much.

My life before was very lonely. I spent most of my time wishing for things I couldn’t remember.

Since arriving here, I’ve felt loved and cared for, wanted and protected. Isaac has given me a huge family, a tight-knit community that I can fall back on for support while trying to find myself.

“Are you okay?” His voice draws me back.

“Yeah, sorry. I was just thinking about how happy I am to be here with you.”

He takes my lips in his, and heat moves through my body. If he doesn’t break the bet tonight, it looks like I’m losing this thing. I won’t last another night without him.

He breaks the kiss, leaving us panting. “We should go inside.”

I only nod, breathlessly.

The party is being held in a community center near the pack house. The glass walls on one side showcase views of the Red Rocks.

The room itself is plain but classy. The decorations are stunning. Tables are set in a circular formation around an open dance floor.

There are candles and flowers everywhere. Somehow, even surrounded by nearly a thousand people, everything feels romantic.

Isaac and I have a special table set up in front of a wall of red roses. I can’t help but stare at the room, taking in every gorgeous detail.

Everyone is standing behind their seats, waiting for us. As we reach our seats, Isaac addresses the crowd.

“Thank you all for being here, for showing your support for us. I am so grateful to all of you.

“I would like to thank my mother and sister specifically, for all of the hard work they put into planning this celebration,” he says as he turns to them.

“I may have been hesitant at first, but I’m glad we’re doing this. Finding my mate is a worthy cause for celebration.”

When he finishes, everyone claps loudly. As everyone is seated, several teenagers emerge from the service entrance. They are carrying trays of food.

I can’t help but laugh at the memory of how they came to be the staff for this event.

Laren wanted the celebration to be adults only. When several of the teenagers from both this pack and the guest pack found out, they brokered a deal for admittance.

They offered to serve the food, then remove the dishes after dinner if they could join the party afterward.

They walked away feeling pretty proud of themselves. Meanwhile, Laren sent me a devilish wink. She played them like violins!

A plate of the surf and turf selection Cel made is placed before me. Isaac’s food is in front of him, but he’s staring at me. His eyes burn into mine.

“The bet is over, tonight,” he grits through his teeth.

I smile at him innocently. “Are you giving in?”

I desperately want him to give in. I need to play this right—I want to be flirty and tease him, but not so much that he decides to continue with this horrible situation.

“Yes. I’m giving in, I’m done. You were right, I can’t take it anymore.”

I bite my lip to hide my excitement.

When everyone has been served, we begin to eat. The food is delicious, but I can hardly focus on it. The uncomfortable fluttering in my core is making it difficult to think about anything else.

I want to look at him, but I know it’s a bad idea. I can feel tension and desire rolling off of him. His movements are choppy like he’s angry.

One glance and I don’t know that I’ll be able to control myself.

Luckily, it seems that everyone is eager to dance and socialize, so dinner ends quickly. When the plates are cleared, music from the playlist we spent too much time making fills the room.

Everyone is standing around, socializing and eating from the dessert buffet. I was able to talk Isaac into sharing the first dance with me. I know that he wasn’t thrilled, but it didn’t take much to get him to agree.

I nod to Cel, signaling that she can start our song next.

“Ladies and gentlemen, Alpha Isaac and Luna Annie will now share their first dance as confirmed mates,” Clay’s voice rings out over the crowd.

Isaac leads me to the dance floor as George Harrison begins to sing “If Not for You.” I sway in his arms.

I feel like a child dancing on my toes, but even in my heels, he’s so tall. I lay my head against his chest and listen to his heartbeat.

“You look stunning tonight,” he whispers before stepping back slightly to spin me around.

“Thank you, so do you,” I smile up at him.

“I’ll never admit this to Laren, but this was a good idea. You look happy. The pack looks happy.”

My smile grows so big that my cheeks ache. “I am happy. I’m also definitely telling Laren what you said!”

He spins me then dips me, pressing a chaste kiss to my lips.

“You’re a pretty smooth dancer, Alpha,” I tease. Immediately, I can sense the shift in him. Calling him Alpha does something to him.

His body is tense and his eyes flicker. He’s looking at me with an intensity that chokes me.

“Are you teasing me on purpose, little mate?”

The song is winding down, so I decide to see how far I can push him. I know I’m only punishing myself—the more aroused he is, the more aroused I am.

I’m setting myself up for a night of frustration and longing. It will be worth it in the end.

I bite my lip and look up at him as innocently as I can. “What do you mean, Alpha?”

He groans. “You’re going to have to beg me to stop. I’m going to give you so many orgasms you won’t be able to move tomorrow without feeling me.”

I whimper, relieved that the song is over. We’re surrounded by couples now, but no one seems aware of the heat and tension that is crushing me.

He looks at me smugly; he thinks he’s won. I have to pull myself together. I have a bit of information that will obliterate him. I just need to use it.

“I bet your panties are soaked right now,” he whispers roughly, still smirking arrogantly.

Oh, baby, you just set it up perfectly. Too easy.

I step forward with a small, shy smile, pulling him toward me. When my lips graze his ear I whisper, “They would be if I were wearing panties.”

His chest vibrates and before I can register what’s happening, he’s dragging me through the crowd.