“That’s a lot of people, but Isobel is the queen of event planning. I know she’ll be happy to help.”
“What about your mum?”
“You’re a leader. My mum will be over-the-moon happy about this wedding, but warning: she’s pretentious. She likes everything to be over the top.”
I’m not a fan of pretentious. “And you don’t?”
“Not really.”
Westlyn is down to earth and doesn’t seem to care how much money we have. It’s one of the things I like so much about her. “When will I meet Torrie?”
“I was thinking we’d wait until after your meeting with The Fellowship council, and it’s official.”
“It’s already official. The Fellowship council just doesn’t yet know that it’s official.”
“I’ve been thinking about the meeting, and I think we don’t tell the council that you’ve already claimed me.”
“No fucking way. I won’t risk this falling through.” All of this is fucking with my nerves. I won’t rest until I know that my bairn is inside her.
“It won’t fall through. We would tell them the truth if it looked like it was. I just think it would go a long way with the council to hear that you didn’t force anything.”
“I didn’t force you to do anything. You freely gave yourself to me.”
“That’s not what I mean. I think it would cause less strife if they have the impression that you’re going to claim me after the treaty agreement. I think they’ll feel more respected, and that’s good for everyone involved.”
“I don’t want to go into this meeting and even entertain the idea of marrying Ellison or your sister.” That would feel so wrong.
“You won’t. I’m going to step forward and volunteer.”
She didn’t just now come up with this idea. “You have all of this already figured out, don’t you?”
“I know Thane and Sin and Jamie. Trust me. This is the way this should be handled for a smooth transaction.”
My wife-to-be has a head for managing brotherhood affairs. She’s highly intelligent. Reminds me so much of Mum.
“I don’t like it. I’m used to taking whatever I want, but I’ll do this for you because it’s the way you’d like it to go. I want you to be happy.”
“And I want you to be happy.”
“Mmm… I know one thing that would make me very happy.”
“I bet it’s the same thing that would make me very happy.”
Westlyn releases my hand and I move it to cup her between her legs. “What about this?”
“You’re moving in the right direction.”
I roll my hips and rub my growing erection against her bum. “We haven’t done it from behind.”
“We also haven’t done it with me on top.”
Both of those sound good to me. “Which one do you want to try?”
She giggles. “I want to ride you.” I roll to my back and Westlyn crawls over me, straddling my hips. “I may not know what I’m doing.”
“You’re a smart girl. I bet you can figure it out.”
She lowers her upper body and kisses the side of my neck, sucking the skin into her mouth. Her hips grind in a circular motion against my hardening cock “Does that feel good?”
I grasp her hips, digging my fingertips into the fleshy meat. “Fuck yeah.”
She sits up straight and arches her back, finding my erection with her hand to guide it inside her opening. “I’m going to fuck this dick so hard.”
Westlyn and I both jolt when we hear a woman’s scream. “Westlyn Breckenridge! What are you doing?”
She rolls off me to her back and yanks the sheet up to cover both of us. “How did you get into my flat?”
“I have a key.”
“What are you doing here?
“Evanna told me you came home early. I’m here to check on you since you didn’t even have the courtesy to let me know you were back.”
“I’m sorry. A lot has happened the last few days.”
“Please tell me that you’ve not allowed this man to ruin you.” The woman rubs her forehead. “Oh God. No Fellowship man is going to have you now. Even if Thane bribes him.”
I don’t care for the way this woman is speaking to Westlyn. “That’s enough of that.”
“Who are you to decide what’s enough?”
“I’m to be her husband, so when I say it’s enough… it… is… enough.”
She sneers. “Her husband? I don’t think so. She is a Breckenridge. Her marriage will be an advantageous one—not to some nobody who’s not even part of the brotherhood.”
“Mother…”
“Has he tainted you?”
The woman can see that I’m naked. Westlyn’s naked. We aren’t teenagers playing around in the sack. What does she think we’re doing?
“It isn’t possible for a husband to taint his wife.” My mother-in-law-to-be looks at me through narrowed eyes, obviously not appreciating my mention of us as husband and wife.
“I can’t believe you brought a man here. If anyone knows you’ve lost your virginity, it’s over.” Her mother walks the floor, her hand pinching her chin while she mutters words beneath her breath. “When you marry, we’ll have to schedule your wedding during your cycle. Maybe, just maybe, we can fool your husband into believing it’s virginal blood.”
“Stop, Mother. Kieran has claimed me, and I’m going to marry him.”
“Kieran… Kieran Hendry?” There’s no mistaking the instant delight on her face. “The new up-and-coming leader of The Order?”
“Aye, that would be me.”
She places her palms together and brings them to her face to hide her grin. “My daughter is marrying a leader. That is wonderful news.”
“I need you to keep quiet about it until after the meeting with the council.”
She laughs. “Why in the world would I do that? My daughter is marrying a leader. I want to tell everyone.”
“We don’t want the council to know that he’s claimed me before the terms of the treaty have been agreed upon. It could cause problems.”
“Oh, we definitely don’t want problems. I won’t say a word to anyone.”
I don’t like this woman. I want her gone. “We were in the middle of trying to seal our bond.”
