Epilogue
Two months later…
Havoc and Analise’s yard was filled with people, each of them family. Some sat on the benches provided, while others meandered between groups of family members and chatted while catching up here and there. The wedding was still half an hour out, and not quite every one had arrived. When planning the rescheduled wedding, Analise had decided that only family would be invited to the wedding. There was no reason to involve anyone else. Everyone there knew their history and how much every moment of their journey meant to them. Friends may just have attended as a courtesy, and it needed to be much more intimate than that. Still, only family meant a sizable guest list. Maia and Riley, and their kids, Cristie who was now twenty-six, and Sebastian who was twenty were on hand, along with Lazarus and Alex and their daughter, Amanda who was fourteen. And Roman and Talie and their son Cruz, who was eighteen, came along to help Havoc celebrate as well.
Of course all of Kaid’s clan were in attendance, and every one of Brandt’s clan.
Brandt, ready to officiate the ceremony, stayed near the gazebo the ceremony would take place in, and held onto Tempest’s hand. Her baby bump hadn’t quite started to show yet and was easily hidden with the right clothing. She was fully over her morning sickness and the light-headedness was rarely an issue anymore. The problem was keeping her full. She wanted to eat all the time.
“You feeling okay?” Brandt asked, smiling at Tempest.
“I really need some of that cake.”
Brandt laughed. “I know, and we’ll get you some, as soon as we can.”
“What else do we have?” Tempest whispered, leaning closer to Brandt.
“Everybody made something. No matter what you choose it’s delicious. But you keep eating like that, everybody’s gonna guess before we’re ready to tell them,” he said quietly.
Tempest grinned at him and made an exaggerated effort to see the buffet table.
“You think it’s okay? Is it like Analise wanted?” Emmalyn asked, having come silently up behind Tempest.
“Oh, good Lord!” Tempest half-shouted, startling as she pressed her hand to her chest. “You’re going to give me a freaking heart attack.”
“Oh, like you didn’t know I was here. You know everything,” Emmalyn snapped.
“Not anymore! All my emotions are so off kilter…” Tempest exclaimed, catching herself before she said too much.
Emmalyn stood right in front of Tempest her brows knitted together, her hands on her hips as she sized her up. “What is going on?” she asked suspiciously.
“Nothing! Not a single thing. Oh, look how pretty the wedding is. I think it’s exactly what Analise wants!”
“Oh, good! You think so, too!”
“Absolutely you did a fantastic job,” Tempest said. “Analise will be thrilled. And Havoc, too. He said he only wanted exactly what Analise wanted.”
“True, except the cake. He had to have this particular cake,” Emmalyn said. “I think we’ve done all we can to make it exactly what she wanted.”
“Without a doubt! It’s gorgeous! Just look at it!” Tempest said, relieved that she’d been able to redirect Emmalyn from her suspicions.
The wedding was indeed exactly as Analise had wanted it, relaxed yet elegant, the colors blending perfectly and while there was a lot of attention to detail, it was almost as though the flowers all grew there. Hydrangeas in every shade of blue and white adorned the gazebo that had been built in the side yard of Havoc and Analise’s home. Benches had been brought in to face the gazebo where the ceremony would take place, and there were picnic tables beyond the benches, spread all over the front and back yards with white table cloths spread over them. On the table cloths were vases of the same blue and white hydrangeas, strategically placed to hold the cloths down despite the slight breeze that caused their edges to flutter every now and again.
The same flowers, dotted from time to time with bright white and yellow daisies covered the railings lining the porches of the house at every level. The ground level of the house that boasted a raised foundation, allowed for an easy pass through from the front to back yards, and the swings, and even the ceiling fans that kept that area cool had all been decorated with the same floral arrangements and ribbons to match. The doors to the house itself located on the first level above the ground, had been thrown open to allow any family attending unfettered access to wherever they were most comfortable.
But the main focus was the couple standing in the gazebo with Brandt, who’d been ordained via the internet for just this occasion.
