Echoes of Fire (The Mercury Pack #4)(105)
“I didn’t plan the party. In fact, I don’t like having them for myself. It was Gwen. She’s human, so she’s into bachelorette parties and stuff.”
“Maybe it wasn’t the best idea for her to throw it the night before our mating ceremony.” He slowly massaged her head. “You gonna get through it okay?”
“Of course.”
“Good, because I’m not canceling it.”
“Nothing would make me cancel it.”
He kissed her temple. “Did you take any Tylenol?”
“Yes. Fingers crossed it works.” But she was too tired to actually cross them, so she did it mentally.
“What time are the girls coming to help you get ready?”
“Can’t remember. Brain is fried.”
He lifted her. “Then let’s get some coffee down you and perk you up a little, or you’ll never cope with having so many people around you.”
“You know me well.”
After she threw on panties and a shirt, they sat at the table while she drank her coffee and nibbled at a Danish pastry. By the time she’d finished both, the other adult females of the pack had appeared. They chased away Bracken, who went to Jesse’s lodge to get ready for the ceremony. Then they pretty much took over, ushering Madisyn into the shower and barking orders.
She didn’t have to lift a finger.
Shaya did her hair; Harley did her makeup; Ally set out her clothes; Gwen did her nails; and Roni—not a girly girl—supplied everyone with coffee. By the time they were done, Madisyn no longer looked half-dead.
The others then got ready in her lodge, and Gwen hurried away, since she was helping Kathy and a Phoenix Pack female, Grace, with the catering.
When it wasn’t long before it would be time to leave, the girls settled in the living area.
“You nervous?” asked Harley.
“About the ceremony itself?” Madisyn shook her head. “No. About dealing with all the fuss that comes with it? Yeah.”
“Don’t worry,” said Ally with a little wave of her hand. “You won’t be dealing with it on your own, since Bracken doesn’t like sharing you and won’t do it for long. Which is why he’s not happy that there’ll be so many guests.”
Madisyn initially figured that just Dawn and the Phoenix Pack would come. But the Olympus Pride, who’d formed an alliance with Nick, had insisted on coming after Ingrid heard about the ceremony through Dawn. Cain, Harley’s cousins, and Riley’s uncles—whom Madisyn had met back when Riley lived at the shelter—had also asked to come. And since Gwen’s family was currently visiting, they would also be there.
“Just don’t let my brothers get him alone,” said Roni. “On the night of my mating ceremony, they got Marcus drunk and tied him to a tree.”
Shaya smiled. “I don’t think they’ll dare do that to Bracken. Although they would if Madisyn was their sister too. They still find it weird that you’re mated, Roni.”
“You know,” began Madisyn, “I had a dream that Claudia and Daisy were at my mating ceremony, whacking the crap out of each other with inflatable badgers, and I kept telling them that they had to hurry because the Hogwarts Express would be leaving soon.”
Ally laughed. “Why inflatable badgers?”
“I don’t know. I was dreaming.”
The Tundra Pack hadn’t retaliated in any way. Because Claudia was in the public eye, her father’s death hadn’t escaped notice. In a TV interview, she’d stated that he and some of her pack mates had died in a battle with another pack, but she’d refused to state which one. So far no one had speculated if it was the Mercury Pack. Shifter business was shifter business, so the human authorities hadn’t gotten involved.
“Have you talked to Daisy lately?” asked Shaya.
Madisyn nodded. “She’s doing well.” After the battle with Archer, Madisyn had made a call to Daisy and told her what had happened. The sow then contacted her family, relayed the info, and soon after returned home. The last Madisyn heard, the clans were now operating separately as opposed to answering to one clan.
She snapped out of her thoughts as Shaya rose from the sofa. “Time to go,” the redhead declared.
Blowing out a breath, Madisyn stood. “I’m ready.”
They headed to a clearing deep in Mercury territory where other mating ceremonies had taken place. Everybody was gathered in a circle, surrounding Nick and Bracken. People parted to let Madisyn through, flashing her smiles and patting her arms or shoulders as she passed.
Her focus was on Bracken, who was looking absolutely delicious in his black slacks and the slate-gray shirt that matched the color of his eyes. A shirt she’d picked out. He drank in the little red dress she was wearing and gave her a look that said she would be wearing it when he fucked her later.
Nick spoke the ceremonial words. Though they had no power, they moved through her somehow. Or maybe that was Bracken’s sheer awe and contentment.
When the ceremony was finally over, Bracken pulled her close and kissed her. “All I want to do right now is take you home and do very filthy things to you.”
She smiled. “The wait will add to the tension.”
“No, it will just drive me crazy.”
The after-party kicked off quickly. People ate, drank, sang, and danced on the makeshift dance floor. Others sat at the tables or stood in groups, chatting and laughing. Bracken didn’t leave her side as they walked around, making an effort to speak with each and every guest. Greta was remarkably pleasant and seemed to be enjoying herself, though she probably only made the effort to mingle because she had Allen with her.