7

“I think I’ll go get my bags now, we’re due back in Midsummer shortly.” Belle said sweetly, releasing a gasping Sierra to the floor, before she made her way around her and pointedly ignore the enforcer. “Oh, and close your mouth, Layke. You’ll catch flies.”

Perplexed and also slightly horny as a result of the alpha vibes rolling off of her, Layke watched after Belle as she strode out the room nibbling on her last piece of bacon. Once Belle was out of sight, Layke’s eyes landed on Sierra, who was desperately rubbing her neck. At least it wasn’t him on Belle’s bad side this time.

He gave his three men a look, instructing them to follow him out of the dining room as he prepared to leave his home once again. He couldn’t help but chuckle and feel a slight sense of pride when he heard Coen mutter, “damn, that female is freakishly strong for her size.”

-

“Well, you certainly made an impression.” Layke snorted, trying to refrain the corners of his lips from twitching as he focused on driving. It was a strain not the laugh as he recalled the sudden possessiveness in Belle’s tone, he didn’t realise she had it in her. Granted, he knew she was a little firecracker and wasn’t to be pushed, but even in his wildest dreams, he couldn’t have possibly imagined her having pinned Sierra against the wall as she explained the different ways she could kill the enforcer.

Belle narrowed her eyes at him. “I’m glad you find this amusing.”

Layke grinned, shaking his head. Her display of dominance might have been the hottest thing he had ever seen. Despite her fiery and infuriating nature, he found himself being turned on by this female much more frequently than he would have liked. “Jealous much?” He taunted.

Layke knew that display of power back in Avalon was mostly to enforce respect out of his staff, if they thought they could take her on and beat her or put her down, they would never respect her as a leader or their Queen. But there was something about riling Belle up that brought Layke immense satisfaction.

Belle scoffed, she couldn’t believe the audacity of this man. “Don’t flatter yourself, Charming. You know that had everything to do with respect and nothing to do with you.” She demanded. She’d die before she ever admitted the slight pang of jealousy she felt when she found out he’d slept with that lunatic. Which was another thing she couldn’t figure out, Belle had never been a jealous person.. so why, over a man she’s known three days and has no emotional connection to, did him even mentioning another females name make her want to claw out her own eyes?

Layke pressed his lips firmly together to stop the laughter threatening to escape. “Strongly disagree.” Belle didn’t like the way he was grinning, it said he was aware of her inner battle over her conflicted feelings. But she had a motto for this situation: deny till you die, and that’s exactly what she planned to do. Besides, Belle may be a faerie but she was also an alpha female. While ever this arrangement was ongoing, Nia saw Layke as hers and damn, was she going to ride Belle to make sure people knew that.

“Ah, so you’re a resident of La La Land.”

“There’s no shame in admitting it, Belle. After all, this time tomorrow I’ll be your husband.”

“Hey, I have an idea, why not put a condom over your head – if you’re going to act like a dick then it makes sense to dress like one.” Belle retorted. This time, Layke couldn’t stop himself from barking out a laugh at the female’s quick wit.

----

The following morning, as Belle woke up on what was now her wedding day, there was a subtle knock on her bedroom door. Frowning, Belle wondered who that could be. The staff weren’t due to come and help her get ready for another 30 minutes. She groaned, she just wanted some peace for a few minutes before the drama she had experienced over the last few days became her life for the next few months. She didn’t think that was much to ask.

Mumbling a few choice curse words to herself, Belle opened her bedroom door, only to find herself absolutely flabbergasted as she realised who was stood behind it. By some absolute miracle, Belle’s three best friends stood in the doorway, yelling “surprise!”

Belle stared at them with a blank face at a loss for words. Was she seeing things? “Aww, I don’t think I’ve ever seen her speechless.” Immi laughed.

“Someone take a picture! This moment won’t happen again and I need evidence to prove it happened in the first place.” Sutton joked.

Returning to reality, Belle laughed at her best friends, before pulling the three of them in for the tightest hug she’s ever given. “You’re all here!”

“You didn’t think we would miss your wedding day, did you?” Lottie tutted.

The four girls had been best friends since as long as any of them could remember. Their parents had been best friends since before any of them had been born and the four of them had managed to keep the friendship going to the next generation. They’d grown up together, all living in Belle’s family’s castle back at Amaris thanks to each of their parents being in the most trusted circle of King Nate and Queen Serena.

Sutton’s parents, Amber and Jacques, were Belle’s fathers Gamma’s. Much like her father, Sutton had a pure heart and a somewhat goofy personality. It was exactly what Belle needed in her life when the responsibilities that fell on her shoulders momentarily became too much. But Sutton wasn’t always an angel, the redhead was a gamma wolf and she wasn’t too be messed with.

Lottie was the daughter of Archie and Joel. Archie had taken over from his parents and become the Amaris Beta, whilst Joel was the head warrior until a few years ago. Lottie didn’t know which of her fathers was her birth father, but she didn’t care. She loved them both equally and she considered them both to have her DNA. Due to both her fathers positions, again Lottie was one hell of a fighter. Whilst the blonde had a petite frame, much like Belle she knew how to use this to her advantage. She wasn’t to be underestimated.

Finally, there was Immi. Immi’s parents were Maddie and Joe and whilst Joe had taken over Joel’s position as head warrior, Maddie was the daughter of the Fer Fung coven’s High Priestess and when Gladdis stepped down, Maddie would take over that role, making her the most powerful witch in existence. It was Gladdis, Maddie’s mother, who had helped Belle with the cloaking spell for hiding from her mate.

Immi and Belle had always been slightly closer, not by much, but definitely somewhat. It was easy to be close to someone who you related so much too. Both Belle and Immi were hybrid wolves, and as they both dealt in magic, they were often trained together growing up. Belle had loved being a part of Immi’s journey, she couldn’t have been prouder of the incredibly power witch Immi had turned out to be.

Immi squeezed Belle’s hand. “Nothing would have stopped us from being here.”

“And we have another surprise..” Lottie announced, closing Belle’s bedroom door before throwing her bags on the floor.

“We’re staying!” Sutton squealed, unable to contain her excitement.

Belle’s eyes flickered between the three, not being certain if she understood them correctly. Staying for what? The wedding?

“Every Queen needs her Court, right?” Lottie winked.

Belle gasped, covering her mouth with her hand. If this was true then there was nothing that could have made her happier. She had been missing them like crazy over the last week, often feeling lonely without them. They were her strength and as much as Belle liked to play the big bad wolf role, she’d desperately missed being around the three girls that allowed her to just be herself.

“Really?” Belle didn’t know whether to laugh with excitement or cry from the overwhelming happiness of the news.

“Really! Now, let’s get you ready for your wedding day, Your Majesty.” Immi grinned.