Analise was stunning in a simple, fitted bright white silk gown, with a soft beige battenburg lace overlay. Her long red curls had been pulled up and crowned her head, almost literally, with tiny white and blue flowers decorating the loose tendrils that fell from the mass of luxurious hair. Havoc stood directly across from her, her hands grasped in his. He was dressed in a suit matching the beige of the lace overlay of her dress. They complemented each other perfectly.
“Now, since you’re all family, you’ve all known just like we have that Havoc and Analise were destined to be together. Took them a few twists and turns to get there, but they made it. Watching the two of them navigate life and parenthood together leaves no doubt in anyone’s mind that the powers that be, the ones who run the universe were right. They belong to each other. All this…” he said, gesturing to the flowers and decorations, “is just to celebrate what we already know. No truer love and devotion ever existed. There’s nothing any of us needs to say to drive home the level of love and commitment that is clear to see when they look at one another. So I’m not even going to waste your time trying to do that. I’m going to turn the floor over to them, so they can declare their love before all of you, our family, without me doing anything but witnessing it,” Brandt said. “Our bride and groom,” he said, gesturing toward Analise and Havoc before stepping back.
Havoc, standing with Analise’s hand still gripped in his, smiled at her. “I’m not eloquent, ‘Lise, and don’t pretend to be. But until you looked at me and saw the man I am today, my life was on hold, waiting to begin. Doesn't matter what I tried to accomplish, what I tried to be, or who I thought I was, it was all a little off, something kind of askew, until you looked at me and said, ‘Oh, there you are’. I’ll never forget how everything in me shifted into place in that instant. And just how right it still feels every second of every day, knowing that whether I’m waking up, or lying down to sleep, or chasing our wild child through the house, it’s you I’m doing it all beside. I’d be lost without you, Analise. Thank you for seeing me. Thank you for loving me. I vow to always see and love you for the rest of eternity.”
Analise blinked her eyes rapidly to dispel a few tears that threatened to fall. She squeezed her fingers around Havoc’s where his hands still held hers. “Havoc, don’t ever claim that you’re not eloquent again.”
He laughed, as did all their guests.
She blew out a quick breath. “Whew! Tough act to follow there. But here goes. Havoc, you have always, regardless of what was happening in the background of our lives, represented love, safety, and home to me. Not once on our twists and turns did I lose sight of that, which is why I was who I was for so long. I stand here today as your mate, becoming your wife, for one reason only. You refused to give up on me. You never, not for one second took your eyes off of me. You never stopped seeing the me that lived inside the facade I put up for everyone else, and you never gave up. You demanded that I take the time to see the me that hid from everything that might make me feel, and you demanded that I recognize what our lives would be without one another. You were patient, and kind, and you taught me to trust. You taught me how strong I really was, and allowed me to grow into a better woman than I ever knew I could be, simply by allowing me to see the vulnerability you keep hidden away from everyone but me. I love you more every moment of every day, and I know that will never change. Thank you for never giving up on me, on us. I vow to give you all that I am, for as long as my soul lives and beyond. I will never take you for granted. I will never stop falling in love again every time I look into your eyes. I will never not be grateful that you love me. I love you without end, and you will never be lost, because I will forever be beside you, even when we’re chasing our wild child through wherever she’s gotten off to next.”
Havoc pulled Analise into his arms and kissed her passionately.
“And now you can stop kissing the bride,” Brandt said.
Everyone laughed.
“No, seriously,” Bam called out from the bench he and Everly, along with Barron and Emmalyn sat on. “You can stop now.”
Havoc and Analise continued kissing.
Bam looked at Everly. “Why do they have to keep doing that?”
“Bam, they’re married now! They’ve been mated for months,” Everly said.
“Daddy, let them kiss. It’s their wedding,” Emmalyn said.
“Still don’t want to see that,” he grumbled.
“Are you going to do this at our wedding?” Emmalyn asked.
Bam turned his uncomfortable gaze on Emmalyn. “You gonna kiss that long at yours?”
“I’m going to kiss him right now!” Emmalyn insisted, pulling Barron closer and smacking her lips against his.
Bam glared at Emmalyn.
Barron kissed Emmalyn, then made a point of pushing her a couple of inches away and kissing her cheek before turning back to the happy couple kissing in the gazebo.
“Hey,” Emmalyn said, looking at the space between her and Barron.
