Wellsie rolled her eyes, shut the door from across the room, and put the box down on the coffee table.
“Males like them, they get all riled up and take a hunk out of each other every once in a while. It's inevitable. Tohr won't tell me what it's all about, but I can guess. Honor, prowess on the field, or us, their females.” Wellsie flipped open the box, revealing folds of red satin. “They're good-hearted, our boys. But they can blow their stacks and say something stupid every now and again.”
She turned and smiled. “Enough of them. Are you ready for this?”
Beth was normally reticent around strangers. But this straight-talking woman with the no-nonsense eyes felt like someone worth taking a gamble on.
“Maybe not.” Beth laughed. “I mean, I haven't known Wrath for long, but he feels like he's mine. I'm going with my gut on this. Not my head.”
“I was the same way with Tohr.” Wellsie's face softened. “Took one look at him and I knew I was done for.”
Her hand absently went to her stomach.
She's pregnant , Beth thought. “When are you due?”
Wellsie flushed, but it seemed to be out of anxiety more than happiness.
“Long time. A year. If I can hold it.” She bent down and took out the gown. “So would you like to try this on? We're almost the same size.”
The dress was an antique, with black beading over lace on the bodice and a tremendous waterfall of a skirt. The red satin positively smoldered, catching the light from the candles and holding the glow deep within its folds.
“That's… spectacular.” Beth reached out and stroked the skirting.
“My mother had it made for me. I was mated in it almost two hundred years ago. We can skip the corset if you want, but I brought the petticoats. They're such fun. And listen, if you don't like it or have something else you were planning to wear, I will absolutely not take offense.”
“Are you crazy? Like I'm going to turn that down so I can get married in my shorts?”
Beth gathered up the dress and nearly ran to the bathroom. Stepping into the gown was like stepping back in time, and when she came back out into the chamber, she couldn't stop herself from fluffing the skirt. It was a little tight in the bodice, but she didn't care if she never took a full breath.
“You look great,” Wellsie said.
“Yeah, because this is the most beautiful thing I've ever had on. Can you do the last buttons up the back?”
Wellsie's fingers were cool and quick. When she was finished, she tilted her head to one side, clasping her hands together. “You do it justice. The whole red-and-black combo really works with your hair. Wrath's going to pass out when he sees you.”
“Are you sure you want to lend it to me?” What if she spilled on the thing?
“Clothes are meant to be worn. And that gown hasn't been on a body since 1814.” Wellsie checked her diamond watch. “I'm going to go upstairs and see how the prep's coming. Fritz is probably going to need help. The brothers sure know how to eat, but their kitchen skills are deplorable. You'd think they'd be better with knives, considering what they do for a living.”
Beth turned around. “Give me a hand undoing these buttons and I'll go with you.”
After helping her out of the dress, Wellsie hesitated.
“Listen, Beth… I'm happy for you. I truly am. But I feel like I should be honest. Having one of these males as a mate isn't easy. I hope you'll call me if you need someone to vent to.”
“Thanks,” Beth said, thinking she actually might do that. She could see Wellsie giving good advice. Probably because the woman looked like she had everything under control in her own life. She just seemed so… competent.
Wellsie smiled. “And maybe I'll be able to call you once in a while, too. God, I've waited so long to have someone to talk to who understands.”
“None of the other brothers have wives, right?”
“You and I are it, dearie.”
Beth smiled. “So we'd better stick together.”
Wrath went upstairs, wondering who'd slept where. He knocked on one of the guest room doors, and Butch answered. The human was drying his hair with a towel. Had another wrapped around his waist.
“You know where V is?” Wrath asked.
“Yeah, he's shaving.” The cop nodded over his shoulder and stepped aside.
“You need me, boss?” V called out from the bathroom.