Page 30 of Mating at Midnight: Book 1

Levi doesn’t look my way as I study his demeanor. There was something going on that he hadn’t confessed to me. Whatever it is, I’ll give him time to bring it up. If he didn’t, then eventually by Pack Law, he would have to confess all his secrets to me. Levi and I have never kept secrets from one another but if there is something he is hiding, then I have to wonder if he’s holdingsomething in that could be detrimental to both our personal and business relationship.

When the car stopped, the driver unlocked the doors, and the valet opened the doors for us to get out.

Levi got out on the passenger side, while I got out on the back driver’s passenger side, then assisted Nyah out. A black Jeep Cherokee pulled up behind us.

“Great, Kenia made it in time,” Nyah announces.

Maybe my hearing was playing games on me, but I could have sworn I heard a low growl come from Levi when the valet helped Kenia out of the SUV. Nyah and I frown at each other.

Nyah hugged her sister before we walked inside. The woman at the hostess station asks for my name, which I give. She looks over her list. “Hello, Mr. Hillard, I’m Melody and your father is already here. He and his party are seated in one of our banquet rooms,” she informs. She waves over a waitress.

“Camilla, will you please take Mr. Hillard and his company to banquet room one?”

“Absolutely,” Camilla replies with a warm smile. “This way please.”

With my hand on the small of Nyah’s, we followed Camilla through the upscale restaurant. It has an ambience that attracts the “who’s” “who” elite of the city.

When we reached the banquet room, Camilla stepped to the side for us to enter. I take two steps inside and stop in my tracks. Through our bond, Nyah reaches around her back and grips mine for support. I hold onto her hand to keep me from making a scene that will no doubt have the evening news showing up.

“Braxton,” Mother calls, getting up from her seat.

Feeling ambushed, I look at my father who mouths, “I did not know.”

Mother reaches me then embraces me. I would have returned the gesture, but I was still trying to figure out whyshewas here.

Leaning back, mother asks, “So, you’re not going to hug your mother back?”

I’ve never disrespected my mother, so I chose my words lightly.

“Not until you tell me why Megan is sitting at the table with my family.”

Chapter 16

Nyah

Maybe it was the bond, but I instantly felt when Braxton’s mood changed when he saw the woman sitting next to his mother. Hell, I noticed the she-wolf as soon as we walked into the room. The Vogue model looking woman with long brown hair and olive skin tone eyes seemed to brighten as they fell on Braxton. Who is she?

“Not until you tell me why Megan is sitting at the table with my family.”Braxton asked his mother, and I wanted to know the answer too.

Before his mother could reply, the Megan chick is out of her seat, sauntering towards Braxton.

“Now Braxton, you know your mother never travels without me. I am her assistant, of course,” she says all bubbly.

As she gets closer to him, Megan extends her arms to hug him, but I block her path.

“Megan, is it?” I ask while she studies me.

“It is,” she replies.

“I’m Nyah, Braxton’smate. If you’re not a part of his immediate family, I would appreciate it if you didn’t touch him.”

Megan glances at Braxton, then back to me, then back to Braxton. “Mate? You told me even if you found your mate, you would deny the bond just like your father did!”

“Watch your fucking mouth,” Bryant snarls. “Don’t speak on shit you know nothing about.”

Megan withdraws into herself like a child being chastised. I’m glad he said something because I was two seconds away from forgetting I was part wolf and scratching her damn eyes out like a cat.

I whip my head towards Braxton. Oh, so Megan is someone Braxton has had dealings with in the past. I wonder how far in the past because her reaction to him makes it seem like it wasn’t too long ago. And the whole denying the bond? What the Hell? Hearing that shit, I try to take my hand away from Braxton’s. I need to go outside to get some fresh air before I go psychotic in this room, but he grips it tighter.

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