ROMANCE: Mason (Bad Boy Alpha Male Stepbrother Romance Boxset) (New Adult Contemporary Stepbrother Romance Collection) (71 page)

“No.  I resented her.”

Daniel angled his body towards her.  “Why?”

“I felt tied down.”  Becky began choosing her words carefully.  “I wasn’t…ready to be a mother.” 

“What of your own mother?  Surely you were still living with her.  Couldn’t she have helped you?” 

“When I got…”  Becky looked into Daniel’s pale eyes quickly.  “When I got pregnant with her, I left home.” 

He sensed her barely concealed lie, but ignored it.  “Where was home originally?”  He explained after Becky’s quizzical look.  “Leanne didn’t tell me her origins.” 

“Then she did meet you here?”

“Yes.  Of course.” 

“We came from a little place not terribly far from here called Gordonsville.” 

“Yes, I’ve heard of it.  But why did you go to Syria knowing you would need help with a baby?” 

Becky’s face reddened.  “I went because it was beautiful and secluded.  I thought it would be a good place…”

“To hide.”  He finished for her. 

Becky nodded, hoping this line of questioning was reaching its end. 

Daniel sensed her unease.  He was close to the final piece of puzzle, but wouldn’t push her.  There was time. 

Friday morning dawned cold but crystal clear.  Autumn sat up in bed and felt for Dalton knowing he was at work already, but hoping anyway.  She drew her knees to her chest and heaved a sigh. 

“I’m getting married tomorrow.”  A smile spread slowly across her face.  She heard voices raising in the living room and climbed out of bed.  She opened the door a crack and saw Winnie and Mika in a standoff.  Mika was spewing Vietnamese with her hands on her hips and Winnie was growling that she needed to cut that shit out because she didn’t speak her language. 

“Be a woman and tell me in English!”

“You are a cruel and selfish wolf!” 

Winnie barked a laugh.  “And you are a silly human with no taste!” 

“Whoa!”  Autumn said, and padded across the room to them.  “What’s going on?”

Winnie crossed her arms tightly and glared down at Mika.  “Show her!” 

Mika lowered her eyes, and shuffled towards a little bag on the kitchen table.  “I made you cake toppers.”  She handed the bag over, with her eyes still lowered.

Autumn took the bag back to the table and sat down.  Mika and Winnie joined her. 

Autumn pulled out a figurine with flowing red hair and a deep green dress, the woman’s hand was on the back of a deep brown wolf.  Autumn put a hand over her mouth. 

“See?  She doesn’t like it!”  Winnie gloated. 

Autumn shot her hand across the table and squeezed Winnie’s forearm.  “Actually, I love it!” 

“Ha!”  Mika spat. 

“Mika, how did you do this?” 

“It was nothing.  I took the pottery a few years ago.  You’d be surprised how hot a traditional oven can get.” 

“Thank you, it’s perfect.”  Autumn glanced at Winnie’s angry hurt face.  “Did you have another topper in mind?” 

“Hell yeah!”  She stood and grabbed her own little bag, pulling out a traditional topper of a man and woman holding hands within a large white bell.  Tiny fall colored leaves were at their feet. 

“I like this one too.  Can we alter it?”

“What?  How?”

“Maybe take the man and woman out and replace them with Mika’s woman and wolf?  That way it will be like you both made it.”  Autumn could see both women contemplating it.  “Maybe the little bride and groom from the bell could be put in the middle of the veggie tray or something.” 

Winnie nodded.  “Ok, I like that.”

“Me too.”  Mika agreed. 

“You know, I’m so grateful to both of you for the work you have put into this.  Please, don’t fight.”

Winnie looked at Mika begrudgingly and shoved her lightly.  “You’re alright for a flighty little human.” 

Mika shoved her back.  “You alright for a big boned white werewolf.” 

Winnie’s mouth dropped open and she grabbed Mika, shoving her under one arm, giving her head a brisk rubbing. 

“Hey!  Don’t frizz me!  I still need to decide what to do with my hair!” 

