Total pages in book: 218
Estimated words: 212458 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1062(@200wpm)___ 850(@250wpm)___ 708(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 212458 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1062(@200wpm)___ 850(@250wpm)___ 708(@300wpm)
He wants to take my sister home. But he might have trouble getting her off the dance floor. She’s been having a blast.
Mom is slow dancing with Cade right now and Lorenzo doesn’t look too happy about it. I have a feeling he’ll be making sure to get the next dance.
***
I’m standing in the shadows, laughing with Bailey and Cicely as Tyson, who has just successfully removed my sister’s garter with his teeth flings it backwards.
Greyson’s arm flies up and he catches it in a fist. The whole place breaks out with roars of happiness.
Greyson Blackwood is expected to be the next council super-alpha to mate because of their birth order mating rule.
“That looked fixed,” I say.
“It wasn’t,” Bailey denies.
I shrug. “In a minute, you guys have to line up behind Ivy so that you can see if any of you catch that bouquet, see which woman might be married off first.”
“Maybe all seven will marry outsiders,” Cicely mutters with disappointment.
And then her expression drops. “Not that I think you’re an outsider. You and Ivy, you belong here, clearly, I just mean…”
I give her a smile and wave my hand. “I know what you mean. The one who catches the bouquet isn’t necessarily marrying an alpha from your council, it’s just that their wedding is supposed to be next.”
“We do watch television and movies, you know,” Cicely says. “Familiar with your wedding customs; it’s just that it’s most little girls’ dreams to be mated to alphas is all. Little girls from around here dream of council alphas.” She shrugs. “And now three of them, nearly half, are out of the running.”
“Not necessarily,” I say, “Riley could mate with one of you since that girl wasn’t –”
“Nope. She’s his destined mate apparently,” Bailey says. “Mason found that out from your Mom’s landlord.”
“Oh. News to me.” Mason told me he talked to Vivica about the Riley situation but didn’t offer further information, I guess because he was dying to fuck me at that point. At that thought, my belly dips and my eyes find him over by one of the beer kegs on the far side of the hall. He’s talking to Sean and Gus.
“Though, keep that under your hat,” Bailey adds, “I’m not sure we want any gossip spreading about that situation, especially today.”
“What gossip?” A female voice cuts in.
I look to my side and see a pretty blonde woman I met at Roxy’s bar my first time there. I can’t remember her name right now. She doesn’t get along with Bailey. She’s Jase’s sister.
“No gossip, Sherry,” Bailey mutters.
Sherry. Right.
Ivy is waving at me from the center of the dance floor. “Get the girls all over here. My turn!” She holds her bouquet up.
I put my fingers in my mouth and let out a loud wolf whistle. And it’s effective, too, because hundreds of sets of eyes swing my way. Ha. Wolf whistle.
“All unmar…err… un-mated women, line up behind the bride to see if you can catch the bouquet. Our traditions say the lass that catches it will be the next one to get hitched,” I call out. “Cade. Hit it!”
All the Single Ladies by Beyonce starts blasting and Ivy, beaming with a big smile, gets ready to throw her bouquet.
I’m standing on the sidelines as dozens of women get behind Ivy.
“You’re not interested?” I ask Sherry, who stands beside me. “Or are you married, err… mated?”
She shrugs. “Unmated so far. But in human customs? Not particularly interested.”
Ivy sends the bouquet backwards and it flies up high before landing in Bailey’s arms.
She gasps and her eyes slide to Jase off to the side.
He’s not even looking her way. Aw, Bailey…
She has such a crush on him, didn’t take my advice the day we met to make a pass at him at Roxy’s bar. And in fact admitted the other day at the clinic that she’s been smitten with him since she was ten years old, and he rescued her from being bullied by his sister. The sister that’s standing beside me right now, in fact.
“It’s good your sister was able to be here,” Sherry says. “Not sure most humans would be able to do this. Especially here.”
Yeah, this nasty sister of Jase’s. Time to shake her off and party with nicer people. But what she just said soaks in, so my eyes slide to her. “Pardon?”
“After what happened the night of the strawberry moon dance, I would’ve bet money she’d hide away and not want to show her face around here for a good long while. It hasn’t been that long. I’m just surprised. She seems shy.”
“What do you mean?” I ask.
Sherry smiles wide and drinks back a mouthful of her wine. “You know…” she says after swallowing, “After what happened between her, Tyson, and Mason down there in almost the exact spot where they’re standing right now.”