Page 62 of Mane Attraction
“Mom, you’re going to ruin your makeup,” Xelene said gently, though she couldn’t suppress her smile as she watched her mother’s reflection.
“I don’t care,” her mother laughed, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue. “I never thought I’d see you this happy, sweetheart. The way you glow when you talk about Lev... I knew you were in love the moment I heard your voice through that communication device.”
Janice worked on the opposite side of the corset, her auburn hair pinned back in an elegant twist that complemented her emerald bridesmaid dress. “Remember when you used to insist that marriage was just a legal contract between two people who’d eventually disappoint each other?” she teased, pulling the laces snug. “Now look at you—practically vibrating with excitement to bind yourself to a lion shifter for eternity.”
“The mate bond already did that,” Xelene replied, her fingers unconsciously touching the spot on her hip where Lev’s mark remained hidden beneath the gown. “This is just making it official for everyone else.”
The past month had been a whirlwind of transformation. Her and Janice’s consulting business had taken off beyond either woman’s wildest expectations, with pride members lining up to discover hidden talents and untapped potential. Xelene found herself energized by work that felt meaningful in ways her old career never had—instead of managing damage control, she was helping people build better versions of themselves.
And Lev...
Lev had exceeded every expectation she’d harbored about his potential as a king. In just five weeks, he’d proven himself to be everything the pride needed: wise in counsel, fierce in protection, and generous with his time and attention. Watchinghim grow into his role had filled her with a pride so fierce it sometimes took her breath away.
“So,” Janice said with a mischievous grin as she tied off the laces, “when are you two going to start working on producing little heirs to the throne?”
Heat flooded Xelene’s cheeks, though she couldn’t deny the flutter of excitement the question sparked. “As soon as possible,” she admitted, surprising herself with how easily the words came. A year ago, the thought of children had seemed like a prison sentence. Now, with Lev, it felt like the most natural next step in the world.
“I can already picture Lev with a baby,” her mother said dreamily. “He’ll be such a devoted father.”
The mate bond pulsed with sudden intensity. Lev’s emotions were bleeding through their connection as usual—his excitement, his love, and his anticipation for tonight after the reception. That last emotion hit her so powerfully that she had to grip the back of the chair to steady herself.
Control yourself,she thought desperately.You can’t abandon your own wedding ceremony to drag him back to your chambers.
Though the idea held definite appeal.
Suddenly, the door burst open without ceremony, and Gerri Wilder swept into the room like a tiny tornado of energy and designer fabric. Her white bob was impeccable as usual, and her emerald pantsuit made her blue eyes sparkle.
“Well, well,” Gerri announced, her gaze sweeping over Xelene with obvious satisfaction. “Look at you, my dear. Every inch the queen you were born to be.”
Xelene’s heart swelled as she crossed the room to embrace the petite matchmaker. “Gerri, I’m so glad you could make it. Thank you for bringing my parents through the wormhole.”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Gerri replied, squeezing her tightly. “I had no doubt you’d find your true home here. Though I heard, your stubborn streak made things more challenging than usual.”
“Lev told me recently that you knew I was his fated mate from the beginning,” Xelene said, pulling back to study Gerri’s expression. “That his father hired you specifically to bring me here.”
Gerri’s smile turned positively wicked. “Well, of course he did. King Rorick was a smart man who recognized that his son needed more than just a reputation consultant—he needed his other half. But if I’d simply told you Lev was your destined mate, would you have come?”
“Absolutely not,” Xelene laughed.
“Exactly. Sometimes the best gifts come disguised as professional opportunities. Though I must say, you two certainly took the scenic route to happiness—all that resisting the mate bond and pretending it was just a job.”
“Hey,” Janice interjected, “some of us appreciated the drama. It certainly gave me more time to get closer to Benjamin.”
Before anyone could respond, the door opened again, and Richard Warren stepped inside wearing a perfectly tailored charcoal suit. His steel-gray eyes softened as they landed on his daughter, and for a moment, Xelene saw a vulnerability in him that she’d rarely witnessed.
“It’s time, sweetheart,” he said, his voice rougher than usual. “Lev’s getting impatient. Apparently, he’s been pacing in the garden for the past twenty minutes, and Benjamin’s threatening to sedate him if he doesn’t calm down.”
Through the mate bond, Xelene felt the truth of her father’s words. Lev’s excitement was a living thing, pulsing between them with such intensity that it caused her own heart torace. And his desire for tonight was becoming increasingly difficult to ignore—images of tangled sheets and moonlight filtering through their bedroom windows flashed through their connection, making her breath catch.
“We’d better not keep my king waiting,” she managed, though her voice came out slightly breathless.
Her father offered her his arm with a formal gesture that somehow conveyed both pride and surrender. “I never thought I’d be giving my daughter away to an alien lion shifter,” he said wryly, “but if it makes you this happy, then he has my blessing.”
As they made their way through the castle corridors—corridors that now felt like home rather than a temporary assignment—Xelene marveled at how completely her life had transformed. The controlled, emotionally distant woman who’d stepped through Gerri’s wormhole six weeks ago felt like a stranger. In her place was someone who’d learned that love wasn’t chaos to be managed, but rather the most beautiful force in the universe.
Within minutes, the garden doors came into view, and through them, Xelene could see the elaborate ceremony setup. Hundreds of pride members filled the space, their faces turned expectantly toward the altar where Lev waited.
Where her future waited.