Westlyn punches me. “Kieran…”
“Say no more. I’m out of here.” She stops in the doorway and looks back. “It needs to be a boy.”
Well, at least we agree upon that much.
“Mother… get out.”
I’ve been away from Westlyn for two days. I don’t like it one bit. I’m ready to bring my intended home where she belongs. And I’m about to do just that.
It doesn’t feel right walking into this meeting with The Fellowship council to ask for Westlyn’s hand. It’s like asking for something that already belongs to me. And I’m not accustomed to asking for anything. I take what I want. Just like I took her and made her mine.
But I understand the point she’s making about playing nice with The Fellowship. They aren’t a brotherhood you should provoke, hence one of the reasons we are seeking an alliance. I can be a cocky bastard, but even I know that you don’t want The Fellowship as an enemy.
My father and I enter the dining room where The Fellowship council, Westlyn, and Ellison are waiting. My eyes immediately go to my intended, like a magnet to steel. I can’t not look at her. She’s so fucking beautiful, it hurts. I can’t believe the misery I’ve endured while we’ve been apart.
“Gentlemen. Please join us,” Thane says, but I barely hear him. I’m too enthralled by Westlyn.
I take the seat beside her, and I fight the urge to reach out and kiss her pouty pink lips—the lips that were wrapped tightly around my dick, sucking me so hard, only a couple of nights ago.
“Have you come to a decision about the treaty?” my father asks. I hear the words decision and treaty in the same sentence, and my attention is captured. This is it. We’re about to see if Isobel was right.
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Thane’s answer will determine if I walk out of here with a wife, or engage in the biggest fight I’ve ever fought. War.
“Aye. We are pleased to say that we have decided to accept. Westlyn has offered herself to be Kieran’s wife—if that’s agreeable with him.”
Westlyn has offered herself to be Kieran’s wife. There has never been a sentence to make me any happier. “Aye. I’m agreeable to taking Westlyn as my wife.” More than agreeable, I’m fucking elated.
“I think Kieran and Westlyn will make a good match,” my father says. He’s wrong. I already know that we make a perfect match. “And your decision on who will be taking Shaw as a wife?”
“I will,” Mitch says.
No surprise there. Westlyn said that Jamie wouldn’t do it. Fine by me. He and I aren’t on the best of terms right now. I can handle him being my wife’s brother, but I’m not keen on him being my sister’s husband. Especially when he’s been fucking the MacAllister woman.
“Very good.” My father is pleased with Mitch’s decision; he’s the one Dad wanted for Shaw anyway. The second son of a leader, same as him. He knows Mitch will have a good standing within his brotherhood. Shaw’s place within The Fellowship will be solid.
“Kieran and Westlyn will notify the district registrar tomorrow of their intent to wed.” Already done. “Do we agree that the wedding will take place in four weeks?”
“No objection from us,” Thane says.
My father’s plan couldn’t have worked better. I get a beautiful wife… one who loves to fuck. A wife who sucks my cock. A wife who sees my pain and wants to make it better. She’s perfect for me. I couldn’t ask for more.
I’m going to be happy with her. And it’s such a surprise. I never expected that. We could really fall in love.
“Kieran will claim Westlyn tonight unless there are any objections.” I can’t stop the grin spreading across my face. I probably look like a teenage boy who’s about to get his first grope of a girl’s tits.
Thane flicks his hand in the direction of the empty chair. “I see only one bride here for exchange.”
I was waiting for someone to point out my sister’s absence. I hope her obstinate behavior doesn’t affect Thane’s decision to let me take Westlyn with me today. I’m not leaving this compound without her.
“My apologies for Shaw’s absence. I’m afraid she needs a little more time to adjust to the idea of marrying someone she’s never met. She is a Hendry and will fulfill her duty. I will see to it personally.” I hope my father’s promise is enough to satisfy the council today.
“Shaw isn’t the only one marrying a stranger she’s never met. It would have been a nice gesture for her to at least come meet the man volunteering to take her.” Mitch’s voice is laced with frustration.
I can’t say that I blame him. He came here expecting to leave with a bride.
My father clears his throat. “It is my solemn vow that Shaw will be delivered to Mitch by the end of the week.”
My father’s statement makes me nervous as fuck. I’m not sure that he is going to be able to make good on it. Not with the way Shaw is behaving. And if he does, I fear she’ll be difficult to handle once she’s in the hands of The Fellowship.
“Your daughter clearly isn’t onboard with being a treaty bride.” Mitch has no idea how right he is.
“Shaw is young. Headstrong. She has her own ideas about what she wants for her life, but I will steer her in the right direction.” My father has been trying to steer her in the right direction for over a week, and he’s not been successful yet.
“The lass sounds obstinate.” Mitch doesn’t know the half of it. “I don’t want a difficult wife.”
“I admit my daughter is stubborn, but she isn’t unbending. I swear to you, Mitch, that you won’t find a more beautiful wife within The Fellowship or The Order. And she is pure. Arabella and I have ensured that she will be a virgin on her wedding night. You won’t be disappointed with her.”
The conflict in Mitch’s eyes is real. No one understands it more than I do—but he’ll marry Shaw because it’s his duty as the son of a leader. “I will go through with the marriage.”
