Jared (40 page)

Nicole reached over grabbing Tessa’s hand. “Please.” Nicole pleaded. “This is the best gift to us.”

Tessa looked at Jared as she was being pulled toward Nicole looking as shocked as she felt.

“Are you sure man?” Jared looked at Damon surprised. The
W
arriors had begun chanting stomping one foot in perfect time.

“Never been more sure in my life.” Damon pulled him over and they both faced their women.

In one motion
the
W
arriors
stopped chanting and every foot stopped
in unison
.
Both Damon and Jared kneeled on one knee in front of the
ir mate as the rest followed again in
perfect timing. Their right arm crossed placing their fist over their heart. Head
s
bowed they began chanting in a language Tessa had never heard, but she didn’t care. She felt their loyalty without knowing their words. She had never been more touched in her life. She looked over at Nicole and knew she felt the same.

All the
W
arriors
stood
except for Damon and Jared
,
who remained kneeling with heads bowed to their mates. One by one they sto
pped
in front of Nicole stating their name, vowing their loyalty and then in front of Tessa repeat
ing
the same. After the last one Jared stood
,
walked to Nicole and stated his full name, made his vow to her before turning to Tessa.

“I
,
Jared
McKinley
Kincaid
,
vow to keep you
,
Tessa
Marie
Pride
,
safe forever and always.” He kissed her lightly on the lips before stepping
away
whispering
his love with a wink.

Damon
stood and repeated his vow to Tessa before standing in front of his bride. “I
,
Damon
Nathaniel
DeMasters
,
vow to keep you
,
Nicole
Rose
DeMasters
,
safe forever and always. I love you my bride
….my mate.
”

The guest w
en
t wild as cheers and chants floated on the air. The minister announced them as Mr. and Mrs. Damon
DeMasters
, but it was lost in the cheers.

As the bride and groom stood in f
ront of everyone, a lone figure
silently made their way out of the church only looking back once in a silent goodbye,
a
single
blood tear fell
seeing
the
love that will never be
for the last time
.

********

The wedding reception was in full swing. Adam walked up to Tessa giving her a hug.
“Where’s
Gramps
?”

“Sydney took him home. He was so tired, but can still dance like you wouldn’t believe.” Tessa laughed, her face beaming
with
a happiness that had never been there
before
.
God bless Sydney. He was a Godsend and Gramps really did well with him. Jared had done very well picking out her
grandfather’s
new caregiver.

He smiled down at her. “I’m happy for you.”

“Thanks Adam.” She could see the sadness in his eyes. “
Angelina
still won’t talk to you?”

“She’s talking to me.” Adam sighed. “I’ve hurt her though. I’m working on making it right. She had to work tonight and really hated to miss the wedding.”

Tessa nodded wanting so much to help, but knew her brother needed to work this out on his own. “Don’t give up
on her
.”

“Not in my vocabulary.” He grinned, then punched Jared in the arm when he walked up grabbing Tessa around the waist.

“What’s your problem breed?” Jared teased.

“What are your inten
t
ions
toward
my sister?” Adam tried to keep a straight face. “I’d hate to have to kick your ass.”

“I’d like to see you try” Jared tossed back.

“Treat her right cause there will be no trying to it
if you hurt her
.” Adam walked away. “I will kick your ass.”

“Punk.” Jared smirked then whipped Tessa out on the dance floor.

“What are your inten
t
ion
s
Mr. Kincaid?” Tessa wrapped her arms around his neck loving the feel of his body against hers.

“
Did
Sydney take
Gramps
home?”
A wicked gleam flashed in his eyes
when she nodded
. “
Then w
hy don’t we sneak out of here and I’ll show you what my inten
t
ions are Ms. Pride.”

Laughing Tessa broke away from him pulling him off the dance floor and out the door.

********

Duncan sat watching the activities swirling around him without really seeing anything. His hand reached into his jacket pocket pulling out the letter he had found there this morning. He had r
ead it so many times since then. H
e really didn’t know why he was reading it again. He knew it word by word. Opening it slowly his eyes caressed the familiar handwriting.

Duncan,

I just needed to tell you that I’m sorry. So many times I wanted to come to you, to tell you everything, but I couldn’t. Too much was at stake and too many lives were on the line. Please believe me when I say I have never broken any laws or put any children that were in my care in danger. I only recently found out what Kenny
was doing.
I tried to stop it, but things went
so very
wrong. I
hope
that you believe me when I say you
r
care for me
meant
everything and
kept me going when I wanted to give up. It broke my heart to turn you away when all I wanted was for you to hold me.
P
lease know that I never meant
to hurt anyone
,
especially you
.
If only we could have met under different circumstances.
With Kenny still out there it would be sa
fer for everyone if I disappear. H
e will not stop until he finds me
and
I’ve hurt enough people
as it is
.
Again I am so sorry for everything and pray that you can forgive me.

Love always,

Pam

Duncan folded the
letter
plac
ing
it back in his pocket. With a heavy sigh he looked back across the dance floor to see Damon and Nicole dancing their first dance as husband and wife. Knowing what he had to do he stood and without a word to anyone headed out the door.

“Where you going?” Sid
stepped in front of him.

“
Who are you? My mother?
” Duncan tried to get past him, but Sid stopped him
again
.
“Back the fuck up Sid.”

“You okay man?” Sid eyed him. “You seem on edge.
Anything we need to know about?
”

“Fine.” Duncan
growled
. “I’m
fucking
fine.”

“Well you better be back for pictures or Nicole will have your ass.” Sid stepped out of
his
way
watching as Duncan slammed out the door. He
knew without a doubt
Duncan
wouldn’t be back. “
Good luck
brother
.” Sid
sighed
before heading
back
to the
festivities.