That got his attention. His gaze flicked to mine. "Still?"
I shook my head. "No, man. I'm fine." When I'd shifted back to my human form this morning, even the bruises had vanished.
"I'm really sorry."
"I know." I patted his shoulder. "It's fine, really. The best way to avoid a shark attack is to stay out of the water. I'll remember that next time."
He laughed. "Do you like beach volleyball?"
I didn't like most sports, but I'd spent years watching the men's Olympic team for reasons that weren't exactly sporty. "I could play."
"Meet you on the beach after the sunset pictures, then. Bruce's cousins set up the net. Bring your side piece." He pointed to Gabe, who stood at the tail end of the food line, now that everyone else had been served.
"He's my mate."
"That's what I said." Isiah winked. Strong, smart, and funny. It was hard to understand why the big lug was still single.
13
GABE
Mika in a tuxwas a gorgeous sight to behold. Out of his suit and shirtless on the volleyball court, he exuded effortless sex appeal. He was the hottest man I'd ever seen as he bumped, set, and spiked his way into my heart.
I was both proud and terrified when Mika spiked the sand-covered ball into Isiah's nose. At least he hadn't directed it at the bridesmaids who had teamed up with the shark shifter, though he was the one doing most of the running, diving, and spiking.
Thankfully, the ball wasn't overly firm and definitely not regulation standards. It didn't break his nose, though he would have deserved it after he'd covered Mika in bruises the night before.
"Take that, shark face!" I hollered through the net.
"Pipe down, side piece, or I'll sic your bestie on you."
"Side piece?" I mouthed at Mika. I scoffed. "Becca and Bruce are well on their way to consummating their marriage, so good luck with that."
"Good." Isiah grinned. "When they came back from the meeting, it looked like she was going to reject him."
The happy couple was nowhere to be found now that the photo shoot was over. I didn't know what had happened at theirfamily meeting during the reception, but if Becca had glared at me like that, I would have assumed a declaration of World War, or worse. "What was it about, do you know?"
Isiah and Mika shared a look through the net. "His family's loaded," Mika finally volunteered. "There's no need for a prenup, since they're fated, but his dad made him wait until after the wedding to tell Becca. The wolves thought it would make their marriage stronger, right off the bat, if she thought she was marrying all his money problems and then found out?—"
"That's lying by omission," I said, "and a fucking horrible thing to do."
Mika held his hands up. I glanced down at the volleyball clutched between my fingers so tight there were grooves in it.
"Put the ball down, pipsqueak," Isiah said. "It's all right now. Becca knows Bruce isn't a complete loser, and he knows she was willing to give up a hell of a lot to be with him, but now …"
Now, my bestie could have that art studio in the tourist district, or maybe even one of the multi-million-dollar galleries on the wharf in San Francisco. "How much money are we talking?" I whispered to Mika.
"Let's just say what Mom has put into the compound, the wolves have put into their construction business, and the business doesn't depreciate in value."
Yeah, Becca would have her own gallery in no time. Nobody deserved it more, though. I couldn't deny the immediate weight lifted off my heart, knowing Bruce wasn't the deadbeat derelict Becca had assumed she would be bankrolling for the rest of her life.
I tossed the ball to Mika and faced the net. It was his turn to serve.
We playeduntil it got too dark to see where the ball landed in the sand. The women wandered off with a group of young men I assumed were wolf shifters. Isiah mentioned going for a swim before he deposited his swim trunks on the shore and vanished into the surf. I wanted to see him shift into his shark. The fact that it was too dark reminded me why I feared of the creatures. He blended with water so well, all I could see was a tiny trail cut into the waves by his dorsal fin.
"What do you say?" Mika asked. "Would you like to share a room with an alpha tonight?"
I snorted. "Pretty sure we shared a room last night."
