Devi: Matefinder Book 2 (18 page)

                I smiled. “Thank you so much.” She sat me down on the couch and had two artists work on me at the same time. One was at my feet and the other, my arms. They were drawing intricate designs, elephants, and peacock feathers.

                After a while, Tara came to sit with me.

                “Hey,” she said, looking at her henna design.

                I wasn’t sure what to talk about. Pretend yesterday didn’t happen or ask if she was okay.

                “I’m sorry for what happened. I feel like it’s all my fault.” I told her genuinely.

                She shook her head. “I’m so glad you told me. I would be living my life in India for God knows how long if you hadn’t.”

                I nodded. “So … You’re okay?”

                She smiled and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “Max asked me out to coffee after the henna party. Then he asked if we wanted to go to the wedding reception tonight … together. Like a … date.”

                Her eyes lit up and I smiled. Starting slow, that was good. “That’s great!”

                Tara nodded. “So, we’re going to get to know each other. I will stay in Seattle for a while and just see what happens.” She looked a little sad at the thought.

                I knew all about taking it slow. When Kai first told me we were mates and destined to be married and have kids, I was terrified. I wanted to progress slowly: boyfriend, fiancé, THEN marriage. After what Max had been through, it seemed like a good move for them.

                “Have fun on your date.” I winked at her and squeezed her hand.

                The moment our skin touched, I was pulled into a vision. Tara was dressed in a beautiful, long white satin wedding gown, grinning ear to ear. Max stood proud at the end of the aisle, Kai right next to him. I scanned her bridesmaids and the crowd. Where was I? Why wasn’t I there? The vision dissolved.

                “Aurora?” She shook me.

                I cleared my throat. “Oh, I’m sorry, what did you say?” Mist hovered around me.

                She was looking at me with concern. “I said, I will let you know how the date goes.”

                I nodded. “I’m sure it will be fine.” I had learned to trust my visions. Tara and Max were well on their way to getting married, but why wasn’t I there?

                An hour later, the henna artists were done with me and moved on to the others. The henna was starting to dry a burnt maroon color. The designs were intricate and beautiful. Emma waddled over holding her belly. Her face looked alarmed, but she was trying to hide it. I stood up quickly, careful not to mess up the designs on my arms that were still drying.

                “What’s wrong?” I whispered.

                She flicked her head outside and began walking away. I followed her, my heart hammering in my chest. I tuned into Kai’s energy. He seemed mad and confused. I could smell him, he was close. I walked outside and Emma stopped me on the porch.

                “Kai is right behind this bush. I don’t want him to see you yet, but he needs to talk.”

                I looked at the bush and could see him through the leaves. “What’s wrong?”

                Kai sighed. “The wolves protecting our perimeter have given me some distressing information.”

                I felt dread sink into my stomach. “Spit it out! What happened?”

                “Well, RAIDOS showed up on foot, deep in the woods, intending to stop the wedding, I’m sure.”

                Well, I guess that was to be expected.

                “And … the vampires stopped them. Killed some of them. Sent the rest running.” Kai sighed.

                “What!” I shrieked. Oh my God. The vampires were so invested in us having the mating ceremony so that I would become fertile and then Layla could have evil spawn children, that they were protecting my wedding!

                “Kai, that’s–”

                “I know. It feels like we are doing what they want.” He seemed unsure. Oh my God, he was having second thoughts. Sadness overwhelmed me.

                “You don’t want to …” I started. I guess I understood.

                The bush rattled and Kai leapt out from behind it and approached me. “What? Are you crazy? No.”

                I laughed. “Emma’s gonna kill you.”

                He looked at my hands and feet, then at my lips. “You look beautiful and I’m marrying you today. You will be my wife for the rest of my life here on Earth and every life after that.” He pulled my body close to his and tenderly stroked my cheek. I felt my throat tighten with emotion.

                The screen door opened and Emma came out. “Kai! You’re breaking tradition! Get out of here.”

                Kai faked a scared expression. “Gotta go.” He kissed me quickly.

                ‘I’ll take care of everything. I just wanted you to know what was going on and I wanted to hear your voice.’

                I smiled.

                Kai was walking away when he turned to look back at me. “I can’t believe I’m marrying a witch.”

                I playfully gave him the middle finger. Emma slapped my hand. “Aurora,” she scolded. “Come on, you have to get ready.”