“Not my fault, he’s within slapping distance. I’m being respectful,” Barron said.
“See? This one is my favorite,” Bam said. “He knows how to be respectful.”
“Daddy, you’re so overprotective lately,” Emmalyn said with a scowl.
“He was overprotective before, he just made an effort to hide it then,” Everly said.
“Finally!” Bam announced loudly when Havoc finally pulled back enough for Brandt to take Havoc and Analise each by the hand and lift their arms into the air. He joined their hands above his head for all to see. “I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Havoc and Analise McCullen.”
Everyone whistled and cheered, and got to their feet applauding.
Lazarus slipped his fingers into the corners of his mouth and let off a high-pitched whistle.
Roman threw back his head and let out a victory cry.
Havoc grinned at his friends from Riley’s Pride as they celebrated his marriage to his mate. They’d seen him at his worst, and now they saw him at his best. He loved that they’d come to see him get married. He only wished Lucas, and Richie, and Scottie, along with their families could have come as well, but somebody had to stay behind to look after things.
“Congratulations, Mrs. McCullen,” Maverik called out, lifting a beer into the air as a toast.”
“And me! I get congratulations, too!” Havoc yelled.
“Boy, I still can’t believe you talked her into mating you,” Maverik teased. “But damn, it makes me want to tear up. Happy tears, I tell you. Happy tears.”
“Same,” Valerie said, as Maverik pulled her in for a hug. “I’m so happy.”
As the photographer kept snapping pictures of everybody and everything, Riley made his way through the crowd, pulling Maia with him. “Hey, I want a picture with our Pride, if that’d be okay.”
“Absolutely,” Havoc said, waving Riley and Maia, Roman and Talie, and Lazarus and Alex up into the gazebo. “Y’all come on up here.”
Riley looked around and emitted his own sharp whistle, at which point Sebastian, Cristie, Cruz, and Amanda found their way through the throngs of family hugging them as they moved past to join Riley and Maia with Havoc and Analise for a photo.
Maverik smiled as he watched. “Damn, that’s some pretty people.”
“Yeah, it is,” Riley said, grinning at Maverik over the photographer’s head. “It’s prerequisite,” he teased.
“Hey, Havoc. Darcie said to tell you she’s sorry she couldn’t be here, but she’s thinking about you. She couldn’t get off work,” Roman said.
“Yeah, and Lucas said to tell you now you have to come visit and take him out to dinner personally for having a wedding on a weekend that was his turn to stay behind and look after things,” Lazarus said.
Havoc laughed. “I just might. Me and Analise might just come visit for a while so she can meet all my second family.”
“Any time,” Riley said.
“Can I take this dress off now?” Harley demanded, her irritated voice breaking through all the shouting and congratulations.
“No!” Emmalyn, Hellen, Delilah, and Maia all shouted.
Analise smiled and posed for a few seconds while the photographer snapped a couple of photos of them with Riley’s Pride, then she turned to Harley. “Not yet. We have to take some more pictures first, then you can change.”
“I already took pictures! We did that first!”
“Well, we’re doing some more. Zip it,” Havoc said.
“Fine,” Harley grumbled. She stomped away from everyone doing their best to congratulate the newly married couple, and marched straight for the house.
“Hey! Come back here and take a picture with Uncle Riley and everybody,” Havoc called after her.
“If I gotta wear a dress, I’m gonna wear a dress with Gerald,” she said, as she headed inside to get her iguana. “I’ll be back!”
Lazarus watched Harley stomping away. “Who’s Gerald, and do I really want to know?”
“Gerald is her five pound iguana. He’s tangerine and white and he’s actually pretty cool,” Havoc said.
“No, shit! I want to meet Gerald!” he said. He pecked a kiss to Alex’s lips, then grinned at his daughter. “Amanda, want to go meet Gerald?”
Amanda shrugged. “Sure.”
“We’ll be back.”
Havoc and Analise stepped off the gazebo and into the crowd, accepting congratulations and hugs from everyone as the photographer followed them, snapping candid shots of everyone they interacted with.
