Page 19 of Remy & the Wildcat

“Ready?” he asked.

“Yeah. You?”

“One-hundred-percent. No matter how your stepmom or her dad feels about me, it only matters to me that you’re happy to be with me.”

“I am.”

“Good. I’m happy to be with you, too. I’m so fucking glad you trespassed through the Tressel Pack territory.”

She grinned.

They got out of the truck and met at the front where they linked hands and walked up the sidewalk to the front door. She opened the door and called out.

“We’re in the living room,” Liam answered.

Her heart started to pound. She didn’t think she’d be nervous, but she was suddenly quite nervous. It wasn’t that she thought anyone would have a problem with her and Remy, it was that she wondered if her stepmom would say something awful. What if Thyme had to punch her because she insulted Remy? That certainly wouldn’t be a good look. Not that she’d ever hit her stepmom, but she’d sure thought about it a dozen times over the years.

“It’ll be fine,” Remy murmured, his lips near her ear and his warm breath making her want to close her eyes and turn to him for a nice, deep kiss.

Instead, she smiled at him, thanked her lucky stars that they’d met, and took him into the living room.

The living room was more formal than any other room in Liam’s home, because his mate thought it was important to have a room that was reserved for special occasions and decorated in what she viewed as a classy way. There were no overhead lights or ceiling fans, but several lamps with colorful Tiffany lampshades offered some warmth to the sterile-feeling room, with the stark white tile, white marble fireplace, and beige silk couch and matching armchairs.

When her dad was alive, all the meetings happened in his and Brilla’s home in his office. But now they were generally held at Liam’s with his sweet mate fussing over everyone, and occasionally they’d be held at Jacob’s, but as he’d lost his mate a few years ago, he didn’t care to host.

Jacob and Brilla were on the couch and Liam and his mate Arlene were standing next to them when she and Remy walked into the room. Liam greeted her with a warm hug and shook Remy’s hand.

“Remy Mayfield, this is one of the elders, Liam Brahm, and his mate Arlene.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” Remy said as he shook hands with Liam and Arlene.

They both greeted him with big smiles. Then she turned to face the others. “This is Jacob Kitter, the other elder, and my stepmom Brilla.”

Both seemed tense, as if they either weren’t happy to be there, or they weren’t happy about her mating. She supposed since they wanted Leif to be alpha instead of her, that learning she’d found her truemate last night was a bitter pill to swallow.

Thyme plastered a pleasant smile on her face.

Jacob rose slowly and extended his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Remy.”

“It’s nice to meet you too,” Remy said.

Brilla didn’t rise, but tilted her head and gave a tight, forced smile. “Yes, it’s nice to meet you as well.”

Even though she could have let it go, she couldn’t help but notice that Brilla looked like she’d eaten something sour, her disapproval of Remy clear on her face. “Is everything all right?” Thyme asked.

“Of course,” Brilla said.

“Have a seat,” Jacob said as he sat next to his daughter.

After she and Remy sat in the armchairs, Liam, who sat with his mate in chairs next to the couch, asked for the full story of how they met.

“Wait, I’d like to hear this,” Leif said as he strode into the room.

“What are you doing here?” Thyme asked.

“I wouldn’t want to miss meeting my future brother-in-law. Aren’t you going to introduce me?” Leif drawled as he stopped in front of them.

Remy stood slowly. He was taller than Leif by a few inches, broader and more muscular too. Leif’s eyes widened just a fraction, as if he hadn’t realized how big Remy was, and that made Thyme want to laugh out loud.

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