Chapter 11
Grace
“ G race!” My sister’s voice echoed through the lobby and I raced from the dining room to meet her.
We clashed in a hug that had both of us nearly falling but Nolan kept us upright.
His laughter was happy and carefree, exactly why the guys and I had stepped up this weekend.
I didn’t want this week wrapped in any stress.
“You’re finally here,” I said as I let her go. The guys and I had doused our rooms and ourselves in de-scenting spray already. I hated it, but it made it a whole lot easier to hide things.
“Help me unpack and tell me everything,” she demanded as the guys picked up her insane number of suitcases and carried them upstairs to their suite.
The moment the door closed, she was eyeing me. “Something’s different.”
I laughed, deflecting. “That’s what a weekend on the lake with no work will do. I hadn’t realized how badly I needed this break.”
She narrowed her eyes, but nodded, accepting that answer. Then she grinned, a mischievous edge to it.
“So, how did rejecting Bianca last night go?”
I sat down and burst out laughing. “Girl, I ducked under the conference table where we were putting together party favors. The guys were cool enough to play along and didn’t bat an eye when we told them not to let her stay.
And hiding was the right choice, the employee came back to check if we’d be willing to give up a room and she stomped right back like she owned the place.
Throwing around the classic ‘my family is spending a lot of money here’ card. ”
Hailey groaned. “She’s going to be insufferable. Why the hell did I do this?”
“Because you wanted a wedding that you love, one with family surrounding you and everyone celebrating with you,” I reminded her gently. “Don’t let them ruin it for you.”
“I didn’t, not really,” she sighed. “I wanted to elope and she talked me out of it.”
“True, but that was just to avoid them,” I argued gently. She gave me a tight smile, then rolled her eyes.
“Mom’s just as bad. Did she call you?”
Dreading the explanation, I shook my head.
“She reminded me that we are all family and to not get too caught up in details. That no matter what happens, nothing will take away from our experience.”
“Oh god,” I gasped. “Do you think they’re planning a pregnancy announcement?”
Hailey flopped back on the bed, her chestnut hair fanning out around her. “I had the same thought. How do I even avoid that?”
“You leave it to me, our friends, and the groomsmen. I already explained everything and they’re going to help me keep it about you and Nolan.”
“I’m so glad you get along. I was worried they’d be snotty because of who they are,” she admitted. “We only met once and they were great, but I still worried.”
“No need to worry, they’ve been helpful and nothing but on their best behavior,” I said truthfully.
She let out a breath. “Well, tomorrow is the real test.”
“Speaking of, our very mated cousin tried to get flirty and they shut it down. I don’t think this week is going to go quite like they think it will,” I said as I laughed at the memory.
“Just relax and enjoy yourself. I’ll run interference as much as I can.
Plus, Sidney comes tomorrow. You know she’ll be an even bigger help. ”
She laughed at that. “Sidney never was one to hold back.”
“Exactly,” I agreed. “Now, pick out something cute. You know they’ll be here bright and early.”
It was a bit weird to head for my room and avoid my pack, but I was honestly thankful for the solitude as I closed the door behind me.
I only had a few minutes to change and prepare before I had to be downstairs again and I soaked in every second.
The lobby was pure chaos when I arrived. Loud voices, laughter, and too many people in one space.
Then I saw him.
A face I hadn’t thought of in nearly a decade.
In a momentary panic I sought out Hailey, snagging her arm. She turned, ready to say something snarky until she saw my face.
“Grace, what is it?”
“Did you invite, Drew?” I hissed, eyes wide and heart threatening to beat out of my chest.
“Oh, Nolan did. They’re friends, I didn’t even think about it. Why? You guys were friends once, right?”
God, if she only knew. It was the one secret I kept from my sister.
Drew and I were a lot more than just casual friends. We’d been each other’s first in a lot of ways.
Though, we weren’t right for each other. Our scents were still coming in and didn’t feel right, he had a whole career ahead of him with football and I was stuck in my own way wanting to be close to town and my big sister.
He couldn’t understand why my family moved and I wouldn’t.
I wanted to be enough for him to stay. In the end, I wasn’t.
Hailey was dragged away before I could say a word, leaving me open and vulnerable.
“Grace,” Drew’s voice was deeper than I remembered. He was bigger, too, bulked up from his time playing.
“Hey, Drew,” I said, plastering on a smile that I didn’t feel. I wasn’t sure why seeing him like this was throwing me so bad.
Maybe it was that pact. The one we made the night he left.
“Still playing football?” A flash of hurt ghosted over his features at my question, before he shook his head.
“No, got one too many injuries and was forced to retire.” He played for a pro team, which meant this was common knowledge. It was a reminder that I hadn’t kept tabs on him.
Did that mean he was keeping tabs on me?
Then I saw Spencer standing behind him, looking concerned.
Fuck, this went from complicated, to chaotic, far too fast for my liking.
“How have you been?” he asked, so focused on me he didn’t notice my pack moving in behind him.