The females cried intermittently, the males whistled and whooped and hollered, and everyone celebrated with them. Except Remi. Remi stood in place, his eyes glued to Cristie, as they had been since she’d stepped up onto the floor of the gazebo for a photo with her family.
“Remi?” Bailey asked.
Remi continued to stare at Cristie, who had left the gazebo and was visiting with everybody as she took her time moving among their families.
“Remi?” Bailey said again, laying her hand on his arm.
Remi startled just a little and his head whipped down as she called his name and touched him.
“Are you alright?” Bailey asked.
“Fine, why?” he asked with a little attitude to it.
“Just asking. You seemed to get real quiet all of a sudden.”
He turned and looked over to the last place he saw Cristie once more before taking Bailey by the hand and leading her over to have a seat.
“You have a huge family,” Bailey said.
“Yeah, family and extended family. And it just keeps growing.”
“That’s good, though. All I’ve got is my parents and an aunt. The few cousins that I do have are older than me and I’m not even sure where they’re living now.”
“Have to start your own family, then,” Remi said, searching for Cristie. He hadn’t seen her since the photo at the gazebo and was anxious to see if she had the same effect on him.
“Who you looking for?” Hellen asked, wandering over and sitting down beside Bailey and Remi.
“You,” Remi said. “You good?”
“Yep. Never better,” Hellen answered.
“You sure?” Bailey asked. “You don’t look very enthusiastic.”
“She’s been weird for a while now, or is it she’s always been weird?” Remi asked, trying to tease Hellen.
Bailey took a second to really look at Hellen. “You do look sad. But not weird.”
“Told you I’m not weird,” Hellen said, pretending to hit Remi’s arm. “I’m just not in the greatest head space.”
“Can I do something?” Bailey asked.
“No, I wish you could, but even I can’t do anything about this.”
“You still worried about that animal you were trying to save?” Remi asked, refocusing on the conversation happening around him.
Hellen shrugged. “He just disappeared. I can’t help but worry that someone hurt him. He was too weak to go far on his own.”
“I’m sure he’s fine. He just went off to be alone. Wild animals don’t like nursemaids,” Remi said.
“Hope so,” Hellen said. “This one wasn’t as wild as one might think, though,” she said, looking pointedly at Remi.
“Really?!” he asked, realizing what she meant.
“Yeah, I think,” Hellen said.
“You never said that before,” Remi said.
“Doesn’t really matter at this point, does it?” Hellen asked.
“What kind of animal was it?” Bailey asked.
“Alligator,” Hellen answered.
“A gator? Honestly, Hellen, you’re going to get yourself bitten in half one day. You didn’t tell us that before, and you didn’t say it wasn’t… quite as wild as it could have been,” Remi said, trying to remain vague about what they were talking about in the company of a human.
“I thought I had.”
“No, you didn’t. And you know you didn’t.”
“Doesn’t much matter. I have no proof, just a feeling I got. Not worth getting everybody involved in what’s most likely just an unlikely possibility at the wedding today,” Hellen said, watching her brother and Analise pose and kiss for the photographer again. “They’re so happy.”
“They’re supposed to be. That’s what happens when you find your mate,” Remi said, his eyes focused on the other side of the yard.
“Is it? Maybe it’s not that way for everybody,” Hellen said.
“What’s not that way?” Tempest said as she wandered over and plopped down beside Hellen.
“Happy mates,” Hellen said.
“Oh. Most are, some aren’t. Can we eat now?” Tempest asked.
“Come on,” Hellen said, laughing as she stood up and took Tempest by the hand, pulling her up as well. “Let’s go get you some food.”
Tempest smiled and happily allowed Hellen to take her to the buffet table. “Thank you! Someone finally cares that I’m starving!”
“You hungry?” Remi asked Bailey, holding out his hand to her.
Bailey took his hand and followed him toward the food.
At the same time they arrived to get in line right behind Tempest and Hellen, a beautiful blonde haired woman did, too. She stood there, her blue eyes wide as she and Remi locked gazes.
Neither spoke, and time seemed to stand still.
“Remi?” Bailey asked.
No answer.
“Remi? You okay?” Bailey tried again. When she still got no answer, she reached out and placed a hand on Tempest’s back to get her attention.
