Page 13 of Mating at Midnight: Book 1

“Harder for you?” he fumes with his eyes changing to black. “I denied the bond between me and my destined mate because of you, and you want to fucking say don’t make this harder for you.”

Whoa, this is the first time I’m hearing of this. If he would have accepted the claim with his fated mate, then we wouldn’t be here right now.

“I’m sorry you did that, but you made that decision off of an assumption that we would be together. I’ve never given you any notions that I had romantic feelings for you, Corey. I think I’ve said enough as to where our friendship stands whether I decide to be with Braxton or not,” I disclose before preparing to join my daddy and the others.

“This is far from over,” Corey declares. “I’m going to prove to you I am the better wolf for you. Not some outsider.”

I’m so taken aback; I don’t have the words to reply. Actually, I do but if I did, it will only have Braxton making good on his threat of ripping Corey’s heart out.

I went to give daddy a hug and kiss on the cheek, and my mood changed somewhat when Crown came from under the table, rubbing his handsome face against my leg. He followed me when I went to make myself a plate. Honestly, my appetite had already left, so I only got small portions. Normally, I would sit at the table with daddy but since he was entertaining Braxton and his Beta, I chose to sit four rows down from them. After the heated exchange between Corey and I, he and his daddy left. I’m glad that they did because I saw the way Braxton kept staring at the two of them. One wrong word from either one of them, he’d probably have popped their heads off like Dandelions.

With Crown laying in my lap, I feed him pieces from my salad as Kenia plops down across from me.

“Little Sis, what have you gotten yourself into?”

“Hell if I know. I went to work this morning, ready to tackle my new position and wow my new boss only to accidentallycollide into him, spilling my coffee on his suit. He reacted like an ass, so you know I gave him the same energy back, but...” I pause to stab more lettuce to give to Crown. “At the time, I didn’t know he was my boss, but my wolf saw him as something else.”

“Your mate,” Kenia interjects.

“Yes, my damn mate. He then wanted to have a meeting with me to discuss upgrades to the hotel, but that was a damn ruse. He got me in his office for a one-on-one with him to let me know he’s my mate.” I felt myself getting heated all over again. So, I scrape the meat off the plate onto the one with desserts before sitting it on the ground for Crown to eat.

“And how do you feel about that? You know, him being your mate?” Kenia asks before biting into her smoked rib.

I look to the skies, then answer, “I don’t know. I mean as shifters, we know we all have a fated one out there, I just never thought mine would come like this or now.”

Kenia tosses the meatless bone on her plate, then says, “Shit, if we could predict when our mates will come into our lives some of us push the clock back or forwards. From what I saw that man was ready to spill blood on your behalf. I suggest you get to know him outside of him being your boss.” She shrugs her shoulders, picking up another rib, “Who knows, he may be the one you’ve been looking for all your life. Your ass has always stuck by Corey, using that friendship bullshit but let’s be honest; you did that shit to keep other wolves from trying to claim you. You can’t do that now, Little Sis because Braxton Hillard isn’t going to let you go without a fight. And I do believe he will fight for you. He has shown that today. Braxton exudes Alpha tendencies. Corey wouldn’t have stood a chance of going up against him which is why you and your wolf stepped in to protect him.” I remain silent as she bites into the rib. Kenia chews, then swallows. “My only advice for you is to embrace who the Gods have selected for you. Some of us have to question what the Hell they were thinking. “

Curious about her last admission, I inquired. “What do you mean?”

Kenia drops the rib on her plate, then informs, “What I mean is that I found out who my mate is five years ago. He is the reason why I have been moving from State to State because I don’t want to deal with him.”

That explains so much, because there were times Kenia could have come home permanently but chose to travel to other States and Countries.

Reaching over and laying my hand over hers, I grip it and ask, “Is he one of our members?”

Kenia stares ahead as tears stream down her face. She finally looks at me, then answers, “He is.”

Chapter 9

Braxton

Before leaving the Pack’s land to head back to the hotel, Alpha Lightfeather invited Levi and I back to do some hunting. I graciously accepted and thanked my future father-in-law for the invitation. I wanted to have a conversation with Nyah before I left but I didn’t get a chance to. When I looked up, she and Kenia, along with the fawn were entering the forest. My wolf and I felt the need to follow them, but the day had already been a shock for her. Hell, it was for me as well. I decided to let her be for the night. She had a lot to process, and I could only hope that she would give into the bond.

I accomplished what I set out to do and that was to let it be known in their Pack I was Nyah’s mate. Anyone who had a problem with it, I was ready to battle for our bond. If Nyah hadn’t prevented me from getting to that asshole Corey, I would have demolished him. I know I told Alpha Lightfeather I wouldn’t spill blood on his land, but when that motherfucker said he was going to be Nyah’s mate, I couldn’t stop the beast within me from coming out. He’s lucky my mate was able to keep me from tearing his ass to shreds. Corey can act like a tough guy, but I recognized his wolf as a Beta just like his father’s. Definitely, not a match to my Alpha’s. His ass knew that which is why he never came from around Nyah.

I might have walked away, leaving Nyah standing there with him, but I kept an eye on them as they talked. One thing about being an Alpha, our hearing is impeccable, and I heard every word of their conversation. I knew then, I would have to watch out for that asshole. He thinks he’s the better man for Nyah, well I got something for his ass.

After getting back to the penthouse, I called my father to let him know the news.

“Hello, son. How are things going in Oklahoma?” father asked after answering the call.

“Hello, father. Things are going better than expected. The hotel needs some work, but nothing too major.”

“Well, that’s good.”

Sitting on the couch, I told him, “I visited the local wolf Pack, the Midnight Pack where Noah Lightfeather is the Alpha. He said he met you years ago at one of the Council conferences.”

Father was silent, I guess from recalling the name before saying, “Yes, I know Noah. He’s a good man. I don’t know if he still practices it, but he was always a stickler for keeping things traditional with his Pack.”

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