Chapter 424 – Run Away Bride

Cora

As Roger drove down the dark highway, I texted Ella: "Hey! I'll be MIA for a couple of days. Roger and I are taking some time to ourselves. Sorry to leave you hanging with all the camp work. Will you forgive me?"

I bit my lip anxiously as I pressed send, then stared at my phone, waiting for a reply.

"Quit that," Roger said, glancing at me.

"What?" I asked.

"Worrying," he said, shrugging. "She's not your boss, Cora."

"Yeah, well, Dominic is your boss," I pointed out, raising my eyebrows. "Did you even text him?"

"Nah," he grinned. "I'll let Ella break it to him. We'll face his wrath when we get back."

"If we get back," I said, relaxing against my seat. "Who knows? Maybe we'll like eloping so much we'll just… stay."

"I encourage this," Roger laughed. "Thoroughly. We can assume new identities, abandon our lives and responsibilities."

I laughed, looking out the window. The thrill of eloping still surged through me. "Yeah, but then we won't see Rafe grow up. And little no-name here won't have his best friend." I ran my hand over my stomach, sending a happy pulse down the bond to the baby. He didn't respond—probably asleep. Or whatever.

"Speaking of," Roger said, glancing at me again. "Any ideas for baby names?"

I turned, surprised. "Do you know? I actually… don't."

Roger laughed, shaking his head. "Let me guess. Ella had names picked out since childhood, and you never thought about it once."

"Bullseye, Sinclair," I winked, making him laugh. "It's uncanny."

He laughed, and we sat in silence for a moment before he spoke again. "Well, I have some thoughts," he said quietly.

"Really?" I sat up, eager. "You have ideas?"

"I'm not a stone, Cora," he smirked, giving me a playful glare. "I think about our child, his future, and what I'd prefer to call him. Or not call him."

"Okay," I grinned. "What names are off the list?"

"Edgar," he said immediately, and I burst into laughter.

"Why Edgar?"

"Because," he said seriously, "any name with 'gar' is mean to a little kid. And I knew an Edgar growing up, and he was… a dick."

I laughed harder. "All right, Edgar's off the list. What's on it?"

He hesitated, and I nudged his shoulder. "Tell me!"

"No," he said stubbornly, leaning back. "You'll accuse me of being sentimental. This needs to be a discussion. You need to come up with some too. Then we'll decide together."

"Roger," I rolled my eyes, smiling at my secretly sweet mate. "That's the most sentimental idea I've ever heard—far more sentimental than just telling me your favorites."

"Then consider this discussion my mating gift," he nodded. "I get to make that request, at least, right?"

"Oh, sure," I sighed happily. "Whatever the groom wants on his wedding day—that's what they say, isn't it?"

He glared playfully, making me laugh. We continued our journey, him taking my hand and passing his excitement to me through the bond. I returned it, letting him know I was teasing—that I was equally excited and sentimental. Even though I hadn't anticipated this evening my whole life, I couldn't wait.

"What do you think?" I whispered as we stepped out of the car and looked at the tiny beach cottage. Warm yellow light shone from within; I'd had the owner open it for us. The whole house was probably the size of our living room and kitchen combined, but it was so adorable online…

Well, I knew it was perfect.

"It's perfect," Roger grinned, looking at me over the car roof. I smiled back, pleased he felt the same.

Without a word, we sprang into action—Roger to the trunk for our bags, me to the door with the white box, punching in the code. When he joined me, I opened the door, and we stepped inside.

"Oh," I gasped, covering my mouth. It was the prettiest, tiniest beach house I'd ever seen. A small kitchen was to our left, a sofa to the right, but most of the house was the bedroom directly ahead.

"Wow," Roger said, blinking in surprise. I grinned, following his gaze to the beautiful bed with white linens and the wall of windows overlooking the beach and ocean. "Wow, Cora," he repeated, smiling down at me.

"Do you like it?"

"I love it," he murmured, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. "Do you know what it reminds me of?"

"Yes," I laughed.

He nudged my nose, urging me to say it.

"My dreamscape," I whispered, smiling. Even though the bed in my dreams was directly on the beach, we needed a kitchen, bathroom, and roof. But everything else? It was precisely like I'd dreamed it.

"Come on," Roger said, leading me inside for a better look. His Alpha training kicked in, ensuring our safety, while I went straight to the back wall and pushed open the windows. To my delight, they were folding doors that opened completely, revealing the beach.

I opened them all and leaned against the wall, gazing at the ocean.

Moments later, my mate wrapped his arms around my waist, lowering his face to my hair. I reached up, wrapping my hand around the back of his neck, loving the feel of his skin and hair against my fingers.

"So, is it everything you were looking for, Mrs. Sinclair?" he murmured. A shiver went through me at the sound of my name.

"It's everything I never knew I wanted," I whispered, feeling overwhelmingly happy. I turned in his arms, tilting my head back to look at him.

He shifted his arms from my waist to below my rear, then stood up straight, lifting me with him. I laughed, running my hands through his hair and kissing him. After a long moment, he pulled back slightly. "To bed?"

Slyly, I shook my head and wiggled. "Put me down. I want to… do something."

Curious, Roger put me down, and I grabbed the white box, grinning. I pointed to the little iron fireplace. "Will you light that?" I asked.

He nodded and watched as I disappeared into the bathroom with the box.

I might be a wolf, but I wanted one part of this to be human. While Roger lit the fire, I untied the silver ribbon on the box.

And lifted out my wedding dress.