Chapter Ten
Two pack Enforcers stood in the enormous foyer, on either side of Regina. Angela stood at the side of the room, watching with interest.
As Jarrod and Mary walked into the room, Regina rushed forward.
“You son of a bitch! You totally humiliated me!” Regina’s eyes blazed with rage as she slapped Jarrod’s face.
Jarrod didn’t even blink; he just looked bored and put his hand on her shoulder and pushed her back a couple of steps.
“I’m really not in the mood, Regina. Today is supposed to be a happy day on which I celebrate the arrival of my new bride. I don’t have a problem throwing you in a detention cell.”
“You led me on and then tossed me aside in front of everyone!”
“Led you on?” Jarrod let out a bark of scorn. “Are you kidding me? I never agreed to the bridenapping, and my uncle had no legal right whatsoever to agree for me. I never once encouraged you in any way.”
“You know what, you want her so much, you can have her!” Regina spit out.
“Well, thank you, Regina, that means a lot to me.” Jarrod’s tone was heavily laden with sarcasm but Regina didn’t seem to notice.
“You’re making a mistake, and my daddy’s going to sue you. I’m going home, and you’ll be sorry!” This was accompanied by a foot stamp.
“Well, that’s a problem, Regina. The wedding is in three weeks. Until then, pack tradition says that nobody from outside the Magister Pack leaves or enters the compound.”
There were several minutes of screaming, shouting, hurling of objects (deftly caught by the Enforcers) and most unladylike swearing, until Regina finally settled down and agreed that she would honor them with her presence by staying in a suite as long as she had servants, but her wardrobe and beauty products had to be shipped in, and they better stock her brand of yogurt or her daddy was going to sue them twice.
Angela was standing with her hands over her mouth, trying not to laugh. Mary was struggling not to join her.
Jarrod shook his head at Mary, with a rueful grin. “The course of true love never did run smooth.”
* * * * *
The next day…
Platters of food were set out on a long picnic table in the gardens behind the house, with fresh-cut flowers in glass vases along a blue table runner. Jarrod and Mary were standing by the table, sipping coffee and waiting for Angela. Mary was working very hard at ignoring Jarrod, which was difficult because he looked sexy and sleep-rumpled and good enough to lick. And he was still pretending this bridenapping was real.
I bet the last half-dozen women he dated thought it was real too, Mary thought glumly.
“Here comes the sleeping beauty,” Jarrod said, looking at the enormous glass doors that led out to the garden.
Mary glanced at her watch as Angela strolled towards them, yawning and stretching. It was 8 a.m. She’d taken a pair of scissors to the shirt the pack had provided for her, cutting out a skull shape in the front.
“Good morning. Why do wolves wake up so early?” Angela stifled another yawn.
“Angela! I can see your bra!” Mary gasped, raising an eyebrow.
“Oh my God, woman. You’re so uptight if I shoved coal up your butt you’d poop diamonds.” Angela flashed a grin of triumph.
Mary let out an exaggerated sigh. “Worked really hard on that one, did you?”
“Nah, I found it on an insult website. Work smarter, not harder, I always say.”
“Or not at all. What, who said that?” Mary looked around as Angela smacked her arm. “All right, let’s eat. I get bitchy when I’m hungry. Oh, go ahead, I know you’re dying to say something like, ‘What, only then?’”
“Too easy,” Angela said, shaking her head.
As they settled into their seats, Angela let out a low whistle and murmured, “Oh my hotness.” A dozen shirtless men in jogging shorts were racing by in the nearby field, glistening with sweat under the morning sun. Craig was at the forefront.
“Are they competing in the Pack Games?” Mary asked.
