“Axel.”
A growl rumbles in my chest.Axel took Maisy to prom her senior year.I heard Daisy arranged it because she wasn’t going to go, but that doesn’t stop my bear from wanting to rip out his heart for being near her.
Darius holds up his hand.“Teddy’s there too, but she wanted Axel.She feels comfortable with him.”
I growl some more.I don’t like that, At All.Axel says he’s just a friend to Maisy, but my brother could be hiding a crush on my mate behind his quiet facade.Why else would he get so close to her?
“I have an update on Allen,” Darius says.“While you were with Maisy, we went to his apartment but didn’t find him.Kylie says Lucky Lou is blowing up Allen’s phone, accusing him of taking Maisy.Allen’s probably scared and on the run.He doesn’t have the money to go far, so he’s probably lying low.Should we go after him?
“Later.I want all of you here as witnesses.This needs to look legitimate.”
Darius doesn’t question my logic.Lucky Lou has no idea who I am or that I have seven brothers.Even with a single witness, the wedding will look real enough to serve our purposes.
But I want my brothers here.There’s no denying I want this wedding to be real.I want my mate to be bound to me by human laws, even if the marriage is only real on paper.Even though once Maisy’s safe, the right thing to do would be to let her go.
For a few days, I’m going to pretend that I have everything I want.
“You folks ready to get this show on the road?”An older white guy in a gold sequin-covered suit jacket pokes his head into the dressing room.His bushy sideburns and thinning hair are dyed black to look like Elvis.He sees me and points his finger.“Oh yeah, there’s the hound dog.”
My bear bristles.Dog?
“Who are you?”Darius asks.
“I’m the officiant.Gonna float this love boat right down the canal.Put on your blue suede shoes, and I’ll meet you at the altar.”Faux-Elvis clicks his teeth, shoots his finger gun my way, and disappears.
“Huh,” Darius gives me side-eye.“So, what were you saying about the wedding needing to look legit?”
“Shut up.”
Maisy
My hands shake as I fix the white lace on the sleeves of my wedding gown.I don’t know how Lana did it, but the dress she found fits perfectly.She must have called in a bunch of favors to wake up a Las Vegas designer at 3 a.m.and get them to deliver this.
I can’t believe I’m about to get married in Vegas at an Elvis chapel.It’s too crazy for me to even contemplate, so I don’t.
The good thing is–I feel amazing.Whatever Matthias gave me has energy zooming through my body.I glance in the mirror to see my skin is glowing like I’ve spent a week at a wellness resort.I swear even my hair is shinier.
All this energy made my video conference call with Daisy go smoother.I swear she was seconds away from breaking down and weeping.At one point, Everest, who was crammed in our living room in his giant bear form, gave her a hug.Daisy’s voice shook, and she looked every one of her ninety-two years.
I didn’t know how to tell her I’m getting married.To Matthias.I kept it vague.I told her I was okay, and she should get some sleep.She looked like she hadn’t slept last night.
I feel like I’ve lived several lifetimes between yesterday at 2 p.m.and now.
Someone raps on the dressing room door.“How you doing?”Axel asks.
“Fine.”I try to reach the buttons up the back, but my arms are too short.“Actually, can you help me?”
The door opens, revealing Axel in a black tux.I gasp.“You look like James Bond.”
“Except I do my own stunts.”He swings his hair back, so it falls in a shining cape over his shoulders, and looks me up and down.“Maisy, you look beautiful.”
“Thanks.”I blush.Even though we’re friends, I’m aware of how handsome Axel is.Everyone in my senior class had a huge crush on him.Even Missy, though she always acted like she didn’t like him.“Can you button me?”I present my back to Axel, and he deftly does me up.I can’t believe how well this dress suits me.The neckline is wide and very flattering, almost off the shoulder.
I smooth down the satin skirt and turn to face him.“How do I look?”
“Perfect.”
“The triplets got me this.”I show him the dinky plastic tiara with a little white netting for a veil.The “Bride to Be” sign pasted on the front is peeling off, and underneath it says “Happy New Year.”
