Outlaw (Wolves of Royal Paynes #4) - Kiki Burrelli Page 0,98

instead."

It may have been strange, but I was proud of that.

"When we're done with the house, then you're throwing us a party, yes?"

I'd begun the preparations. Jazz had already demanded to help, which I gladly accepted, and it was only a matter of time before the others followed. I was glad for it, especially when I thought about our lives and how similarly we'd all grown up, missing moments that other people took for granted. This party would give us a chance to remedy that, and I wanted them to feel like it belonged to them as well. "It isn't a party, Sitka." I beamed, my tummy fluttering with anticipation. "It's a ball."

20

Quinlan

Sitka's sewing room was alive with movement. Fabric flew as Sitka bounced from pack member to pack member, leaving a trail of sparkles and sewing needles.

Thankfully, the alphas had taken all of fifteen minutes to get ready, leaving the rest of us to dress for the ball together.

When Sitka had finally asked to help—with a soft, hopeful voice that disappeared the moment I said yes—he'd immediately declared himself everyone's designer.

Which meant he was now—minutes before we were to be announced—racing around the room like a baby goat. He inspected each of us, making small changes to our outfits along the way.

He'd already declared Storri—dressed in a formal Prince Charming suit—perfect, so he stood in the hallway keeping Jamie company.

We'd intended to have him change with the rest of us, but the alphas had unanimously demanded he dress in the room next door. They might've thought they were dissuading the young man, but really, every time the alphas treated him like a threat, his chest puffed out with pride.

Hallie sat on the daybed with Maria and Dr. Tiff wearing a red cocktail dress with room for a baby bump, a pink satin dress with a modest sweetheart neckline, and a royal purple pantsuit, respectively.

"I don't know what I'm more excited for," Jazz swooned, playing with the layers of tulle he twirled. The strapless corset ball gown fit him like a dream. The cobalt blue satin slip lent the perfect contrast to the layers of navy blue tulle. "Quinlan's surprise or for Knox to see me in this fucking dress. He's gonna go feral."

"He better not tear my masterpiece," Sitka growled, dropping to add some kind of stitch to the hem of Jazz's slip.

"Oh no, I'll make him take this off slowly."

Siobhan snorted, blushing when everyone looked her way as she worried the hem of her LBD.

"Thinking of ideas for you and Jamie?" Maria taunted.

Siobhan growled, her eyes flashing from human to wolf. The emotion quickly faded, and Siobhan dropped her face to the floor and sucked her bottom lip between her teeth. "Maybe."

The room erupted with cheers.

"Um, you guys remember we're right outside the door, don't you?" Storri called softly through.

The shade of red Siobhan turned indicated that she had not.

"One minute!" Isaiah yelled from the foyer, saving his daughter from having to think of a reply.

Sitka squeaked, whirling to look me over. I felt ready for the red carpet dressed in the three-piece suit Sitka made. He'd stitched a slimming gray vest and fitted it over a white dress shirt with pearl buttons. Matching gray slacks paired perfectly with my velvet maroon suit jacket. "What are your thoughts on a hat?"

Jazz spoke up before I could come up with an answer. "Don't you think that'll make him too newsboy?"

Sitka tapped the pointed end of his fabric scissors against his lips. "You're probably right."

"If we're talking accessories, Sitka, I have a suggestion for you."

Sitka froze, staring down at his sleek, panther-like pantsuit that would've been just as suitable in battle as it was on the runway. It hugged him like a dream, accentuating every curve. The deep V highlighted his smooth, tan pectorals, but Jazz was right—they were bare.

Everyone but Sitka grinned.

"Okay, okay, we all came together, and, with the power of my horrible dead father's incredibly useful money, we chose this to thank you for your hours of work putting all these amazing outfits together." Jazz revealed the maroon velvet jewelry box he'd been hiding behind his back.

Sitka stared at the box, frozen for long enough I began to worry we'd overstepped. Finally, he took it from Jazz, stretching the lid open to reveal the vintage silver choker with four black diamond teardrops dangling from short chains spaced evenly across the neck.

"This is…perfect," Sitka breathed, yanking the necklace from the black satin padding. He pulled his slick black