Best Friends (New Species #15)(65)

Excitement had Snow’s heart racing as he moved to stand by the minister, next to the fireplace. The scent of burning logs was pleasant in the room, along with the sight of the flames. They’d cleared out the couches and chairs in the lobby to make room for everyone who wanted to see their wedding.

The side doors that led toward the hotel kitchen were pushed open by two of the human staff who worked there, and the males smiled at him. He licked his lips, feeling anticipation.

Then he saw Mel. She took his breath away.

The pale white gown hugged her body in lace and some other soft material. Her hair was pulled up to reveal her delicate, beautiful features. Their gazes locked, and he wanted to rush to her, but he managed to hold still.

He didn’t notice anything but her. Every step Mel took toward him had Snow smiling wider. She beamed at him.

The minister stepped forward and cleared his throat. “Who gives this bride away today?”

Mary peeked out from behind Mel, where she trailed behind her. “I do.”

The minister withdrew back to his place next to the fireplace. “We’re gathered here today to join Mel and Snow in holy matrimony.”

Snow reached out and took Mel’s hand. She reached back, passing off her bouquet for Mary to hold. The female took it and moved closer to the minister. Snow took Mel’s other hand to clasp them both in his and couldn’t look away from her eyes.

The words the minister said barely registered. Snow managed to say the right words, though, and even put the ring in his pocket on her finger without messing up, though his mate helped by spreading her fingers in a way that made it clear which one it went on.

“You may kiss your bride.”

Snow pulled Mel into his arms and lowered his mouth to hers. “You’re mine forever.”

“You’re mine forever, too.”

He took possession of her mouth, kissing her with all his love. Mel wrapped her arms around his neck, and it made him want to take her right there. The sound of clapping reminded him that he couldn’t do that just yet. They had a reception to get through first.

But soon.

He ended the kiss and their gazes locked. Mel was his entire world now…and by the love in her eyes, Snow knew she felt the very same.





Lash


Chapter One




Mary wished she could crouch lower on her seat or even hide under the table. She kept her chin tucked down, since it seemed as if everyone stared at her when she looked up. The wedding cake sitting before her was great, but she couldn’t take another bite. Her appetite wasn’t present.

She just wanted to leave. Her stomach felt queasy. Nerves always did that to her.

No one at Reservation had been rude. It wasn’t them. It was her. She was terrified to be here, and no amount of reason or logic could fix her distress.

New Species frightened her. It wasn’t personal. Her past had made her the way she was.

A dog had attacked her when she was five. It was the first time, but it wasn’t the last. Another dog had come after her when she’d turned eight. Then again at ten, thirteen, nineteen…and just six months before in a grocery store, right after her twenty-sixth birthday. Worse, everyone had laughed at her when she’d climbed inside the cart to get away from the menace. It may have been small but the second it saw Mary, it snarled and barked as it lunged toward her.

Why couldn’t anyone else see how that might be scary?

Cats absolutely hated her, too. She’d smile at them and they’d just hiss. One had even chased her right out of her aunt Christine’s front door. The entire family had sworn they’d never seen anything like it before. Their loving and typically calm kitty had turned into a snarling hairball that seemed intent on clawing Mary’s eyes out.

The hatred animals demonstrated toward her even extended to horses. The one time she’d tried to learn how to ride, the beast had gone crazy when she’d approached and had attempted to trample her. Then it had tried to take a bite out of her. That had killed her dream of maybe falling in love with a cowboy. Ranches weren’t a safe choice.

Animals just hated her. It used to hurt her feelings, but she stopped caring as much after the attack of the rodents. That had been the last straw.

She’d been on a date with a man at a park. Picnics were supposed to be fun and romantic. One second they’d been smiling at each other over a basket of fried chicken, and the next, a dozen field mice rushed them. It had been like something out of a horror movie.

Her date had later said they must have been starving and going after the food. Mary wasn’t buying it. They’d come after her, and if she hadn’t run for her life, they probably would have tried to eat her alive.

She’d sworn that day to avoid anything with claws, fangs, hooves, or tails. Goldfish were safe—from at least a four-foot distance. She’d figured that out after a couple had actually leapt from their little bowls when she’d been around. Their owners had to scramble to quickly scoop them up and dump them back into the water. It had happened twice in her life. Both friends had assured her it happened but she was pretty sure…it only happened when she was around.

It was just a fact. Animals seemed to instinctively hate her. It was just one of those mysteries of life she’d stopped trying to figure out or explain. It just was.

Now she sat in a large cafeteria with at least forty New Species at Reservation. They were all part animal. Worse, they’d grown up being severely abused by humans. She wondered if any of them harbored any resentments. A chill ran down her spine, and she glanced around surreptitiously, praying that she didn’t remind any of them of someone horrible from Mercile Industries.