Page 59 of Mating at Midnight: Book 1

Ramona glances at Megan, then waves her over before replying, “I know things started out on the wrong foot, but Megan is deeply sorry for the things that she said and the way she acted.”

“Really, I am,” Megan interjects. She tries to move closer to me, but I hold up my hand stopping her. “I understand how you must feel about me. I should not have disrespected you like that. I do apologize. I never wanted to accept that one day Braxton would find his potential mate but now that he has, I hope that the two of you have a blessed mating ceremony.” She pauses, then adds, “I hope we can let bygones be bygones and I get an invite to the ceremony. Despite what Braxton and I had going on, I do still consider him to be one of my closest friends and I would love to be there to celebrate your union.”

Who the Hell does she think she’s fooling? Her apology is about as empty as a bucket in the Sahara Desert. And if Braxton hadn’t already officially claimed me, did this witch really think I would invite her to our ceremony. Knowing her and Ramona’s deceitful asses, they probably already conducted a plan to fuck up the ceremony. Well, I got news for them. Call me petty, but I’m about to lay the hard truth on their asses.

I address Ramona first, “Bryant and Braxton are fine. My father wanted everyone to stay here last night. As to why they did answer your calls, you’ll have to ask them.” I then focus on Megan. “Thank you for your apology, but there is no need for Braxton and I to invite you to our mating ceremony because he has already claimed me.”

My stomach muscles tighten as I hold in my laughter. If Ramona and Megan’s heads could have twisted around like the little girl in the Exorcist, they probably would have.

“What, what do you mean?” Ramona asks.

Standing from my seat without Kenia or Elder Lelah stopping me, I move in front of her with the two of them standing behind me.

“I thought I said what I meant, but if I have to break it down for you in layman’s terms; Braxton and I are mated. So, there is no one or nothing to come between the bond that we have created.”

Ramona’s face flushes red as she reaches for Megan’s hand.

“So, the bond is official?” she asks as if she’s not fully grasping what I just told her.

“It is,” I return with a smirk.

“But...” she starts, but I hold up my hand, stopping her.

“There’s no but’s, Ramona. The bond is complete,” I tell her, knowing I just Trumped her ass.

She studies me before letting out a crazed cackle like a witch. “You might think that the bond is complete but as Braxton’smother, I have the right to contest it. If his father and I cannot equally agree on a mate for our son, then whatever bond you think you might have is null and void.”

Not believing her, I look at daddy. His back is facing me, tossing fresh fried fish in a foil pan. I know he heard what Ramona said, but I guess he’s waiting to see how I’m going to handle it.

Ramona thinks she has the upper hand, declaring, “And since I do, I will be the first to say that I don’t think you are the suitable mate for my Braxton. With the help of her mother and I, Megan has been groomed to be the perfect mate for Braxton.”

Furious, I exploded, “But why? Braxton has already made it known that he doesn’t want anything to do with Megan. He and I are destined mates.” I can’t hide the pettiness in me as I ask,” Tell me Ramona, are you doing this because of the history between you and Bryant? He never claimed you, so is this your way to get back at him?”

Ramona with hatred in her eyes, stares me down. “You know not what you speak of.”

I grip my knees leaning over with laughter. “Oh, I think I know a lot more than what you think I know.”

As the words leave my lips, Braxton, Levi, Bryant, and James come out of the cabin.

“Mother, what are you doing here?” Braxton asks, coming to my side while Bryant looks annoyed by her presence.

“Well, since you and your father were ignoring my calls, I decided to come here to make sure the natives hadn’t disemboweled the two of you,” she laughs, but her laughter does not match the coldness in her eyes.

“We’re fine, mother,” Braxton says, then notices Megan. “You shouldn’t fucking be here,” he adamantly opposes.

“Watch your mouth, young man,” Ramona tries to scold him.

Braxton’s face shows his displeasure as I use my body as a barrier to keep him from advancing towards his mother.

Patting his chest, I whisper in Braxton’s ear, “Baby, there is nothing that the two of them can do to harm us because our bond is complete. For some reason, she thinks that she has the power to contest our bond.”

Braxton snarls which has Bryant coming to his side as Levi and James go stand behind Ramona and Megan like vultures.

Braxton faces his mother, getting straight to the point. “Why did you bring her here?”

“Is there somewhere the three of us and your father can have a private conversation?” Ramona asks, attempting to take a step closer to him, but Braxton shakes his head, stopping her.

“Whatever the two of you have to say, you can say it in front of my mate and the Midnight Pack!” He booms with his eyes wildly fixated on his mother.

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