Chapter 6: The Dress Fight Begins

Jason’s POV:

After a long drive, Josephine and I finally arrived at the wedding dress store.  As we got out of the car, my wolf began to get excited.  “I think our mate is in the store!” he told me excitedly.

When he said that, I began to get nervous.  I had joked about picking up women shopping for wedding dresses, but I never expected to pick up my own mate.

I wasn’t sure how to feel about it.

On one hand, I have dreamed of meeting my mate.  Wolves can meet their mates as early as 18, and I was already 25.  Seven years is a long time to wait. 

On the other hand, I’ve enjoyed seven years of bachelor fun.  Sex with different women every night; freedom to go and do as I please.  Was I ready to give all that up?

Yeah, yeah I was.  If I was being honest, none of the women I’d slept with had ever really satisfied me.  That was why I kept trying different ones.  The idea of spending the rest of my life with one woman who really, truly loved me… and with whom I could have the kind of relationship I’d heard of, with sparks and amazing sexual chemistry… that sounded really appealing.

Having had that honest conversation with myself, I excitedly walked in to the store with Josephine and glanced around, hoping to see the lady whose smell had triggered my wolf senses.

My heart dropped when I saw her.

She was gorgeous.  The most gorgeous woman I’d ever seen.  It was that kind of effortless beauty –the kind where I’m not sure she even knows how beautiful she is.  Her blond hair was in a ponytail and she had no makeup on that I could see, not that she needed it.

But she wasn’t there supporting her friend who was getting married.  No, she was the one wearing the wedding dress.  Was my mate already engaged to another man?  The thought sent a strong wave of anger and jealousy throughout my body, and I had to hold my wolf back from shifting right there in the store.

Before I could think too much more, Josephine excitedly pointed towards my mate and said she found her dress.

Of course she did.

Oh, goddess, what to do.

One of the sales clerks approached us, and Josephine told her that she wanted to see the dress my mate was wearing.  The sales clerk frowned and told us that my mate was wearing a one of a kind dress.  I asked if it could be recreated, or if they had something similar.  The answer was either no or not anytime this year; I really wasn’t paying attention.

No problem, I thought.  As long as my mate didn’t buy the dress, Josephine could have it.

We really needed Josephine to find her dress today.

Josephine looked at me disappointed but hopeful.  I decided that I would approach my mate and ask her about the dress.  It was a great way to break the ice, and also to confirm that she was in fact the one getting married.

Reminding my wolf to stay back, I quickly approached my mate.  Unfortunately, my mate seemed to have other ideas, as she started to walk back to what I presume were the dressing rooms.

“Wait!” I shouted.  My mate turned to me with confusion in her eyes, paused, and then continued to head back to the dressing rooms.  “Wait!  I need to talk to you!” I shouted again.

“Baby!  It’s fine!  Don’t worry; I’m sure I’ll find something else!”  Josephine commented, grabbing my arm.

I saw a brief look of hurt in my mate’s eyes and Josephine approached, but I didn’t quite understand it.  “Josephine, you don’t need to find anything else.  We don’t even know if this lady wants the dress.”

My mate froze upon hearing that, and turned to me with anger in her eyes. “Oh, I want the dress.”

I heard gasps nearby, from two somewhat older ladies and a little girl.  One of them spoke up, “What?  Cassie, you want the dress?”

Ah, so my mate’s name is Cassie.  What a beautiful and fitting name.

Cassie turned to face the woman.  “Yes, mother, I want the dress.  It is the perfect dress for me to get married in.  They can’t have it.”

My heart fell.  So Cassie is the one getting married.  And the way she’s talking, she seems like she still intends to get married, even with me right here.  She does know I’m her mate, yes?

The older woman protested.  “But, Cassie, you aren’t getting married ---”

“Right away,” Cassie cut in.  “I’m not getting married right away.  But weddings take a long time to plan, and this dress is one of a kind.  I’m buying this dress.  I love it.”

Cassie turned back to me, and our eyes locked.  She had a look I did not understand.  I’m sure the look in my eyes was just as confusing; even I didn’t know how I felt at this moment.  After a minute of silence, Cassie rushed back to the dressing room.  This time, I did not stop her.

Josephine sighed.  “It’s not a problem.  We will find another dress.”

I remembered my discussion with Aaron and Alpha Blake this morning.  “No, Josephine.  That is your dress, and I am going to get it for you.  Sit down and wait for me.”

I then started studying the two sales clerks, and I began to formulate a plan.