Page 37 of Mating at Midnight: Book 1

“What’s going on?” Levi queries Braxton.

“I’m in the same boat as you,” Braxton answers, sitting.

Glancing over at Kenia, I ask, “Do you want to start this off?”

“No, I want to hear your theory along with them,” she quickly replies, then darts to the couch and sits next to Levi.

I place my fist on my forehead while shaking it. Damn she left me to be the bearer of bad news by myself.

“What is it, Nyah?” Braxton asks with concern.

“Nothing we can’t handle babe, but Kenia has informed me of some shit we all need to be aware of.”

I gave them the rundown of me and Kenia’s conversation about Corey. By the end of it, Braxton and Levi looked as if they were ready to hit the door to find his ass, but I convinced them to stay seated.

“The way I see things, Corey and his father decided that since he couldn’t mate with Kenia, Corey would move on to me. Now why would they think that I don’t know...”

“I do,” Braxton interjects. “The two of you are daughters of the Alpha. Being mated to one of you will elevate that person’sfamily. I’ve seen it done many times. Even with the situation with my mother and father. Father was young when they recognized the bond between them. He was ecstatic because he already had an attraction to mother, so he cut ties with all of the other she wolves he had been spreading himself with.”

Braxton pauses, gathering his thoughts, before saying, “From what I was told, the day of their bonding ceremony, father found out a young woman he had been previously messing around with was pregnant and went into labor. Father stopped the ceremony to rush to her side, leaving mother to curse the Gods. After twenty-eight hours, the woman gave birth to healthy twin boys, Bryant Jr. and Bryan. They would have been a year older than me. When I was old enough, Father told me about my older brothers. He said he doted on the boys, spending as much time with them and their mother, Celina. During that time, my mother was pressing him about the ceremony, but father kept delaying it. His focus was on building a relationship with his children, but he still made time to be with mother. When the twins were about to turn six months, they fell mysteriously sick. Not even the Pack doctors or human doctors could figure out what was going on with them. They succumbed two weeks later. Father said he was devastated by their loss. The only thing that brought him back to life is when mother came a month later and told him she was pregnant with me. Father speculated my mother had something to do with the twins’ death, but there was never any concrete evidence to disprove his thoughts. Because he had his doubts, he never mated with her. He gives her respect because she is my mother and allows her to have the benefits of a mate, but father never recognizes her as such.”

“I’m sorry to hear that about your brothers, Braxton.” I state. “But Horace nor his imbecile son will never get the opportunity to rule Midnight Pack. We need to call daddy and let him know what’s going on.”

Braxton raised his hands. “No, we’re not going to do that. I think we need to tell him face-to-face, not through a phone call.”

I momentarily thought about it. “You’re right. After he finds out, daddy will want to confront Corey and Horace, and we should be there when he does.”

Kenia scoots to the end of the couch, saying, “Tomorrow, daddy is holding a cookout for a newly mated couple, so you know Corey and Horace will be there. I say we do it then, but after everyone has left. We shouldn’t put a dark cloud over the couple’s big day.”

“I agree,” I co-sign. “Kenia, when you get home, don’t give off any energy that will have daddy asking you questions. You know he can sense when we are lying to him.”

She glances at Levi, then informs, “I didn’t plan on going home tonight. I’ll be staying here at the hotel with Levi.”

“Oh,” I whisper. I guess I should have known after she told me about them becoming mates.

Levi stands, holding his hand out to Kenia. As she takes it, he says, “On that note, we’re going to leave you two. Braxton, you need to figure out how you’re going to tell Alpha Bryant. When he finds out we’re going to Midnight land, he’s going to want to go too.”

“I know,” Braxton responds, rubbing his temples. “Honestly, I’m not against him going. The only thing that makes me hesitant is if he brings my mother.”

“She can come,” I tell him. “But if she makes any snarky remarks, then I can’t promise I will hold my tongue like I did earlier. No one will disrespect me on my land.”

Braxton gets up, then comes to me. He slides his arm around my back before kissing my cheek. “And you have every right to do so. Levi, Kenia, we’ll see you in the morning. Be here around ten and we’ll have breakfast together.”

“See you then, Alpha,” Levi returns as Kenia leaves him to give me a hug.

“I’ll see you in the morning,” Kenia whispers, pulling back from me.

“Okay, love you,” I tell her.

Love you too,” Kenia responds before going back to Levi.

Braxton wraps me in his warmth as we watch them disappear around the corner, then hear the door open and close.

Braxton pulls me into his chest, staring down at me. “Now, I’m ready for any questions you have.”

Draping my arms around his neck, I tell him, “I hope you’re ready because I have a lot.”

“I’m sure you do,” he chuckles.

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