Page 57 of Mating at Midnight: Book 1

Curious, I asked daddy, “Did momma know about this?”

A heartfelt smile spreads across his face. “Not only did she know about it, but your momma was one of the fiercest Wolf Maidens. Male or female, my Willa feared no one. I see her in you girls everyday with your stubbornness, sharp minds, and the ability to love those closest to you. If only she was here to see the fine women, the two of you turned out to be.”

My daddy may be a lot of things like Ancient, Alpha, provider, and many more but one thing I knew he wasn’t is a crier. He has never cried in front of Kenia and I, not even when momma passed away. We knew he did, but he didn’t do it in front of us. We always got the nurturing and protective side of him. While he grieved on the inside, daddy helped us work through ours. So, to see that lone tear cascade down his cheek, has Kenia and I out of our seats. Daddy steps back from the table with his arms spread to hug us together.

“I love you, daddy,” I sobbed as my own tears saturated his shirt.

“I love you too, daddy,” Kenia’s muffled words come out as she weeps. I’m sure she’s making the other side of his shirt wet.

Daddy holds us tighter, responding, “I love you girls too. Never forget that as you start to create your own lives with yourmates. I will always be here for you. Midnight Pack will always be your home.”

This part was starting to make sense. Daddy lost momma and now he won’t come out and say it, but he fears that he will lose us too.

My eyes are probably swollen by now, but I look up at daddy and tell him, “Braxton and I are going to rebuild grandma’s cabin. He has a house in Texas, so we will be living between each residence. Don’t think I’m going to leave you here by yourself, old man.”

Daddy laughs.

Kenia informs. “After the mating ceremony, we will be heading to Arkansas where his family is originally from. He needs answers and as his mate, I will be by his side. I won’t let time pass like before when I came home sporadically during the year. I promise to come home at least once or twice a month. And we plan on building a cabin on the six acres you gave me.”

“That’s all I ask for,” daddy says, kissing Kenia’s forehead, then mine.

At that happy moment, we’re distracted by Pack members fussing, coming from the barn. As we turn that way, we see Crown using his good leg to kick at some of the members and biting at others.

“Leave him alone,” daddy booms, causing them to move away.

I try to leave daddy’s embrace, but he holds me back. “He needs to do this on his own. You can’t coddle him, Nyah.”

I knew he was right but to see Crown stumble and fall a few times, I wanted to run to him and pick him up in my arms. Begging daddy to let me go fell on deaf ears. I had to stand there and endure watching Crown make his way to us.

After several attempts, he’s finally close enough for me to bend down and delicately scoop him up. I giggled as Crownlicked my nose. I guess he must have been missing me as much as I did him.

Rubbing behind his ears, I tell daddy, “We’ll be going back to the hotel tonight and I want Crown to come with us.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” daddy counters. “Crown is where he can get the best medical attention.” He looks down at Kenia. “Isn’t that right, Kenia?”

Kenia frowns at me before replying, “Yes, daddy.” She wickedly smiles at me, telling daddy, “But of course since Crown has a better relationship with you and Nyah, I think it would be beneficial if both of you were around.” She shrugs her shoulders. “You know just in case one isn’t around for when I need to redress his bandages or give him another antibiotic shot.”

I frown at Kenia as she bats her eyes at me. What she just told daddy could be done at the hotel. By doing this, I guess it’s going to be a family affair at my daddy’s the rest of the weekend.

After breakfast, Daddy gathered some men to go with him to tear down a few beaver dams that were partially obstructing two of our waterways. Of course, Braxton and Levi volunteered to help but I was surprised when Bryant and James turned in their expensive tailored suits for t-shirts, Dungarees, and work boots. Kenia and I were staying with the ladies to get everything ready for the fish fry later and for me to have some time with Crown.

I kissed Braxton goodbye, joking with him to not act like a baby if he got a splinter in his finger. My teasing cost me a swat on the ass, and a whispered promise of more to come later tonight. He laughed as my eyes widened before walking off, joining the others.

“Bring your hot ass on,” Kenia laughed, pulling me towards the house.

It was nice spending time with my sister and the women of our Pack. Especially the elder ladies who were like surrogate mothers to Kenia and I growing up. If it weren’t for them, Idon’t know how daddy would have gotten through Kenia having her first visit from Mother Nature. He was so good at teaching us other things, but that one major aspect of a young girl’s life, he was in a fog. Luckily, the Elders stepped in and not only explained to Kenia what her body was going through, they informed daddy on what she was going to need and to not take her hormonal mood swings personally.

When the time came for my meet and greet with Mother Nature, daddy was ready. That is. He made sure I had every feminine product under the Sun before sending me to the Elder women to haveourtalk. I didn’t think it was necessary because Kenia had already told me what to expect but I respected the Elder women and listened to what they had to say which was pretty much everything Kenia had already told me but in simpler words.

As the Elder women were cleaning the fish, Kenia and a few of the other young ladies, and I prepared the sides, Elder Lelah joined us. She is the Pack’s midwife and Shaman who has been around long before I was born. Like daddy, no one knows her true age, but her features show a woman who is well in her prime mentally and physically. Her brown skin radiates time and wisdom.

She comes to stand next to me, picks up a knife and begins to shred cabbage for the cole slaw. Without looking at me, Elder Lelah asked, “So, Nyah since you’re mated now, will we be expecting another announcement of you being with child soon?”

I fumbled the potato I was peeling in my hands as the question caught me off guard. The Elder woman laughed at my reaction.

Elder Lelah sniffs the air around me, then says, “You’re not with child yet, but your fertile time is approaching.” She reaches over and places her hand over my lower stomach, smiling. “Youwill bear strong cubs and will make both sides of your families very proud.”

I smile back, happy to hear her words, but I couldn’t help telling her, “Thank you Elder Lelah for your knowledge but Braxton and I will take some time to really get to know each other before bringing life into the world.”

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