Page 12 of Mating at Midnight: Book 1

Chapter 8

Nyah

I thought my day ended on a high note. After meeting with Mr. Hillard, I spent the rest of my time informing the different departments of where renovations would take place in their areas. I felt good as everyone was on high notes of the upcoming improvements. Although some were worried about losing pay while the work was being done, I told them they would still receive payment as if they were there. It wasn’t their fault their departments had to be upgraded, nor should they lose pay.

My day was long and tiring. All I wanted to do was come home and grab a bite to eat. This is one of the days my daddy provides lunch for the Pack, so I knew I could easily swipe some food before going inside the cabin. Imagine my surprise when I saw Mr. Hillard sitting at the same table as my daddy. They were laughing it up like old friends. When I asked why Mr. Hillard was there, a gust of wind could have knocked me over when daddy said he came to apologize for being on Pack land.

Mr. Hillard is a clever one for sure. I declined his claim. He thought coming to brown nose with my daddy would change my mind. I laugh to myself, because by now Mr. Hillard has found out that my daddy is not like any other typical Alpha. You can apologize for being on his land, but he will definitely let you know how he feels about you violating that shit. From the red marks on Mr. Hillard’s neck, I can see that the two of them have already discussed that matter.

Now I have to deal with Corey coming to my aid as if I needed him to do so. Don’t get me wrong, Corey is a good friend, but the fact of him and I being mates is totally a misconstrued notion on his behalf.

“Nyah,” daddy called while Kenia appeared in the backyard.

“I smell good food, good fellowship, and Pack pride,” she sings before seeing the displeased expressions on our faces. “What the Hell is going on?”

Daddy points to me, answering, “Ask your sister. I just found out today that this man.” He looks at Mr. Hillard, “is not only her new boss but her mate.”

Kenia looks over at me, sighing, “Damn!”

Corey, showing his bravado, says, “Hecan think Nyah’s his mate all he wants too, but if she denies the bond, that’s all that matters. I will be her mate, not you.”

If I had the ability to go back in time and alter events, this would be one of those times, but I don’t. I had no leeway to stop Braxton from leaping over the table to get to Corey. Braxton had semi shifted. His shirt and suit jacket rips away from his body like thin layers of tissue paper. A full set of teeth with fangs appear as his wolf’s hairs take over his chest, arms, and face. If I don’t do something, he will kill Corey. So, I stepped in front of him.

“Move,” he orders in a commanding tone as his nostrils flare.

“No,” I hissed back. “I will not let you harm him.”

“I don’t need your protection, Nyah,” Corey says behind me, causing Braxton to let out a low growl as he takes a step to try and go around me, but I stop him again.

“Shut up, Corey,” I yell. “You need my protection now more than ever. He is an Alpha and technically my mate. You of all people know if a wolf’s mate is threatened or disrespected, even if the bond has not been filled, the mate will still defend them.” Putting my attention back on Braxton. Using my soothing voice may be the only thing that keeps Braxton from ending Corey’s life. “Braxton, I need you to rein in your wolf.

“No,” he growls.

Looking at the others standing around, I folded my arms under my breasts. “Fine, if you kill him I will never considerbeing your mate.” It was a bluff move, but enough for him to look at me with suspicion and astonishment. “The choice is yours,” I add.

“Mine,” Braxton sneers before shifting back.

I couldn’t help the way my eyes roamed over his defined chest and rock-hard torso that has an Adonis belt disappearing below his slacks.Shit.

Looking over to daddy, I ask, “Can you have one of the members get a shirt for Mr. Hillard?”

He nods, then signals for someone to do as I asked.

“So, we’re back to Mr. Hillard?” Braxton questioned with a smirk. “A few minutes ago, I was Braxton, mate.”

“That’s still to be determined,” I threw back.

“The Gods have already determined that,” he says with a grin before turning to walk away, then stops. Braxton looks over his shoulder. The smile is gone and is replaced with a sinister expression. “The next time yourfriendtries to claim what’s mine, you nor anyone else will stop me from ripping his heart out.” He continues on back to the table.

“Nyah, you can’t seriously be considering having that asshole as your mate,” Corey gripes. “He is not the one for you.”

Rubbing my forehead, I internally groan. This is not the conversation I wanted to have with Corey, especially after what just happened, but I guess it needs to happen.

“Corey, you and I have been good friends for as long as I can remember, and we always will be, but a friendship is all that I can offer you even if Braxton wasn’t in the picture.”

Corey frowns. “You don’t mean that, Nyah. Hell, we shared our first kiss together.”

“We were ten-years old, Corey playing spin the bottle with other kids, and it hasn’t happened again since. Please don’t make this any harder for me than it has to be.”

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