                Can’t argue with a pregnant woman.

                Ouch. My hair was being pulled up tightly in a cascade of curls. There were four attendants working on my wedding makeover. I raised my arms up so the ladies could wrap my sari. Emma finished brushing some lipstick on me with a small brush. I blotted my lips. She started tearing up.

                “What’s wrong?” I reached out to touch her. My henna had dried and been washed off and a deep, dark reddish print was in its place. Red and white glass bangles clinked on my wrist.

                “You’re so beautiful, weddings are so beautiful. I think I’m a little sensitive because of the pregnancy hormones, but I’m really glad you came into our pack and we became such good friends. You’re like a sister. I love you.” She sniffled.

                “Emma! Stop or I will cry.” I gave her a long hug, careful of her belly sticking out. When I pulled away Emma was smiling and wiping her face.

                There was a faint knock at the door. Raj poked his head in. “May I speak with you?” he asked.

                I nodded. Everyone left me and I was alone with my father-in-law-to-be.

                He looked me up and down and smiled. “You look like a true Indian bride.”

                I smiled. Raj and I had an understanding. He acted like a big, tough Alpha and I knew better. He was a loyal, loving father and a good man. We had a good relationship.

                He looked nervous and cleared his throat. “I wanted to ask you something.”

                Uh-oh. He wasn’t going to try to change my mind about marrying Kai, was he? I knew it was asking for trouble from the vampires, but I thought he understood that we deserved our happiness. I thought he agreed that no one else should dictate our life.

                “I know your father wasn’t a nice man. You don’t seem to have been treated properly from any man in your life, aside from my son.”

                Okay … Where was this going?

                He wiped his hands on his shirt. “Aurora, may I escort you down the aisle and give you away to marry my son?”

                Oh. Then all my emotions broke loose. His words, his voice, it was too much. I cried and laughed at the same time. “What did I do to deserve to marry into this family?” I asked him.

                He opened his arms for a hug and I could see that his eyes looked misty as well. I embraced him. He cleared his throat and stood taller.

                He pulled back and looked into my eyes. “What did we do to deserve you?”

                I could hear footsteps running down the hall. The door burst open; it was Devon. “Plan B, sir! They brought the helicopters.”

                Raj nodded and held tightly to my hand, whisking me down the hallway and into our garage. He jumped into Kai’s Audi as Diya, Emma, and Maya burst through the door behind us.

                “What’s going on? What’s plan B?” I screamed. Kai always had his plans and I knew nothing about them! I jumped into the passenger seat trying not to rip my Sari. The girls piled into the back.

                Raj hit the garage clicker and the door began to open. “Kai didn’t want you to worry. We have a second wedding location set up in the event that this happened.”

                “What!” Emma screamed from the back seat. “I’ve been decorating this one all day.”

                I reached back and squeezed her hand. “I’ll see it later, Em. I’m sure it’s beautiful.”

                Now I was pissed. How dare they try to ruin my wedding! To get involved in my personal life. Fur began breaking out onto my arms. Raj took a side glance at me. “You have a right to be angry. Hold on.” He put the car in reverse and flew out of the garage spinning the wheels.

                He sped down our private drive and onto the pavement, making a left onto the main road, then eased over into the left lane. White snowflakes began to fall from the sky. I smiled.

                “Papa, just a reminder, in America they drive on the right side of the road,” Diya told him.

                “Oh, right.” He swerved over and Emma screamed. I suppressed a giggle. I could hear helicopter blades in the distance flying toward our house.

                “Tristan and Izzy have decided to renew their vows. RAIDOS is in for a surprise when they don’t find you at the altar,” Raj said with a grin.

                I opened my mouth in shock. “That’s genius!”

                Raj nodded. “I thought of it.”

                “Well, at least someone will enjoy my decorations,” Emma said bitterly.

                He slowed the car down. There was some type of check point up ahead.

                “It’s our pack, dear,” Maya told me.

                As we neared, there was another stopped car trying to come up the mountain. Raj rolled down the window and I could hear one of the other wolves asking the woman in the stopped car something.

                “Military exercise up ahead, ma’am. I need to see your ID with address to prove you live in the area.”

                Raj spoke to one of his guys. “Don’t let anyone come down this road for the next hour. Do whatever you have to,” he commanded.

                The man nodded. “Yes, sir.”

