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My breath suddenly caught in my throat. Planning a wedding was now a reality, not just a ruse I had to maintain for appearance’s sake.
I looked down at the engagement ring that sparkled on my finger, and my imagination conjured up the perfect weddingday. We’d be in the garden at Blackwood Manor. Soft music would fill the air, mingling with the laughter and joyous conversations of our friends and family.
Kyle, my big brother, who’d turned his back on everyone and everything he’d been taught so he could be with me, to fight against the hunters.
Diana Bogford, in whose bed and breakfast I’d stayed. It hadn’t taken long for her to assume a maternal role in my life, showering me with care and support.
Her daughter Margo, the vivacious shifter who had taken me under her wing from the very beginning. She’d recently discovered Birch Clawson was her fated mate, and they were now mated and living together. Clawson was the sheriff and Ridge’s closest friend.
Audrey. When we first met, I found her to be the epitome of the spoiled rich girl. But what I’d taken as arrogance was an armor she wore to protect herself from people who used her for money and standing within the pack. She’d stood up against her own parents, Christie and Martin Greenthorne. Her unwavering loyalty was humbling.
Then Lola Kipling, the shy psychiatrist. Unaware of the existence of shifters until I fucked up and shifted in front of her. She was amazing. After promising to keep our secrets, she’d revealed one of her own: she was descended from witches. Doubting the veracity of that, she’d come to Blackwood Creek to research her heritage. So when I’d shifted, and she realized shifters were real, it stood to reason for her that witches existed, too. We were helping her connect with her witchy side, and in the process, she’d become a trusted confidante and hopefully a secret weapon in our fight against the hunters.
These women couldn’t be more different from one another, but they had become my closest friends.
As I started creating a list of everyone who would be there to celebrate with us, it stunned me how much these people had come to mean to me in such a short time.
Honestly, I even wanted the Magpies there—Maggie Peters and Maggie Hill, the town gossips who owned the diner I had worked at after arriving in Blackwood Creek. Not that I really had much of a choice. They’d be scandalized if we didn’t invite them, not because being at the wedding was important to them, but because they’d be frightened they’d miss out on juicy gossip.
I was pulled from my thoughts by Mrs. Thompson calling out “Morning, Tori” from her flower shop, offering me a cheery wave. I greeted her with a smile, admiring the vibrant blooms she was arranging in front of her store. The sight of the flowers sent my imagination soaring as I envisioned floral centerpieces and delicate bouquets made up of sprigs of purple heather with the delicate creams of lily of the valley and simple carnations. The ceremony I was picturing overflowed with personal touches and meaningful moments that truly represented me and Ridge.
I could see Audrey and Lola wearing stunning, ice-blue bridesmaid dresses. The dresses would have an elegant empire line, the silky material gracefully cascading down to their feet. Their matching satin shoes would peep out from beneath the flowing fabric. As the maid of honor, Margo would follow them. Ridge, looking dashing in a dark suit, his tie matching the ice blue of the bridesmaids’ dresses. He’d turn to see me, his smile mirroring the immense happiness that filled my soul. With all eyes on me, it would be my moment to walk down the aisle. With each step, my heart would race with a mix of excitement and anticipation.
But just as my imagination began to walk me down the aisle, a familiar voice pulled me out of my reverie yet again. “Hey, there.”
I looked in the direction of the voice and saw Fiona Ashworth unlocking the door to a quaint bridal boutique. The gowns in the window, made of delicate lace and satin, shimmered in the morning light. Cursive script above the door spelled out “The Bridal Suite.” I suppressed a flutter of excitement. I hadn’t thought about my wedding dress yet, but now the prospect thrilled me.
“Morning. Are you thinking of shopping here for your big day?”
“Uh, yeah,” I replied, still a little dazed by the sudden shift in my perspective. “If it’s not a bother, I’d love to take a quick look around.”
“Of course, come on in.” Fiona beckoned me inside, practically jumping on her toes with excitement. I stood transfixed in the middle of the floor, taking everything in.
“Normally, I don’t open the shop because I work the afternoon shift, but my colleague Tracey is running late and asked me for a last-minute favor. It was totally unexpected, and then you standing outside this morning is such a coincidence. I think it was meant to be.”
I stopped browsing and turned to her, raising my eyebrow in the universal gesture ofExcuse me, what now?
She giggled. “I like to think we played a part in your relationship with the mayor. What were the odds that James and I would meet you at a gas station in the middle of nowhere, and you were on your way to Blackwood Creek? I know Mayor Blackwood had already met you when he’d been out of town on business, but we brought you here that day. So, really, in a way, we brought you together.
“And the morning you decide to come in and look for your dress, I’m here, when I’m not normally? It must be destiny.” Fiona winked playfully, implying that she was joking.
I’d forgotten that when Ridge and I had announced our fake engagement, we told everyone that we’d met outside Blackwood Creek and fallen in love. I pondered over Fiona’s words and the concept of fated mates. Maybe there was some truth in what she’d said. Fate did indeed work in mysterious ways.
It also made me realize that I probably should’ve been visiting the local shops before now to get ready for the formerly pretend wedding. It felt important that the townspeople see me shop locally for all things wedding-related.
Especially after Jaxon Hyde announced I was his daughter and an alpha after the Greenthornes’ induced riot at the jailhouse.
I wasn’t sure how to feel about Hyde’s declaration, or even what it meant to be a female alpha. As far as I knew, the term was always used to refer to the strongest male who led the pack. I’d only ever heard of male alphas, and the hunters hadn’t taught me about female alphas in any of theirlessons.All the alphas I’d met from the incoming shifter packs were male; none of them had ever mentioned female alphas. I wasn’t sure how this new title would affect my future as Ridge’s luna. Would being an alpha conflict with that?
My engagement ring caught the light, and all my doubts and worries faded. I was going to become Victoria Blackwood. Ridge had been clear that I didn’t have to take his name and be tarred by the sins of his forefathers. But I wanted to help him rebuild his family’s reputation and prove that not all Blackwoods were bound by their ancestors’ mistakes. It wasn’t just his ancestors’ name, it was Ridge’s name, and I wanted it to be my name as much as his. To work with him to create a new legacy, together.
My elation dimmed somewhat as I found myself in the strange position of being unable to express my excitement about Ridge and I being officially engaged because everyone already believed we were engaged.
I could get excited about planning the wedding, though, so I turned my attention to the rows and rows of beautiful wedding gowns lining the walls. My heart thundered for a moment as it sank in. I was shopping for a wedding dress. My actual wedding dress.
I went to the first rack and looked through the gowns as Fiona got the store ready and open for the day. There was so many choices, a dazzling array of material and textures. The silk creations were so soft and smooth to the touch, giving off a sense of pure luxury. The soft lighting illuminated the satin gowns, adding to their already elegant allure.
I pulled out a chiffon princess-style dress with crystals embroidered on the bodice, holding it up against myself as I looked in the mirror. The material floated gracefully, the delicate layers swaying with every movement. The crystal beads, meticulously arranged in intricate patterns, shimmered under the glow of the shop lights and added a touch of elegance to the bodice. I liked it, but I didn’t love it. I carefully put it back on the rack and kept looking.
