Wes

“I don’t care!” Wes yelled. “Tell that old hag that you change your mind.”

It didn’t matter how many times Etti and Grey explained their bargain with Esme Laveau, Wes couldn’t wrap his mind around the fact that they weren’t coming back to Blue Creek with him. And worse still, once they were cloaked, he would cease to know his best friend.

“Wes, it was the only way I could keep everyone safe,” Etti said for the hundredth time.

They were currently sitting on the balcony at the Dauphine Orleans Hotel, somberly recounting the heavy deal Etti made in the bayou. Wes was beyond pissed. He’d finally figured out his life. He loved being a shifter, he was engaged to his dream girl, he patched things up with his best friend and her mate and was now godfather to the cutest little girl he’d ever met. No way was he giving any of that up.

“Fine,” Wes said folding his arms. “Then we’ll just go kill every one of those hunt bastards ourselves so we can be done with this, right Cali?”

Before Cali could answer, Etti cut her off. “No. It’s too dangerous.”

“Screw that!” Wes exclaimed. “We’re both shifters, and adults, I might add. We can take care of ourselves and make our own decisions, Etti.”

Etti looked at Cali like she was conveying some sort of secret message. “Are you gonna tell him or do you want me to?” Etti said softly to Wes’s mate.

Wes looked back and forth between them, his impatience growing. “Somebody better tell me whatever the hell you two are scheming about.”

Cali finally sighed and took Wes’s hand. “Etti’s right. Getting in the middle of a war between shifters and witches probably isn’t the best idea for us right now.”

“And why’s that, Cali?” Wes asked his heart beginning to beat erratically as worry for his mate tightened his chest.

Cali bit her lip. “Well, it’s a bit early to get excited, but I’m pregnant.”

Wes felt like he’d been plunged into a pool of ice. His thoughts and actions were frozen. He just stared at Cali teetering between happiness, fear and disbelief. “Are you serious?” he finally whispered.

When Cali nodded Wes fell to his knees, crawling to Cali’s chair to kiss her belly and then her face. He was shaking with excitement and overwhelming emotions as he stood and picked her up, whooping like a lunatic while he crushed her against him. Then he suddenly feared his own strength and set her down just as quickly. “I’m sorry, was that too much. Are you okay? I didn’t hurt you, did I?” His hand was on her belly. “Was that bad for the baby?”

Cali grinned. “That was perfectly fine, Wes.”

Wes pulled her close again, burying his head in her soft blonde hair. “Oh my God, baby. I’m so happy.”

“You are?”

“Of course! This is the best news ever.”

“I know it’s a little sooner than we were planning. I mean we’re not even married yet, but—”

“Let’s get married right now, Cali,” Wes said interrupting her.

Cali’s blue eyes grew. “Wes!” But when he stared at her with such unrestrained love in his eyes she couldn’t fight her smile. “Are you serious?”

“I’m always serious when it comes to how much I love you. I want to marry you right now. Today.”

“Well, it would be nice to have Etti, Grey and Izzi at our wedding,” Cali said slowly.

“You’ll do it?” Wes asked. “You’ll marry me right now?”

“Yes,” she squealed letting Wes scoop her up and spin her around again. When Wes finally stopped kissing her and fussing over her non-existent baby bump, Cali gave him a coy grin. “There is still one thing we need to settle.”

“What that?” Wes asked.

Cali turned to Etti. “Etti, would you be my maid of honor?”

“Hey!” Wes yelled. “She’s my best friend.”

“I’d be happy to stand up for you, Wes,” Grey said, filling Wes with pride.

Wes grinned. “Thanks, man. That means a lot.”

“And do you think this sweet pea would be our flower girl?” Cali asked.

Wes watched Etti smile for the first time since she’d come back from the bayou. “I’d love that,” she said. “And I’d love to be your maid of honor.”

“Alright!” Wes boomed. “Let’s go have a wedding.”

