Chapter 22
Twenty-Two
WILLOW
After Kaelen left, I stared at the blank door for I didn’t know how long before slinking into the shower. The hot water sprayed against my face as I shampooed my hair. My lips turned down in a frown at how dull the blue streaks in my hair had gotten.
I made a mental note to text Sam. She was the only one I trusted with my hair. Despite not being licensed, she had been dyeing it since I met her.
When I padded out into the bedroom with a fluffy towel wrapped around me. I expected to find Aileen waiting for me.
Yet, the room was empty. My stomach twisted as uneasiness slithered around my heart like gnarled ivy. While I may have reconciled myself to Kaelen being my alpha, our looming marriage made new levels of anxiety stick to my ribs.
The bed sank under me as I sat on the edge, twirling my fingers in my lap while water dripped ominously from my hair.
A quiet knock echoed on the door, and I paused. It was Aileen with my dress, coming to help me get ready. Despite my arguing that I didn’t need a dress, she and Kaelen insisted. So I gave up the fight. I fidgeted with the ring on my finger, hating how pretty it looked.
“Come in,” I finally mumbled, spinning away to face the vanity.
“Surprise!” a familiar high-pitched voice called.
My head snapped forward, and I jumped to my feet.
“Sam,” I shrieked, wrapping my arms around her waist as she fussed with the heavy garment in her arms. “What are you doing here?”
“Well, two gorgeous men with even prettier accents came to my house last night and told me you were getting married. How could I say no to being here for my best friend? It also helped that I was sandwiched between that sexy Scottish and Irish brogue,” she said, winking.
My eyes crinkled. “Did they tell you what was going on?”
“Only after I pestered them endlessly. Don’t worry. I whittled them down.”
While telling me all about how pretty Torin and Aidan were, she maneuvered me into a chair after discarding the garment bag on the bed. I nibbled on my lip, loving how enamored Sam was while she pulled out hair dye, makeup, and a curling iron.
The tightness in my muscles unwound as she worked on my hair, letting the dye sit while she leaned over me, doing my makeup.
“Then they had the audacity to threaten me if I told anyone.”
Logically, I knew Kaelen would never allow his men to harm Sam, even if she spilled the beans. It would be an accident if it ever happened. But she wouldn’t.
“What did you tell them?”
“That I would claw their eyes out. For some reason, Torin’s dick twitched when I said that.”
I snorted, sputtering on a cough. Tossing the used brushes aside, she moved to drying and styling my hair. The levity in the room vanished, sucked out all at once as she clung to me and I covered her hand with mine.
“Are you okay, Willow?” I nodded, and her eyes thinned in the mirror. “I mean it. We’ll run away.”
“There are armed guards everywhere. We wouldn’t make it past the gate.”
Turning off the curling iron, she moved around until she was between me and the mirror. She crouched, taking my face in her hands as her expression hardened.
“If you don’t want this, Willow, I’ll find a way to get you out of here.”
Every emotion I had stuffed away for the last few weeks came rushing to the surface before I could stop them.
“But I do,” I huffed, staring at her through glassy eyes.
“Oh, babe. Then what’s wrong?”
“I’m scared,” I whispered.
A small voice inside me chanted that fear didn’t mean danger. My muscles twitched as my breath came in quick stutters, making my chest burn. I could do this. I could be like Shadow. I could push through my fear and find happiness.
“Of Kaelen? I mean, he is The Butcher. The title is only slightly unnerving. He’s never hurt you though. Right? Seriously, I’ll murder his ass. I don’t care who he is.”
“No. Never. That’s not it.”
“Then,” she paused, her eyes widening as her lips parted in a wide O. “Willow… you love him.”
It wasn’t a question. She saw it. I had never been able to hide anything from her. Sam knew all my secrets, from the burns on my skin to every horrific thing my dad did.
My fingers splayed across my breastbone, trying to soothe the ache there.
Growing up, everyone told me I would just know when it was right. That answer always frustrated me. How was that even possible? Now, sitting here with Sam looking at me with such a tender expression, I realized maybe that was exactly how it happened.
“I’m not sure. Maybe.”
“Oh, babe!” she squealed. “You deserve it. Kaelen is gone for you.”
“Have you ever even talked to him?”
“I don’t need to,” she said with a dismissive wave. “I can see it. The way he looks at you. It’s intense. It’s the way an alpha is supposed to look at their omega. Like they’d burn the world for them. And then give them the ashes on a silver platter.”
I sucked in a sharp breath, sitting in silence while she continued to work.
Sam fluffed out the curls into romantic waves. As she unplugged the curling iron, her fingers lingered over the outlet, and she whipped out her phone, snapping a photo of the empty outlet.
