I rolled my eyes. Chris was the biggest flirt in the history of flirts. If he’d actually give a girl a chance, maybe he’d find someone. Someone was out there for him, and God bless her. She was going to have her hands full.

“Be good to my mate,” Dastien said.

“You’ve been with her the last few weeks. A few hours apart won’t kill you.” I glanced at Tessa as she made eyes at him. “I’ll return her in one piece. Don’t worry.”

I led the way through the stronghold to Donovan’s apartment, and we spent the next few hours catching up. Tessa and Dastien had gone to France to visit Dastien’s home but were heading to the Caribbean after Europe. She gestured wildly as she told me all about it. The girl was positively giddy and with good reason. Her trip with Dastien blew my eight days with Donovan out of the water. And they still hadn’t made it to their beach paradise yet. I was more than a little jealous but happy for her.

There was a knock on the door.

“You expecting someone?” Tessa asked.

“No.” That was weird. “We shouldn’t be seeing anyone for a while.” I opened the door slowly. I’d been secretly hoping to avoid the pack until tonight, but maybe that was too much to hope for.

I couldn’t have been more surprised by who was actually standing in the hallway. “Ciara?”

She nervously looked up and down the hall. “Let me in before someone sees me!”

“Oh my God, come in!” I pulled her through Donovan’s apartment and into the bedroom. “Tessa, meet Ciara. Ciara, Tessa. What are you doing here?”

“Your mate can be quite convincing. Jay-sus, I don’t know what I was thinking.” She paced around the room. “No.” She ran her hands down her dress. “No. I came here because I love you, and I’ll be damned if any of them will keep me from coming to your ceremony.” She gave a nod, and I wasn’t sure who she was telling—me or herself.

I couldn’t believe she was here. That she’d actually flown to Ireland for me. “It’s going to be okay. I’ve seen Maureen…”

She stopped her pacing and faced me. “You’ve seen my mother?”

I nodded.

Ciara sat down on the bed. “How… Is she well?”

I wasn’t sure what to say. “I think so. She’s aging, but she seems okay.” I was still annoyed that she’d believed Vivian over her own daughter, but it wasn’t my place. “She was part of the problem here so Donovan had to kick her out of the pack, but I think you two should talk. If you want. I’ll help you find her.”