Chapter 2
Grace
“ L ook at this place!” Aunt Candace gushed as she spun slowly, taking in the ballroom that was far too big and gaudy. I risked a glance at Hailey who barely hid her revulsion. This was our second venue and it was clear our family had lost their collective minds.
“It’s the cherubs, isn’t it?” I hissed, making her cover her laughter with a cough. The creepy, little, baby angels rested at the top of the pillars surrounding the room.
“Oh, can’t you just picture it?” Mom asked, rushing forward. “There would be the cake, over here a big arch for you and Nolan, the chairs out there for all of us.”
They were twirling like little princesses, not grown women who’d had weddings of their own at one time.
Though, my dads had bailed years ago and didn’t look back. Lately, I was starting to see why. Even if it still hurt they never cared enough to stay a part of our lives.
Candace’s alpha and her pretended for a few years before divorcing. He was happy to give up half and just be a dad, spoiling her two daughters when he could.
It made for some terrible entitlement. Bianca and Celine were some of the worst omegas I’d ever met. Carbon copies of their mom and bits of my mom thrown in since she always gravitated to them more.
Don’t stir the pot, Grace.
They meant no harm, don’t be so sensitive.
You always have to be so dramatic.
Then it was followed by that light, condescending laughter of hers.
“Breathe,” Nolan’s soft words washed over Hailey, and she sank into him. That, that right there was why I was going to take care of every bit of this chaos that I could.
“This isn’t the right venue,” I called back. “Let’s move on to the next.”
Both Mom and Candace looked affronted but one glance at the couple and they reluctantly agreed.
“The next one is better anyway,” Candace huffed as she stalked out, Mom in tow, muttering about picky omegas.
I gritted my teeth and sighed.
“You don’t have to do this, Grace,” Hailey said gently.
“What?”
“Be my protector. That’s my job as the older sister.”
“No. This is your wedding and we’ll make sure it’s perfect. I don’t have much work right now, so you can lean on me a bit more.”
She lit up, excited already and I instantly regretted it.
Until I heard Mom calling out for us to hurry. Then I was reminded swiftly why I was putting myself through this.
The third venue was worse than the first two. We started with a circus-themed place that even had tight ropes and rings for dancers. It was… interesting.
It might even beat the creepy cherubs in the title of worst venues for weddings in history.
This one was fully outdoor, a glass room nestled among the trees. It might be perfect if it didn’t share a fucking beach with the nudists down the way. Nothing like catching wrinkly asses in all your wedding shots.
Mom was scandalized, her gasp echoing out and drawing attention and waves from the nudists. Candace looked pleased with herself. When I raised an eyebrow, showing I saw right through it, she huffed.
“Well, this is all I had planned for today,” she said defensively. “How was I to know it was next to all… this?”
“The pamphlet,” I said, my eyes catching on the warning on the back. “It’s literally in print.”
“That’s okay, we can try another time. I’m tired anyway,” Hailey said, placating us both. “Ready, Grace?”
“Okay, let us know when you're ready for more, Aunt Candace and I will find another round of places.”
“Thanks, Mom,” Hailey said, practically dragging me and Nolan back to their car.
When we were safely enclosed inside she let out a breath. “That was fucking terrible. We actually have one more place, I just didn’t want them there. I’m sure they’d hate it. It’s a few hours drive if you’re up for it?”
“I’m sure we’ll love it, then,” I countered as I buckled in for the long drive ahead.
I was right. This place was far more appropriate for my sister and her alpha. The resort was nestled among the trees, a sparkling lake behind it. There were cabins sprinkled around the property.
I’d loved to explore more but a woman was stepping out of the main building, blinding smile on her face.
“I’m glad you could make it,” she said as she waved us in, shifting her pregnant belly out of the way to let us in.
It was clear within the first twenty minutes of the meeting that my sister was in love. Even Nolan was smiling and offering his ideas. He was so quiet during the other tours that I assumed he wasn’t into planning. It seemed he just wasn’t happy with the venues.
“We’ll take it. When’s your earliest slot?” Hailey asked, excitement taking over.
“Actually, we had a cancellation next month and have a free slot,” she admitted as she opened her portfolio and gestured to a time block on her calendar.
It was only a month out, but I bit any response as Hailey danced in her seat.
“They’d reserved the entire facility, so you would have the venue all to yourself.
It’s a full Monday through Sunday slot. I know a month isn’t a lot of time to-”
“We want it,” Hailey interrupted her after having a quick, whispered conversation with her alpha. Nolan seemed at ease, happy to indulge her.
“We’ll have to work hard to have everything ready in time,” I said, trying to hide my concerns. Hailey was detail oriented and this was only going to up the intensity of wedding planning.
“Maybe me or my sister could come down that weekend before, if you have any openings, to help with any last-minute details. She knows my wedding plans inside and out,” Hailey said before turning those pleading eyes on me. “I don’t know how much time I can get off work.”
“We have a family reunion scheduled, but there are several rooms available still. I can have your planner here, a conference room ready, and we’d be happy to help do what we can,” she assured us with a friendly smile.
“I’m sure I can make it work,” I found myself saying, cringing internally. The last thing I wanted to do was spend a weekend worrying if I was following her plans properly.
Again, I couldn’t say no either way. The way she lit up was everything. She deserved this on her own terms and her moving it up, kicked my mom and aunt right out of being able to take over planning.
“Perfect, penciling you in and we can work out a contract before you leave. We have a whole team of planners to assist you in any way we can. Our chef will handle the food and cake as long as we have your suggestions.”
Just like that it was a whirlwind of plans being solidified on a whim. My sister had never done anything spontaneous in her life and I loved that she was taking what she wanted.
I could easily work my ass off and clear that weekend and week of work, take a vacation, and make sure she had the best damn wedding of her life.
As we were walking out to the car with a whole folder in hand of information, she was practically glowing.
“This is perfect.”
She was right, I’d make damn sure it was perfect. It was time for me to stop being a quiet omega who was too much of a people pleaser.
Operation: Wedding was the first step in using my backbone and taking what I wanted from life.
Starting with making sure nothing could go wrong.