Autumn realized Mika’s hair was just hanging loose.  There were no pony tails or braids.  She didn’t think she had ever seen her like that.  The rainbow colors were still there, but faded a bit since the first time she had seen her. 

“Which remind me.”  She said turning her attention to Autumn.  “I was thinking a French braid with baby breath worked through.” 

“Yes, I think I like that.” 

“I’ll get some of my magazines, and you look through them.”  Mika bounced from the table. 

“Are you nervous?” Winnie asked kindly. 

“Yes.”  Autumn readily admitted.

“Don’t be.  Dalton is going to be a great husband.  Look how good he’s turned out as an alpha.” 

“He is great.  I’m just worried about the ‘until death do you part’ end of it.”

“Why?”

“I’m not used to someone being that committed.” 

“Well, he is, trust me.”

Mika returned and slid several magazines to Autumn.  “Just look and make sure the braid is what you want.”

Autumn was amused that the magazines were all for bridal hairstyles.  Some of them were several months old. 

“Why do you have these?”

Mika’s face darkened.  “I’m still a hairdresser!”  Her defensive posture, and the higher pitch to her voice was telling. 

“You’re hoping for an engagement too?”  Winnie asked bluntly. 

“We talk about it sometimes.”  Mika slumped her shoulders.  “But I still don’t have a diamond.” 

“Neither do I.”  Autumn said gently. 

“No, but you’re going to have a pretty wedding band!” 

Winnie stood from the table, her eyes large.  “The rings!” 

“What about them?”  Autumn asked, twisting in her chair as Winnie jerked the receiver off of the cradle on the wall.  She moved her hand on a circular motion as she waited for whom ever she called to answer. 

“Chuck?  Listen, did Dalton get the rings?”  She rolled her eyes and put a hand to her cheek.  “Well, you’re the best man!  You had one job, Chuck!”  She listened again, this time nodding her head rapidly.  “Fine, whatever, but don’t the two of you dare come back here without them!” 

Winnie slammed the receiver back down a whirled around.  “He had one job.  One!”

Dalton arrived home and handed Autumn an envelope.  His clothes were covered in paint. 

“You must be the messiest painter ever.”  She teased and kissed his cheek. 

“Maybe.”  He grinned. 

“What’s this?”  Autumn asked flipping the envelope over.  The return address was from Williamsburg.  The seal had already been broken and she pulled a beautiful congratulatory card out.  The hand written message read: “Sorry, we can’t make it to the wedding, but are looking forward to your visit during your honeymoon.  Autumn, welcome to the family of shifters!  With love, Thomas and the rest of the gang” Autumn pulled a check from the center of the card. 

“This is for five hundred dollars!”

“Thomas is generous if nothing else.”

“I see.” 

“Before you can ask, because I know Winnie called from here, we picked up the rings.” 

“I never doubted you.”  She lied.

“Yeah, right.”  He said and kissed her gently.  He murmured into her ear.  “I can’t wait for tomorrow night.” 

“Me either.”  Autumn whispered back. 

“So, I’m just here long enough to shower and get my clothes.”

“Why?”

“Tradition. Winnie insists that the groom shouldn’t see the bride until the day of he wedding.  All of us guys are camping out at their house tonight.” 

“No prostitutes or strippers, I hope.”

Dalton laughed and encircled her waist.  “No, but we may strip out of our clothes and go for a run.  Apparently Winnie has a little special something prepared for you girls over here.” 

“Well, I’m not stripping out of my clothes!”

The front door opened and Chris and Trina walked in, Chris dragging their duffle bag and Trina carrying box.” 

“We did it!”  She exclaimed happily.  “The house is on the market!” 

“That’s great!  Any news about the house here?”

“The realtor thinks the owner will accept our offer.  We should know by Monday.” 

Dalton nodded his head approvingly.  “Ready to go to work for me?”  He asked Chris.

“You bet.  I’m ready to go back to work.” 

