Page 7 of Mating at Midnight: Book 1

I begin to pant. The morning has already started off badly and I don’t know why Corey’s neva-gonna-get it ass has poppedin my head. Taking my cellphone out of my purse, I hit the speed dial to call the one person who could calm me.

“Hey, Ms. General Manager. How’s the new day going for you?” Daddy’s jovial deep voice comes through on the other end.

Just like that, a sheet of serenity covers me. “Hey, daddy. I met my new boss.”

“And how did that go? Was he an ass? Do I need to come up there and swipe his jugular out?” Daddy playfully asks, but I know if I tell him yes, every wolf in the Midnight Pack along with daddy would be here within the next half hour to demolish the place.

Not wanting to let that happen, I reply, “No, daddy. Mr. Hillard seems all right so far.”

“Hillard, you say?” Daddy questioned. “That name sounds familiar. Is he a wolf?”

Shit. How could the name Hillard sound familiar to him? Daddy’s been around for a long time, long enough that Kenia and I don’t know his real age because he keeps it to himself. We know the date of his birth, and always do a cookout with the Pack to celebrate him, but to know his exact age still remains a mystery to us.

I wasn’t going to lie to daddy about Mr. Hillard being a wolf, but I chose to keep the part about him being on the Pack land to myself.

“Yes, he’s a wolf, daddy.”

Daddy hums in my ear. “I can’t recall where I know the name from but let him know he’s welcome to let his wolf out on our land, but I need him to meet with me first.”

Ah, Hell.This was the perfect opportunity to let daddy know that Mr. Hillard had already been on our land. He had already crossed the line of disrespect. At this point, I’ve been put into the position of finding out if Mr. Hillard came to our city with goodintentions or to try and overthrow my daddy. Shit like that has been done in the past and daddy still remains Alpha.

“Okay, daddy,” is the only thing I could say before changing the subject. “I was just calling to see how things were going with the fawn.”

Daddy chuckles. “He’s fine. His little ass has been following me around while I feed the other animals. I’m tempted to keep him here instead of taking him to the forest conservation.”

“Then why can’t we?” I ask, not wanting the fawn to go.

Daddy sighs. “You know why, Nyah.”

Not even the shit I went through with Mr. Hillard outweighs what I’m feeling right now about the fawn. It’s because of me he is parentless. If daddy takes him to the forest conservation, they’ll look out for him the first two weeks he’s there, after that, they will release him into a strange environment he doesn’t know how to fend for himself. In my eyes, he would be better off with us.

Ready to argue my side, I tell daddy, “I do, daddy but he’ll be out there by himself and that is my fault. Let me keep him and I will assume all responsibilities for him.”

“Nyah” daddy groans.

“I know what you’re thinking about our customs, daddy but I have a feeling if we send him to the forest conservation, he won’t make it. We’ve seen how other animals turn their backs on orphans. Nine times out of ten, they won’t make it. I have been given a chance to make things right with the fawn.”

There’s a moment of silence before daddy inquires, “I get what you’re saying Nyah, but what are you going to do when you’re out on the hunt and he sees you bringing in the body of his kind?” Daddy pauses, then adds, “Baby girl, don’t forget we’re the predator and they are the prey. No matter how cute we may think the fawn is, at the end of the day he’ll grow up tobe an eight plus point stag. I will say this, the decision is yours. However, you decide, Kenia and I will respect that.”

To me, my answer is a no-brainer. “Keep him there, daddy. You know I’ve been wanting to clear out grandma’s house for a while now. The area around it is more than enough room for me and Crown.” My grandma’s house sits about three acres away from our house. Daddy has kept up the maintenance on the two-bedroom home and will occasionally let shifter families who have experienced hard times stay there until they get back on their feet.

Daddy roars with laughter. My own laughter leaves me as much as I tried to hold it in.

“Okay, I already know who you are, but who is Crown?”

I reply, “Crown is the name I’ve given the fawn. His fur is brown but what makes him stand out is the white ring around his forehead that looks like a crown.

Daddy chuckles again. “We’ll discuss everything when you get home.”

Glancing at my watch, I notice I have ten minutes left before my meeting with Mr. Hillard.

“Sounds good, daddy. I have to get ready for a meeting, but can you do me a favor?” I request.

“What is it?” Daddy asks.

“Will you go to the feed store and get feed and supplies for Crown? I’ll pay you back.”

“You don’t have to pay me back, Nyah. I have to go to the feed store anyway. I’ll get what you need,” daddy replies.

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