Page 41 of Mating at Midnight: Book 1

“What’s up?” I ask.

Kenia peeks in, looking at Braxton then back at me. “Daddy has been blowing up our phones all night. I left my phone in my purse, so I didn’t see his calls until a little while ago. I called him back and he sounded frantic about trying to get in touch with us all. Where’s your phone, Nyah?”

“Shit, I left it in the other room,” I reply, slapping my forehead.

Kenia tilts her head before inquiring, “Why is it in there? Better yet, why are you in this room instead of the master bedroom?”

My awkward expression has her throwing her hands in the air. “You know what, I don’t even want to know. You need to get dressed; daddy wants us to come home ASAP.”

“Is everything okay? Did daddy say what he wanted?” I was worried.

“He wouldn’t say, but from the tone of his voice, it has to be something serious,” she relays.

As I start to press her for more information, the front door opens again with Bryant yelling for Braxton followed by Ramona.

“Braxton, dear,” she sings, making my skin cringe.

“It’s too early for this shit,” Braxton murmurs, gently moving me to the side to exit the room.

I step into the hallway and see Bryant, Ramona, and James standing in the entranceway. I can feel Ramona’s disapproval as she roams her eyes over me. Cinching my robe tighter, I gave her back the same energy. She could disapprove all she wants, butafter last night her disapproval did mean shit. Braxton and I are mated and there was nothing she could do about it.

“Good morning, father, mother,” Braxton greets as he reaches them. He kisses his mother’s cheek, then shakes Bryant’s and James’ hands.

“Son, what is going on? We heard the banging downstairs,” Bryant queries.

“I’m not sure, but Alpha Lightfeather wants Nyah back at Pack lands. Kenia said it sounded serious,” Braxton informs.

Bryant glances over to me. “You didn’t talk to him?”

“No, sir. I didn’t have my cellphone with me,” I replied.

“I can only imagine why not,” Ramona scoffs under her breath, rolling her eyes to the Heavens. Everyone peers at her when she focuses back on us. “What? I meant no harm. We all know how it is with new couples,” she says, trying to clean up what she really meant.

“Anyway, father. We’re about to get dressed and head that way,” Braxton tells him.

Bryant nods, responding, “Very well, we’ll go with you.”

“That’s not necessarily, father,” Braxton protests. “I’m sure it’s nothing serious.”

I felt like I was watching one of those old Clint Eastwood cowboy movies when Bryant squinted his right eye at Braxton with a low smile that didn’t come across as friendly.

“Then there shouldn’t be any problem. The two of you go and get ready. We’ll be waiting on you,” he says more like an order than a request.

A tower of inferno, that’s what the level of heat radiating from Braxton feels like. I know he’s used to being the one to give out orders, but Bryant is his father and Alpha. The day will come when he won’t have to obey another’s commands.

Sliding my hand in his, I whisper, “Come on, Braxton. Daddy is waiting on me.”

With a slow bow of his head to Bryant, Braxton trailed me to the master bedroom. We took a quick shower, then threw on some clothes. I opted for my black Nike jogging suit. My face was void of any makeup, not that I wore much anyway, and I brushed my hair back into a ponytail. Braxton has on a pair of blue jeans and white V-neck t-shirt.

As he’s brushing his hair, I grab my cellphone and see the countless calls and voicemails from daddy. I pull up his number in my favorites, then call.

Daddy picks up on the second ring. “Nyah, are you on your way back here?” he rushes out.

“We’re about to leave the hotel now, daddy. What’s going on?”

“Just get here,” daddy says before the call goes silent.

I stare at the phone perplexed. What has daddy acting like this? Whatever it is, I need to get to him. I just pray it’s nothing major.

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