My lips quirked. I never judged Sam. No matter how much she tried, sometimes she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. She’d gotten better over the last few years, asking for reassurance from me less.
In the year since she moved from South Carolina, her OCD flared up, making it hard for her to even leave the house. I was so proud of her.
I would always be there for her. Just like she was for me.
“Pretty,” she said, kissing my cheek and helping me stand. “Do you want to see it first?”
Dainty fingers clung to the garment bag as she wiggled it, a playful gleam shining in her eyes.
“Surprise me,” I said, turning away from the mirror.
It wasn’t a frilly, poofy gown, and that was all that mattered.
The garment bag landed on the floor with a thud, and Sam tapped my ankle. I stepped into the pool of silk at my feet, keeping my back to the mirror.
My heart still thudded like wild rhinos.
“There,” Sam whispered as she dusted her hands over my arms. “You’re gorgeous.”
Her hands rested on my hips, spinning me. My brows raced into my hairline, and an unfamiliar sound rattled around my ribs. It was unlike anything I had ever seen.
Pure ivory satin hugged my curves, accenting every dip as it whispered over my flushed skin. The swooping asymmetrical neckline wrapped around one side of my bust while the other was tastefully covered in illusion fabric adorned with Swarovski crystals.
They glittered all the way down to my wrists, making me look like some garden fairy.
Sam hugged me from behind.
“Don’t ruin my work,” she said, her eyes lighting up in the mirror. “I’ll be right beside you the entire time.”
“Thank you.”
As Sam left me to walk down the makeshift aisle, I tipped my head back.
Hues of purple and pink splashed against the sky as the sun set. It was unseasonably warm.
I stood underneath the gazebo that led into the ground’s gardens. Aileen was worried it would be too cold for an outdoor wedding, but the weather held out.
A handful of chairs sat on either side of the grassy path lined with stunning arrays of fall florals. My fingers trembled around the brocade velvet on the handle of my bouquet. Aileen had done an amazing job in only a few days. I swore the woman was part superhero. That was the only explanation.
That, and Kaelen’s influence.
People said money didn’t buy happiness, but it definitely made things happen.
Music rang in the distance, and I had a feeling that was my cue. My feet stayed rooted to the spot.
A weight grew between my shoulder blades as a large hand rested there, snapping me out of my wandering thoughts.
“Looks like you need an escort. May I?”
Dark hazel eyes met mine—soft and welcoming. Liam offered his arm, and I wrapped my fingers around his forearm. He was the closest to my age, and the more chaotic of Kaelen’s brothers.
A bit of a wild child, even by mafia standards.
But in that moment, I saw him as a brother.
A steady force that wouldn’t let me tumble.
I always hated growing up without siblings. Most alpha and omega bonded pairs had big families, but unfortunately, my family hadn’t been so lucky. I looked forward to having two new brothers. Three if I counted Torin.
Liam’s hand covered mine and we started to move.
Afraid to meet Kaelen’s gaze, I stared at my silver flats poking out from under my dress with each step.
“Look up, Willow,” Liam said, his voice gentler than I had ever heard. “I promise you, it’s alright.”
Long fingers patted my hand. Dragging my lip over my teeth, I tilted my head up. On the left stood Sam with a tiny bouquet clutched in front of her dress. Ignoring how my heart hammered, I finally dared to look at him.
Aidan clutched Kaelen’s arm, whispering something in his ear.
A purr whispered against my lips as my eyes found his. The bright green glimmered in the setting sun, looking like dewy morning moss. He followed my every movement, his calm facade cracking ever so slightly. My omega preened, and a swell of emotion choked me.
Father Fitzpatrick nodded as Liam placed my hand in Kaelen’s. His crystal eyes twinkled under his half-moon glasses.
“My gorgeous omega,” Kaelen whispered, pecking my cheek as he stroked my ring.
I barely registered what was happening until Father Fitzpatrick directed me to turn Kaelen’s Claddagh ring while he did the same with mine.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
Two palms cradled my face, rubbing my cheeks with so much reverence. I covered his hands with my own, allowing him to angle my head how he wanted it. Warmth burrowed into my heart when I met his unguarded gaze, so full of longing and passion.
It was like Sam said; he looked at me like I was the center of the universe.
I almost blurted out those three words. But before I could make a fool of myself, his lips slotted with mine. Our few assembled guests broke into applause. Kaelen slid a hand to my nape, gripping it while his other fell to my hip, tugging me closer.
Father Fitzpatrick cleared his throat as Kaelen slid his tongue past my lips.
Desire burned beneath my freckles. Kaelen chuckled, palming my head and pressing it into him.
“Sorry, Father,” he murmured. “Got carried away with my blushing bride.”