“Of course. He needs to read the room, and if you’ve had enough, then he should move on,” he says with a slight New Zealand accent coming through.
“I like the way you think,” I say, admiring this man who’s too handsome to even believe, with his golden hair, tanned skin, and huge smile. When his gaze drops to my mouth for one brief second, heat slips low through my stomach.
“Claire!” my sister’s voice booms, ripping me from my thoughts, and she materializes from the crowd, her sandy hair pin-straight, smiling.
She’s two years younger, three inches taller, and has been effortlessly beautiful since birth, not to mention she found her Alpha soul-match at eighteen and has spent the last five years radiating smug satisfaction about it. She’s in a blue slip gown that follows every curve of her body, and she’s stunning.
My mother is half a step behind her. Shorter, softer, blonde hair in a neat chignon, wearing a dusty-rose dress.
Ivy’s gaze travels from me to the Alphas beside me, then back to me again. Her mouth falls open. “Claire,” she states, with the solemn awe of someone witnessing either a miracle or a crime. “You brought a pack to the wedding?”
My fingers tighten around my clutch. “It’s… a recent development, and why not, right?”
Ivy and I have never been super close, though I always wished we were. She has a confidence that fills a room before she enters it and the ability to say something devastating while smiling like she’s passing the butter.
Her grin spreads. “Did you recruit three Alphas specifically to outshine Louis?”
“Ivy,” my mother says, swatting her arm.
“What? I’m impressed.” Ivy gestures at them with both hands, her eyes bright with wicked delight. “One date would have been respectable. Two would have been dramatic. Three is strategy.”
Corey leans slightly toward me. “I like her, as she thinks things through.”
“Please don’t encourage her,” I whisper.
Brody steps forward and offers his hand to my mother. “Mrs. Darling. Brody Hawthorne. It’s a pleasure.”
My mother takes his hand, then glances at Corey and Jakob as if she’s just discovered three very tall reasons to believe in happy endings.
“Corey Lock,” Corey says, shaking her hand next.
My mother blinks once, then glances at Jakob, who steps in last and takes my mother’s hand with a gentle formality that somehow makes him seem even more dangerous. “Jakob Holland. It’s wonderful to meet you.”
“So wonderful to meet all three of you.” My mother’s expression softens so fast I know I’m in trouble. Her eyes turn glassy, and she stares at me with that trembling, loving expression that has guilt crawling up my throat.
“Oh, Claire,” she murmurs, pressing her fingers to her lips as if she might give me a chef’s kiss. “I’m just so happy you found someone. After everything with Louis, I was so worried you’d be here alone tonight, and to see you with…” She glances at the three Alphas again, visibly overwhelmed. “Well. With all of this.”
Mom steps closer and squeezes my arm. “I’m sorry. I’m being silly. It’s only that it would have been awful to see you here alone when Louis has his new Omega. I just want you to be happy, sweetheart.”
“Nice to see you too, Mom.” I hug her. The words are meant with love, yet it still hurts that she thinks my not finding my Alpha would have been awful. That an Omega without Alphas beside her is something to pity.
I swallow it down because my mother loves me, and loving me badly is still different from trying to hurt me.
“I’m happy, Mom,” I say. “I promise.”
Then my father appears in a gray suit, silver hair, already eyeing all the Alphas.
“Claire,” he states and comes in for a quick hug. “It’s been a while since you’ve come to visit your mother.”
“I know. I’ve just been busy.” We break apart, and he’s nodding once at the Alphas. “Gentlemen.”
Corey straightens. “Sir.”
Brody offers a polite smile. “Mr. Darling.”
Jakob inclines his head.
My father looks at me again. “Are these yours?”
