Bonus Content

Never any rest for a wolf, Rune grumbled as I straightened my cravat, then got off my Harley. What do you need a wedding for, anyway? Doesn’t take much to prove your love than to roll around and make pups.

It’s a human thing, I sent to my wolf as I strode across the Vintmarch estate. Since Felicity and Edward had decided to tie the knot just 5 days after I’d arrested Florian's murderer, there wasn’t much time for preparations.

Luckily, they already had a perfect location for their nuptials.

I could already spot the little clearing everyone had gathered in beside one of the Vintmarch’s plots of land.

Mira and the girls had erected a simple but beautiful flower arch and laid out row upon row of little white chairs on either side of a lavender carpet.

Someone, probably Mrs Grimshaw, had magicked up a large tent under which was a long table practically groaning under a mouth-watering buffet.

Yes, the food’s one thing I approve of, Rune said as I inhaled the scent of beef bourguignon. Someone had been a little overgenerous with the wine, but otherwise it smelled delicious.

That’s not the only thing I suspect you’ll find tantalizing, Rune sent as I gazed longingly towards the food.

Hmm?

The sound of someone walking towards me made me prick my ears.

I turned around to find the most gorgeous woman I’d ever seen walking towards me, looking like she had an axe to grind. Oh dear.

Preferably against our fur, I suspect, Rune said, though his amused tone belied his words. Still haven’t found time to speak to Temmie, have you?

Wrapping up the investigation has been running me ragged, you know that, I said, quickly sidestepping behind Mel Callwood as she and her family came up from behind me.

Mel wasn’t really plump enough to conceal me, but she’d gone all out today and worn a hat with a swan on it. Its outstretched wings were just about big enough for me to duck behind.

Plus, you’re using a concealment charm. Rune rolled his incorporeal eyes. Chicken. Just tell her you’re a werewolf already! It’s not as if she doesn’t know.

I know she knows, and she knows I know she knows—that’s not the problem, though, I muttered back as I slipped from behind Mel to behind Ben, then, then into a patch of shadow under a nearby tree.

With any luck…

Yes. I’d lost her. Temmie gazed confusedly about the Callwoods for a moment, her lips pursed with annoyance. Then Anita squealed and took her arm, gushing about how lovely Temmie looked.

An ache bloomed in my chest.

I wanted nothing more than to be the one with Temmie on my arm, giving her well-deserved compliments about how gorgeous she looked in her lovely calf-length emerald dress. It brought out the beautiful jewel-like green in her eyes. A thin leather and gold belt emphasized her perfect hourglass figure.

Felicity hadn’t had the time or inclination to dictate what her bridesmaids wore. So aside from the lovely floral wreath decorating Temmie’s hair, her outfit was completely her own.

And did you notice she’s wearing our totem? Rune butted into my thoughts approvingly. It’s almost as if she were trying to tell you something.

I frowned, then spotted the little crescent moon necklace Temmie had encircling her neck. It was a delicate little thing, but the sight of it nearly felled me.

Could Rune be right? Was Temmie—probably subconsciously, given how fiercely she’d stalked towards me—somehow starting to come around to me being a werewolf?

Hope bloomed in my chest, despite the logic that immediately rose to throttle it. Hadn’t she said many times how terrified she was of wolves? And the first thing she’d done after she’d seen my transformation firsthand was to faint dead away.

You don’t think having an entire crypt of ghosts trying to freeze the life out of her might be responsible for that? Rune huffed. Or the sight of your bare chest, scrawny as it is, compared to my magnificent…

I shoved Rune away and made my way over to Edward Grimshaw, who was standing under the flower arch, awaiting his bride.

“My man!” he exclaimed when he saw me. He was pale and trembling like a newly unfurled leaf in the wind.

I clapped him on the back, nearly knocking him to the ground. This wasn’t the cursebreaker I knew.

“What’s the matter?” I growled.

Edward gulped. “Nothing. I just…”

He’s pissing himself in fear he’ll lose this chance to secure Felicity, Rune observed astutely. Wise man. Unlike others.

I ignored the jab. I didn’t have to ask if it could also be because Edward was afraid of tying himself down with marriage. Rune’s insights into people were half the reason why I was such a successful magical investigator. Plus, Edward was scanning the crowd like a man dying of thirst.

“…I just hope it all goes well. That… you know… she doesn’t change her mind,” he finally muttered, still surveying the gathering crowd.

People were beginning to fill the seats. Not Temmie, I noted with relief. She was still chatting with Anita. Or rather, listening to her best friend chatter at a mile a minute while glowering at me. I resisted the urge to duck behind Edward. He was tall, but not built enough to hide me anyway.

“Or that Iris doesn’t convince her to change her mind?” I replied when the sight of a raven-haired woman in scarlet dragged my eyes from Temmie.

Edward inhaled a breath, then choked on it as Iris approached, her eyes shooting daggers.

She planted herself before us, hands on her hips.

