Becca’s eyes fluttered open to soft feathery kisses along her neck and collarbone. She inhaled, lifting her hand to Jaylon’s thick hair as his lips slipped to the fading pink scars on her shoulder and chest.

“I hate I came so close to losing you. A few inches to the left and—”

“Ssh, stop.” Becca tugged on his hair. “It didn’t happen, and I could say the same about Giselle’s blade and you. Something bigger protected us. I believe that. Besides, I think one of Alastair’s shots was meant for poor old Jasper. He and I are both lucky the bastard had awful aim.”

Jaylon rested his chin on Becca’s chest and looked up at her. “I know I haven’t said it before, but I love you, Becca. You’re in my blood and all, but it’s more than that. Deeper now.”

She nodded. “I know. Me, too.”

“You, too, what?” He grinned.

A smirked tugged at her lips and he crawled higher so his mouth was a breath from hers. “Well?”

“I love you, too, wolf boy.”

“Good, Miss Kitty.” He kissed her soundly and then moved to get up, smacking the side curve of her butt and full thigh. He pulled on a pair of sweats and then switched to a chair to put on his sneakers.

“Where are you going?” she asked, sitting up from the pillows.

The covers fell away from her naked breasts and Jaylon groaned. “You’re killing me, Smalls.”

Becca flipped the covers back and got out of bed, padding across the carpet to stand nude in front of his chair. “Seriously, where are you going?”

“Nowhere if you keep standing there all luscious and pink.”

She put a hand on her hip, waiting.

Jay ran a hand through his hair. “It’s bad luck to see the bride before the wedding, right?”

She had to laugh. “We’ve been shacked up for two days, Jay. Everyone knows we started the honeymoon before the ceremony because of what happened, and now you want to keep to tradition?”

He stood from his chair and slipped his arm around her waist, pulling her body close, his lips closing over hers. “Yup,” he murmured.

“I think you’re a little late. It’s already our wedding day.”

He scooped her up in his arms and walked back to the bed, depositing her on the mattress with a soft bounce. “It’s not yet dawn, so technically it’s not our wedding DAY.” He crooked his fingers in quote marks.

“Technicalities.” Becca lay back on her pillow, letting her hand slip onto her belly, sliding it slowly toward her shaved mound. “Sure I can’t tempt you to stay?”

He groaned again, but shook his head. “Tonight. I promise no sleep for you at all, so rest up. I plan to use you well, my soon-to-be-wife.”

Jaylon slipped out of the room leaving Becca with a flush of anticipation and wetness between her thighs. “Tonight indeed.” Her sex jumped at the thought. “If I can last that long.”

* * *

“You dyed my wedding gown hunter green? Am I a bride or one of Robin Hood’s merry men?” Becca stood stunned, with her mouth open.

“You said to surprise you.” Lyssa grinned with her arms wide. “So—surprise!”

“Green. I’m getting married in a hunter green dress,” Becca repeated, shaking her head.

Lyssa pulled the plastic cover the rest of the way off the hanger. “Not just hunter green, but medieval style. Look at the details we added. The drop waist with the silver looped chain, the square neckline instead of sweetheart, and Terez even added strips of matching velvet to the boning in the corset.”

She held up what looked like floaty bell sleeves in some kind of loose, gossamer fabric. “And these. We can’t forget these.” Lys tugged one onto Becca’s arm, fastening the silver clip around her upper arm. “Faux sleeves! Aren’t they great?”

Becca lifted her arm, watching the sheer green shimmer in in the light. “I suppose—”

Terez nodded. “Put the dress on, miss. You can’t see the full effect otherwise.”

Becca dropped her towel and stepped into her wedding gown for the second time, only now when Lyssa cinched the waist and Terez fastened the sleeves, she was completely amazed.

“Oh, Lys!” she exclaimed.

Her friend grinned ear-to-ear. “See? I told you.” She pulled the corset ties, loosening the back. “Now slip it off so we can do your hair. Braids and silver pearls, I think.”

“I feel like something out of a fairytale.”

Lys nodded. “You are, Becca Bee. You are.”

Thirty minutes later, Becca waited at the far end of the aisle just as she had two days earlier. Jasper took her hand and kissed it. “You look even more like your mother than before. She wore Pineland green on her wedding day, too.”

Becca’s lips parted and then she closed them again. “Pineland green?”

The old man nodded. “Yes. A century or more ago it was the traditional color for our Leap. It’s reminiscent of the mountains and woods that were ours.”

