Page 176 of The Beta's Blind Date

“I know,” he says, backing away from me but keeping my hand in his. “Kick ass, Cadet. Show her what happens when anyone tries to mess with our family.”

He gives my hand a squeeze and then leads me from the closet and our room out to the entry of the house. He drops my hand and grabs my new navy blue wool coat from the hook, holding it out for me to slip my arms into, and I smile to myself, thinking about the former playboy male who would never hold a coat out to help a female put it on. And yet here he is, helping me. Treasuring me. Loving me.

“What’s that smile for?” he asks as I turn around and he buttons up my coat.

“I’m just lucky,” I say.

“How so?”

“Because I get the real you. The version of you no one knows exists.”

He slides his hands up to my shoulders after fastening the last button. “He only exists because of you,” he says, melting my heart with his smile and his words. “Now go. Before you’re late. And don’t forget this,” he adds, handing me the embossed invitation sitting on the console table against the wall.

“Love you,” I say, darting forward and kissing him as I take the invite.

“Love you, too.”

I walk by him and open the door, and he delivers a quick smack to my ass, a squeak leaving my lips as I give him a faux glare over my shoulder. He gives me a wink and a wave that I return before I focus on my journey to the packhouse, invitation in hand.

The golden text shines under the sunlight, drawing my eyes to it, even though I have it memorized.

The females of Crescent Lake and Silver Ridge are cordially invited to tea hosted by Former Luna Emily Stone of Crescent Lake, Former Luna Merina Rivers of Silver Ridge, and Luna Haven Kenway-Stone of Crescent Lake.

It was a gamble, but it worked in our favor. As soon as Luna Emily mentioned “tea party” to Luna Merina, she was on board. There wasn’t much persuading needed. Just the mention of giving her pack members some semblance of normalcy while in the midst of so much turmoil and uncertainty was enough to convince her to co-host.

And the rest of the plan fell into place easily. Now we just have to hope it works.

I walk around the packhouse to the front entrance, climbing the steps to where Nolan and Sebastian wait at the door to take coats from guests—and to stand guard. Just in case.

I tuck my invitation into my small gold handbag and give them both a smile as I hand Seb my coat, shaking my braids out so some fall over my shoulder and cover my marked neck.

“I’m surprised he let you come alone,” Sebastian says, glancing behind me towards the path and the snow-covered grounds.

I scoff. “Please. He’s walking in the back door as we speak.”

Nolan laughs, and Sebastian rolls his eyes. “I should have guessed.”

“He knows I can defend myself, but that doesn’t stop him from worrying or being protective. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“Good luck,” Nolan says.

I nod and walk through the archway and into the common area of the packhouse, where we’re holding the event. I glide around the tables, my heels clicking on the hardwood flooring. Pack females from both Crescent Lake and Silver Ridge greet me as I walk through the room, and I smile and wave at them all.

Just as they turned the pack grounds into a winter wonderland for Haven and Wesley’s wedding a week ago, they’ve turned this common cabin living area into a gorgeous glittering tea room. The tables each have a soft purple tablecloth draped over them, and centerpieces of eucalyptus and gardenia. The white porcelain tea sets rimmed with gold are decorated with the moon phases across the middle, with dainty gold teaspoons laid out on the tables next to them.

Haven smiles as I approach her, her long red curls swept up into an elegant bun at the nape of her neck. Her dress is ivory as well, with an off-the-shoulder top and a flowing midi skirt embroidered with flowers. Her mark and her scars are on full display, showing everyone that she, too, has strength, even though she’s not a werewolf.

“I’m glad you could make it,” she says, hugging me when I reach the table.

“Of course! I couldn’t miss this.”

She squeezes me before she lets go, and we both take our seats at the table in the very center of the room, her on my left and Blake on my right, dressed in dark green. The others seated at our table are Maddie, Maya, Aunt Gigi, Luna Emily, and, of course, Merina.

I smile at them and place my napkin in my lap, but my stomach lurches and my heart thunders in my chest. I breathe in through my nose, and Reid mindlinks me, his voice warm and soothing, caressing my spine and my heart with its deep tone.“You’ve got this, Taryn. Her guard is down and we have the upper hand. She doesn’t know we know.”

“You look like you’ve gotten some better rest since we saw you the other day, Luna Merina,” I say.

Lie. She looks worse. She’s tried to hide the bruised skin under her eyes with foundation and concealer and disguised the pallor of her skin with bronzer and blush. But we all see through that. But she smiles and accepts my fake compliment with the grace of a luna.

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