Tempest turned around and found Bailey staring at Remi and the young woman.
Bailey raised an eyebrow as though asking what was going on. “Remi?” she tried again, and again, Remi didn’t hear a word she said.
“Hey Remi, who’s this?” Tempest asked.
Remi just kept standing there staring at Cristie.
“Remi!” Tempest said sharply.
Remi tore his gaze away from Cristie and looked at Tempest.
“You good?” Tempest asked.
“Huh?”
“You good?” Tempest asked.
“Of course,” Remi said defensively.
“Everybody’s trying to call your name. Maybe you should try to pay attention, at least a little.”
“Sorry. I’m just a little surprised. This is Cristie, we were friends when we were little kids. Really little kids,” Remi said.
“Oh! Cristie… you’re Riley and Maia’s daughter,” Tempest said, figuring out quickly who she was. “Sorry I didn’t meet you earlier. I’m Tempest, Brandt’s mate. I made us run late because I had to have a snack before we left home.”
Cristie smiled when she focused on Tempest. “Of course, I’ve heard all about you, Tempest. I’m happy to meet you. Maia and Riley are my parents, and Maia is Havoc’s sister, so technically, Havoc is my uncle.”
“That’s mind blowing!” Tempest said.
“How’s this to add to it, I’m Cristie’s Aunt Hellen. And she’s older than Havoc and I.”
They all laughed, Cristie included.
“And this is Bailey. Bailey, this is Cristie,” Remi said.
“And she’s my bestie,” Tempest said proudly.
“It’s very nice to meet you,” Cristie said, extending her hand.
“Thank you. And you have to tell me stories about Remi when he was little,” Bailey said.
“I’m afraid I don’t have any. He’s a couple of years older than me,” Cristie said. “I don’t remember much more than just Remi always being there.”
“Oh, well, that’s understandable,” Bailey said.
“This all smells delicious. I can’t wait for seconds,” Tempest said.
“You haven’t eaten at all, yet,” Bailey said.
“I know! Can we get this line moving?” Tempest demanded playfully.
Tempest, Hellen, Bailey, and Remi, found a place at a table together and as they enjoyed their meal, Brandt joined them.
Cristie took her plate and went back over to sit with her parents and Poppy and Val, and Avaleigh and Daniel a few tables over.
But the entire time everyone sat and enjoyed the meal, laughing and trading stories and reminiscing, Remi’s gaze continued to wander over to Cristie.
Occasionally Cristie would glance up and meet his gaze, before very slowly turning her gaze away from him, as though denying he even had the ability to look at her without her permission.
“Cristie, you get a chance to talk to Remi?” Maverik asked.
“I did for a moment, yes,” Cristie said, smiling at her Poppy.
Maverik watched her make a point of adjusting herself so she was facing away from Remi. He looked at Remi, saw him staring at Cristie, then at Valerie to see if she was watching, then to Cristie and Remi again. His brows bunched up in question as he implored Valerie without words to take notice of what he’d noticed. Finally, he lifted just one of his brows and cleared his throat as he refocused on Avaleigh, Daniel, Riley and Maia. “Do y’all remember when Remi was a tiny little thing and he was in day care with Cristie?”
“Maverik,” Valerie said quietly, realizing he was on to something he most likely shouldn’t have even been acknowledging.
“What? Don’t you remember?” he asked Valerie. “They were so cute. These two little babies, and Remi was what just a couple years older? And he was so worried about protecting her and making sure she was okay. Only other person he ever protected that way was Avaleigh.”
Avaleigh smiled and looked over toward Remi. “He’s always been such a sweet and loving young man. Even when he was a little boy.”
“Yep. We all knew there was something special about him back then. He attached himself to Cristie, then Avaleigh and Daniel, and then Angelle came along. Once he loves you, he loves you.”
Riley nodded his head. “Oh, yeah. He was a good kid. Always had a strong sense of right and wrong, even back then. I couldn’t be any prouder of the male he is if he was my own son.”
Remi smiled gratefully, knowing that without Riley he may not be alive today, much less surrounded by family he loved. “Thank you, Riley.”
