Chapter 12
Grace
A voiding Drew was becoming a full-time job. Thankfully, there was enough to keep me busy between Hailey and the wedding planner, and running interference with my cousins.
Though, now I was walking into the boutique for our dress fitting with Bianca and Celine both at our side.
Hailey looked ready to bolt and I was ready to throw a fist. They’d already complained about the venue, the shop, and our dress quality and we hadn’t even talked to the workers yet or seen our dresses.
My mom and aunt were right behind us, and no matter how many times my mom pretended to just be keeping the peace, she was forever my aunt’s biggest accomplice.
Honestly, I hated to think what she said about us when we weren’t listening. Probably just agreeing with it all like Hailey hadn’t let us all have free will in picking dresses, something I just knew she’d regret.
Mom’s dress was a pretty pink that matched Hailey’s wedding colors, my aunt’s was in a shade of soft purple. But Bianca and Celine had both avoided sending in a picture to Hailey for approval.
“Welcome in! I’m glad to have you ladies here. Hailey, I just steamed your dress and it is stunning. Let’s start with you,” the same woman who helped us last time said as she welcomed us in. Tracey was the sweetest beta and helped to calm some of the stress as she took over.
While she rushed Hailey off we took our seats near a small runway. My eyes welled up in tears as my sister stepped out, the picture of a princess. The dress was fluffy and gorgeous, the ivory shade beautiful on her.
“Stunning,” I said, voice cracking.
“Yes, you look just like a little cake topper,” Celine said with a snide giggle. I shot her a glare as my mom got all weepy.
“It’s perfect,” I said louder, making sure she knew how amazing she looked. If they were going to be assholes, I’d cheer even fucking louder.
Hailey had a soft smile on her face as she spun in a small circle, taking it in from all angles.
“No one better say another negative word,” I hissed, just loud enough they heard me but not my sister. “I’m not afraid to put you in your places. Fucking, try me.”
Four sets of shocked eyes landed on me but I kept my face straight ahead, letting them have their little moment of shock.
Tracey led her back behind the curtains, their voices talking excitedly about the veil and matching jewelry she’d picked out.
“What the hell was that? You don’t speak to us like that.” My aunt’s voice was pure venom.
I laughed as I leveled Cassidy with a look.
“Don’t act shocked. You guys have been negative from the start.
Hell, Bianca caused a scene trying to check in a day early.
You are not going to ruin Hailey’s moment and I swear to god if I catch one hint of an announcement or anything to draw attention away, I will make it mine, my friends, and the groomsmen’s mission to make your lives pure hell. ”
She gaped at me as the sisters shared a look. My mom was clutching her chest in shock, but I just waited with a smile on my face for Tracey to come back.
One by one she walked us back for the fitting. I didn’t bother to show off mine since Hailey was hiding out in the back and saw it. Her opinion was the only one that mattered.
We couldn’t avoid it any longer as Celine and Bianca took their turns. The staff was given parameters so it shouldn’t have been an issue.
Bianca was first, and honestly I couldn’t think of a single bad thing to say. She was stunning. The soft pink dress was made of satin and lace, cutting in at the waist then flaring slightly. It showed off her curves and height perfectly.
“That looks incredible on you,” Hailey said, clapping her hands. She was excited enough it soothed my aunt into silence for now.
Then it was Celine’s turn. Mine and Hailey’s jaws dropped in unison as she stepped out in an ivory, floor length, mermaid style dress.
It was a wedding dress.
A fucking, wedding dress.
“What are you doing?” I asked, ready for a fight.
“This is not the color I gave you. Grace’s dress is the only one standing out and that’s because it’s purple. What are you doing?” Hailey repeated my question and then some, earning a smirk from our cousin.
Celine did a little spin and kicked up her leg. “Just showing off the dress. Your colors are pink, purple, and ivory. I broke no rules.”
“You wasted our money,” Hailey thundered. “And now I’ll have to make a groomsman stand down because you’re sure as hell not wearing that at my wedding. You’re out.”
Celine’s jaw dropped as my mom and aunt both started in.
“Now, let’s not get hasty, Hailey,” Mom started her usual placations.
“What has gotten into you two? We are family,” Cassidy argued with pure indignation she had no right to feel at this moment.
“Family doesn’t do all you’ve done,” I said, pulling Hailey up. “We are heading back now while you reconsider your awful treatment of someone who is family and has always treated you with respect. Shame on all four of you for the behavior we’ve seen in only two fucking days.”
Hailey and I walked out, arm in arm, while she barely kept tears at bay and my anger was palpable.
The drive back was tense and I was glad we chose to drive separately. Mom could ride back with her preferred family anyway. She really was showing her true colors lately.
Something on our faces must have clued the guys in, Nolan and Beck were by the entrance when we pulled in, faces stormy, and me ready to kick everyone out.
“What happened?” Beck asked, narrowing his eyes in suspicion. I wanted nothing more than to fall into his arms and draw on my alpha’s comfort.
Keeping our distance sucked.
“Celine walked out for her fitting in a wedding dress.”
“Are you kidding me?” Nolan gasped. “How? Why?”
Hailey sniffled. “Because they don’t care about me. I’m really starting to regret our decision not to elope.”
“So, elope,” I said, giving her a look. Seeing my sister this angry had me ready to scream.
“You two sneak out tonight. We can help pack and get you to your cars unseen. Go have your wedding peacefully, elope. Once you’ve made it official, I’ll let the family know what happened.
Of course, I’ll let the awful four know that there’s no more chances to ruin anything.
