Chapter 16
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
________
EVA
Butterflies whirled in my stomach.
I sat in front of a mirror in dressing room number two backstage at the Maher Concert Hall. The same theatre where the DCAs were held, and the same dressing room where they first kissed me.
Half of the dressing room was shuttered behind curtains, where there was a bed set up for when we came backstage and fucked the hell out of each other before going to the reception. But this half was filled with my friends, and it was only a few minutes until everything started.
“You look perfect,” Petra said. “Seriously. I hate to tell you this, but I don’t know if you’ll ever be able to top this with a red carpet. Ever.”
I laughed. “That’s fine with me. I’m not going to complain if they pull out photos of us to use. You mean you’re going to remind people that I’m bonded to four super-hot Alphas? Please do.”
We were going to take some photos of the five of us first. Because even with touch-ups, it wouldn’t be the same after. That, and there were so many people who would be here, I wanted a moment that was only them. Pictures of us and everyone else could come later.
Sloane lounged on one of the couches with a glass of champagne. “Well, cheers to being the first of us to bite the dust,” she said, lifting the glass. “May your happiness be the first domino.”
“Oh, it will be.” I put the finishing touches on my lipstick. Jenny still didn’t do my lip line the way I liked, but the rest was great, so it was a small price to pay.
A soft knock came on the door. “How are we doing in here?” Freya, the wedding planner—who was also a certified badass—stuck her head through the door.
“Doing great.”
“The photographer is almost ready for first looks. Three minutes. Girls, we’ll move you to the staging area for the ceremony.”
“That’s our cue,” Petra said. “Come on, Lo.”
Sloane downed the champagne, grabbed her bouquet, and followed Petra and Freya. Esme stayed behind for a second.
“You okay?” I asked.
“I’m great.”
We looked at each other and laughed.
She looked beautiful. They all did. My friends went a little overboard with me, and they chose their dresses, different styles but the same rich burgundy. Esme’s dress slipped off the shoulder and swooped gracefully to the floor. But I could still see the pain in her eyes.
I stood, shaking out the skirt of my dress. “Look okay? Any wrinkles?”
“You’re good.”
Snagging her hands, I pulled her in front of me. “Thank you for being here.”
“I wouldn’t miss it.”
I smiled. “I know. But I’m saying thank you anyway. Because when it happens for you, however it happens for you, I’m going to be there for you too.”
She nodded, and I saw her throat work and tears fill her eyes. “I wish Dad was here to see this.”
My own words were tight in my throat, but I wouldn’t cry. Not yet, at least. My makeup needed to last a bit longer. “Me too.”
Freya knocked again, and Esme pulled me into a hug. “See you out there.” She slipped past Freya when she opened the door, and my planner looked me up and down.
“You look amazing, Eva.”
“Thank you.”
I decided against a veil, instead having my hair up with a few pieces escaping around my face and more sparkly crystals and pearls in my hair. It matched the crystals mixed in with the white and burgundy roses in the bouquet I held.
My bonding dress was white, sparkling, and sumptuous. The entire dress was encrusted with beads and draped strings of pearls that criss-crossed over the bodice and skirt.
It sparkled so much in direct light I was going to look like a diamond on the stage. Which was the goal.
Everything about this bonding ceremony was over the top.
I was able to do what I wanted, but following Esme’s advice, I let my mom go a little wild too.
Which was why our bonding was now being televised to the world.
We’d resisted at first, but Freya pointed out it wasn’t that different from having a videographer, so we agreed.
And none of us could deny the enthusiasm the event had received.
Still, we held firm on the things we cared about. Our first look would be small and private. Backstage in the dimness, but still enough light to be seen and for photos to be taken. It was the most privacy we’d get aside from the moments we were tearing each other’s clothes off.
The photographer followed me as I made my way to where they waited. All four of them were turned away from me, and already my breath was short. They wore suits tailored to perfection, and they didn’t have to be facing me to see it.
The photographer’s assistant stood on the other side of them, taking pictures of me approaching.
“Whenever you’re ready,” the photographer murmured.
I walked closer, pushing down the butterflies in my stomach. “Hi.”
They all turned, and my stomach dropped through the floor. Our scents strengthened as we took each other in. The sharpness of their suits and the burgundy vests they wore to match the colors… they were beautiful.
“Holy fuck.” Tyler pressed his fingers to his eyes, fighting emotion, which made my own emotions rise to meet them.
Liam reached me first. His hands skimmed down my arms like he was afraid to touch me. “You’re incredible.”
“You’re not too bad yourself.”
Fingers touched my shoulder, and I turned to find Jack there. He still hadn’t said anything, but he didn’t need to. The way he looked at me said it all. He lowered his forehead to touch mine, and we breathed each other in. “I can’t wait to bond with you, Princess,” he murmured.
Emotion blocked my words. I gripped one of his lapels, hoping he knew. Even if he didn’t, they all would soon enough. The minute they bit me they would feel how wildly, completely, and unapologetically in love with them I was.
Lips brushed the back of my neck, and Jack turned me into Dylan’s arms, staying behind me like he couldn’t bear to step farther away.
“I’m not going to ruin your lipstick yet.”
“Later.”
Finally, Tyler approached, his eyes still glistening.
He took both of my hands in his and kissed the back of them.
“We almost said no. Did you know that? To playing the DCAs. We were so exhausted, and the idea of doing all of it for playing one song didn’t seem worth it.
” His breath hitched. “Thank fuck we said yes.”
“We would have found each other,” I said. The thought of coming so close and missing each other was terrifying. But I also knew there was no other ending but this one. “I believe that.”
He kissed the backs of my hands again. “Me too. Now let’s take these photos so we can bond with you.”
We laughed, but he wasn’t wrong. I wanted to do this.
The roof wasn’t normally accessible, but they’d made an exception, and the photographer had set up a section to take photos in the sunshine with a gorgeous backdrop of the city behind us.
Approximately one million photos later, it was time. We were going to see each other in less than five minutes, and I still didn’t want to let them go.
Esme and the others waited for me. Everyone who was invited, and everyone else who’d been allowed in, was inside and sitting. The music was waiting.
My sister looked at me and smiled. “Are you ready?”
I took a shaky breath. “Yeah. I think I am.”
Freya cued the music, and the doors opened.