                Raj took a hard right and led us up a small winding road. I had never been to this part of the mountain. We were still on the mountain, but not exactly in the area where the pack lived and roamed freely. There were a lot of cute little mountain cabins and cottages, mostly inhabited by humans.

                “Where are we going?” I pondered aloud.

                Raj shrugged. “Kai gave me the address yesterday. I drove the route five times this morning just in case.”

                Whoa, my wedding was like a finely tuned military operation. It shouldn’t need to be like that! It wasn’t fair. I was beginning to feel depressed at the way things were turning out. Raj turned into the driveway of a blue and white cottage. It was tiny and cute. It had a white picket fence and tons of roses.

                Kai was standing in the front drive way in a dark grey suit. His hair was slicked back. His face was clean shaven. I was about to marry the hottest guy I had ever seen.

                “He can’t see you yet!” Emma shouted as Raj put the car in park.

                “Screw the rules,” I told her and jumped out of the car and ran to him.

                He looked me up and down and grinned. “From this day on you are wearing a sari all the time. You look amazing.”

                 I smiled and fell into his open arms. He smelled so good; cologne, mint, home.

                ‘Mate,’
my wolf said. Since I had merged more with my wolf, she didn’t talk as much. Our thoughts had become one, but she was right. He was, and always would be, my mate. My soul mate.

                Everyone from the car made their way to the backyard and I was left standing alone with Kai.

                “What is this place?” I asked him as he held my hand.

                “Well, if it’s okay with you, it’s going to be your mother’s new house.” He gave me a side glance.

                For the second time in the same day, tears fell from my eyes.

                “You bought my mom a house?” My throat cracked. The snow was falling harder and covering the ground. I felt cold as a werewolf, but not freezing. Our bodies ran warmer.

                Kai nodded and kissed my nose, wiping away my tears with his hands. “She shouldn’t have to live in a trailer. She should have a bigger garden and be closer to the pack, but not too close. Don’t want her seeing too much.” He winked.

                I was speechless. “Kai, I don’t know what to say.”

                He smiled. “Say you’re ready to marry me. Even though Layla is after your blood and RAIDOS wants to capture you, say you want to marry me anyway.”

                I gave him a serious look. “I want to marry you.”

                Kai nodded. “Say that you trust me to protect you, even if it means doing something crazy, something unthinkable.” He looked nervous.

                “Kai, What?”

                He shook his head. “Nevermind. I’ll meet you around back.” He kissed me and walked away.

                He had been acting weird lately, secret meetings with Sylvia and joining the council. I didn’t exactly know what his plan for the vampires was. The Devi spirit had said Kai was on his own path and to follow his lead, so I was, but I was wondering if I should be questioning him more.

                Raj walked over to me and made a motion for me to link arms with him. I smiled. I could worry about everything else later. It was time to live out my dreams and do what was right for my life. It was time to marry my mate.

                I turned the corner to see twenty white lawn chairs set up. There was a small white lattice altar at the end of an aisle sprinkled with red rose petals. It was simple and perfect. I spotted Jai, Anna, Akash, Max, Tara and a few others.

                At the altar, Nahuel stood with Kai. He smiled at me genuinely. Next to Kai, Max and Devon stood smiling. Across from them, Diya and Emma waited for me as my bridesmaids. It was perfect.

                Akash was the ring bearer; he winked at me as he walked down the aisle to stand with his brother. A cute little girl from India pack sprinkled petals down the aisle. It was a perfect day. I looked up and held Kai’s gaze and began my walk.

                Once Raj and I reached the end of the aisle, he kissed my forehead and handed me over to Kai. “Protect her well, son.”

                Kai nodded. “I will Papa.”

                I liked that our wedding was a blend of Indian and American. It was beautiful.

                I took Kai’s hands and stood with him before Nahuel.

                Mist flowed from Nahuel’s hands as he said an opening prayer. He produced different colored ribbons and bound our hands together like he had in Sadie’s wedding. With each binding of our hands, I felt a piece of me merge with Kai. I felt myself open up to him. All of my hurt, the things I was ashamed of or scared to show, he felt them all. My pride, my stubbornness, my strength, and dominance. They were brought to the surface. They were accepted. I was able to sift through Kai’s feelings, how much he hoped I would be his mate from the day he first met me. How much he had to fight to keep himself from being too dominant with me, in fear of scaring me off.