“I have to tell you that the murder you’d be dealing with is unlike any other. You know Kumarin? I am from the Asakku. It was my father who made Evgeni Kumarin who and what he is.”
“Perhaps a challenge,” Blake granted. “But I’ve dealt with Kumarin’s murder. There are a few strays still on the loose, but the rest have…” Blake paused. “Donated their bodies to the US government in the name of science.”
“If he ever gets free, he’ll come for you,” Belle said.
“And I’ll tear his head off and mount it on the wall outside Aphelion for all my enemies to see.” Blake’s tone was calm and even, but the power of the wolf echoed in a dark undercurrent of the promise.
Warner growled with something that sounded like approval.
Drew took this opportunity to speak. “So here’s what needs to happen. We need a very public display.” He looked at the Alpha. “You too.”
“For fuck’s sake,” Blake grumbled.
“Pup, you knew that this was coming. You’re not only the Alpha, but the CEO,” Warner said.
Drew spoke again, “It’s going to be a double wedding. The bigger, the better. We’re already getting hounded for press passes.”
“Do not give them to any of the outlets that published those pictures from Vegas. Make sure when you deny them entry, you tell them that’s why,” Parker said.
Blake nodded. “Good idea. Aversion training. If you want the scoop on Woolven, do it through approved channels, or get shut out.”
“A wedding? More paparazzi?” Belle asked. “I feel this is going to end badly.”
“Our suggestion was to hide in plain sight. Especially after what’s happened with Kumarin’s murder. They’ll think twice about going against Woolven. Even while we’re at war,” Drew said. “We have many allies outside of the werewolf nations. The supernatural side we have covered. It’s the bottom line with the board that we need covered. Can you do that?”
For one horrible moment, Parker thought she was going to say no. That she didn’t believe that they could protect her.
That he could protect her.
Parker had never wished to be anything other than what he was, the youngest brother. The baby. The one who was free to carouse, to make mistakes. It was almost like these things he did were expected of him. The women, the drunken nights in Vegas after snatching the family’s private jet.
It had never bothered him.
Not until now.
Not until he was standing by this woman he’d married, and she doubted him.
His human brain warred with his beast.
His human brain said that he didn’t need to protect her. She was a vampire who was much older than he was. She could walk in the sun, for shit’s sake. She didn’t need Baby Woolven to do anything for her.
Except she did.
She needed someone to stand between her and the force of Asakku coming for her. Who would make her into something she didn’t want to be. Who would take her strength, her choice…
His beast raged because it needed to be more than Baby Woolven.
He’d never wanted the mantle of Alpha, but if he had it now, there would be no doubt of his ability to protect her. Not from her, not from his brothers, and most importantly, not from himself.
“Parker,” Blake said. “All will be well.”
He searched his brother’s face and saw the reassurance there he’d wished he could feel himself. He wanted to ask Blake if he really believed that, or if this was just the strong face he put on for everyone.
Because right now, they needed it more than anything.
That’s why he wouldn’t ask, because they all needed to believe it was true.
“I’ve got PR on this. They’re leaking news of the impending wedding and we’ll announce the venue tomorrow,” Drew said.
“Has that been decided?” Parker asked.
“Not yet. Have some ideas?” Blake answered.
“I was thinking St. Louis. The Caramel Room at Bissinger’s.”
“The chocolate factory?” Warner arched a brow.
“Here’s my thinking. It’s enough to hold three hundred guests. We can give the illusion of a big wedding, while still keeping it rather small. We’ll invite the press and other concerned parties to the reception after, and give chocolate favors and champagne. We’re at war, so we need to keep the spending low, with the biggest return on investment. It will have every appearance of an expensive, yet quirky wedding, provide the press that we need, all while still being the small affair that we can control,” Parker said.
Warner nodded. “That’s smart. Security would be much easier.”