Becca’s eyes found Lyssa and she grinned. The woman was her conscience, always there to remind her of what mattered. She blew her friend a kiss and then waited as she walked down the aisle ahead of her.

The music swelled once more and Jasper took her hand, his wheelchair squeaking quietly as they moved at a slow pace behind Lyssa’s lead.

Jaylon looked amazing. A new suit with a hint of green in his lapel made her smile as she reached him.

“Who gives this woman to be mated?” the preacher asked.

Jasper cleared his throat. “I do. In the name of the Pineland Leap and the Leopards of North America, I present our Prowl Leader to be mated to this man.”

The preacher turned to Jaylon. “Do you accept this woman?”

A mischievous glint hit Jay’s eyes and Becca stared him down. Not today, you don’t.

He met her look with a knowing grin and nodded, addressing the preacher. “Yes. As Alpha of the Deep Water Pack and the Wolves of New York, I accept this woman.”

Jaylon moved to take Becca’s hand from Jasper, but the preacher cleared his throat. “Not so fast, my man.” He looked at Becca with a wink. “And you—do you accept this man?”

A mile-wide smile spread across Becca’s face. “Yes, as Prowl Leader of the Pineland Leap and the Leopards of North America, I accept this man.”

Jay took her hand and she leaned in. “Equals, remember?”

He nodded. “Always and forever, babe.”

The preacher continued, but Jaylon was all Becca could see and hear, and when he slipped the delicate gold band on her finger, the gathering erupted in cheers as he kissed her, sealing their union and ending the ceremony. Quick and easy with no more pomp and circumstance than a simple exchange of vows. Neither Becca nor Jaylon wanted to push it after what happened the last time they faced the altar.

The ceremony ended as swiftly as it started, and the music swelled starting the party. Becca and Jaylon mingled, laughing and talking and thanking everyone for their patience and their support, moving along the crowd of well-wishers, finally reaching Jay’s father.

“I’m so happy for you both,” he said, clapping Jaylon in a hug and then kissing Becca’s cheek. “Your mother would be so proud, son.” He slipped his gaze to Becca and gave her a soft smile. “I know you don’t have much in terms of family, but I want you to know I’m here for you, sweetheart. We all are.”

She hugged him back. “Thank you, Wyatt.”

He dropped his chin and looked at her. “How about Dad?”

She laughed. “Thank you, Dad.”

The three stood looking at the merriment surrounding them and Wyatt lifted his glass toward the dance floor. “Looks like the next wedding will be those two.” He gestured to Matheus and Lucilla, dancing cheek to cheek.

“Why not? Goes to show you’re never too old for love,” Jaylon replied.

“Are you two leaving from here to go out to the Canyon for your honeymoon?”

Jay spared a glance for Becca. “Uhm, yes and no. We need to stop at the Pinelands first. We have some unfinished business to attend to. We’ll head out from there day after tomorrow.”

Becca smirked. “Your son can be very persuasive when he wants. I hate to say it, but when he gets something in his mind he’s like a dog with a bone!” She burst out laughing as Jaylon growled, fake barking as he whirled her to the dance floor.

“Your son is very astute. Very happy and very perceptive.”

Wyatt turned at the lilting female voice. “Gerri Wilder. I didn’t expect to see you here.”

She nodded. “I don’t often get to watch my matches come to such a happy ending, but this one was special.”

He nodded. “Indeed. If two people ever belonged together, it’s Becca and Jay. What they went through in the past seventy-two hours proves that.” He turned from watching the newlyweds. “And what say you? Is my son correct? You’re never too old for love?”

She smirked, watching the mischief in Wyatt’s eyes. “Perhaps.”

“Are you still at a one hundred percent success rate?”

Gerri nodded with a laugh. “Yes, but it’s getting more difficult each time. For a moment, I thought I’d swung and missed with these two, but my gut was right. They both needed that extra push.”

“And you can still see all that for everyone who seeks your help?”

“Yes,” she answered, her voice soft.

“What about for yourself? Can you see your own future with one special man?”

Gerri shrugged. “It’s complicated. There are rules about that. Personal gain and all.”

Wyatt grinned, leaning in with a wink. “What about for just one night? Are there rules about that?”

She laughed. “That’s the sweetest indecent proposal I’ve had in years.” She eyed him. “I’ll have to think about that one, but you can buy me a drink in the meantime.”