“Guys! Today!” Taffy shouted.
“Go on, mate,” Caelan muttered with a cocky grin. “Before your beta breaks down the damn door.”
I floated across the room, still buzzing from the kiss as I opened it. Taffy grabbed my hand and yanked me into the hall, dragging me toward the luna’s quarters.
“Finally! Go take a shower!” she said as she shut the door behind us and hurried to plug in the curling iron. “We won’t be able to do the same look as last time, but I think we can still pull off something really cute.”
“I don’t even have anything to wear, Taffy,” I remarked as I veered toward the closet.
“Uh-uh! Shower!” she instructed, grabbing my shoulders and directing me back toward the bathroom. “I already took care of it and picked up something for you in town. Now hurry up. We’ve a lot to do in a short amount of time.”
I did as I was told, stepping into the steaming shower and sighing as the warm water cascaded over my shoulders. I had felt nervous the night before, but now I was just excited. I wanted this. I wanted Caelan to be mine. And for once in my life, I was going to take what I wanted for myself.
And if last night was any indication, there was no shortage of forces waiting to try and tear us apart. The sooner we were marked, the better.
No one is going to try and steal my mate again. Not Sunny or any other she-wolf. He’s mine, and I want it to be official. Once I mark him, there will be no question as to who he belongs to.
I marched out of the bathroom, determination written on my face.
“Whoa, something about you looks different,” Taffy remarked as she took me in.
“Different how?” I asked.
“I’m not sure,” she hummed. “I can’t quite put my finger on it. But you look…confident. Comfortable in your own skin. Come on. Let’s get you ready for the night of your life.”
***
Taffy worked her magic, curling my hair into a simpler version of the masterpiece she had spent hours creating the day before. Then she mimicked the same elegant look with my makeup before taking a step back.
“Perfect,” she said, turning and picking up a garment bag from the bed. “Now for the dress. I know you planned on light blue, but I couldn’t find anything in the right color, so I picked something else out. I hope you like it. It screamed ‘Shade’ the moment I saw it.”
She unzipped it to reveal a magnificent dress. The top was a strapless corset in pure-white satin, the bodice intricately decorated with pearls and crystals. The bottom was a soft black,the sheer tulle fabric layered in several large strips, creating two long slits that ran up either leg.
“It’s beautiful, Taffy,” I gasped, reaching a hand out to touch it.
“I figure we pair it with some simple pearl earrings, and you’ll be the talk of the town,” Taffy added as she took it off the hanger.
She helped me into it, lacing up the back as I stood in front of the mirror.I look sophisticated and elegant. Like myself and not myself at the same time. A new and improved Shade.
“You look so regal, Shade. Like a true queen,” Taffy exclaimed. “All right. Grab those earrings on the coffee table, but no necklaces. We don’t want anything to cover Caelan’s mark. I’m going to quickly throw myself together and then walk you all the way to him personally.”
“You don’t need to do that,” I teased. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“I know that, but I don’t trust anyone,” she declared, no humor in her tone despite my efforts to lighten the mood. “After what happened yesterday, I’m not leaving your side until you’re safely in Caelan’s arms.”
“Where are we meeting him anyway?” I questioned as I put in the earrings.
“The gazebo.” ***
A short time later, Taffy led me out toward the gardens, her arm linked with mine as we walked.
I smiled as we approached the gazebo, thinking back to the romantic dinner Caelan and I had shared beneath it. It hadn’tbeen that long ago, but it felt like an eternity had passed since that day.
I could see Caelan waiting inside, standing beneath the soft glow of the twinkling lights that had been strung all around. He turned to face us as he caught our scent, and I gasped as I took him in.
The black button-up he wore clung to his muscular form, his bright white tie stark against the dark fabric. His shirt was tucked neatly into a pair of crisp black slacks and paired with a shiny pair of dress shoes.
It seriously should be a crime for one man to look this good.
