The BBQ dragged on much longer than Vivian would have liked. Normally, that wouldn’t have been an issue, but she was eager to get to the treehouse.
When the final guests had left, she, her mother and their team of volunteers worked for three hours to get everything cleaned up. By the time they had finished it was almost ten o’clock, and Thatcher’s friends were starting to show up at the lodge again, for his after-party.
Her father lumbered out of his truck and headed for the front doors of the lodge with two friends.
Perhaps it was cowardly, but Vivian waited in the shadows until he was gone. She crossed the lot and got into the car where her mother was waiting.
“Will you be home tonight?” her mother asked.
“I’m going to shower and then head out.” She smelled herself, hoping she didn’t have lustful undercurrents, which would be surprising since she’d been distracted by thoughts of her mate all afternoon. Fortunately, all she smelled was hot dogs and hints of popcorn. “I want to wash the smell of meat off me.”
Her mother laughed. “I understand. I’ll drop you off at home before I head to Aunt Lauren’s.”
It hadn’t been lost on Vivian that her mother had grabbed several opened bottles of leftover wine before they’d left. She was going to feel pretty awful in the morning.
“Thank you.”
“Of course.” Her mother made a few turns. “You did an amazing job today.”
“Thanks.” She shifted in her seat. “I really enjoy hosting the events.”
“You’ll make a wonderful mate one day.” Her mother sighed. “Much better than me, thank goodness. About Thatcher…”
Vivian glanced over. Between Rafe’s promise to keep her safe and the sudden appearance of her fated mate, Vivian had put the encounter with Thatcher behind her.
“I really don’t want to mate him, Mother.” She suppressed a shudder.
“I don’t want that for you either, but if he and your father deem it so, we won’t have a choice in the matter, which is why I wanted to talk to you. I think you should join the Curusm. It would get you away from him.”
Aghast, she stared at her mother.
“I know. I know.” She put her blinker on and pulled up in front of their house. “But it might be the safest option.”
“You know how I feel about it. Look how running turned out for you.”
“I have a coveted position in the pack.” It was a valid point, but not one that made the grimace leave her mother’s face.
“I know you mean well, but…” Vivian hesitated. She didn’t want to tell her mother about Callum. Sad as it may be, she didn’t trust her with that information.
“One of Felix’s friends, maybe? He says a few of them have asked about you.”
Vivian knew this conversation was pointless. Grabbing the handle, she pulled open the car door. “I’ll think about running. Thank you.”
Her mother reached across the car and kissed her cheek. “I want the best for you.” Water welled in her eyes. “I just don’t know how to get it for you.”
Don’t worry, Mamma, I do, Vivian thought.
With less than two hours to prepare for her deflowering, Vivian rushed through a shower. She put on lotion and packed her bag.
She tossed in a few extra bottles of water, along with a washcloth, tissues, and gum. In the kitchen, she added a few granola bars, and an apple. Unsure of what else she might need for tonight, she returned to her room, opening her closet.
Inside, hidden at the back behind her crafting supplies, was a sheer nightgown. It was lacy and tied together at the shoulders with two blue ribbons.
When she’d turned eighteen, her mother decided she needed an in-depth discussion about sex and imprinting and what her future mate would expect of her. Between that conversation and a few novels her aunt had snuck to her, she had a decent idea of what would happen tonight, but she was still a little nauseated thinking about it.
Her aunt had taken her shopping in a distant town and there she’d found the nightie. It had been hiding in her closet ever since.
At the last moment, she shoved a few more pairs of underwear into her bag, along with a book.
As she approached the base of the stairs, silhouettes appeared at the front door. Felix’s familiar curly hair was visible through the color glass. Drunken, rowdy voices, accompanied the three figures, one of which was clearly Benjamin, already asking if she was home.
Snatching the banister, she rushed down the last few stairs and made a fast turn, heading to the back of the house. Before they made it inside, she was out the back door and across the yard.
No way was she letting Benjamin or anyone else ruin this night for her.
When she reached Rafe’s property, he was waiting for her on the porch.
“Is he here yet?” She panted.
Rafe grinned at her. “Not yet, though I’m surprised. He was pretty reluctant to wait.” Her friend placed a hand on her shoulder. “Take a breath. Did you run here?”
“Speed walked.”
“I’ll take you on the ATV. That will give you a bit of time to get ready before he shows up.”
“What’s he like?” she asked, while they headed to the vehicle.
“He’s nice.” Rafe glanced over his shoulder at her. “I’m happy for you. But you should know, he’s not a fan of our pack and customs.”
“Neither am I.” She snorted. “Neither are you, for that matter.”
“Yeah, but you know how it is here. Better to keep your mouth shut than to draw attention.”
“True.”
He mounted the four-wheeler. “Well, Callum isn’t likely to take things lying down. He seems like a nice guy, and a hard worker, but he’s not like anyone you’ve known.”
“Isn’t that a good thing?” She climbed onto the ATV behind him.
“I guess you’ll find out. But Vivian?” He started up the ATV. “If he treats you poorly, let me know. Whether or not he’s Elliot’s cousin, I’ll tear him a new one.”
Vivian wrapped her arms around Rafe’s body and pressed her cheek to his back. “Thank you, Rafe. You’ve always looked out for me. You have no idea how much it means to me.”
Though she appreciated his offer, she knew Elliot had Rafe beat on size, and outnumbered; he wouldn’t stand a chance.
But Callum wasn’t here to run in the Curusm, which gave her hope.
Did that mean he’d come all the way here just for her?
That was worrying. What if she couldn’t satisfy him the way she’d been told she needed to? Holding onto Rafe as he drove gave her something concrete to grab. It kept her hands from shaking. But a few moments later, she was standing alone in the treehouse, her bag open on the floor and the nightie shaking between her fingers.
Her stomach clenched and she struggled to stay calm enough to change.
Everything was riding on tonight. She needed to put her best foot forward.