Chapter 301 The Pickup
Author
Elara stepped forward and spoke through the door. "Twenty push-ups. And while you’re doing them, you have to list all of Hannah’s best qualities."
"Seriously?"
"You want to marry her or not?"
A pause. Then the sound of Xavier dropping to the floor. "Okay, fine. She’s funny. She’s strong. She’s the most beautiful wolf I’ve ever seen. She’s stubborn as hell, which I respect. She cooks better than anyone in the pack. She bites harder than most warriors I know."
He kept going. Push-ups and compliments, one after the other. By the time he finished, his voice was breathless. Inside, the bridesmaids were cracking up.
"Can I come in now?"
"Not yet," Elara said. "Two more challenges."
Alpha Dominic ’s voice came through the door, amused. "Elara, you’re enjoying this too much."
"Absolutely I am."
The second challenge was blindfolded lipstick. Elara explained the rules. Xavier had to hold the lipstick in his mouth and apply it to one of his groomsmen without using his hands.
Vincent and Patterson exchanged a look.
"Not it," Vincent said.
Patterson sighed. "Fine. I’ll do it."
They opened the door just wide enough to let Xavier in. He was blindfolded, lipstick between his teeth. The groomsmen filed in behind him.
The living room was packed now. Bridesmaids on one side. Groomsmen on the other. Hannah watched from the stairs, hidden behind the banister, trying not to laugh.
Xavier fumbled forward. His hand found Patterson’s shoulder. He leaned in, aiming blind. The lipstick smeared across Patterson’s cheek instead of his lips.
"Nope. Try again," Elara said.
Xavier growled. "This is impossible."
"You’re the Pack Intelligence Chief. Figure it out."
He took a breath and tried again. This time, he hit the corner of Patterson’s mouth.
"Closer. One more try."
The third time was the charm. The lipstick landed perfectly on Patterson’s lips. The room cheered.
Xavier yanked off the blindfold. "Done. Now can I see my mate?"
Elara smiled. "One more challenge."
"What now?"
"Scent test." She held up a blindfold. "Hannah sprayed a masking scent on herself and two other girls. Wolves from the south border brought it back from their last mission. It overrides your natural smell for a few hours."
Xavier’s eyes narrowed. "You’re kidding."
"You want to marry her or not?"
He exhaled hard. "Fine. Blindfold me."
--
The scent test was tougher than Xavier expected.
He stood blindfolded in the middle of the living room. Three she-wolves lined up in front of him. Hannah had done her homework. The masking spray was strong enough to confuse even an experienced wolf.
The first one walked past. Xavier sniffed. His nose twitched. "Not her."
The second one. He took a longer sniff this time. A pause. "Close, but no."
The third one stepped up. Xavier inhaled slowly. Something familiar cut through the chemical mask. A hint of something wild underneath. He smiled.
"Hannah."
He reached out and grabbed her waist, pulling her in before she could escape. "Nice try. But you can’t hide from me."
Hannah laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I didn’t think you’d actually get it."
"I find things for a living."
The bridesmaids groaned and clapped at the same time. The groomsmen looked relieved.
Alpha Dominic caught Elara’s eye from across the room. He shot her a look that said you’re loving this way too much. She stuck her tongue out at him.
"Okay, he passed," Elara said. "You can have her."
Xavier pulled off the blindfold. He stepped back, giving Hannah space. A polite nod. "Good game."
Hannah smoothed down her dress, composing herself. "You did well."
A moment of awkward silence hung between them. Then someone coughed, and the spell broke.
"Alright," Hannah said, clapping her hands together. "Let’s get this show on the road. We’ve got a contract to sign."
Bridesmaids and groomsmen piled into a line of black SUVs parked along the curb. Someone had already hooked up an aux cord, and thumping bass spilled out of the open windows. A few neighbors stepped onto their porches to see what the noise was about.
Xavier walked toward the lead car, a glossy black Escalade. He held the door open and waited. Hannah walked past him and climbed in without looking back.
Elara slid into the second car with Alpha Dominic . He already had the AC cranked and a bottle of water waiting for her in the cup holder.
"You had fun today," he said.
"I really did."
"Good." He laced his fingers through hers. "You’ve been through a lot. You deserve a day that’s just about good things."
The convoy pulled away from the curb in a neat line. Someone in the front car had switched the music to classic rock. A familiar riff cut through the morning air.
Elara watched the houses and storefronts blur past. She rolled down the window and let the wind hit her face. For the first time in days, the weight on her chest felt a little lighter.
She didn’t know what the ceremony would bring.
But right now, sitting next to Alpha Dominic with the sun on her face and her friends up ahead, she let herself feel something she’d almost forgotten how to feel.
Hope.
The SUV turned onto the main road, tires humming against the asphalt. Up ahead, the pack hall came into view on the hill.
Stone and glass, rising out of the treeline like something ancient and new at the same time.
Flags fluttered at the entrance. Guests were already gathering on the lawn.
The whole street was filled with celebration. Music. Honking horns. Streamers flying out of car windows.
Laughter spilled from open windows. Someone leaned out of a sunroof, whooping at the sky.
No one noticed the unmarked van parked a mile down the road.