I watched Sarah finish my hair and then move around the room putting away the curling iron and makeup she’d brought up.
“Colton, you are so ridiculous. You're already envied. If you don’t find a fated mate soon, you have your pick of the females.”
I swallowed.
“You two aren’t like a - I mean, I’m not crashing?”
Colton bowed and extended his hand and offered me his hand. The male was confident that was certain.
“Sarah and I are thicker than thieves. Devon too. Not that I wouldn’t love to mate Sarah and all, but she’s just as dedicated to finding her fated mate as I am.”
“Will Devon be okay with this? He, uh. He’s given me a lot of mixed signals.”
A day ago he said he was to be mated and today he kissed me and ripped me out of Colton’s grasp.
“No. He won’t and I am hoping that plays in our favor. Look, I really believe him that you are the girl he fell for ten years ago. And even if you aren’t? He feels something even if he won’t admit to it. So at this point I need him to see that. You need to be there tonight and a date is the only way you’d go. Am I wrong?”
I gave a little shake of my head.
“No. I don’t really feel like it’s my place,” I said.
He held out his hand.
“If I’m wrong and you aren’t his, I wasn’t kidding that I would offer more than just friendship. You need a pack and I need a mate. But, from the way you look at him? I’m guessing you’re already taken. Even if your wolf can’t tell you that yet.”
I took his hand and the warmth of something new spread through me. Safety?
“Why would you offer your pack to me?”
He stepped closer to Sarah, and they exchanged a look.
“None of this was your choice from what you’ve said. Everyone deserves a family and if you’re the female Devon saw all those years ago you were always meant to be here. Don’t think that this is all empty on my end. You’re beautiful. But also, it would keep our alpha less distracted with you here. I think. Guess we find out.”
Less distracted?
“I don’t think I am what he needs. I have a target on my back and it’s really a matter of time before they come for me.”
Colton’s eyes flashed between wolf and human.
“We count on you being bait, but that’s for our own selfish reasons. No one would dare go near you if you are with the beta of the pack. Now come, our alpha is already needing our help.”
* * *
The night was warm as we stepped out into the twinkling of lights. This was the first time I’d taken a few seconds to see the stars out here, and the lights strewn through trees just added to the ambiance.
It would be nice to have this all done up in honor of me, I randomly thought. My wolf was still quiet, and it made me sad that she couldn’t enjoy the idea of being in a pack. Although the idea didn’t settle well to just mate someone for the benefit of the pack. Here I was though, on the arm of the beta.
I put on a smile as nerves played with the little food I had eaten today.
“Is everyone staring at us?” I asked. It felt like all eyes were on us. “Are we that late?”
Colton lowered his head but didn’t break stride.
“We are fashionably late, and they aren’t staring at us. They are looking at you.”
I stumbled and tried to run back to the house.
“No you don't, you've made it halfway, that's commitment. You’ve committed,” Colton said.