Love's Protection (Passion Moon 3): (A Shifter, Supernatural Romance) (13 page)

“What?” I hissed.

“God.”

I blinked. “What?”

“I will have the power of a god. I will mete out fate. Mankind will dance to my whim.”

“That's it? All of this just so you can be some evil tyrant? This is why you made me suffer?”

“And you will keep suffering.” My father grinned, wicked and cruel. Forrest howled behind me. “If you do not get in that pool, Dakota, I will rip him apart.”

I froze. I glanced over at Forrest. He thrashed, his powerful body trying to stop my father's spell from ripping him apart. “Spirits of dispelling, disrupt the spell of Light and break the enchantment!” I cried out.

My father didn't even fight as my Love spirits crashed uselessly into his spell.

“I imbued myself a century ago with shadows, Dakota,” he growled. “You do not possess a tenth of my power.”

“What? A century?”

“I missed my chance last time to harness the Spring, but I won't fail again!” He stood up and hauled me to the pool. “Midnight is upon us. You will give me what I want or watch the man you love suffer. I will make his pain last, Dakota. The cruelty I inflicted on your pathetic life will be nothing to the torment he will suffer if you keep defying me!”

My father threw me into the pool. The water was hot, boiling around me. I was bathed in crimson. The energy poured into me. I could use the power. I was a Love witch. If I could tap one of the energies, I could tap them all.

“Give it to me!” my father raged.

Forrest howled.

I stared at my mate. Tears burned my eyes. I didn't want him to die. Today was our wedding day. We were supposed to be happy. We were supposed to start a family. Could I give all that up just to stop my father's evil? 

Could I let the man I love die?

“Do...the...right...thing...” howled Forrest.

I wanted to do the right thing. I really did. But...there was so much pain in Forrest's voice. I couldn't let him die.

I opened myself to the power.

It filled me. Life and Death swirled through me. Love overcame me. I trembled as I experienced the power. I could do so much with it. I could be immortal. I could destroy my father and free Forrest. I could change the world. I could do such good with it. Heal the sick, stop wars. I could remake the world the way I wanted it to be.

Just like my father wanted to do.

His green eyes burned as he stepped into the pool and seized me. “The power, Dakota! Now!” He reached into me. My totem burned. He had tattooed me. There was one last trap he had left in my totem. His magic reached into me and tried to seize the power of the spring and tried to rip it away from me. 

“No!” I shouted.

Forrest screamed in so much pain.

Tears burned my eyes.

You'll give your daddy what he needs, not what he wants.

I froze. My momma's words echoed in my mind.

What did my daddy need?

Love.

I gave it to him. Not the Life and Death energy. I held that back. I gave him all the Love. I reached out and hugged him. This is what my momma wanted. She was such a caring person. She had so much love to give she even forgave my father.  

Your daddy gave me you.

Tears burned in my eyes. My father screamed. He convulsed in my arms. He had killed all the good in himself. Once, he had loved. And those he loved had died. My father had hardened himself. He had banished his pain, filling his life with power. He had lost his empathy. He didn't care any longer. My mother, and all the women like her, were just things to be used and discarded. He had hurt her, killed her, and now he felt the guilt.

Guilt came from love. It was an aspect of it.

My father was forced to confront all the crimes he had committed. All the pain and misery. His soul was stained black. It was all too much for him. The brutal drive that had propelled him through the decades snapped.

The spells imbuing my father and sustained his long life were washed away.

My father died in my arms. At the very end he hugged me. He remembered what love was.

I let the rest of the power go, sending it off to the universe. I didn't want to follow in his footsteps.

Chapter Eleven: Kotie's Surprise

I trembled as I waited in the antechamber. I clutched my bouquet of yellow marigolds and white daffodils. My veil was settled across my face. My dress was perfect. I was happy, joyful, afraid, nervous, excited, and hopeful all at the same time.

“You ready?” Miss Maggie asked. She wore a matronly dress of dark purple, a small hat pinned to her bun of gray hair. She looked elegant, a big smile on her face.

“I am,” I nodded, taking a deep breath.