Thane turns steely eyes back to my father. “Deliver Shaw to us by Friday; otherwise, the agreement is off, and we will expect Westlyn to be returned.”
Hate it for The Fellowship, but that’s not going to happen. I will not return Westlyn again. Ever.
“We want this treaty, Thane. Probably more than you do. I give you my word that Shaw will be here.”
“Then this meeting is adjourned.”
This meeting went much more smoothly than expected. Jamie didn’t make any arguments about my taking his sister. Probably because his lover would be one of my alternatives and he doesn’t want to give her up.
“Wait. I need to know what this means for my sister.” I should have known Jamie wasn’t going to let me walk out of here with his sister without saying something.
I reach for Westlyn’s hand. “She is my mate and will leave with me when we go. I’m claiming her tonight.”
He hates this outcome. I see it in the pained expression on his face. Just as I will hate giving Shaw to Mitch. “I need a few minutes with my sister in private.”
“You can have as many minutes as you like, but Westlyn is mine. It’s been decided.” Even more so than you know. There’s no going back.
“You haven’t delivered your end of the bargain, and you’ve not officially claimed her. Nothing is in stone yet.”
That’s where you are oh so wrong, brother-in-law. I’ve claimed Westlyn. Made her mine forever. She may already have our firstborn inside her as we speak.
I open my mouth to tell Jamie how wrong he is, but I see Westlyn’s pleading eyes begging me to not say anything.
I’m not one to back down from a challenge, and that’s exactly what Jamie is doing—challenging me. It’s hard as fuck, but I concede for her.
I release Westlyn’s hand, and she follows her brother into the hallway. The fucker is going to try to convince her to not leave with me. I know it. But his arguments are useless. Westlyn wants me as much as I want her.
It’s unpleasant sitting at the conference table with The Fellowship council in silence. We’re going to be allies. We should be able to have a civil conversation. “I know everyone around this table loves Westlyn, and I’d like you to know that I will treat her well.”
“You’d better,” Sinclair says.
I don’t care for the ultimatum I hear in his voice. “Just as Mitch had better treat Shaw well.” This is a two-way street.
“You don’t have to worry. I will be good to your sister.” Westlyn tells me that Mitch is one to keep his temper. He demonstrates that in his statement. That’s good. Because I have a feeling that Shaw is going to push him to, and probably beyond, those limits.
“Westlyn speaks highly of you. She has eased many of my concerns about your marrying my sister.”
“Well, no one has eased our concerns about Westlyn marrying you.” Ellison has found her voice.
“We spent two days together, and then she volunteered to marry me. I don’t think she’d have done that if things hadn’t gone well between us.”
“You raped her.”
“I did no such thing.” I see the disbelief on Ellison’s face. “Ask her yourself if you don’t believe me.”
My father gets up from the table. “I think Westlyn and her brother have had plenty of time to talk.”
I couldn’t agree more. We open the door and step into the hallway. Jamie hugs Westlyn, and I don’t mistake the daggers I see in his eyes when he looks at me. “I love you, Wes.”
“I love you too.”
I’m taking Westlyn again, this time with the consent of her brotherhood. In their eyes, I will be officially claiming her tonight.
It’s done.
She is mine.
“We did it, doll.” I cup my hands around Westlyn’s face and pull her in for a kiss. She tastes sweet and
fruity and pungent. “Mmm… someone has had wine.”
“I drank a few glasses to calm my nerves. I was nervous something would go wrong.”
“No need to be nervous. I told you that there was no way I was leaving without you.”
“I know, but I worried Jamie might do something crazy.” She had every right to worry about that one.
“You mean do something crazy like pull out his Glock and point it at my face?”
Westlyn twists her body for a better look at me. “How do you know he carries a Glock?”
“Because he pulled it out and pointed it between my eyes.”
“What?” Her voice rises. “When?”
“At the first marriage treaty meeting.” I shrug. “It was nothing.”
“It’s not nothing. My brother pointed a gun at your face.”
I shot him first. I’m probably lucky that he didn’t put a bullet in me. “He didn’t shoot me, so that makes it nothing. Wasn’t the first time that’s ever been done and it won’t be the last.”
“I don’t like hearing things like that. Reminds me of the danger that you’re in.”
“Goes along with this way of life, and being in a leadership role increases the danger.” I’m always going to be targeted.
“I know, but I’d rather not be reminded. And I’d prefer that my brother and husband didn’t shoot, or threaten to shoot, each other anymore.”
“I promise I won’t shoot your brother again… as long as he doesn’t try to take you from me.” If that happens, I will be forced to put a bullet in him.
“He isn’t going to take me from you.” She sounds confident.
“Is that what you talked about in the hallway?”
“Yes.”
“What did he say to you?”
“That I didn’t have to marry you to save Ellison because they had a plan. And that he would find a good match for me… a man I could love.”
Jamie is a good brother for wanting Westlyn to be happy. I don’t begrudge him for that. I want the same for Shaw. “And you said?”
“That I wanted to marry you.”
“I bet he didn’t like that much.”
She giggles. “He didn’t love it.”