The Jaguar’s Arranged Mate

Chapter 9

Miera hated seeing Beric look so sad. When he had thrown back his head, his eyes closed, her name on his lips… he looked so handsome and strong and true. Now he looked just as handsome but also depressed.

He zipped up his jeans. “Tomorrow for the wedding?”

“Yes.” Relief flooded her. She hadn’t expected all of this to happen, for her to be such a mess with the crying and for them to be so intimate, but she didn’t regret it at all. They were together, and now, tomorrow, they would be married.

“I think it would be better if it was held at our compound.”

“That’s fine.” It made sense, what with their huge fence. She and the other Blood Roses could bring everything they needed for it.

“And we need to have a perimeter set up and defenses in place.”

“Yes.” Briefly, she explained the details of what he needed to wear and what time she thought the wedding would take place. If she and her people came over at eight in the morning, hopefully everything would be ready in two hours. To be safe, though, she suggested noon.

“That sounds like a plan. Bring along your strongest warriors. Just in case.”

“Of course.” That he feared the Brutal Claws might come churned her stomach. The milkshake had gone down so smoothly. She did not want it to come back up.

“Afterward, we can have a meeting with the council and determine who all should be added to it from my side, and how best to go about joining our packs for the safety of everyone.”

“I had already figured all of the council would be attending the wedding, so a meeting afterward is not a problem at all, but we can’t bring all of our warriors tomorrow.” For the most part, every were-jaguar was a fighter, but their best ones were incredibly strong. “We can’t leave those behind defenseless, and I don’t think it would be in our best interests to have all of our packs together yet, not until we have more set plans in place.”

“Yes.” He took a deep breath. “Everything will work out.”

“I hope so.”

Beric drove her back to her place, and she felt lonely and unsettled when he left. Maybe the pregnancy had caused the weird dream she’d had. And Beric was being great about everything.

But would he still feel the same if they were somehow able to get the Brutal Claws off their backs? If the dust settled with them all alive and safe from harm, would he still be able to overlook her child?

Her stomach clenched tightly, and she winced. Better to rest and take it easy. Maybe a quick nap before making sure everything was ready for tomorrow, her wedding day.

***

That night, Miera had an even worse nightmare. Thankfully, she couldn’t recall it when she woke, but the feeling of fright and sorrow refused to leave her.

They formed a car caravan and drove together to the Teal Warriors. Miera wore a white shirt and dark pants. She would find somewhere to get ready before the wedding once everything was set up.

The flowers, the decorations, everything was in place three hours later. She should be happy they had transformed the large warehouse into a proper place for a wedding—the warehouse the only spot large enough to hold everyone, considering she had refused the idea of having it in the mess hall—but the feeling of foreboding wouldn’t go away.

“Come on now. Everything is just right, and they,” Lisa nodded to a cluster of their girlfriends, “can hold down the fort to make sure it stays that way. We need to get the bride ready now.”

We should’ve just eloped. It would’ve been easier, by far a lesser hassle, but in order for their people to be able to come together, to form one pack, they needed a lot of witnesses. Plus, a wedding would take their minds away from the worry and fear they were living with. For a short time, they could pretend their lives were peaceful, that they were safe.

They need this, more than just the joining of the packs for survival. They need to believe that life continues, that we are not putting, should not put, our lives on hold.

Meekly, she followed Lisa to a house. A couple lived there, both wonderful were-jaguars. The wife, Helen, offered her shower and house at their disposal.

With hot water pouring down on her from the powerful shower spray, Miera thoroughly washed her body, scrubbing hard, wishing her belly wasn’t quite so big already. A vapid, silly thought and she immediately regretted it. How could she be vain? There were so many more important matters to deal with. First, she had to marry Beric. Then, they had to join their packs. Set up defenses mutually. Find a way for them to protect themselves. Strategize for when the Brutal Claws came. Continuing scouting so that they wouldn’t be caught unawares. Try to survive.

And then, if the dust ever settled, she would have to worry about her marriage and whether or not she could truly make Beric happy with the ready-made family she was carrying with her.

Can’t forget giving birth, too. She sighed. She had always intended to be a mother, but she hadn’t expected it to happen so soon, and out of wedlock.

Well, technically, I’ll give birth after I’m married, but the babe isn’t with my husband…

The thought of whether or not they would be able to have a traditional wedding night had her playing special attention to her bre*sts. Soap cascaded down her skin, washed away with the warm water. Feeling Beric, pleasuring him… It had felt wonderful, but she wanted more than just s*x from him. She wanted true intimacy, the kind she suspected only came from love.

Stop thinking so much.

She climbed out of the shower and wrapped a towel around her body. Lisa blow dried her hair while Helen painted Miera’s nails. Some of these details she hadn’t cared about, but Lisa insisted.

“You only plan on getting married once, right? Do it up right. You can’t ever regret that.”

She had plenty of regrets as it was. Miera sure didn’t need another one, but did they really have to pluck her eyebrows too? She wasn’t used to being pampered and fussed over. Yeah, she was the heir, but she had to abide by the council. She wasn’t superior to her people in some of the ways other alphas were.