“Good, good. Busy with all the wedding stuff going on, of course,” I said. My voice was higher pitched than I meant it to be but I disguised it with an unhinged laugh.
Great, he probably thought I lost my mind.
“Where are my cousins!” Bianca’s poorly timed entrance had me wincing.
“I’m sorry, I have to go protect Hailey. We’ll catch up later,” I promised. My hand brushed his arm and a low growl echoed from somewhere nearby. My fingers tingled where I’d touched him, and I was confused and stunned as I faced off with my cousin.
Her dark hair was twisted in a bun, her makeup overdone already and of course, she was wearing a white skirt and blazer that made her look older than she was.
I’m sure she thought it was stylish, but it was too much like Miss Trunchbull to be cute.
“Bianca, it’s so good to see you,” I gushed, giving her air kisses on her cheeks like she did to me. It was a well practiced dance I hated.
“Bianca,” Hailey greeted, eyeing the suit but giving her a pinched smile.
“Ah, radiant as ever, Hailey. You’re going to be such a beautiful bride. I can’t wait to see it,” she exclaimed. “Celine should be along shortly.”
“Oh good,” I said, wishing I felt it.
Then I heard our mother. I swear this was the day that just kept giving.
“Oh, my baby is getting married!” Mom yelled out, pushing through the crowd to pull Hailey into a hug. I could see how tense my sister was already.
“I’m glad you made it, Mom,” she said until my aunt butted into the conversation, the same vibes as Bianca, just with more wrinkles.
“It was a long drive. This is such a… quaint, little location,” she said with full judgment in her voice.
Mom sighed and plastered on a smile like she always did. “It’s lovely. Reminds me a bit of home.”
“Of that tiny, little backroads town?” Aunt Cassidy said, raising one overly-manicured brow.
“It does,” I agreed with mom. “I love Rockwood Valley.”
That got both of their attention on me like I wanted, giving Hailey a chance to escape. She slipped away without a word.
“Oh, are you still there?” Aunt Cassidy asked me, grasping her non-existent pearls. “Though, I heard Hailey is escaping soon. At least she has a good head on her shoulders.”
Even though her comment was rude, my chest ached at the thought of Hailey moving away. I’d tried to avoid it the best I could and definitely didn’t let my sister know.
She loved her job there and I liked having her close, I was still holding out hope she’d change her mind.
“I am,” I said. “They just launched a new omega apartment and I was sharing it until my roommates ended up packed up, so now I’m staying at Hailey’s place until I figure out what house I want to buy.”
“How can you afford that?” Bianca scoffed. “You just do little designs on your computer, right? You know, I bet Bianca could get you an entry level job at the firm.”
Like Bianca had any sway at her corporate job. She was also low on the totem pole.
“And you do what? Nothing at all?” I shot back. “My job more than pays my bills and cushions my savings, not that it’s any of your business.”
“Oh, no need to get so defensive,” she said like I was the problem. Her eyes lit up as someone stepped up to my side.
“Hello, ladies. Just checking that everyone has everything they need.” Beck’s smile was well-practiced as he glanced around at us all, not lingering on me for longer than necessary and fuck I hated that. Especially when facing off with my aunt.
“Oh, and who might you be?” Cassidy purred at him. It took everything in me not to let my omega out, though she was gnawing at the bars of her enclosure at the moment, begging for me to put this bitch in her place.
“Best man,” he answered. “Nolan is my brother.”
“Oh, such handsome men in your family,” Bianca praised. He had all three of them eating out of his hands.
Fuck, I hated this.
Then Celine walked up, wearing a microdress that showed her ample breasts and just ghosted the top of her thighs, barely hiding any of her assets.
“Oh, hello there,” she purred, giving him a sultry smile as she pushed herself to the front, shoving her chest out. “I’ve got a pack but you would certainly fit right in with them. What’s one more?”
“Hey now, babe,” a man behind her protested, though he had a smirk on his face that was outright disgusting as he looked Beck up and down.
God, my family is embarrassing… and a bit trashy.
Fuck, I wished Sidney was here already. I needed a damn ally. One I didn’t have to hide from.
“Everyone, if we could have you move to the dining room we will be serving drinks and appetizers in there,” a woman called out. Hailey was smiling up at her in relief, which meant this was probably her normal wedding planner we were waiting for.
Thank god. One less thing to stress about.
Everyone moved to the dining room making it a lot easier to breathe. It also made me easier to find.
“After you,” Cade said just as Drew walked up. The men locked eyes and I watched on nervously as Drew’s narrowed. Cade kept his smile friendly, at least.
“I’m Drew, friend of the groom and Grace’s childhood best friend. You are?”
The alpha was one hundred percent trying to stake a claim where he didn’t belong.
Not anymore.
He hadn’t spoken to me in far too many years to count as anything.
“I’m a groomsman, and one of Grace’s current friends,” he said easily, dismissing him with a wave to the dining room. “Drinks are in here.”
He steered me around the alpha and into the dining room. I knew he had questions.
Hell, so did I.