“You better treat her well, Edward Grimshaw,” she hissed, narrowing her eyes. Sparks ringed her clenched hands, sizzling against the fabric of her dress yet somehow not scorching it. “Or else.”

“Of course, I will,” Edward said, somehow managing not to stutter, though he’d grown so pale he was as white as a corpse. And I’d know. “I don’t know how you could doubt it.”

Iris tossed her long, lustrous locks over her shoulder. “Don’t give me that nonsense. You strung me along for years, Edward,” she said, not even bothering to beat around the bush. “But all that’s stopping now you’re marrying my sister.”

Music rose in the air as the bridal procession began.

Iris glanced over her shoulder, then pointed a finger at Edward, causing a spark of magic tp sizzle against his nose. “I’ll be watching you. You’ve been warned.”

Edward winced but said nothing as Iris stalked off to join the bridal procession as the Maid of Honour. She didn’t seem to notice Mrs Grimshaw glaring a hole through her head as she passed her by. Or more likely, she didn’t care.

“She’s just pissed it’s not her you’re marrying,” I said to Edward as I took the best man’s place beside and slightly behind him.

Edward shuddered. “Hell will freeze over before I marry her.”

We exchanged a grin, then settled down to watch as Felicity, Mira, Iris, and the bridesmaids approached.

Edward was too enamored by Felicity’s beaming presence to notice anything else, but I was immediately distracted by Temmie glowering at me.

Iris can’t hold a candle to this woman’s wrath, I muttered to Rune as the ceremony began and Temmie finally looked away, stars in her eyes as she watched Edward and Felicity exchange vows.

What did you expect when you keep dodging her like the plague, Rune scoffed.

She’s not ready to hear I’m a werewolf, I shot back, sweating under my cravat when Temmie glanced momentarily at me. She’s terrified of werewolfs, don’t you know?

Not so terrified she won’t sharpen her claws at the sight of you, Rune sighed. I think you’re the one who’s terrified of what she’s going to say now she knows. Do you really think she’ll lose interest in you once you admit it?

I glared so hard while Edward slipped his ring over his bride’s finger that she hesitated, blinking nervously at me.

Oops.

I pasted an amiable smile on my face and nodded reassuringly at Felicity, only dropping it once she had done the same for Edward and they’d begun to kiss.

Aww. True love, Rune observed as applause filled the air.

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes at my wolf. Rune was a huge, formidable wolf… with a gooey heart to rival a Cupid’s.

I heard that, Rune complained.

I meant you to. I smirked, then froze.

Temmie was walking across the aisle towards me.

For a moment, the light struck her just right, highlighting the golden tint of her hair and the lovely leaf-green shade of her eyes. Her dimple was a creamy highlight in the perfection of her face.

I stared at her, captured by the sight of her under the flower arch. It didn’t take any stretch of my imagination to envisage what she might look like on her wedding day under the fragrant blossoms.

Our… wedding day.

“Jack,” Temmie said softly, as if she too was caught up in the moment.

“You look breathtaking,” I murmured, gazing down at her.

Temmie blushed, making her look even more appealing.

Just KISS her already! Rune howled.

I took a step closer and lowered my face to hers. Temmie’s eyes widened as if she knew what I intended to do. I waited for her to take a step back, to ward me off out of terror of the wolf lurking just beneath my skin.

But instead, she merely lifted her face in unspoken invitation, her lips parting like petals unfurling under a golden sun.

I bent closer, fear, anticipation, and longing making my hands shake as I reached for the gorgeous woman in front of me.

Mate.

The word growled through me with a primalness that even Rune couldn’t duplicate.

Then, just as my lips were about to brush against hers… something punched me in the face.

I spun around, arms outstretched to defend me and mine.

But there was nothing but a sea of delighted faces before me, crowned by Edward and Felicity’s knowing grins.

“Oh!” Temmie gasped.

I glanced over my shoulder to see her holding a bouquet of dahlias and creamy roses, peppered with colorful wildflowers, oak leaves, and silver dollar eucalyptus.

Temmie held the bouquet up towards me, blushing again, but this time with embarrassment.

It was all I could do not to scoop her up and propose on the spot.

But I knew that would be too much. If she was wary of my wolf, she’d run for the hills if I slung her over my shoulder and ran off like a caveman. Yet, the urge to do so was overwhelming.

“Got to get back to work,” I growled, spinning on my heel and stalking away.

“What? Wait! Jack!” Temmie called out, running after me.

I sped up, hurrying to my Harley.

Like a little cowardly rabbit, Rune growled in frustration. Just turn around and take her!

That’s not how it works for us humans! I sent to him as I threw myself onto my bike.

Temmie had stopped pursuing me. But I didn’t have to look back to see her still standing there, at the edge of the crowd, glowering at me again.

You can’t run forever, Rune huffed as the Harley roared away from the vineyard.

No, I agreed. Neither did I want to. Not from a witch like that.

And definitely not from the mate of my heart.