Unexpectedly Mated

8

In the past eight weeks, things had gotten so tense everyone was on high alert. So much had gone on and it didn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon. If s**t kept up this way, the next thing she might hear about is Emma turning into the Hulk or something. There was never a dull moment in Blue Creek.

First the scenting ceremony that had apparently given all of her friends the hottest s*x of their lives, not that anyone was complaining over that. Then Aric and Jordan mated. Quickly followed by Ellie and Jordan’s multiple attacks. The same that pushed Caleb Rahound to want his uncle Rocco out of the way in order to gain the Alpha position of his pack. Karla and Nate found out Karla was pregnant. Then they mated and nobody knew heads or tails of anything. Life took a one eighty all over.

The Wolfe’s had joined in the fight to help Caleb, but with Karla expecting multiples, Nate spent less time with Caleb’s group’s hunt, and more time with his mate. So it seemed Jake the man-w***e was now splitting his time between hunt and the strip joint. Talk about multi-tasking.

“So is everyone ready to listen to our idea?” Barbara asked as she sat down on one of the super plush yellow sofas in Nic’s bright living room.

Nic loved those damn sofas so much. She swore if she had furniture it had to be comfortable enough to sleep in or she’d never buy it. She had a tendency to read on them and fall asleep, so she wanted to be comfortable. Grading papers sometimes took a while and it was better to do it in the living room. For some reason whenever she tried to grade them in her bed she’d get distracted with thoughts of the man-w***e mutt.

Man bashing night and wine had somehow been turned into man bashing, wine and wedding talk. Poor Jordan had started to look like she wanted the whole thing over and done with already. Her enthusiasm had gone from sky high to non-existent lately.

“What’s your idea, Barbara?” Jordan hugged a decorative gold pillow to her chest, her eyes wide with interest and a spark of curiosity. Then there was that gold ring around her iris. Nic wouldn’t get used to that. Jordan had turned into a shifter. It made her friend powerful and dangerous. Not to mention she was mated to the future Wolfe Pack first born Alpha son, Aric. Jordan didn’t need Aric to be Alpha and save her. She was her own Alpha female with enough sass to string a man by the balls. One of Jordan’s many lovely qualities adored by all in their group.

“Well…” Barbara handed Jordan a glass of wine, her smile wide. “I think you’ve been under too much pressure lately.” She glanced pointedly toward Emma.

“Hey!” Emma stopped her glass of wine mid-flight to her lips with one brow lifted high. “I will have you know I haven’t asked her a single wedding-related question in the past–” she peeked down at her cell phone “–twenty minutes.”

“That’s because you’ve been busy complaining over Mason.” Ellie snorted. She dodged the pillow Emma threw at her and stuck her tongue out in retaliation.

“Settle down, girls.” Barbara sat down on a matching chair. “Nic came up with a great idea on our last shopping trip.”

“You guys went shopping without me again?” Emma pouted.

Hell yeah they went without her. Just the thought of Emma pointing out how the rows of shoes were not displayed to the ease of the customer. Followed by thirty minutes telling the store owner about it. The thought alone made Nic frown. They so did not want to go through that one again.

“Her idea is that we go away to Vegas for a few days,” Barbara said, skipping over Emma’s question.

“Vegas?” Ellie and Jordan shouted at the same time.

“Vegas, baby.” Nic grinned.

Jordan sat up in her chair, took a sip of her wine and smirked. “I like where this is going. Someone tell me more.”

Nic was glad her idea had given Jordan a smile when referring to her wedding again. Her friend had lost some of the spark for her upcoming nuptials. Nic was sure it had nothing to do with marriage to the love of her life, Aric. Probably more to do with the overwhelming details that went into a massive wedding. Apparently packs from all over wanted to attend and it created the need for bigger and better every day. Something Jordan just wasn’t into.

“Oooh! I know! A Bachelorette party?” Ellie’s blue eyes sparkled with mischief.

“Hang on a second.” Emma waved her glass in the air. “Is this like a girl’s only trip?”

Everyone quieted. Barbara shifted in her seat. “I don’t see why not. I know Karla’s not here and she’s been feeling sick so she probably can’t make it, but Aric would welcome Jordan getting some time away from the tensions between our pack and the Rahounds.”

Ellie pursed her lips. “Yes. Not that Caleb will speak to me. He won’t even see me right now.”

This was the first time Ellie voiced her frustration in front of the group. Nic blinked and glanced at the others. Poor Ellie. Caleb was being very hardheaded about staying away from Ellie. Jordan appeared to be the only one not shocked over her outburst.

“Things are not so simple, darling,” Barbara murmured.

Ellie’s shoulders drooped. Nic’s heart ached for her friend. Ellie reminded her so much of her sister Letty. They were both sweet but so strong and always willing to put themselves out there for anyone. She really needed to go visit her sister. Lately, she missed her more than usual.

It might have something to do with the fact Nic had moved to a stage in her life where she wanted to explore new things. Like maybe having someone long-term. She’d half-assed dated for years. Never giving men a chance to really get to know her. To get to know the real her. All everyone saw was the high maintenance pretty face. But she had feelings. Even if she hid them in order to keep herself from getting hurt.