“My boy has always been something special,” Daniel said. “Remember how protective he was over Avaleigh when he first met her? Stood me off like I better get away from her, or I was going to have to answer to him. Little bitty thing, too.”
Remi sat perfectly still, listening to every one reminisce about him being a little child, and willing Cristie to look his way again.
But she didn’t. It was like she studiously ignored him, and was incapable of hearing any further conversation about him. And it drove him insane. For some reason, it seemed unreasonably important that Cristie hear that he’d always been a good male, even as a little boy.
Bailey listened to the stories of Remi when he was little and noticed that they were either tied to his parents or to Cristie. She tried to smile at Remi, warmed at all the praise they were giving him, but Remi was totally unaware.
Remi was watching Cristie so intently he seemed to have forgotten that Bailey was beside him.
“So, you and Cristie must have really been close. Did you stay in touch?” she asked.
Remi wasn’t even aware that she’d spoken to him. Cristie was his singular focus.
Giving up, Bailey sighed deeply, but couldn’t help that she was beginning to grow upset a little at a time.
Her unrest was what caught his attention.
He turned to look at her with confusion reflected in his expression. “You feeling okay, Bailey?” he asked.
“Yeah. I’m fine. I think I’m just about ready to go home.”
“Are you sure? It’s not even close to over yet.”
“Honestly, I feel like I’m intruding on a family event.”
“That’s ridiculous. I wanted you here with me today.”
Bailey nodded. “I’m sure you did.”
“I’m sorry, I know you had to be speaking to me. I don’t know what’s wrong with me today. I feel spacey. What did I miss?”
“I just asked if you’re still in contact with Cristie. Seems like you were really close as children.”
“We were, I guess. I remember some of it, but, like most people, we grew apart when her parents moved to Missouri.”
“That’s a shame,” Bailey said.
“Well, I mean, we text from time to time, but don’t really talk on the phone or anything. Usually just a few quick sentences for birthdays and holidays and the like.”
“At least you're still in contact.”
“Not sure why she’s ignoring me now, though,” he said, as his gaze traveled across the yard again.
“Hey, let’s talk about Brandt now,” Maverik said.
“Me? I didn’t do anything,” Brandt said.
“Bullshit… you used to push all the older kids around when y’all were kids,” Maverik said.
“I didn’t bully anybody. All I did was make y’all do the right thing you should have been doing to begin with, just like I’m still doing,” Brandt said.
Everybody started teasing Brandt, shifting the attention from Remi to Brandt and giving Remi a break.
Remi laughed as everyone told stories of Brandt as a little boy, already showing signs of being Alpha then. He realized that there was no sound of Bailey’s laughter and turned to look at her.
He smiled at her, and she smiled back, but it was just a hint of a smile. “Are you alright?”
“Yes. Are you?”
“Always,” he said, reaching for her hand and clasping it in his for a few moments.
Movement to his right caught his attention and he looked up to find Cristie standing over the buffet table just a few feet away, choosing some more foods to try. He immediately let go of Bailey’s hand.
Bailey folded her hands in her lap and sat quietly listening to all the stories everyone took turns sharing about Remi and all his cousins when they were kids, finally focusing on Havoc and his unwavering obsession with a tiny Analise when she was barely able to walk.
“I mean, she was pretty devoted to him, too,” Everly said. “She didn’t want to be on the floor with the other kids. She was a little nervous with too much activity, but the moment Havoc walked in and took a seat beside her, everything was suddenly alright in her little world. They just… needed each other, even then.”
Havoc and Analise smiled and leaned into each other. Havoc kissed her gently, then leaned his head on top of hers while the memories kept being shared.
Not much later Bailey finally decided that she’d stayed long enough that it wouldn’t be rude to ask Remi to take her home. “I think it’s really time for me to go home now,” she said, staring steadily at him.
“But we’re going to have a bonfire and shoot fireworks,” Remi said.
“I know, but I’m really tired. If you hurry maybe you won’t miss too much before you can get back.”
“Are you upset with me? Did I do something?”
“I’m just ready to go.”
“If you really want to go, I’ll take you. I just hate for you to miss the rest of the evening.”
“I’m sure. I really want to go.”
