Chapter 100

I watched and listened as Raph stood a safe distance in front of the gate talking to the suspected widows.

"What'd he say to you?" Thomas asked next to me. His nose had stopped bleeding and he was just standing next to me with his arms crossed over his chest in an imposing matter.

I knew who he meant. Ainur. I recalled how upset Thomas had been yesterday when he'd heard I wanted to talk to the Elf king.

I looked down and rubbed my frigid nose in thought.

"I know he told you something. I could see your eyes focusing in and out at dinner and I saw you glance nervously over your shoulder at least once."

I had done that.

"I can't tell you." I said in a hushed voice.

He was silent for awhile before he replied prompting me to look up at him. His face looked serious but hesitant.

"I understand. Have you told Raph?"

I was looking just behind Thomas's ear at the trees, "No." I breathed vehemently, shaking my head tightly.

He had gold eyes like Raph but they seemed to be a bit tarnished.

He stared at me a long while.

I jumped when I felt Raph's hand on my shoulder. I had blocked out the she-wolves conversation so I hadn't known when it had ended.

"Sorry, you just surprised me." I said as I raised my eyes to see him. He looked exhausted. I tilted my head with an sympathetic look on my face.

"Well, see you guys." Thomas said, the jovialness back in his voice and demeanour.

"See ya!" We called and waved as he made his way back up the slope.

"You okay?" I asked looking up at him.

He nodded, "Let's go home."

He seemed rattled. He probably didn't like being rattled so it made sense that he didn't want to talk, but he was being a hypocrite. He wanted me to talk and I hadn't. Which I guess meant that I was being a hypocrite too.

~~~~~~~~

"You gonna talk about it?" I asked while we lay in bed that night.

We were cuddling. I supposed there was no harm in cuddling.

"I'm surprised you didn't hear it. It was all mind links." He said.

"Yeah, I blocked it out after the first few words."

"Then why do you want to hear it?"

"Because I want to know how you are doing."

"Oh, Brooke. You're too good for me, you know that right." He said rubbing my arm.

I snorted, "I'm too good for you? Hah! That is not true. I'd say… we're about equal." I said while walking my two fingers up his arm.

He shivered and I looked up at his face confused, then back down as he grabbed my fingers.

"Don't do that." He said with that growl in his voice.

I licked my lips then bit them.

He grunted agitatedly and tossed the blankets off.

My shoulders slumped as I slid under the covers again. My mind once again filled with anxiety. Now, he wasn't even sleeping with me, I'd never know if his throat… had been… s-slit. Not until morning. But it wouldn't be. I hadn't told anyone. But I desperately hoped Thomas wouldn't die, I hadn't even told him anything other than that I knew something that I couldn't tell anyone.

I closed my eyes and tried to get some sleep.

~~~~~~~~~

New Years rolled past, along with my family's annul fondue, which me and Raph attended. We had to stay an extra night though because of the weather conditions and our plane not being able to go back. We could've taken a ferry but that was more driving and we both didn't feel like that.

So it was January second and the wedding was in five days. Every once in a while I would get so nervous and excited at the same time that I could hardly breathe.

"Yes, I want my family there and…" I swung my head a little to the right as I fibbed a little, "The, ahem, groom's family over there." Meaning the Pack members that would be joining us, "There will be one dance with the music you suggested, and that should be it." I stared at the large venue that would be rented for the occasion.

Ho boy.

"Great. All your bridesmaids have their dresses and the groomsmen their tuxes? Tuxedos?" Carmen, my wedding planner asked.

We both giggled as the tuxes or tuxedos had been a bit of an issue. The tailor who'd taken the measurements had made Thresh's too small. Like, way too small. You can imagine how thrilled he was about it.

"I will just wear one of mine." He'd said.

"No!" I'd shrieked at him, "You guys have to be matching. I don't care!" I'd yelled at him because he'd tried to say that he preferred his own to the one he was holding in his hands that looked like it'd fit an elf. Not one of our dear friends, but one of Santa's.

"You're going back to Vancouver and having it redone. Don't worry, Raph will pay for all the expenses."

He just stared at me with his default bored expression, "Alright."

"Helloo? You still here?" Carmen asked as she tapped me on the shoulder.

"Hm? Oh, yes. Sorry. Yes, yes," I said through laughter, "The groomsmen now all have their tuxes or whatever."

~~~~~~~~

My mom and sisters, along with Mary and Julie, will be coming on the fourth to settle into the hotel we'd gotten for them, my dad and brother were coming the day after. We would do one rehearsal then and then we would wait for the day.

Raph would be staying in the same hotel on the day before.

Today was a spa day then tomorrow would be packing. It was all planned out, and was really happening.