Chapter 26
Brielle
“This is crazy, right? Oh my god.” My hands shake as I pull at the bottom of the tiny silver dress.
It barely reaches the bottom of my ass, and never in a million years is it what I imagined as a wedding dress.
But somehow it feels perfect with the sparkly white boots Mav bought me on my feet.
He had told me they were impractical the day of our date, but look at me always being right.
Kinsey shrugs. “I mean it is crazy, but also it kind of fits. I don’t know how to explain it, it’s just…you.”
“Pretty and making bad decisions?”
“Gorgeous and unpredictable,” she teases with a smile that falters a little. “They’re not pressuring you, right?”
I shake my head frantically. “No, no, not at all. I’m pretty sure I could put a stop to it right now, and they wouldn’t blink an eye.”
She smirks. “Good. I can’t believe you’re getting married.”
Wrapping my arm around her shoulders, I hug her tight. “And I can’t believe you’re having a baby. Our life kind of turned wild coming to Brackenridge.”
Kinsey sighs, relaxing into my arms. “It did, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
I kiss her temple. “No, me either.”
She pulls away, looking at me with strange intensity. “Colt said something…and I wasn’t sure how to approach you about it.”
My heart skips a beat, and I face the mirror again, fiddling with my hair. “Yeah? What did he say?”
“That someone from back home had come looking, and Duke beat him so badly he had to be carried to the hospital. That it was someone who hurt you, but you never—I don’t know—” Kinsey breaks off with a sigh.
I swallow down the emotion building in my throat, unable to look at her directly. “I didn’t want to burden you, especially after your mom was so sick… Then she died.”
My best friend moves closer, squeezing my wrist before brushing very carefully over the bruising on my arm. “You’re not a burden, Brielle. I know your family has always put you under immense pressure.”
Nodding, I clear my throat and glance over with a weak smile. “They were awful, the pack they tried to set me up with. Not only were they pretentious pricks, but they also felt entitled to something I didn’t want to give.”
“I can’t believe your parents want you to bond them.”
I don't blame her for the concern and confusion. I’ve left my best friend in the dark for way too long, but I’m a little scared to bare my darkest secret.
My heart thumps a little harder, and I clear my throat. “My parents are just as bad, Kins. I just… It’s hard to explain when it’s been my life for so long.”
Her sad eyes look up at me, lips trembling. “I feel like such a bad friend for not noticing anything.”
“Oh, hush. You saw exactly what I wanted you to. It was easier to let you think I had this glamorous life, because I so wish I did. It’s mostly my mom, she’s so controlling.
What I wear, what I would eat to make sure I don’t gain weight, the way my hair and makeup had to be.
Hell, she would even portion out my heat pills to make sure I had to stay home to get the next portion.
” I take a deep breath, letting my shoulders sink as if a huge weight has been rolled off.
And it kind of has, I feel lighter telling my best friend the truth and extent of my parents’ torture.
Her throat bobs up and down, and I give her a sad smile.
“It took years for that resentment to build, you know? At first there was that excitement of perfuming as an omega, and how excited my parents were about it. I was finally useful to them, not a burden. I wanted to please them, anything to stay on their good side, and I desired to be the perfect daughter.” I swallow down the ache in my throat.
“It was the day that you called about the trip. They, uhm, they tried to force a bond, and I got away. I rushed home and realized I didn’t feel any safer.
I actually was convinced they’d hand me right back. That’s when I knew I had to get out.”
She shakes her head. “Those bastards. And my tuition? I bet they held that over your head, didn’t they?”
I shrug. “Not too bad, honestly. Just needed to be there for certain events, and they were more disappointed that the academy didn’t present worthy candidates, in their opinion.”
Kinsey scoffs. “And here I thought we were just the outcasts.”
“I mean, if it was my choice, I still wouldn’t have picked any of them.”
Her face softens. “These country boys aren’t like the rest of them, huh?”
I shake my head, laughing softly. If anyone understands the alphas in the city and the men from Brackenridge are night and day, it’s Kinsey.
“They are not, and I’m thankful for that.
I don’t feel like it’s so…cordial, or forced.
They are who they are unapologetically, and they don’t care who you are either. ”
She smiles widely. “It’s cute, huh? Spending our whole lives being molded into the perfect omegas, and our packs want to love us for who we are.”
“It’s fate,” I remind her. She didn’t believe me at first that we were destined to end up in that dive bar, Sweet Whiskey. Then I frown when I think about the main reason I jumped in her car that day.
