Sassy Ever After: Mate of Honor (Kindle Worlds Novella) (3 page)

“Mom says don’t
be late for the rehearsal dinner,” Blessing Blackthorn said. Her hair was cut in a short bob that framed her apple cheeks. Her eyes were the color of jade. He had a soft spot for his little sister, even if he didn’t always show it.

Like now. “I know my duty to this family and this pack. I don’t need a reminder.” He’d been alpha for a week now. There had been a formal gathering of the Blackthorn Pack to announce his ascendancy to leadership. He got the feeling his people would have been happier keeping him in the role of CEO and out of pack politics. Well, tough shit.

He’d had to meet with Jax Gold, Caleb Rahound, Tristan Wolfe, and Victor Silverback, and other alphas of some of the smaller clans. They’d offered congratulations and advice. Tristan Wolfe said, “Don’t take this gift lightly.”

Forrest shook his head. “More like a curse.”

“Every son, especially those who are alpha, must make their own way. You’ve turned your business into your pack, and your father knows that isn’t healthy. Employees aren’t family, a corporate office won’t love you, and your executives won’t always have your back. Not like a real pack will.”

He wanted to tell Tristan to keep his advice to himself, but he kept his mouth shut.
Let the politics begin
.

When the scenting ceremony was brought up, along with the fact that Forrest needed to find a suitable mate, Jaxon Gold, alpha for the Golden Falls Pack, quipped, “Wives are a handful.” He grinned.“But these,” he wiggled his fingers, “are two very happy hands.”

The rest of the men in the group got a good laugh out of it, and the consensus was they agreed. The air was thick with testosterone, though, and when Victor Silverback mentioned Rocco, Rahound’s old pack alpha to Caleb, the new alpha for Rahound, the tension rose as well. This was why meetings between alphas were usually kept small and short.

Tristan Wolfe, the eldest in the room, circled his finger in the air and whistled. “Time to wrap this up.”

Victor Silverback was an old school asshole. He’d given Burn Blackthorn a little trouble back when Burn established his pack.

“My daughter will be at the ceremony tonight,” he told Forrest when he met him at the door. “It would be a good match.”

Forrest shook the offered hand but didn’t reply. The only good match there would be the one used to light the fuse on that keg of dynamite.

Tristan nodded to Forrest as he left. “Welcome to the club.”

As the rest of them left, Forrest felt less choked.

The last alpha, Caleb Rahound, a pleasant young man, not nearly as confrontational or boisterous as the other men in the room, shook Forrest’s hand on his way out. “Good luck, man.”

Forrest forced a smile. “Thanks.” He didn’t need luck, though. Tonight was going to be a disaster. What he really needed was an exit strategy.

The long five-mile
driveway into the Blackthorn compound made Bailey’s heart hammer in her chest. The way the trees grew up and over the paved road, blocking out both sun and moon, always scared her. It was as if they were trying to strangle anyone who dared breach their path.

“Ease up, woman,” Tory said.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“You’re white-knuckling the steering wheel, and your neck is sweating.”

“Damn it.” Bailey grabbed a tissue from the console and dabbed her neck and chest. “We should just turn around and go back.”

“Uh-uh. When will I ever get another chance to see the inside of the infamous Blackthorn Mansion?”

“Oh,” Bailey said. “I forgot. This is all about you tonight.”

“Sarcasm doesn’t look pretty on anyone.”

“Bitch, you know I make that shit work.”

They both laughed, reminding Bailey why Tory Thames was her best friend in the first place.

“You better now?” she asked as they passed a second security gate. “Besides, it would be a shame for you to not be seen tonight. You look fantastic.”

Bailey had changed out of her jeans into an A-line flouncy skirt with a fall leaf print. She wore a sage green lace shirt that featured a half-sleeve, a deep V in the front, and a slight flare around the hips. “Yes, and I’m better.” Bailey smiled. “And thanks. It’s a new shirt.”

“Well, it enhances you in all the right places.” She rubbed her hands together. “Now, let’s get inside because I’m on a wolf hunt tonight, and I can’t do that if I’m babysitting you.”

“Don’t make me regret bringing you along.”

The big house, a limestone three-story, fourteen thousand square foot mansion, was a bright contrast against the rich, green forest and the rolling hills surrounding the large structure. The cobblestone circle drive was lined with ten vehicles. Bailey was the last to arrive. Fantastic.

“I don’t want to go inside,” she admitted.

“You got this,” Tory said. “And I have your back.”

Bailey nodded, steeling her courage. “I’ve got this.”

“Damn straight.”

“Okay.” She took in a deep breath and let it out as she loosened her grip on the steering wheel. “I’m ready.” She stepped out of the car and walked toward the front door. The brown cut out high heels she wore pinched her feet. “I should’ve worn wedges.”

“Oh no you shouldn’t have,” Tory said. “Girl, everything about you tonight looks perfect.”

