Chapter Six: THE BEST MAN

The wedding dress was white. A mockery of what isn’t.

I stood in front of the hotel room mirror, and all I could think about was last night.

Levi’s hands on my thighs, spreading them wider. The roughness of his stubble against my inner thigh before his mouth…

Heat flooded through me. My core clenched with the memory.

That’s it. Let me hear you.

His voice, rough and commanding. The way he looked up at me from between my legs, eyes hungry, watching me fall apart on his tongue.

I pressed my thighs together, trying to ease the ache building there. Tried not to remember how he’d felt inside me. How he’d filled me so perfectly. How he’d made me scream his name.

How he’d held me after, his fingers tracing lazy patterns on my spine while I pretended to sleep because leaving him was the hardest thing I’d ever done.

I’d never see him again.

The realization hit me like a fist to the chest. In a few hours, I’d belong to Nate Blackthorne. Would go to his bed. Would let him touch me.

Except it wouldn’t be the same. It couldn’t be.

Levi had chosen me. Had wanted me for me, not because of some arrangement made by our fathers.

And I had one night. One perfect, devastating night.

That was all I’d ever get.

My throat tightened. My eyes burned with tears I couldn’t shed because of my make up. I was a beautiful bride. A bride before a person.

“Well, well. Don’t you look lovely.”

Serena’s voice cut through my thoughts like a knife.

I didn’t turn, only watched her reflection materialize behind me in the mirror.

She looked radiant in lavender, color switching to white under the sun. The audacity of it made my blood simmer.

“What do you want?”

“I just wanted to congratulate you. It’s not every girl who gets to marry the feared Nate Blackthorne. I hear he’s absolutely ruthless in bed. Demanding, an animal.” Her eyes glittered with malice. “I hope last night’s little adventure prepared you for what’s coming.”

My hands clenched in the silk of my dress.

If she only knew.

But she didn’t. She couldn’t. No one could ever know about Levi.

“I mean, we both know you’re not exactly inexperienced anymore. But there’s a difference between whatever random man you usually spread your legs for and an alpha like Nate Blackthorne. He’s going to break you, Ella. And when he does? When he kills you just like he killed his first wife? I’ll be there to comfort Julian. To remind him he made the right choice.”

“Get out.”

“Oh, I will.” Her hand shot out, adjusting my veil with unnecessary roughness. “But remember, Julian is mine now. Your father has disowned you. And after today, you belong to a monster.” She leaned in close. “Enjoy your wedding, sister.”

The door slammed.

I stood there alone, my body still humming with memories of Levi’s touch, my heart breaking at the thought of never feeling it again.

The wedding bells began to ring.

I squared my shoulders and walked toward my future.

The church was enormous. Every seat filled as both big packs of my father and the blackthorne merged to witness my imprisonment.

I stood at the back, alone. No father to walk me down the aisle as he had disowned me, claiming he had only one daughter.

The doors opened.

Halfway down the aisle, my eyes found Julian. He stared at me with something uncomfortable in his expression. Serena smiled beside him, triumphant.

I looked away and kept walking. He didn’t deserve me anyway.

As I neared the altar, I finally let myself look up.

And forgot how to breathe.

Nate Blackthorne stood waiting.

Tall, easily six-four. Broad shoulders that stretched his black suit. Dark hair swept back from a face that could have been carved from stone. Sharp cheekbones and strong jaw. A mouth that looked like it rarely smiled.

He looked like death personified.

Beautiful and terrible.

But it was his eyes that made my steps falter.

Pale blue, like winter frost and was fixed entirely on me.

He watched me approach with an intensity that made heat coil low in my belly despite everything. Despite the guilt and fear. Despite knowing I’d left another man’s bed this morning.

My body responded anyway, my wolf calling out to him, despite him not being my mate.

Traitor.

I should have looked away. Should have shown I didn’t care.

Instead, I held his gaze and raised my chin.

Surprise flickered in those cold eyes. Then desire. His jaw tightened. His hands clenched into fists as his eyes ran through my body.

He wanted me.

The realization sent an unwanted thrill through me.

I was two steps from the altar when my gaze slid sideways.