It was hard to believe a month had passed since the Summer Solstice and my father's death. I needed much of that time to process what happened. My father left a complicated knot of emotions in my chest. I was glad he was dead and sad that I had killed him. He certainly deserved it, yet at the end when he hugged me, I wondered what could have been. What would my life had been like if he hadn't been a sociopath?

Forrest was so patient with me. We both had grieving to do. He had to come to terms with letting go the guilt he had carried all these years. Luckily, we had each other.

The organ played the wedding march. Miss Maggie opened the door. Tears brimmed in my lashes as I stepped out. The church was full. All of Forrest's pack and the kind people of Moonrise smiled and took pictures of me in my radiance.

But I only had eyes for my wolf.

Forrest was gorgeous in his dress uniform. The dark-brown jacket was tailored for his broad frame. His golden eyes locked on mine. My smile was radiant. For him. I barely remember walking down the aisle. I almost floated to him.

“Take good care of her,” growled Miss Maggie as she handed me off to my groom.

“Always,” Forrest answered.

Penny took my flowers and flashed me an excited grin. All my bridesmaids and Augustus—we still hadn't found a good word for his roll in the wedding party—beamed at me while all of Forrest's groomsmen nodded, pleased that their packleader had found his mate.

Forrest's strong hands engulfed mine.

I stared into his eyes through my gauzy veil as the Reverend went through his sermon. He hit all the standard parts to love each other and to remember the importance of communication, partnership, and trust. It was hard to focus on anything but Forrest's eyes. I wanted to tell him my news, but that could wait for later. It was private, wonderful news.

I trembled when Reverend Marshal said, “The couple have prepared their own vows.”

Forrest reached into his dress uniform's breast pocket and pulled out a notebook card. “Kotie,” he said, swallowing and clearing his voice. “I had been alone for so long. My heart had been empty save for guilt and darkness. And then you appeared. A radiant light filling Moonrise. And my heart.”

The first tear ran down my cheek. I knew it wouldn't be the last. I clutched his hand with my trembling fingers.

“You healed me, Kotie. You banished my darkness. I don't ever want to be without my love, my friend, my mate, my companion. I want to hold onto you every day of my life. I love you, Kotie.”

“Beautiful,” I whispered, more tears falling.

“So with this ring, I promise to always be there, to always love you, treasure you, and hold you tight.”

Hank handed over the gold wedding band. Forrest slipped it onto my finger.

“That was so beautiful,” I said louder. “I...Oh, Forrest, you amazing wolf.” The vows I prepared were forgotten. Instead, I spoke from the heart. “Since my momma died, I haven't known love. I had almost forgotten what it was like. And then I found you. You protected me, loved me. You showed me that I didn't have to be afraid. That I could be strong. You're my support.”

Tears filled his eyes. He swallowed.

“I would be a scared, little girl without you. I want to spend every day with you. I know I can face anything because you'll be with me. I love you, Forrest. I promise to be yours every day. I'll love you and support you through the bad days as well as the good. Nothing will pull me away. Not from my friend and mate.”

“Kotie,” he whispered, his voice choked.

Hank handed me the wedding band.

“So with this ring, I marry you, Forrest. I'm your mate always.” I slipped it on his finger.

“Are there any present who object to this union?” asked the Reverend. Silence met us. I smiled. “Then by the power invested in me by almighty God and the State of Montana, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss each other.”

Forrest lifted my veil. Tears clung to my eyelashes. His finger brushed my cheek, strong and rough. A shiver ran down my spine. The kiss was glorious. Our friends and loved ones cheered. Our hearts beat in harmony. Our passion shared. I didn't want to stop. I wanted to keep kissing him until the world ended.

I swayed when we broke the kiss. Forrest was there to support me. He took my arm, and we walked down the aisle. I was sure I was glowing as I beamed at everyone, glad they were all here to share in our happiness.

The reception was held at the VFW hall. Embarrassing speeches were given, toasts were made, and I giggled as I sipped on my champagne. Cheesy music was played by a local band. I didn't care. I was having so much fun. Everyone watched as Forrest and I took to the dance floor for our solo dance and witnessed our terrible dancing before other, more competent, dancers joined the floor.

Everyone had to dance with us, offering us advice on marriage and life. I'm afraid I remembered little of it. Then the cake was brought out, and Forrest and I did a good job of smearing it around on each other's face.