Kinsey tilts her head to the side. “What’s with that look?”
“Just remembering why I left the city. Makes me doubt my own theory.”
She shakes her head. “Don’t. I believe it too.”
We stare at each other for a moment, and I can see the truth reflecting back. Kinsey’s throat bobs and then her eyes fill with tears. She moves closer to hug me. I squeeze her tight.
“Now I wish I could have seen the damage from Duke,” she whispers into my ear.
A strangled laugh escapes me. “Me too. I was too focused on holding on to Maverick.”
Kinsey pulls back, wiping her waterline clear. “I’m glad he was there for you. Even if we don’t know each other, I feel like Mav has this teddy bear quality to him. He looks big and threatening, but really he’ll protect us. Does that make sense, or am I rambling?”
I nod. “I get it. It’s probably why I ran to him without a second thought.”
A knock on the trailer door has us both standing as Dallas pops his head in with a soft smile when he sees me in the sparkly dress.
“Ready? We have everything set up.”
I nod, and Kinsey squeezes my hand. Blowing out a shaky breath, I let her lead me down the stairs and back toward the arena. As we pass groups of people lounging about, they clap and whistle. It brings a blush to my cheeks, nerves bubbling in my stomach the closer we get inside.
My mouth drops open in giddy surprise when I see the overhead lights have been turned off in favor of hanging twinkle lights. It gives a more intimate feel than I could ever imagine in the middle of a dirt pit.
I glance through the open gate, seeing a huddle of men surrounding a table with candles, the flames reflecting over their button-up shirts and jeans.
Kinsey squeezes my hand again. “Want me to walk with you?”
I do, but I don’t. I give her a soft smile.
“I think I need to do this alone.”
She nods, kissing my cheek, and then moves off to the side where Dallas and Colt are waiting for her.
I straighten my shoulders and walk toward the men waiting for me.
My fingers mess with the hem of my dress, wishing I had something to hold to hide my nerves.
Music starts blaring from the loudspeakers, and we all startle before it’s dialed down to a more pleasant volume.
It’s a testament to how thrown together this is, and it makes me want to laugh.
I stifle the urge and keep my attention on Maverick, Duke, and Cooper, who are watching me earnestly.
When I make it to the table, I take a deep breath and hold out my hands for them to take.
They step closer, all three of them holding on to me as we look up to a younger woman on the other side of the table. She has her phone in her hand, then she clears her throat. I can barely hear her words as my eyes drift back to the men who are about to marry me without any hesitation.
Men who protected me without question.
My pack.
Cooper clears his throat, taking a small step closer to me. My heart thunders in my heart at the devotion swirling in his eyes as he stares down at me with a crooked smile.
“We’ll keep it short and sweet for everyone.
Brielle, you came into our life like a thunderstorm, but you quickly became our sunshine” —I almost roll my eyes at that, but it makes me smile so wide my cheeks start to hurt— “and we know this is unorthodox…yet we wouldn’t change anything.
We’d marry you anytime, in any lifetime, but especially now to make you undoubtedly ours.
We’re honored to stand before you and ask for your hand, Princess.
And this is only the beginning of our lives together.
We hope to make you proud to call us pack. ”
I have to swallow the knot that’s grown in my throat at his words.
This doesn’t feel real. I hate to think about my parents at the moment, but I can’t help but realize that these men are not the type they would have chosen for me.
They are better than any men I’ve ever encountered in the city.
I struggle to blink away the tears growing in my eyes, and Riley quickly moves on to the next part.
“I do,” echoes from all their mouths, and I blink again. I missed the entire spiel, and they all watch me expectantly.
I grin, my fingers squeezing theirs. “I do.”
Cheers break out, and a ton of individual lights shine down on us.
The woman turns on her own flashlight. “You may kiss the bride!”
I’m yanked closer, and I stumble a step with a laugh before looking up at Maverick’s serious face.
“You first?” I whisper teasingly.
He shrugs. “I saw you first.”
“Finders, keepers,” I say.
He hums. “Always.” Then his lips are crushed to mine.
A kiss that I can feel all the way down to my toes.
When he pulls back, Cooper cups my face without a second for me to blink and kisses me, just like he had that day at the gas station.
My breathing is a little labored when he pulls back, and I face Duke, who has been watching with a crooked smile.
“Ready for my kiss, Princess?”
I smile back. “Always.”