“What about you, Trina?”

“There’s a ton of restaurants in Fredericksburg.  I’ll be fine.  I may try to finish my degree.” 

“What field?”

“Nursing.”

“Now that will be useful.”  Dalton said.

“I got as far as a CNA training.  I hope to make it to RN.” 

Dalton kissed Autumn again and moved towards the bedroom.  He stopped at the doorway and looked back to Chris.  “The guys are staying at Chuck’s tonight.  We might go for a run, if you’re interested.  Unless you want to hang here with all of the females.” 

Chris grinned.  “Nah.  I’ll come with you.” 

Hours later, Winnie stood in the middle of the living room and held up her hands.  “Present time!” 

Autumn was shocked, and wondered when they were snuck in, as Winnie and Mika pulled several bags and wrapped boxes from the laundry room. 

“Open mine first!”  Mika grinned, and shoved a bag with bright tissue paper into Autumn’s lap. 

Autumn grinned and pulled the paper free.  Inside was a sheer hot pink negligee.  “Wow, Mika, did you think we might need inspiration?”  Mika only giggled in response. 

The next gift was from Winnie.  It was a bag with two cookbooks and a set of glass measuring cups. 

The other two gifts were a set of silver picture frames and a throw of soft fleece.  Trina frowned and hugged Autumn.

“I’m sorry I was away.  I didn’t know about the gifts.  Chris and I will get you something later.” 

Winnie tapped her foot. “Trina, you contributed to the honeymoon trip!  Don’t worry!” 

“I just feel bad.”

“Don’t.”  Autumn said, and squeezed Trina’s hand.  Once Trina had sat back down, she looked at the odd assortment of women and smiled gently.  This was her family now.  This was her pack. 

“I can’t tell you how grateful I am to have all of you in my life.” 

No one looked embarrassed.  She could see a mirrored agreement in all of their faces. 

“Hold still!”  Mika hissed, her tiny hands working quickly at the back of Autumn’s head. 

“I can’t.”

“You going to look a mess if you don’t!”

Mika finally finished and handed a mirror to Autumn so she could see the back of her head reflected in the bathroom mirror.  The braid was tight with two small curls running along the sides of her face.  Baby’s breath wove in and out of the braid, making Autumn feel ethereal and lovely. 

“It’s perfect.”

Autumn stood and looked down at her long sleeved green dress.  The front was cut in a princess pattern and a long paler green sash cinched the waist and flowed down the back.  It was simple by wedding standards, but Autumn wanted it that way.  Dalton liked simple above lavish in most things.  Mika and Winnie had chosen identical light orange dresses with no embellishments. 

Winnie came in the room, her hair curled and piled high on her head, just like Mika’s.  With scant makeup and silver dangling earrings, she looked like she could walk a runway in some Paris fashion show. 

“Wow!”  Autumn smiled.  “You look great!”

“As do you, but if we don’t get a move on, you’ll be late for your own wedding!” 

“Has the minister arrived?”

Winnie nodded, trying to hurry them out of the bathroom.  “He’s there.” 

“What kind of minister marries werewolves?”  Mika asked with a scrunched nose.

“A very special one.”  Winnie replied tartly. 

“The photographer?”

Winnie smiled coyly.  “Wouldn’t you know it?  Tamara has a camera and a good eye.” 

Autumn didn’t care if her eye was good or not.  She just wanted some pictures. 

Winnie closed and locked Dalton’s door and hurried the other two women to Dalton’s little red car.  The sky was slightly overcast, and the air crisp, but after checking the weather four times that morning, Winnie didn’t expect rain. 

Winnie threw the car in gear and backed around quickly.  “The plan is: we will park and I will make sure they’re all ready, then Mika will walk first, then me, then when you hear your music begin, you’ll come out.  Got it?”

Autumn nodded.  She had gotten it the first two times Winnie had explained it. 

“You’ll start at the corner of the house.  Chuck was supposed to rake some of the prettier leaves to make a walkway for you to the arch.”