Kissing him clean was the best part.

As the night wound down, I found myself sitting down at a table. Forrest was nearby, talking with a few of the police chiefs from the neighboring towns. Penny plopped beside me, a big smile on her flushed face, a bottle of beer in her hand.

“Boy, what a fun night,” she said before taking a long pull on her light beer.

I nodded my head in agreement. My eyes kept drifting over to Forrest.

“You are so lucky,” Penny sighed. “A big, strong wolf just ready to protect you. I'm so jealous and happy.”

“Thanks,” I smiled. I turned and gave her a hug. “Thank you kindly for being so welcoming.” Tears burned my eyes. “I know you'll find someone.”

Penny's hug was fierce. She rocked me. “I want to,” she sighed. “So bad. I want what you and Forrest have. The boys in this town can be fun, even the shifter ones, but...”

“But you want more.” I broke her embrace, my hand resting on my stomach. “I know the feeling.”

Penny nodded and then her eyes widened. “Well, well, well. Who's that hunk? How did I miss him?”

I followed her eyes. A burly cop in a dress uniform lounged at a table drinking a beer and talking with a few other cops. He was handsome. Not as handsome as my Forrest, but I guess I could see the appeal.

“Oh, he's a sergeant in the Olson Police Department,” I answered.

“How did I miss him?” Her voice was throaty. “Mmm, I think I know who's keeping me company tonight.”

“What happened to finding a man to love?”

“Until I find him, I'm going to have fun.” She stood up. “Besides, how do I know he's not the one unless I give him a try.”

I laughed as my friend stalked across the hall to introduce herself to the cop. I blanked on his name, but I smiled as his face lit up when he saw her. “I hope he's the one,” I whispered.

Penny deserved her happiness. All my friends did. Augustus had a foxy grin on his narrow lips as he chatted up a slim, biracial man while Vanessa ground on a tall man on the dance floor, her wolfish eyes flashing. Hank sat at the table with his wife and their young children. Miss Maggie lounged at the bar, watching Penny with an amused smile on her motherly face. I wasn't the only daughter she had adopted.

“Ready?” Forrest asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.

“Hmm?” I asked, looking up at my husband.

“It's getting late,” he grinned. “I don't know about my lovely wife, but I'm feeling beat.”

“Liar,” I giggled. “You're feeling randy.”

“The moon is rising.”

A heat flushed through me as his golden eyes appreciated my bodice. “I'm ready,” I said as I stood up. I had a few surprises beneath my dress. I broke the rules; I wasn't wearing all white.

We had a room rented at Augustus's Moonrise Bed & Breakfast. Tomorrow, we would head out on our honeymoon to Yellowstone. It may not be the most romantic for some, but we wanted to see the beauty of nature and share those moments with each other. And we had rented a nice, cozy cabin.

Forrest's SUV had been transformed during the reception. Cans dangled from the bumpers on red ribbons and written inside a white heart was, “Forrest and Kotie, Just Married.” My eyes teared up at the sight. I don't recall ever being so happy.

I giggled as Forrest carried me across the threshold of the B&B. I was his wife. He was my husband. It seemed so right. He carried me up the stairs and to our suite. I gasped when he opened the door. Red, white, and pink rose petals were strewn across the bed and floor, perfuming the air with their heady scent.

Forrest kissed me as he carried me across. I could kiss him forever. But then he wouldn't get to see what I was wearing beneath my wedding dress. He set me down, and I smiled at him as he undressed, revealing those sexy muscles and hard flesh.

“Mmm, I have a sexy husband.” My thighs shifted. The heat grew between my legs.

His golden eyes were on me as I carefully took off my veil and set it on a dresser. I turned around. “Can you unbutton me?” I asked, my body trembling. I couldn't wait for him to find out about my surprise.

“Yes,” he answered.

My trembling increased. We had made love many times before, so why was I so nervous? He had undressed me before. He had taken me in changing rooms and outdoors. We had done every sex act we could think of, sharing our love for each other. And yet tonight felt special.

His fingers worked the small buttons, my dress growing looser. He paused when he neared the base of my spine. He brushed the garter belt I wore. “Red, Kotie? Not white?”