Chapter 423 – Wedding Prep

Cora

“Ella,” I sighed, turning to my sister. She stood behind me, hands clasped tightly, tears welling in her eyes. She wasn't breathing, trying so hard to hold back her sobs.

“You look so beautiful!” she squeaked. I couldn't help laughing; she looked like a cartoon character, completely overwhelmed by the sight of me in a wedding gown.

“Ella!” I laughed, taking a few steps toward her and extending my hands. “You can’t do this for every new dress!”

“But you look so stunningly beautiful in each one!” she cried, then a sob escaped, and she buried her face in her hands. I burst into laughter, raising my hands to my cheeks and taking a deep breath.

“I’m sorry! I can’t help it!” she cried. I shook my head, smiling as I turned to admire myself in the mirror.

She wasn’t wrong—I looked damn good in the sparkling white gown. It hugged my body, flowing to the floor in a beautiful beaded train. But honestly, Ella was far more sentimental than I was. She'd gotten choked up at every gown I'd tried on so far—and they were all beautiful—but I just wasn't experiencing the same emotional response.

“You don’t like it?” she gasped, hurrying to my side, meeting my eyes in the mirror. “But Cora, you look amazing—so romantic—”

“I know, Ella!” I said, turning and placing a hand on her shoulder. “But I think the problem is that I’m not very romantic! You are, for sure, but—”

“Oh,” she said, frowning and swatting my hand away. “You are romantic! You confessed your love for Roger in a rainstorm! He swept you off your feet and carried you inside!”

“Okay,” I said, raising my hands in surrender. “I’ll admit that part of our story is romantic—”

“And you conceived your baby that very night!”

“Okay! I’m a romance novel heroine! You’ve got me!” I laughed. “But Ella, I never craved any of this. I’ve never been the girl who dreams about her wedding day or her first dance. This…means less to me than it does to you.”

“But then why do you care if we have a wedding?” she asked, wiping away her tears. “Why don’t you just skip it if it doesn’t matter?”

“Because the mating does matter,” I murmured, turning back to smile at myself in the mirror. My wolf stirred within me, giving a little yip of agreement, deepening my smile. I mentally stroked her fur, reassuring her that I wasn't backing down.

“Okay,” Ella sighed, standing close and resting her head on my shoulder as we both stared at my reflection. “But you should keep this dress anyway. Roger is going to flip when he sees you in it.”

“I know, right?” I murmured, admiring the way the dress hugged my curves.

My sister squealed, throwing her arms around my shoulders. “See! You do like it!”

I laughed. “I always liked it,” I shrugged. “I just…”

“I get it,” she said, nodding. “But let’s keep the dress. Just in case. And…maybe the ballgown too?” She grinned at me in the mirror; I knew that one was her favorite, even if this one was mine.

“Whatever you want,” I said with a sigh and a shrug. “It’s on the Sinclair dime anyway.”

“Yeah, let’s bankrupt them!” Ella said, grinning and hopping away to speak quietly with one of the stylists who had endured her hysterics while I tried on twenty gowns. While Ella consulted, probably purchasing several gowns for herself, I shook my head at my reflection.

Because this…this just wasn't right.

Suddenly, I knew exactly what I wanted to do. Before Ella returned, I slipped behind the dressing screen, removed the gown, folded it carefully, and put on my original outfit. When I emerged, a stylist approached to collect the dress.

“Um,” I said softly, glancing at Ella, who was still conferring with the stylist. “Can you have this one sent to my house? And…don’t tell her?”

“Uh,” the woman said hesitantly, aware that Ella was paying, not me.

“I promise she won’t be mad,” I reassured her. “And if she gives you any trouble, you can tell her it was my idea. It will be alright, but…could you please do this? Just between you and me?”

The woman hesitated, then sighed and smiled. “Sure,” she said. “I…I can do that.”

With renewed purpose, I kissed my sister goodbye. I had work to do.

Roger exhaled wearily as he entered that night. He pressed the door shut, taking a deep breath, clearly shifting from work to home mode. I felt instantly guilty and stepped back, trying to…melt into the shadows.

But Roger, with his enhanced wolf hearing, instantly turned to me.

“Cora?” he asked, tilting his head as he saw me in the living room, fully dressed, standing beside two small suitcases and a white box wrapped in a silver bow. “What…what are you doing?”

“Um…” I hesitated, searching for an excuse. He was so tired; we didn't need to do this tonight. We could wait until tomorrow.

God, I was so dumb. I should have texted him, checked if he was up for it.

“Can’t a girl just…stand in her living room?” I finished lamely, tucking my hands behind my back and offering a too-innocent smile.

“No,” he said, smirking and slowly approaching, his shoulders back like the predator he was. “Not when it’s you, and you’re usually tucked up in bed watching Grey’s Anatomy at this hour. And when you’ve packed two suitcases.”

“Those are just decorative,” I said dismissively, raising my chin but unable to resist smiling. God, he was so handsome. “I’m trying something new. But I’m gathering that suitcases in the living room aren’t working as a style concept. Notes taken! I’ll fix it in the morning.”

“Cora,” he growled, moving close enough to grasp my waist and pull me against him. I laughed, loving it—loving him. “What are you doing? What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” I murmured, smiling as I placed my hands on his chest. “It doesn’t matter—you’re so tired—”

“Hey,” he said, lifting my chin to meet his gaze. “I want to know.”

“Well,” I said, biting my lip and looking up at my gorgeous mate, whom I loved so dearly. I tapped the bond between our hearts, letting him see my love, my excitement, and that I was…ready.

His face changed as understanding dawned.

“Well, Roger?” I said, grinning up at him. “What would you say if I asked you to elope with me tonight?”

He stared, shocked and thrilled, then whooped with joy, sweeping my feet out from under me as he spun me in a circle.

“Hell yes, Cora,” he whispered after three turns, his face bright with his smile. “Absolutely. Let’s go. Right now.”