Chapter 300 A Warning Ignored

The night before Hannah’s mating ceremony, Elara found herself at a private club downtown.

The biggest bummer? She couldn’t be the maid of honor. Not with the baby bump getting bigger by the week. But the Wolfes were still on the guest list.

Hannah felt guilty even asking Elara to come. Her mom had just died a few days ago. It felt too soon.

But Alpha Dominic convinced her to go. “Get out. Clear your head. Just keep yourself and the pups safe,” he said. “That’s all you need to worry about.”

He drove her there himself. The whole club was owned by Wolfe Industries, which meant every door, every hallway, every corner had his people watching. No one was getting near his mate without his permission.

“Elara! You made it!” Hannah was already a little tipsy, her words slurring slightly. “Dominic, don’t worry. I’ve got her. Not a hair on her head will be touched. I’m the godmother of your pups, after all!”

Elara laughed. “How much have you had already?”

Hannah’s cheeks were flushed pink. She looked adorable. “Not that much! I can hold my liquor just fine.”

The second Alpha Dominic left, Hannah started complaining.

“Elara, I need your help. We have to come up with something really good to mess with him tomorrow. I’m not letting him claim me that easily.”

The bridesmaids all started throwing out ideas for how to make the groomsmen suffer during the traditional mating ceremony pickup.

One of the pack girls said, “What if we make Xavier do push-ups while listing all the ways Hannah’s wolf is better than his?”

“Too easy,” Hannah said, shaking her head. “He’d actually enjoy that. His ego’s big enough already.”

Another bridesmaid chimed in. “Okay, what about this. I saw it at my cousin’s mating ceremony last year. The groom and his pack have to complete a trial. Three tasks set by the bride. If they fail, she gets to delay the claiming by a full moon cycle.”

Hannah’s eyes lit up. “I like where this is going.”

“Ooh, and here’s a good one,” another bridesmaid said. “Blindfolded scent test. The groom has to identify his bride’s scent among a bunch of decoys. If he picks wrong, he has to howl her name from the rooftop of the pack hall.”

Hannah slapped her thigh. “Yes! That’s perfect!”

“Hannah, who are the groomsmen anyway?”

Hannah thought for a second. “There’s his cousin, Vincent. And a few guys from other packs. I recognize their faces but I can’t remember all their names. Xavier’s picky about who stands next to him during the ceremony.”

—

The next morning, Alpha Dominic was all over Elara before they left the house. Don’t trip. Don’t bump into anything. Be careful during the pickup games.

She was trying to put on her earrings, and he kept circling her like a nervous guard dog.

Sometimes she thought he worried too much.

“I know, Alpha King. Stop hovering.”

Alpha Dominic adjusted his tie in the mirror, then turned and pulled her close. His hands found her waist. His chest pressed against her back. “Alpha King? That’s what you’re calling me this morning?”

Elara raised an eyebrow. “What else should I call you?”

“Anything you want.” His voice dropped. His lips brushed her ear. “I’m not picky.”

She felt the heat rise to her cheeks. She shoved him away, but she was laughing. “You’re ridiculous.”

He caught her hand and kissed her palm before letting go. He kissed her forehead. “Be careful today.”

“You too.”

They both knew why. Before the ceremony, they would split up.

Alpha Dominic would stand with Xavier and the groomsmen.

Elara would stay with Hannah and the bridesmaids.

That was the tradition. The groom and bride spent the morning apart, building anticipation. By the time they met at the altar, they were supposed to be hungry for each other.

Charlie dropped Elara off at Hannah’s parents’ house first.

Then he took Alpha Dominic to Xavier’s place.

Three hours later, eight black SUVs pulled up to the curb in front of Hannah’s house.

Inside, the bridesmaids were already gathered, buzzing with energy.

“They’re here,” Elara said, peeking through the curtains.

The girls rushed to the front door. Xavier knocked. His voice came through the door, already annoyed. “Hannah! Open the door!”

“Not yet!” one of the bridesmaids yelled back. “First, you have to earn it.”

Hannah had given clear instructions. Make him work for it. And the girls were happy to oblige.