nap yesterday. But this man loves me. I know he does, so I force myself to settle into his arms as I remind myself why I love him and agreed to marry him in the first place.
It takes us two hours in traffic to get to our appointment, and I suck in a breath, surprised by the remoteness of the venue. We’re in the mountains, nature everywhere, and Corbin smiles as I step out of the car behind him and take it all in. “I thought you wanted something in the city?” I ask.
He shrugs. “This place is extra special,” he says, taking my hand. “Come, let me show you.”
We hike through the brush towards a state of the art building, and in the distance a wolf howls in the night. I stop, looking toward the sound. Something about the haunting note is familiar. Like a dream I once had and forgot. It pulls at an ache in me that’s been building these last twenty-four hours.
Corbin tugs my hand. “We’re safe. This is a wolf sanctuary that is connected to one of my research facilities.” He smiles ruefully at my expression.
“I didn’t know your research involved wolves,” I say.
“I know that doesn’t sound like the most romantic place to have a wedding,” he goes on, ignoring my comment, “but I’ve set something up that I think you’ll like.”
I frown, but let him lead me forward. Corbin has always been tight-lipped about his work. I know he has research centers throughout the world, and I know his work is cutting edge, but I don’t know many specifics. Whenever I ask, he insists it would bore me.
It’s been a bone of contention between us, but I try not to let it bother me too much. He’s certainly never taken me to one of his facilities before. This is progress.
“Can we interact with the wolves?” I ask, a new excitement fluttering in my chest. I’ve always loved wolves, and the idea of meeting one up close and personal pushes away all my reservations and fears and leaves only breathless anticipation.
Corbin looks down at me, his expression unreadable. Before he can answer, an older woman arrives dressed in black slacks and a cream blouse. Her graying hair is pulled into a bun and she holds her iPad like it’s permanently attached to her.
“Dr. Cutter,” she says with a German accent and a glowering sort of expression that seems a permanent part of her features.
Corbin nods. “Dr. Schmidt, I’d like you to meet my fiancé, Celeste D’LeLune. Celeste, Dr. Schmidt is the lead scientist at this facility.”
“Nice to meet you,” I say as we shake hands. Her grip is cold and unfriendly, as is everything about this woman. I don’t often instantly dislike people, but I’m making an exception for her. Even being near her makes my skin crawl. What is wrong with me lately, I wonder?
“I have everything ready for you as requested,” she says, turning away and leading us down a trail and past the main building in a clipped pace.
The night is warm and there’s the scent of pine trees in the air. When another wolf howls nearby, I shiver and look around.
Corbin’s hand tightens around my shoulder. I know he thinks I’m scared, but I’m not.
I can’t describe how I feel at the sound of the wolves. A deep protectiveness. Love. Fear, but for them rather than of them.
When we reach the other side of the building, my breath catches at the sight.
Thousands of white lights dot a small hill that overlooks an incredible view. There are chairs lined up as if the wedding is happening now, and a floral arch of white lotus flowers wound with more twinkle lights. It’s breathtakingly beautiful, and would actually be perfect for the small gathering we are intending. Neither of us has any family left, and we don’t have a lot of close friends. In fact, I’ve hardly seen or spoken to my friends outside of school in some time.
“What do you think?” Corbin asks. “Could you see getting married here?”
I nod, because it’s true, I can imagine a wedding here. My wedding, even.
I’m just having a hard time imagining Corbin as the groom.
Unbidden and unwelcome, the cobalt blue eyes of Dr. Logan Livingstone invade my thoughts, his gentle expression and deeply resonate familiarity overwhelming me.
With Corbin, I feel incomplete. No, more than that. Especially lately. When I’m with him I feel like I’m in hostile territory.