Love's Protection (Passion Moon 3): (A Shifter, Supernatural Romance) by Renee Jordan Read Free Book Online

“We just need to do something about your hair and you'd be stupendous.”
    “Really?” Connie asked.
    “Good hair always makes someone look stupendous. Check out mine.” Augustus brushed his hair. “Aren't I just fabulous?”
    Connie giggled. “Yeah, I guess you are.”
    “A fabulous pain in the ass,” Vanessa growled as she strode in.
    “Vanessa,” Augustus said in a flat tone.
    “What bee flew in you two's bonnets?” Penny asked.
    “Vanessa is a poacher!” Augustus declared. “After I had wined and dined my Adonis, she swooped in and stole him away.”
    “He wasn't gay, Augustus,” Vanessa grinned. “Trust me.”
    “He was bi-curious. If he had just spent the night with me, he would have realized all his desires.” Augustus let out a tragic sigh. “Once again, I have had love stolen from me.”
    Vanessa rolled her eyes. “And it was a year ago. Plus, the guy's dating a girl from Olson.”
    “We would have been so happy together,” Augustus sighed. “It was a tragedy.”
    “Let's get this over with,” Vanessa growled. “Where's the dress?”
    “Back here,” Connie whispered.
    The blonde werewolf swept past. Augustus grinned as she disappeared into a changing room. He seemed pleased, like he enjoyed their little argument. I hooked his arm. “Come on, time for me to look fabulous.”
    “Girl, you will be radiant.”
    My wedding dress hung on a mannequin in the back of the store. It was so gorgeous. Tears burned my eyes as I stared at it. Evelyn, Connie's statuesque mother, beamed at me. “You will be so beautiful, child. Now let's strip.”
    I did while everyone watched. It was a little embarrassing, especially when Penny saw my red panties. “Dressing for your wolf?” she laughed. I owned a lot of red underwear. It was Forrest's favorite color.
    Vanessa appeared in her lavender dress. It softened her. She didn't look as fierce. The werewolf preferred red, slinky affairs. She nodded as I was helped into my dress by Evelyn. The back was zipped up, and the bodice was adjusted by the seamstress.
    I stared at myself in the mirror. I was just gorgeous. Evelyn held the train as I turned to look at myself from all sides. My auburn hair added vibrant contrast to the snowy dress. Penny grabbed my veil and placed it over my head. The world grew misty. I trembled, tears misting my eyes.
    “Girl, you are radiant. Your wolf is going to howl.” Augustus let out a tragic sigh. “If only I could find a man half as gorgeous to keep me warm at night.”
    “Why not a sexy fox?” I asked.
    “Oh, no,” Augustus shook his head. “Even straight fox shifters are as vain as me. Imagine if there were two of us? No. I have to be the fabulous one in the relationship.”
    I giggled.
    “You do look amazing, Kotie,” Vanessa sighed. It was almost envious. I thought she was happy with her man-hunting. She never seemed to take the same man to her bed twice. Was she lonely?
    “I know,” Penny nodded, tears brimming in her blue eyes. “Oh, you will be the most beautiful bride.”
    “Yes, you are gorgeous,” a man said, clapping his hands as he strode into the back room. My breath caught. He had green eyes.
    “Customers are not allowed back here,” Evelyn said. “If you would please wait out front.”
    “I'm no customer,” the Traveler said. He was as handsome as my mother always described. He stood tall in a black leather duster and dark shirt. A pair of worn, faded jeans and black, scuffed cowboy boots completed his look. “I'm here to see the bride.”
    “Who are you?” Vanessa growled, her green eyes glinting.
    “The father of the bride.”
    I trembled as I stared at my father. My stomach twisted into knots. Burt's dying words echoed in my mind. “I was just...protecting you...like he...wanted...” Had Burt's last words been about my father? Was my father Burt's master? Burt had said I was special, that my father needed something from me. What?
    Vanessa moved before me. She growled again.
    “Put