A long breath loosened from him, and he slumped. He pressed his forehead into my belly, his hands anchored on my hips.
“I’m sorry. No. If your mom attends, so will your dad. He will know wehaven’t always been married, and would tell the Italians. It’s not safe, mo chroí.”
“So no one,” I bit back, anger and pain lacing through my chest like shards of broken glass. “I’ll have no one at this farce of a wedding.”
It wasn’t necessarily his fault, but I wanted to be mad at someone. I reared back, about to slap him when his fingers wrapped around my wrist, stopping me. I hissed, glaring at him.
“Careful,” he warned.
“Or what?” I snapped, trying and failing to yank my arm free. “What will Kaelen Finnegan do to his wife?”
His jaw worked as he ground his teeth together, rising back to his full height. I stood with him, forcing myself into the space between us and the bed. If he thought he could intimidate me with his mountainous body, he was wrong.
“Curse Áine for giving me such a mouthy omega for a wife,” he said. I glared at him, and he released me. “But I wouldn’t change a thing. I like that you’re feisty. I wouldn’t have you any other way.”
Confused by the sudden change, I blinked. Kaelen had the audacity to chuckle, cradling my chin and pulling me in for a chaste kiss before hopping in the shower.
After Kaelen left, I wandered down to the sitting room. Aileen sat on the sofa, sipping her tea as she pushed around magazines with flower arrangements and dresses. My throat started to close, and I did the only thing I could.
I ran, colliding with a solid figure that made me stumble.
Two hands bracketed my arms, catching me.
“Woah, now.”
“Aidan,” I breathed, relaxing instantly when I saw it was him.
Aidan had a calming effect everywhere he went. Hewasn’t like other alphas. Despite being the middle child, he didn’t act like that. He exuded a reassuring, confident demeanor that put everyone at ease, including me.
“Ahh, my future sister,” he said, his voice even. “What has you sprinting like a mad person?”
“Where’s Torin?”
He palmed the back of his neck, a slight pink dusting the tops of his cheeks.
“Still asleep in my bed. Is something the matter?”
“I need to get out for a while.”
His eyes narrowed for a moment before he inclined his head, understanding what went unsaid.
“I’ll go wake the terror and then we’ll take you wherever you want.”
“Thank you,” I murmured.
“Anything for my baby sister,” he said, kissing my cheek and disappearing down the hall he came from.
I liked that he called me his sister. After growing up as an only child, I always wondered what it would be like to have siblings.
Twenty
WILLOW
An hour later, Torin appeared with Aidan, looking more haggard than I had ever seen him. His auburn hair hung in messy waves on his face and a bruise peeked out from under the collar of his t-shirt.
I stifled a giggle, looking away before my wide eyes gave me away.
Usually, it was Torin who guarded me. It was odd to see Aidan with him as well. Maybe now that I was to be Kaelen’s wife, I warranted extra protection.
