Alpha's Moon: A special forces shifter romance by Renee Rose (top novels .txt) 📗

I’m not complaining. Deke looks like James Dean’s wilder, more dangerous brother, and it does things to me. My nipples are hard under my dress bodice, so I add a fancy cardigan for good measure.

He gets a few double takes when we walk into the party from the middle-aged members of Geoff and Jenn’s family. I ignore the raised eyebrows and head to the corner where the bride holds court.

“Sadie!” Jenn cries, throwing out her arms. The champagne glass in her hand tilts, but it’s more than half empty.

“You’re glowing,” her sister Brigit gasps. The rest of the half tipsy bridesmaid posse turns to look.

“So are you,” I say to Jenn and lean in to hug her. We pull away and air kiss. “You look so beautiful.”

“So do you!” Jenn squeals. She has a giant rock on her finger, blinding with diamonds. I ooh and ahh over the engagement ring for the appropriate amount of time. It cost more than her Jeep Wrangler.

“And who are you?” Laura, Jenn’s older cousin, asks, eyeing Deke. Laura’s not a bridesmaid, but from the admiring way she’s looking at Deke, she appreciates his broad shoulders as much as I do.

“Oh.” I step back and put my hand on Deke’s arm, claiming him. “Ladies, this is Deke. He’s my plus one for the weekend.” I rehearsed this in my head. He’s not a boyfriend, he’s not a friend, he’s not a partner. But “plus one” gets the message across.

“Hi, Deke,” the women chorus and exchange knowing looks.

Brigit elbows me, waggling her eyebrows approvingly.

Jenn clears her throat. “Champagne?”

I take a glass, and Deke waves it away.

“Congratulations,” he says gruffly to Jenn, and she flushes happily.

“Thank you. How did you meet Sadie?”

I open my mouth, feeling flustered. Before I blurt out something random, Deke puts a hand in the small of my back, supporting me.

“Met in Taos, at the plaza. Fate threw us together,” he answers. He looks around as if daring anyone to contradict him. “It was meant to be.”

The bridesmaids all swoon.

Something squeezes in my chest. The wish that it was all true and not a fabrication.

“That’s so wonderful.” Brigit winks at me. “Wow,” she mouths. I nod back and sip my champagne serenely while Deke stands behind me, my strong, silent back-up.

Jenn pulls me aside the first chance she gets. “Sadie, I’m so sorry. I thought you were still with Scott.”

“No, it’s okay. We broke up a while back. I didn’t want to dump on you while you were planning the wedding,” I say. “I’m sorry, I guess I hoped Geoff would tell you.”

“Oh, girl, you’re fine. I didn’t mean to assume you were with Scott. I paired you off for the whole ceremony. Oh no,” her hand flies to her mouth. “Are you guys in the same room?”

“No, I called the hotel and got my own room,” I assure her. “It’s fine. Don’t worry about me. This is your big weekend.”

“I know!” she squeals and throws up her arms. The diamond glint on her finger catches her eye, and she holds out her hand to gaze adoringly at her ring.

I try not to worry about the mixed messages of Scott walking me down the aisle. But then I glance at Deke, and I hardly care.

A few feet away, the flock of bridesmaids shriek with laughter. I look over and Deke’s there, his tall form towering over the giddy women. His eyes are on me not them. Like he’s ready to jump in and protect me in case Jenn suddenly assaults me or something. He nods at me, and I smile back, feeling warm inside.

Deke’s here. It’ll be fine.

Deke

I get a whiff of Douchebag Cologne and stifle a cough.

I walk away from the tipsy women without a word. One of them calls, “Come back soon” to my back. As if I would ever look at another woman when I have Sadie.

I sidle up to Sadie and hook my arm around her. “Missed ya, babe,” I mutter and the human she’s talking to—the bride—gives me a big grin.

“Aww, you too,” Sadie says.

“You two are so cute together,” the bride sighs. “Which reminds me, I should go see what my guy is up to. See you at dinner?”

“Yes,” Sadie agrees, and I keep my expression blank. I guess we have to eat sometime, but my wolf is already on edge in this confined place. There are too many people here. Too much noise. My wolf wants me to drag Sadie back upstairs and feast on her pussy instead.

The bride glides away, and Sadie pokes me in the side. “Did you see?”

She means Scott and his new arm candy. “Yep.”

“Oh my God,” she whispers. “He really is dating someone new.”

“Or he’s paying for her company.”

Sadie wrinkles her nose. “Really?”

“Yeah.”

She laughs, and my wolf preens a little. I’m so fucking glad she doesn’t give a shit about that guy.

Across the room, Scott sees us and heads right over. I pull Sadie closer. “What’s up with her lips? She looks like she’s been stung by a bee.”

“Those aren’t natural. There’s some filler involved in there,” Sadie whispers back.

She sips her champagne, surreptitiously watching her ex approach. “I can’t believe he dialed a date. At least she’s not half his age. Ugh, what did I see in Scott?”

“I have no fuckin’ idea.”

“Sadie.” Scott finally arrives in front of us. I wonder briefly if Sadie would protest if I punched the smirk off his face. “This is Elana.”

Elana looks me up and down and angles herself to show off her cleavage as she offers her hand. “Charmed,” she says in a husky voice.

I give Elana a nod, and let Sadie shake her hand.

“It’s so nice to meet you,” Sadie says sweetly. “You probably heard that Scott and I broke up a month ago. I’m so glad he’s found someone.”

“Your loss, my gain,” Elana says.

“Definitely.” Sadie looks relieved. “Just to warn you, the bride thought Scott and I were still together, so we’re partnered during the wedding. But Scott