Chapter 13
Thirteen
Knox
M y mind is screaming at me to run.
I watch the car drive away; Bailey turns in the backseat and looks at me until the car turns past some trees, and I can’t see her anymore.
No way in hell am I letting some random guy at this wedding hook up with my mate.
I debate following the car. I can still hear it in the distance, so it wouldn’t be too late to catch up and keep enough distance so that Bailey doesn’t notice me. But my body is vibrating with frustration. I can’t stand the thought of her with someone else, but how do I intervene if it comes to that? Just show up and potentially crash her best friend’s wedding? No doubt that’d make her hate me.
I let out a loud howl, desperate to release some pent-up frustration, when a familiar feeling gnaws at the pit of my stomach with ferocity. I feel my power come flooding back, my body twitching and shifting as clumps of fur fall away. It seems the magic leeched from me every day I couldn’t shift has finally paid the tarot’s toll. Paws turn to hands, and I find myself back in human form, stark naked on Bailey’s deck, with the sunlight caressing every bit of my bare skin .
Fuck, I’ve missed this.
I love how it feels to stand and move on two feet again. I stretch my arms over my head and wiggle the stiffness out of my limbs as I shift my weight from side to side. It feels so damn good to be me again.
And more importantly, the me that Bailey needs and deserves.
I look around, unsure of what I should do for clothes. I don’t have any here, and my house is too far away to stop there. I’ll miss too much of the wedding and risk Bailey meeting someone or something … happening.
I force the thought out of my head as I look at her kitchen window. From what I’ve seen, she never locks it. She probably feels she doesn’t need to, living way out here. I press my hands to the glass and slide, happy when it opens easily. I climb through and over the counter, my feet thudding softly on the wooden floor.
I wander through the house, this delightful feeling of contentment overtaking me. I’ve sat in the cabin’s doorway many times, watching her while she goes about her day, but I’ve never stepped inside. The place is flooded with scents and signs of her. Little notes on the fridge in her handwriting. Things she leaves lying about, like hair ties and books. I like gathering this story of her life, imagining her in the rooms I’d not seen, like the bathroom and bedroom.
Her bedroom is painted a smoky blue, not at all what I expected. Little pops of pastel yellow in pillows, a throw blanket, and the drapes give a touch of warmth to the space. The way the space is decorated is simple but beautiful, and my brain can’t help but wander to thoughts of the two of us falling to sleep together in her bed each night, my arm draped over her waist and her tucked against me.
I open the armoire across from the bed and find what I’m looking for—A few complete sets of men’s clothes. I grab a pair of blue jeans that look like they’ll fit and a plain T-shirt. It must be the remnants of her ex, some scraps of clothing he didn’t care for enough to pick up. It works out well for me that we’re about the same size, though the shirt is more snug around the biceps than I’d prefer. They have some residual douchebag stink to them as well, but beggars can’t be choosers.
I snoop around the house until I find the wedding invitation. I note the address and take off on foot, needing to arrive in the city dressed to pick up some better clothes. It’s a good thing I stashed my phone and wallet in the woods nearby when I realized I’d be staying at Bailey’s for a while. I need to pick out a proper suit if I’m going to impress Bailey at this wedding. Traveling in wolf form would be faster, but I’ll tear all these clothes if I shift in them. Still, even on two feet, I’m far faster than any human could ever be.
I dig up my wallet and race to the city. I know a good central spot for suits that isn’t too far from the venue. I head there and buy something off the rack, and it fits me surprisingly well for not being custom-tailored. I look in the mirror and smile, admiring how the dark gray fabric compliments my light gray eyes. I look damn sharp, and I can’t help but smile at the thought of what her reaction is going to be.
If seeing me like this doesn’t impress Bailey, nothing will.
I toss her ex’s clothes in a garbage can and head for the venue. It’s several blocks away, but walking there doesn’t take me too long. The wedding is at a local church, the outside of the place decorated in blush-colored roses, but all the fun will be at Cassie’s hotel reception. Every detail is immaculate, and I already know how stunning the gorgeous woman waiting for me inside is.
My heart is beating so fast I feel dizzy. It’s not like me to get nervous around women, but something about Bailey is different. Something about her makes me so badly want to impress her, woo her, and sweep her off her feet in a way she’s never experienced before.
It’s like what I did in that dream the other night.
The large, arched wooden doors of the church are tightly closed, but I swing them open and head inside. I enter the main lobby and coat check area, crossing it without a glance. Then I realize I hear music coming from the upper level, so I follow the noise upstairs and investigate. Everyone is spread out in a wide-open room that I’m sure hardly gets utilized for anything other than weddings and community board meetings.
I wander around, offering polite nods and smiles to the other patrons.
And then I see her. Bailey Dennis, my fated mate. And she’s all the more stunning up close.
I’m not sure I was ready for this.