Chapter 41 41.The three families
Tabitha’s POV
Luca releases me so I can slip my hand into his brother’s arm instead.
“Oh, poor boy. Did you think I would leave you to fend for yourself?” I give his arm an exaggerated squeeze, feigning sympathy.
“Wouldn’t put it past you. You like keeping everyone on edge.” He glances at my dress as we fall into place. “What’s with the dress, though? This isn’t the one from the fitting. Something happened?”
“It’s a long story,” I reply. It’s true. So many things happened in such a short time. But I find myself smiling about it. It turn out well in the end.
“That sounds interesting. You’ll have to tell me later,” he says, grinning as the coordinator rushes everyone into their spots.
“We’ll start once the orchestra begins playing!” she instructs.
The first notes of the instrumental music swell through the air, and the bridal party begins their walk down the aisle.
The line shuffles forward, and Jace and I step in time with the music. My gaze drifts over the rows of guests, catching familiar and unfamiliar faces. Then I spot Yennifer sitting stiffly in her chair. She is beaming until her eyes land on me. Her smile instantly withers as if she has seen a ghost. The shock on her face is so raw and unguarded that she forgets to mask it.
Weird. Why is she looking at me like that? It’s almost as if she didn’t expect me to be here, and now she’s completely shaken to see that I am.
My eyes linger on her a moment longer as we make our way down the aisle to take our places. There’s something about her look that screams suspicious to me, especially when her shocked gaze drifts at the dress I’m wearing.
The dress. Does she have something to do with the little disaster earlier?
My intuition is raging, but I don’t have anything to prove it yet other than the horrified expression of hers.
I keep walking, my smile fixed in place for the crowd, but in the back of my head, I’m already turning that reaction over and over.
The ceremony moves forward gracefully and without a hitch. Mom looks breathtaking in her gown. The fabric flows elegantly as she makes her way down the aisle. She looks happy and that’s all that matters to me. I’m glad I didn’t miss the opportunity of seeing her getting married. Across from her, Alpha Emery waits in his tailored suit, his presence commanding yet warm. There is a curt smile on his lips as he watches my mom.
The ceremony is serene and Jace hands me his handkerchief when I tear up during their vows. The officiator announces that they are now husband and wife. When they seal it with a kiss, the crowd bursts into applause and I clap with them.
At the reception, the hotel ballroom is alive with chatter and laughter. Guests from neighboring packs mingle with one another, filling the space with a lively energy. This is better. Though I’m not really familiar with the majority of them, at least I don’t sense any animosity from anyone. It seems that everyone is just here to celebrate the union or just have some fun. I’ll take it either way.
My mom and Alpha Emery sit at a smaller table at the front of the ballroom, a place set aside for them as the newlyweds. I sit further back at one of the longer tables with the Aldair brothers, Beta Renston and his daughter Isabel, the Beckett family, and the Sharpe family. The arrangement makes it clear how closely bound the three families are as leaders of the island’s packs.
Evren sits across from me, his chair beside Melanie Beckett. She is as beautiful as she was back in high school. Like her brother, she is warm and outgoing, her gestures animated as she chats with him. There is a regal air beneath her lively manner, and in a way, she seems to complement Evren perfectly. The thought should be fascinating, but instead my chest tightens. I tear my gaze away and instead glance at Reed on my left, with Jace seated beside him. On Evren’s other side, Luca occupies his place.
On the other hand, Arthur Beckett is also seated on my right. He is in high spirits and is very friendly like his usual self. I catch a glimpse of Luca and Reed blatantly frowning at Arthur while he chats with me. But I ignore them. It’s not like I’m rubbing myself on Arthur, so they should stop thinking that I might get his scent all over me again.
“You seem relieved. Big events like this can feel overwhelming, can’t they?” Arthur asks.
“I was nervous something might go wrong,” I admit. “But everything turned out beautifully.”
He nods in agreement. “She does look happy. That’s what matters, right? A wedding should feel like a celebration, not a battlefield.”
I laugh under my breath. “You’d be surprised how often those two feel the same.”
Arthur leans back in his chair, his tone light. “Well, at least no one tripped walking down the aisle. That would have been a story.”
I chuckle with him. If only he knew, I almost didn’t make it to the wedding earlier if not for Luca’s magical ways.
“Ladies and gentlemen!” the host’s voice booms through the microphone, cutting across the chatter. “It’s time for the bride to toss the bouquet. All the single ladies, to the floor!”
The crowd bursts into whistles and cheers. Women rush toward the center, Melanie among them. I stay in my seat until Mom catches my eye from across the floor. She lifts her hand and gestures for me to go. I rise reluctantly and make my way toward the group. I slip into the back of the circle.
Alright, here we go…