Page 34 of Mating at Midnight: Book 1

Waving my hand in front of me, I return, “Yeah, yeah, we’ve heard that once tonight and it didn’t end well. Just get the Hell out of my hotel.”

The cocoon of the guards begins to move them towards the exit as Mr. Van Hynes steadily throws out threats. Under normal circumstances I would have taken him to a dark room to add to the slap I gave him and made him beg for forgiveness, but he wasn’t worth it. I’ve dealt with his kind throughout my life, and they had more words than action. If Mr. Van Hynes wanted to come back, feeling all Braveheart and shit, I can promise you he will never leave this hotel the way he came in.”

After making sure Lisa was okay to continue her shift, we went up to the suite. On the elevator ride up the sisters huddled into a corner and spoke in a hush tone. This time I used my keen wolf hearing to hear what they were talking about.

“Are you okay?” Kenia asked Nyah.

“For the most part, I am,” Nyah replied. “I just didn’t think having a mate would lead to so many physical alterations.”

“It comes with it, sis.”

“I know now, but you know I’m not for all of this physical violence. This bond has me in a choke hold so tight, I want to pull the lungs out of every female that smiles at him, and youknow that’s not me. The shit with Fonda earlier, then with that Megan chick...”

Kenia rests on the back of the elevator. “Trust me, I know. I felt the same way with my destined mate.”

I look over to Levi who keeps staring straight ahead. I’m about to find out what the Hell is going on with those two. At dinner days ago, they were in a heated conversation, then tonight he invited her out with us. Something’s up, and I’m going to get to the bottom of it.

The elevator doors finally opened. We stepped out with two of my guards standing on both sides. The one on the left says, “Alpha, a member of the room service came up to drop off liquor bottles. We tested them to make sure they hadn’t been tampered with, and they weren’t. They are sitting on the tray outside of the suite.”

“Thank you, Cornelius,” I say as they escort us to the suite.

Levi steps forward and taps in the security code, which security didn’t have to unlock the door. Which is why the drinks are in the hallway. The light on the panel turns green and Levi opens the door.

Nyah and Kenia disappear to the master bedroom, leaving me and Levi standing in the living room. I guess they needed to have a one-on-one sister chat.

Going over to the coffee table I take four glasses from the tray. As I filled them with Hennessy, I thought of how to engage Levi to be truthful instead of demanding him as his Alpha. That shit flew out the window like a paper airplane.

After filling the glasses, I pick up two and extend one to Levi. He takes the one from my left hand.

I present us with a toast, “To the normal shit, health, wealth, and success, but what I really want to toast to, is whether this one should be towards you and Kenia’s mating.”

Chapter 18

Nyah

First of all, let me say this, after the fiasco with Fonda and Hanna, I was ready to enjoy a peaceful dinner. What I didn’t expect was Braxton’s mother or her lackey, someone who Braxton had been intimate with in the past to be there.

Being an Alpha Female who has chosen their mate, I felt no competition between Megan and I, but obviously she didn’t when she tried to attack me. I could have let bygones be bygones, but my spirit and my wolf needed to teach that Beta wolf what happens when you challenge an Alpha. She was lucky to be yanked away from my clutches. She’s damn lucky Braxton consoled me because I was ready to do some serious damage.

Some might have thought my aggression afterwards was towards Braxton, but that was not the case. Hell, he had come up against Corey’s stupid ass twice and the last encounter showed his dominance over Corey. This situation on the other hand was more so of being in the presence of someone Braxton had an intimate past with. No woman or man, female or male wolf wants to be in a small setting with another who has been that close to their mate. That was the first and I hope the only position I would ever be put in. I honestly don’t know what would happen the next time I’m put in that type of situation. Shit could go left quick, but if Braxton kept me up to date as we traveled to other sites, I could be prepared for that kind of nonsense.

Throughout dinner, I started to perceive Ramona’s niceness as an act. I couldn’t put my finger on it but for some reason my wolf and I were put off by her. Since she hadn’t outright disrespected me besides by bringing Megan to the dinner which she claimed not knowing of Braxton and I as a couple, I decidedto give her a chance. I mean at the end of the day; she was still Braxton’s mother, right? I was going to have some kind of relationship with her whether good or bad. Let’s just hope it was good.

As we ate, Ramona asked me random questions like, “So, what’s it like to miraculously find your mate that is not a part of your Pack? From what I’ve heard, you are really family oriented; how will that affect you traveling with my son when he opens new hotels?” I politely answered her questions until she got to the last one. “Most Alpha Females have their mothers to guide them on their journey to embrace their mates, with yours gone, how do you think that will happen?”

Kenia gawked at me as I picked up my napkin and dabbed the corners of my mouth before telling Ramona, “The topic of my momma is a sensitive one but to answer your question; before she passed away, our momma instilled in us how to act accordingly as Alpha Females. That also included dealing with our mates. I respected and still do respect the relationship that our parents had. Our daddy claimed her, and she was his only mate even when she died, and he has never put another in her place.”

My words came out smooth and sincere, but I could tell that they struck a nerve with Ramona because after all these years, Bryant has never claimed her. Even with what our momma taught us, daddy taught us even more.

Kenia proudly smiled at me as she nodded her head.

Ramona gathered herself, saying, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you. My words may have come out wrong.” Her apologetic smile doesn’t reflect in her eyes. Like I said, it was just an act.

With a fake smile, I told her, “It’s fine, Ramona.”

Dinner resumed and we were planning for me and Braxton’s claiming ceremony. Not wanting to leave daddy out, I videocalled him. He was excited, saying that the ceremony would be held on the Midnight Pack lands.

Although claiming a mate is somewhat like humans getting married, there is no church, wedding parties and everything that comes with that. Our ceremonies take place under the full moon where the Pack Alpha gives his blessings before the male gives the female a head start into the woods. He must hunt her down and if she submits to him, they will connect their bond. On that night I hope Braxton is up for a real game of hide and seek. He will be on my turf, and I know every secret hiding place. I’m not worried about him sniffing me out. One thing my momma told us was to mask our scent with the ashes of a fire. I planned on having several piles strategically spread out. I know he will eventually find me, but it won’t be easy. I’m going to make him work for it.

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