War of Hearts (True Immortality 1)

A knock at the door brought Thea’s head up but before she could make a move, it opened and Callie strolled inside, carrying a shoulder bag.

“Morning,” she announced with a pretty smile.

Pleased to see her, Thea responded in kind. “Did your brother send you to distract me from the fact that there are three powerful witches waiting at the Coach House for me to make my wolfy appearance tonight?”

“Pretty much.” Callie slammed the shoulder bag down on the island and flicked open the flap. “And what better way to do that than force you to help me plan my wedding.”

As she removed the piles of wedding magazines from the bag, her diamond-and-moonstone engagement ring flashed on her finger. James had given it to Callie in front of everyone in the Coach House pub a few nights ago.

It had amazed Thea that she was there to witness and celebrate it when only a mere few weeks before, she’d had no family to speak of.

“Does it bother you?” Thea asked as Callie slid onto the stool beside her.

“Does what bother me?”

“That you and James aren’t mates per se?”

Callie wrinkled her nose. “Not really.” She grinned at Thea. “Do you know how rare it is to find your true mate? I mean, the fact that Conall has found his after our mum and dad found theirs is practically unheard of. Not finding your true mate doesnae mean we cannae find deep, abiding love. I know it for a fact because that’s what I have with James. Even if I did miraculously find my true mate, I’d tell him to bugger off. I only want James … but dinnae tell him that.”

Thea chuckled. “He’s a lucky man.”

“Yup.” Callie didn’t disagree. “So, I was thinking for bridesmaids’ dresses … emerald green.” She looked Thea up and down. “Yes, emerald green would work lovely with your hair and as a nice accent to mine.”

Wait?

What?

“You mean … am I …?”

Callie raised an eyebrow. “One of my bridesmaids? Of course.”

Stunned, Thea lapsed into silence as her soon-to-be sister-in-law waffled on about venues and invitations and other things Thea was clueless about.

“You should pay more attention,” Callie mused. “You’ll be doing this with Conall soon.”

Thea didn’t think so. “Conall doesn’t seem like the wedding kind of guy.”

“Oh, but he’ll marry you. Even if you’re true mates, he’ll legally want to make sure that everything that belongs to him belongs to you. I know my brother.”

The thought of Conall putting a ring on Thea’s finger was more appealing than she’d imagined. She had never really pictured herself getting married, but she’d even put up with a huge meringue dress if it meant getting to shackle herself to him forever.

Okay, maybe not a meringue dress.

But wedding plans. She’d put up with wedding plans for Conall. It was only fair since she was putting up with it for Callie. Not that she was “putting up” with anything. Especially not for Callie who wanted her to be a bridesmaid.

Gratitude swept through the nervousness the Blackwoods arrival had caused. With this pack, this gracious and loyal pack at her side, she had nothing to worry about it. Moreover, she wouldn’t allow anyone to hurt her new family.

Thea may not be a fae anymore, but she was the biggest, baddest female alpha around and if she had to, she would set her wolf loose to see just exactly what that meant.* * *“You ready?” Conall asked, squeezing Thea’s hand as they walked toward the backyard of the Coach House. It was an impressive building. The entrance door sat within a tall tower with a conical roof. Wings expanded on either side of the tower, built from brick and topped with a gray slate tiled roof. It had a gothic vibe to it, like it might have been built in the Victorian era.

Thea could feel the collective energy of the pack. They made the air thick and caused all the hair on the back of her neck to stand up.

“It won’t hurt?”

“No. The last few times you’ve changed, you’ve been in absolute control. When the moon hits its crest, it will command control of your body. It’s unsettling at first but you get used to it. More than that, you’ll revel in it. There’s something …” he flashed her a wicked grin, “pagan about it.”

She knew what that wicked grin meant. “Hey, no funny business in front of the pack.”

“I make no promises.”

Shaking her head at his playfulness, Thea let Conall lead her around the back of the house. He released her hand but stayed close to her side as she witnessed the awe-inspiring sight of over a hundred werewolves gathered in the yard.

Thea did as she had at the Challenge and projected her alpha aura. It was like a humming, sparking, golden spirit she could taste on her tongue as she imagined it propelling toward the pack.