Chapter 35

Chapter 35
Sebastian

I can’t say when I would be shopping for a wedding dress it would be for the woman I was meant to marry and now who was marrying one of my closest friends. Although jealousy has been waring inside me since Maxim stole my role as Willa’s husband, I won’t show it. So here we are sitting on a pair of white couches waiting for Willa to appear in one of the gowns picked for her. I doubt most people bother with a wedding gown when they marry at the court house but Willa deserves to have at least that. 

“You said you’ll be able to get her mom on video chat right?” Maxim asks Luke. 

“Yes it’s not rocket science, but smarty pants there made sure to encrypt everything just in case.” Luke points his thumb at Lan who gives him a drawl look. 

He’s been more expressive today than I’ve ever seen him. Sleeping with Willa seems to have softened the bastard. Who knew sex had such power.

“It’s a precaution,” Lan says as he continues his usual activity on his phone. 

The guy has a serious problem with that. 

“Yeah yeah.” Luke waves him off but I know he’s relieved to have that extra bit of security. 

We all are. 

“Okay, I’m coming out!” We hear Willa call from behind the curtain. 

A curtain she throws aside dramatically and steps out onto the small stage. She holds her hands out and turns once to allow us to see the full dress and my mouth goes dry. It’s the first dress but it’s beautiful and I’d buy it for her in an instant. 

Maxim whistles appreciatively. “Well well. Look at you my gorses fiancé.” He stands and jumps up to where she’s standing, grabbing her around the waist and kissing her. 

She lets out a surprised sound at first but lets him kiss the shit out of her. When he pulls away she has a cute flush to her cheeks and smiles up at him. 

“SO I guess that means you like it.” She says with a laugh. 

“You look like a dream. Let’s get it.” He says.

“I haven’t even shown you the others yet.” She objects. “We should at least see them.” 

“But you look perfect,” Maxim says.

“Thanks but I would still like to try them on. It's part of the process.” 

“Fine but I still think this is the one,” Maxim grumbles and makes his way back to the spot he’d been occupying. 

“You look beautiful sweetie!” I hear from Luke’s phone. 

Willa’s face lights up. “Thanks, mom.”
“I don’t know. It’s showing a lot of skin.” I hear a male voice say. 

There’s a grunt and a grumble which I'm guessing is coming from her mom smacking one of her dads. 

“You look beautiful little one.” Another male voice says.

“Thanks, Dad.” Willa looks a little shy now. “Maybe it does show too much.” 

The dress is sleeveless and the back dips to mid back, but still looks modest enough. It’s a simple dress compared to some of the many on display. It’s tight against her breast and waist causing some cleavage and the fabric flares out a little around her hips. There are small shiny dots starting from where her knees and continues down to the bottom of the dress. They shine under the lights of the store making it sparkle a little. It’s very beautiful but I agree that we should look at more options. 

“Try on a few more,” I say drawing her attention to me. 

A low ache in my chest blooms in my chest when her eyes focus on me. It’s an odd sensation but I don’t dislike it. It’s clear she has an effect on me. 

“Okay.” She turns making the material of her dress swish behind her before she disappears through the curtains again. 

“I can’t believe I’m missing this.” I hear her mom say. 

“Maybe we can have a party for her once things are safe.” I hear one of the men with her say. 

“We will celebrate properly once Sebastian’s bastard father is dead,” Maxim says.

“Your plan is to kill him?” Willa’s mother asks. 

Maxim scoffs. “No way will I let that man live. He won’t stop.”

“He’s right. The only way for us all to be safe is when he’s dead.” I add. 

There is a lull of silence as the reality of the situation settles. No words need to pass between us for me to know we are all on the same page. 

“Willa is a strong woman. Don’t for a second try to keep her out of this fight or you’ll get your asses handed to you in a second. We didn’t raise her to be a damsel.” One of Willa’s fathers says. 

“Fuck no. She’s kind and empathetic but she’s damn protective too. If anyone poses a threat to the people she cares about, she won’t hesitate to end them.” Luke adds. 

“Just have her back. That’s all we ask.” One of Willa’s fathers says. 

“Always. She’s our girl.” Maxim says with a sinister smile on his face. 

“I’m not sure I'm happy about that. You punks aren’t exactly the sort of men I hoped our little girl would end up with.” Another man says.

“We weren’t what Emma would have chosen for herself either.” Another guy says with a laugh. 

“This is different.” Several voices start to jumble together as the men start to squabble. 

“Tada!” All of our attention snaps to the stage again as Willa steps out. 

Once again I'm at a loss for words. She looks even more beautiful in this dress. How is that possible? 

This dress has thin straps made completely out of delicate leaf-designed material. The front of the dress has a lower cut that stops just above her breasts but is modest enough to look elegant. The leaves of the straps continue down the full top of the dress and down to the top of the flowing material of the rest of the dress. The sheer material of her dress below her waist has several sections of the leaf design as well. Small glittering jewels are woven through different sections as well. 

It’s beautiful.

A gasp comes through the phone. “Oh, Willa. That's absolutely gorgeous. It looks perfect on you. Turn so we can see the back.” 

“That’s the one,” Luke says and it doesn’t go unnoticed to me that there is a hitch in his voice. 

I glance his way and see the emotion on his face. He has known her his whole life and no doubt hoped to be the one she would wear this dress for. Knowing this makes me respect him as a man far more. He is putting Willa’s protection over what he wants, and that won’t go unnoticed. 

“I love it,” Willa says with a bright smile on her face. 

“Wonderful. It’s quite rare for a dress to fit a bride so well. You have been very fortunate.” The woman who’s been helping us says. 

“It’s no coincidence. I had her measurements sent over before we arrived.” Maxim says. 

Willa narrows her eyes on him. “And how do you know my measurements?” 

He answers with a smirk. 

She rolls her eyes and disappears back through the curtains again. 

“Thank you all for letting us see this.” Willa’s mom says. 

“Of course. No way would I let you guys miss this.” Luke says turning the phone to face him. “I’ll take plenty of pictures.” 

“Thank you.”

“Keep our girl safe Luke, or your ass is mine!” One of Willa’s dads says. 

Luke’s face turns serious. “I will with my life. You know that.” 

There are words of affirmation, but I’m done listening to them. A stronger urge has me standing and walking purposefully to the curtain Willa is hiding behind. I push it aside and step in eliciting a sound of surprise from her. She holds the front of her dress against the front of her body and looks at me wide-eyed through the large mirror. 

“What are you doing?” She hisses at me. 

I ignore her clear annoyance and step closer until her bare back is flush against my body. Her warmth against me makes me hard just like that. The smell of her fruity shampoo doesn’t help. She smells so good. 

“What are you doing?” She repeats but this time the words come out in a shaky whisper. 

“Do you know how hard it is for me to see all those bastards touching you? You were supposed to be mine.” The words come out a little harsher than I want them to but I’m mad.

Maxim stole her from me.

“I wasn’t ever going to be-“ I slide my hand into her long dark hair and tug slightly making her gasp. 

“Don’t finish that sentence. You are mine as much as theirs. I won’t let them have you and not stake my claim.” I can’t help the slight growl in my voice. 

I mean every word. She is mine. Always was.