Rachel Meadow, one of the bridesmaids, had strolled up behind Bailey and Tory. She straightened her peach wrap-around dress and touched her shiny, brown hair. “Those heels are getting a workout,” she said pleasantly as she eyed Bailey’s shoes.

“Bitch says what?” Tory muttered.

“What?” Rachel asked.

Tory and Bailey giggled. They were saved from more of Rachel’s vitriol when the door opened, and a woman dressed in black and white welcomed them inside.

“This place is huge,” Tory said as they walked into the entry. The floors were hand sanded hardwood, the ceiling was vaulted to the third floor, and accented with exposed joists that matched the floor. The walls were textured like plaster and painted the color of buttercream, the only difference Bailey noted. They used to be a pure white, and the hint of yellow gave off warmth the entry lacked before.

A woman with strawberry blonde hair and hard eyes ushered them through the foyer and toward the ballroom. She didn’t give her name. Bailey’s stomach ached. Her name wasn’t Forrester. She was the help. Like Bailey’s mom.

The sounds of voices and laughter nearly sent Bailey in the opposite direction. This was the first time she’d have to face Evan after all these years. The first time she’d have to face her feelings for him. Was she strong enough to let him go? She hoped so.

Tory squeezed her shoulder. “This place is amazing. I can’t believe you grew up here.”

“Well, if by here you mean about a half-mile away in the guest house, then yeah, I grew up here.”

“What are you doing out here?” a man said from behind them as they stood outside the ballroom entrance.

Bailey froze. She recognized the voice immediately as the same someone who had asked her why she sat in his father’s chair.

Forrest Freaking Blackthorn.

Well, she wasn’t a little girl anymore or his servant’s daughter. He had another thing coming if he thought he could push her around now. She turned on him, intent on telling him exactly how she felt about his bully attitude, but when she saw him all the words stuck in her throat.

Holy crapola. Forrest Blackthorn was nearly as tall as his father, which meant he towered over Bailey. He wore a sky-blue polo shirt that hugged his biceps and his chest, tapering down his long, narrow waist. His jeans fit him a little loose in the waist but tightened over his hips and thighs. Bailey’s gaze roamed back up his body to his chiseled cheekbones, his straight Roman nose, his wide full mouth, and the deep cleft in his chin. Forrest’s indigo eyes widened, and his nostrils flared as Bailey’s eyes finally met his.

“Who are you?” he asked.

The question snapped her out of the trance his appearance had put her in. “I’m the maid of freaking honor. Who are you?”

Forrest’s brow wrinkled as he squinted at Bailey. “Have I seen you before?” He dipped his head and sniffed the air around her. “You’re not a wolf.”

“No shit, Sherlock.”

“Bailey!” a female voice called out.

Bailey turned and saw Lara Hout almost sprinting her way. She wore a short white dress.

Here comes the bride
, Bailey thought.

The skirt danced around Lara’s shapely thighs as she moved. “Bailey! I’m so glad you’re here.” She embraced Bailey. “The dinner is about to start. You have to come in and see everyone.”

She glanced up at Forrest but didn’t meet his eyes. “Hey, Forrest.”

He grumbled something unintelligible and brushed past the group of three women. Bailey’s stomach jittered as his arm made contact with her hand. He gave her a sharp look when she jerked her fingers back as if she’d touched a live coal but he kept moving into the ballroom area.

Bailey turned her attention back to Lara. She gestured to Tory, who’d stood patiently quiet during the entire exchange which had lasted less than a minute. “This is my friend Tory. The one I told you about.”

Lara’s smile brightened. “Oh, I’m so glad you came. I’ve been aching to hear all about Bailey’s life as a lawyer in the big city.”

“I’m ready to dish,” Tory said, shooting Bailey a grin.

Bailey stuck out her tongue, and they all giggled. The bell jangled for dinner service, and Lara grabbed Tory and Bailey by the hands and led them into the room. More than twenty pack members were making their way to a large dinner table that stretched at least forty feet. Even so, wolf shifter men tended to be broad shouldered, so every extra inch counted when it came to elbow room. The seating was boy-girl-boy-girl, which meant Tory was seated away from Bailey. So much for a buffer.

Bailey recognized Mach Larson, her nemesis in school. Ugh. His father was on the board of Blackthorn Sporting Goods, so it stood to reason he’d been invited. She prayed to the god of chocolate and caffeine that she wasn’t seated next to him. It took a few minutes to find her seat. It was on the left side of the table, fourth from the head where Burn Blackthorn would sit, and stood behind her chair and waited for the alpha to arrive and sit first. She was relieved to see Mach standing behind a chair at the far end on the right.

Two seats down from Mach, a man with pale blond hair, thin lips, and brown eyes stared at Bailey. She didn’t know him, but she recognized the sharp undercurrent of fear and anger in his expression. When she stared back, he quickly looked away. So weird and disturbing.