A true one-up moment like you’ve been saying. ”
What started as a joke, turned serious as I laid it all out there.
Nolan and Hailey shared a look and he smiled softly. “Babe, I can’t stand seeing you miserable and you’ve been dreading this week for months. I’ve never seen you so stressed. That’s not what I want for my omega.”
“Let me pay, I’ll send you anywhere,” Beck offered.
“Italy?” Nolan offered, raising an eyebrow at her. Hailey’s dream was to visit at some point in her life. It was on her bucket list. Her alpha knew her well and it made me respect him even more for knowing her dream destination.
Beck didn’t even flinch as he pulled out his phone, starting to dial. “Is that your decision before I make the call?”
Hailey looked at me, eyes pleading, like she needed me to confirm I’d do this.
“I think you should go. Have your dream wedding and let us clean up this whole mess,” I said easily. “Just take pictures for me.”
“Have I ever told you that you’re the best sister in the whole world?” she asked with a sob, pulling me into a hug. I wrapped my arms around her, holding her tight, and giving Beck a nod.
“I love you, too, sis. Now let’s go get you packed,” I said, steering her up the stairs just as tires sounded on the gravel road leading to the lodge. I didn’t let her turn around to see them arrive, leaving Beck and Nolan to handle that fiasco.
Hailey packed her things up in a trance, not saying much as she shoved her and Nolan’s things in their bags. We stacked them by the door, one by one, before she finally looked at me.
“So, are you going to tell me why you’ve been so off this week?” she demanded as she crossed her arms.
“Me? Off?” I asked, confused because how could my sister possibly know? We’d done everything right.
“Girl,” she leveled me with a disbelieving look. “I love you, but I also know you. You’re being extra helpful and perky and also have a backbone of steel where you usually just flew under the radar.”
“I couldn’t let them ruin your wedding. They never let us have anything and I refused for that to happen to you,” I said honestly. The pack had nothing to do with me keeping them in line.
“That’s part of it,” she agreed. Her eyes softened for a moment. “And I love you for that.”
“Why do I feel a ‘but’ coming?”
She snorted. “Just tell me or I’m not leaving.”
“You’re going to turn down Italy?” I scoffed. “You’re insane.”
“And you’re keeping secrets,” she accused, sounding hurt now.
I groaned as I started to pace. “Can you just let it go for now? I’ll tell you when you get back.”
“No,” she said with pure stubbornness. When she was like this, she always won.
“And if I say that it’s just wanting to put our family in their place?”
She rolled her eyes. “Then I’d call you a liar and say we promised never to do that.”
“I just wanted you to have the spotlight,” I said with defeat as I flopped onto the edge of the bed.
“And I have it. You guys are cleaning up our mess and giving us an escape. It’s going to be fucking incredible. This is the biggest fuck you in history, so we both win. Now, spill.”
“Spencer, Cade, and Beck are my scent matches.”
I closed my eyes, bracing myself. Then a weight flopped on me and a piercing squeal filled the air.
“Shut up! Seriously?!” Hailey screamed again as she squeezed the life out of me. My wheezing laughter echoed out before I shoved her off.
“Yes, we found out when we met,” I admitted. “Though, they might fight Drew for making moves on me.”
“Oh, a little jealousy just makes the sex better,” She snorted. “Oh my god, I can’t believe this.”
Then she hit me, her face incredulous.
“You were going to hide this?”
“Until you got back from the honeymoon,” I defended. “I have no regrets on that. You deserved this moment and I wasn’t going to be like them.”
“Ugh, them . Can you fucking believe Celine? You could never be like them,” she argued.
A quick knock sounded before Beck, Spencer, Cade, and Nolan shuffled into the room.
“We got the planner to pull everyone into the dining hall for lunch. You guys have a flight in three hours, let’s sneak you out of here,” Beck said. “They’ve unlocked the maintenance hall and Nolan already pulled around back.”
“Nolan, did you know?”
My pack froze, while their brother looked at Hailey in confusion.
“About Celine’s dress? Of course not.”
She pointed at Beck. “No, about your brother finding his mate.”
“Wait, what?” Nolan said while Beck let out a startled noise and looked at me with wide eyes.
“She tortured it out of me,” I admitted.
“Wait, you?” Nolan asked, looking from me, to them, then back to me. I’d be offended if he sounded anything but confused.
“Yes,” I admitted. “We were keeping it a secret until after the wedding.”
His smile was blinding as he clapped his brother on the shoulder. “Congrats, bro. That right there is why she’s a good choice.”
“Yes, and you need to go before the bitch brigade finds you sneaking off,” Beck said with a chuckle. “We’ll handle the rest.”
“Starting with getting this de-scenting shit washed off,” Cade muttered, making us all laugh.
It felt like a master spy operation as we each took a bag or suitcase and rushed them off downstairs. We managed to load them into Nolan’s SUV without incident, glad the dining room didn’t face the back parking area.
“The dress shop is expecting you if you want the dress,” Spencer said. Hailey’s nose wrinkled, but she nodded.
“Don’t worry, I’ll send you some money for a new dress. Buy one in Italy. One that makes you smile,” I said as I hugged my sister tight, both of us swiping at tears.
Then they were off. My mates stepped close now, no need to keep our distance.
“I think we should make up an excuse, tell no one why they’re gone, and just have the normal activities until we have the photos in hand,” I said.
“That gives them time to adjust before the calls start,” Spencer sighed. “I have a feeling this won’t be pretty.”
“First things first, get your things to our suite so we can all shower,” Cade groaned. “I need to smell my mate.”