“I’ve gotta go find a dress!” Cali yelped. She gave Wes a quick peck on the cheek. “I saw an adorable vintage shop down the street. Etti, will you come with me?”

“Sure,” Etti replied. “Give me a sec and I’ll meet you in the courtyard.”

Cali grinned and disappeared into her hotel room. Wes made to follow her, but Etti caught his arm. He looked into his best friend’s dark hair and for the first time in a while, there was happiness mixed among her sorrow.

“Thank you,” Etti whispered.

Wes frowned. “For what?”

“For getting married here, now, while you still remember me.” She smiled sadly. “I couldn’t stand it if I missed this.”

Wes pulled Etti into a tight hug. Grey gave him a nod and took Izzi inside to give Etti and Wes some space.

“Listen,” Wes whispered. “We’re gonna find a way around this. You’re my family and some stupid spell isn’t going to change that.”

“It won’t change for me,” Etti whispered as she clung to Wes. “I’ll never forget you. But you won’t remember me. You won’t even know I existed. And I’m glad because it means you’ll be safe. But I’ll still remember you. And I’ll miss you everyday. I won’t get to see your baby grow up and . . .” a tiny sob choked Etti. “I’m just gonna miss you.”

“Hey,” Wes pulled her face to his. “You can’t miss someone who isn’t gone, Etti. I’m always gonna be right here,” he said poking her hard in the chest. “And this is only temporary. We’re not gonna give up because of a spell.”

“But—”

“No buts. Friends don’t give up on each other. You taught me that.” Wes grinned at his best friend, wiping away her tears. “This may not be the life we thought we’d have, but we both have so much to be grateful for.”

“I know.”

Wes snorted. “If you would’ve told me we’d both be married and having kids this time last year I would’ve said you were crazy.”

“And don’t forget that we’re both shifters now,” Etti added with a weak laugh.

“Well you were always a shifter.”

“And apparently a witch too.”

“Damn, good thing I never pissed you off,” Wes teased.

It was Etti’s turn to snort. “You just wait until I figure out how to cast spells.”

Wes grinned. “Maybe this whole friendship pause has its perks.”

Etti punched his shoulder lovingly. “I’m gonna miss your dumb jokes.”

“I’m gonna miss your cranky sarcasm.”

“Well, it’s settled,” Wes said. “We’ll have to annoy each other’s mates with our charming personalities for a while until you figure out a way to make me remember how much I love annoying you.”

“Deal,” Etti said a little less teary-eyed.

“Speaking of mates. You better go help my bride find a wedding dress,” Wes said. “See you at the church?”

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Etti said, hugging Wes again.

He squeezed her tight one more time, soaking up as much of his best friend as he could. Wes knew it wouldn’t be enough to last, but he tried anyway. “I love you, Etti.”

“I love you too, Wes.”

Etti

Etti danced down the streets of New Orleans with Grey while bouncing a smiling Izzi in her arms. They followed Wes and Cali and the jazz band they hired for their wedding march. If Etti had known weddings warranted parades, she might have opted to get married in New Orleans herself. Maybe making a home in the resilient city wouldn’t be so bad after all.

When she looked at the smiles of her mate and her daughter, she found it hard to feel like she’d ever miss anything outside the walls of the French Quarter. After all home is where you heart is—and Grey and Izzi were certainly Etti’s heart.

She looked to where Cali and Wes were dancing and singing, their fingers linked, adorned with shiny new wedding rings. She’d never seen either of them look happier and it filled Etti with hope for a future where her family and their’s would finally be free to be together again.

Etti smiled down at her cooing daughter and her heart swelled with pride, knowing one day, Izzi would bring about that future.

The past few months had been the craziest of Etti’s life, but she knew she wouldn’t change them for the world, because they gave her a true family and the unconditional love that came with it.

As Grey brushed a light kiss on her cheek and made faces for his little girl, Etti smiled, knowing that she’d made the right choice. To follow her heart, stand by the man she loved, and together they would achieve what they set out to do—protect their daughter, and those they loved no matter the sacrifice.