The nameplates on either side of her were Dorian Blackthorn on the left and Steph Daniels on the right. She remembered Steph as a shy, quiet boy. Dorian was a joker and prankster. One time when Evan was in fourth grade, Dorian filled his pillow up with shaving cream and put a layer of talcum powder between his white sheets.

If Bailey hadn’t known he was a wolf shifter, she would have guessed the second to the oldest Blackthorn as a coyote. She wondered what tricks he had up his sleeve for Evan and Lara’s wedding night. Amused by the thought, the corner of her mouth tugged up.

As the rest of the party found their chairs, it surprised Bailey when Lila Blackthorn took the second spot across the table. The alpha’s mate generally took the seat next to him. Bailey glanced at Lara who stood behind the chair opposite Lila and mouthed,
What’s going on
?

She shrugged then gave Bailey a quick shake of her head.

Another bell rang and the double doors at the end of the ballroom opened. Bailey expected it to be the food servers, but instead, Burn, Forrest, Luke, Dorian, Blessing, and Evan Blackthorn entered the hall.

Evan’s sandy brown hair was styled to be purposefully messy and playful. He had a day’s growth of stubble adding to the charm of his appearance. After all these years, he still wanted to be seen as someone who didn’t follow rules. His eyes, blue, like all the Blackthorns, were paler than his brother’s. Bailey held her breath, waiting for him to notice her, but his gaze made a beeline to Lara. She watched her friends, both of them, as their eyes lit up when they looked at each other, and she felt a piece of her heart shrink in size.

She stared at her fingers as she gripped the back of the chair and stifled the grief of young love lost. What did she expect? It had been years, and she needed to let go of the past.

When she regained her composure, she once again focused on the two men walking toward the table. Her pulse, which had managed to keep steady when Evan walked in, leaped in her throat when she found herself under the scrutiny of Forrest’s dark stare. She glanced away and noticed there wasn’t a single person at the table willing to meet Forrest’s gaze. She wasn’t pack, she was a Corsac Fox shifter, and the wolves in the room might have to show him deference as the oldest Blackthorn child, but Bailey was through letting Forrest make her feel like a scared rabbit.

She narrowed her gaze at him, pleased when his brow raised and his lips parted with a hint of incredulity.

That’s right, buddy. I have gall for days
. She kept her eyes locked on him, trying to ignore the creeping flush of heat along her skin until Burn’s voice broke the hold.

“Friends and family, I want to thank you for coming out tonight to celebrate Evan and Lara’s upcoming nuptials. Honestly, I never thought my last born would be the first to settle down with a mate, but Lila and I couldn’t be more pleased with his choice of Lara Hout. She would make any family proud to have her as a member.”

Evan beamed, and Lara happily blushed at the compliment. Her father, Jesiah Hout, stood near his daughter and nodded his approval.

Burn continued with his speech. “There is nothing quite so miraculous as mates finding each other. When two souls know instantly they are connected and never want to be apart. Knowing they would share the same breath, the same heartbeat, and that their wills have been combined into an unshakeable force, is something no one can understand until it has been experienced.”

Hearing Burn talk about what it was like to have a mate burned inside Bailey like cancer eating away at her soul. She would never know what it was liked to be loved so completely. Finding a mate was more than just an emotional connection—biology was involved as well. She had to let the idea of Evan go. His biology and Lara’s were fixed.

Not that she wanted to break them up. The adult part of Bailey would never be so immature as to think she could make someone love her even if the teenager in her wanted to throw a fit and break things.

“My son Evan’s mating has reminded me that I too have a love that I would give up everything for.” Burn gestured to Lila. “And I want to spend as much time with her as possible. And so, as most of you already know, I am stepping down as alpha of the pack.”

Nods and murmurs followed his announcement, which seemed to come as no surprise to nearly everyone but Bailey. She felt the blood drain from her face as Burn added, “I am happy on this occasion, to turn the reins of the pack over to my eldest and most capable son Forrest. He has proven his strength and loyalty to the pack.” He stared out at the group and crossed his arms as if daring anyone to say different.

The room remained silent other than a nervous giggle and some light throat clearing. Forrest frowned as he walked to the table and took his spot at the head. His father sat to his left next to Lila. Dorian plopped down in the seat beside Bailey. He tilted his head back and peered at her. “What’s up, buttercup?”

Bailey groaned. The meal would take an hour. She cast a sideways glance at Forrest who, once again was staring at her. She bit back a retort of, “Take a picture, it lasts longer,” and sat down.

The rest of the party systematically took their seats. Bailey stared at her empty setting, feeling Forrest’s eyes on her and wishing the plate would open a portal into another dimension. She needed a place to hide, especially since she’d challenged the new alpha and his first order of business would most likely conclude with her on the wrong end of a hunting trip. What in the world had possessed her?