“Alright. You want some leftovers to take with you?” he asked, trying to be as lighthearted as he could.
“No, I just want to go home, shower and get in bed.”
“Let me tell somebody where I’m going so they’ll know I’ll be right back,” Remi said.
“I’m sorry,” Bailey said.
“No, it’s nothing to be sorry over. I’ll run you home.”
Remi walked over to where Brandt and Kaid were deep in discussion about something and laid his hand on Brandt’s shoulder.
“What’s up?” Brandt asked, looking at Remi.
“I’m going to run Bailey home.”
“You coming back, huh?” Brandt asked. “We haven’t even had the bonfire yet. That’s when the real party starts!”
“Yeah, I won’t be long.”
“Alright. We’ll wait for you,” Brandt said.
Remi nodded, then turned to walk back to Bailey, but his gaze caught Cristie’s. He seemed to get stuck in place for a moment before Brandt stood up and patted his back. “You sure you’re up to it? I can drive her home if you’re not feeling well.”
“No, I’m okay. I’m not sure what’s wrong with me, but I can get Bailey home.”
“Alright. Call me if you need me.”
Remi didn’t answer, he just went straight back to Bailey who waited for him with her purse in her hands. “You ready?”
“Yes, thanks for taking me home,” she said.
“Bailey, why wouldn’t I? You don’t have to thank me like it’s unusual or something. It’s not like it’s the first time we’ve been out.”
“No, it’s certainly not like that,” she quipped as she led the way to his car.
As Brandt and Kaid watched Remi and Bailey drive away, Brandt shook his head. “That was strange.”
“I think he handled it well for the most part,” Kaid said.
“Handled what?” Brandt asked.
“You don’t know?” Kaid asked.
“Know what?”
“Cristie is his mate,” Kaid said, lowering his voice and making sure that nobody else was paying attention to their conversation.
“The fuck you say!” Brandt exclaimed.
“No, it’s the truth,” Kaid said, nodding for emphasis.
“How do you know that?” Brandt demanded.
“Delilah told me. Picked up on it right away. And Maverik did, too, from the stories he started telling about Remi and Cristie. You know how he’s always trying to fix something.”
“Sonofabitch. What’s Remi going to do? I mean, he’s with Bailey,” Brandt said.
“Seems to me, he’s got some thinking to do,” Kaid said. “Instinct says choose your mate, but we all know that is not always the best option. He’s gotta follow his heart.”
Hellen walked past Brandt and Kaid as the darkness was beginning to set, acting like it was the most normal thing in the world for her to just walk away from the reception. She was hoping that no one would think her leaving was out of the ordinary and not call her out on it. She just couldn’t fake it anymore, and that meant it was past time for her to go. Naturally, with her nosy family, it wasn’t to be.
Brandt’s attention was locked on the dust trail Remi’s car had left behind, so when Hellen walked right through it to cross the road and start toward her house, he saw her right away. He didn’t hesitate. “Where you going?”
Hellen didn’t stop walking, or turn around and speak to Brandt, she just kept going when she called out her answer. “I’m going to go home and get a little rest. I have a headache.”
“You coming back out for the bonfire?” Brandt asked.
“I might, let me see if I can get rid of this headache first,” she answered, now fully across the road and preparing to jump over the deep ditch that ran parallel to the road.
“Alright. But listen, be careful by the ditches and all the lots with the tall grass in them. Watch yourself. I’d have sworn I saw some gator tracks out by my place yesterday,” Brandt said.
Hellen stopped walking and turned to face Brandt. “Are you sure?”
“Oh, yeah. Big ole muddy mess on the bank there where we launch the boat. Can’t tell if it was coming or going the last time, but looks like it’s been back and forth a few times. Just be careful so you don’t get bit. It’ll move along eventually.”
“Thanks,” Hellen said as she jumped over the ditch and changed direction to go see the tracks for herself. “Is it you?” she whispered to the quiet woods around her as she hurried to be able to see the gator marks for herself. “Please let it be him,” she begged the quiet night around herself.
~~~
Thank you for reading Emmalyn’s Strength. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it. I appreciate you and hope you’ll check back for the next book in the series — it shouldn’t take me too long to finish writing it.