To the man standing beside Nate.

The world stopped.

No.

Levi.

He stood there in a matching black suit, and the sight of him shattered me.

Same dark hair. Same sharp features. Same broad shoulders.

Same hands that had gripped my hips last night. Same mouth that had worshipped every inch of my body. Same eyes that had watched me come apart.

Our eyes locked.

I watched his face go carefully, deliberately blank, but not before I saw the horror.

My foot caught and I stumbled in shock.

Nate’s hand shot out, catching my elbow. His grip was firm, and the touch sent electricity up my arm.

Wrong. This was wrong. I slept with his best man, and now I was attracted to him.

But also, my body leaned into it, seeking his strength and steadiness.

Even as guilt churned in my stomach. Even as Levi’s stare burned through me.

“Careful.”

Nate’s voice was deeper and smoother than Levi’s. With an edge of command that made my wolf want to submit and made my core clench.

God, what was wrong with me?

“Thank you.”

He released my elbow but his hand moved to my lower back as the priest began. The touch was possessive and his palm burned through the silk of my dress.

And my body, my traitorous body, responded. Warmth bloomed under his touch. My skin tingled. My breath quickened.

His touch was different from Levi. Where Levi’s touch had been fire and hunger, Nate’s was control and power.

Both devastated me in completely different ways.

I couldn’t hear the priest’s words. Couldn’t focus past Nate’s hand on my back and Levi three feet away and the fact that my body was betraying me by responding to both.

“I would like to acknowledge our witnesses. Standing as best man, Nate Blackthorne’s brother and second-in-command of the Shadowmoon Pack, Levi Blackthorne.”

No. Please, no.

Brother.

The church tilted and blurred as the breath I held was knocked out with those words.

I just fucked my husband’s brother hours before my wedding.

Less than twelve hours ago, I’d been in his bed. Had let him inside my body. Had screamed his name while he made me come so hard I saw stars.

And now he was standing there watching me marry Nate.

Nate’s hand tightened on my lower back. His thumb moved in a small circle against my spine, grounding me, steadying me.

My body leaned into it without permission.

Even as my heart shattered.

Even as Levi’s eyes bore into mine with an intensity that made my knees weak.

“Do you, Nate Blackthorne, take Ella Ashford to be your lawfully wedded wife?”

Nate’s pale eyes met mine as he studied me.

“I do. I claim Ella Ashford as my wife, my luna, and mine alone.”

Mine alone.

The possessiveness sent heat flooding through me even as guilt tried to drown me.

Levi had said almost the same thing last night. Right now, you’re mine.

Two brothers.

Both wanting me.

And I was caught between them.

“And do you, Ella Ashford, take Nate Blackthorne to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

My mouth was dry and my hands shook.

Nate’s thumb traced another circle on my lower back. “I do.”

The lie tasted like ash.

“Then by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”

Nate’s hand came up to cup my face. His touch was surprisingly gentle. His palm was warm against my cheek. His thumb brushed across my cheekbone. His pale eyes held mine.

Then he leaned down and kissed me.

And my body, my treacherous, terrible body, responded.

His lips were firm against mine. Controlled. Nothing like Levi’s desperate hunger. But there was heat underneath that control. Desire under his control.

His hand on my back pulled me closer, not roughly but with unmistakable possession.

Mine.

My lips parted without permission. His tongue swept in, claiming, and heat shot straight to my core.

No. No, this wasn’t supposed to happen. I wasn’t supposed to feel this. Not for him. Not after Levi.

But I did.

When he pulled back, I was breathless and flushed.

And over his shoulder, I could see Levi.

His hands were clenched white-knuckled at his sides. His jaw was rigid. A muscle jumped in his cheek.

He looked like he was being torn apart.

The church erupted in applause.

Nate took my hand, threading his fingers through mine.

“Mrs. Blackthorne.”

The name felt like a brand.

He led me down the aisle past Julian, past Serena, past my father.

And behind us, Levi followed.

My husband’s brother.

The man whose taste was still on my lips.

Whose touch was still branded on my skin.

This wasn’t just a marriage.

This was a catastrophe.

And I had no idea how to survive it.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​