Page 79 of Mating at Midnight: Book 1

After Braxton gave Levi and his men instructions, we left the conference room to head up to his suite to get cleaned up. Although he held me close to him in the elevator, we didn’t say anything. I knew he had questions about what happened with Skia, and I would answer them as best as I could, but first I needed to speak with Skia by myself.

Braxton released me as the elevator doors opened, then placed his hand on the small of my back to escort me out. Once we were in the suite, I turned to Braxton and said, “I know you want to have a conversation, but let me take a quick shower and change before we do so.”

He glared at me as if he wanted to disagree, but he calmly responded, “That’s fine. I’ll take a shower in the other room.”

I gave a slight smile before we went into the master bedroom. I went straight into the bathroom and closed the door. Turning on the shower, I summoned Skia in my head.

“I’m here.”

“What the hell was that? Why did you react to Braxton like that? If he hadn’t exuded his Alpha dominance on us, would you have attacked him?”I asked as I started to take off my blood-stained clothes.

“I would never do that to our mate,”she replied.“You felt the rage that was searing through us.”

“I did, but that still doesn’t explain the way you reacted towards Braxton.”

There was a brief moment of silence before she returned,“Nyah, we were filled with blood lust and caught off guard when he approached us. I honestly thought he was someone else trying to attack us.”

“I get that, but when you saw that it was him, you should have automatically submitted. He should not have had to put on his Alpha hat. In my eyes, you’ve made it seem like I can’t control you without him having to use his influence.”

“You’re right and I will tell you this, although Braxton has yet to merge with his destined wolf, the command of his voice along with those crazy looking yellow eyes was enough to have me scurrying away. Not that you don’t have any rule over me, because you do, but he scared me enough to go back into the deep recesses of your mind. He showed me from that encounter that once he merges with his destined wolf, I will submit and follow my mate.”

Tossing the last of my clothes to the side, I said,“That’s good to hear but until then and after, you will show Braxton the utmost respect. He is our Alpha and mate.”

“And I will,”she humbly replied.“And I’m not trying to use this as an excuse, but you have to understand I was only doing what you called upon me to do. Just like that bitch Megan, we will unalive any person that tries to come between us and our mate. But like I said it won’t happen again.”

“I thank you for that, Skia, but we can’t turn our rage onto our mates, loved ones, or Pack members,”I conveyed.

“I understand, Nyah,”she said with respect. “I will follow your lead from this day forward.”

I didn’t respond as I stepped into the shower. Closing my eyes, I let hot water hit my skin as I stepped in, letting the bullshit of today wash off into the drain.

Thirty minutes or so later, I’m out of the shower and dressed. Thank God I still had clothes here from the last time I stayed with Braxton. Instead of donning business attire again, I opted for a pair of jeans and t-shirt. I wanted to be comfortable for the conversation Braxton and I were about to have.

With a little bit of apprehension, I left the bedroom and went to the living room. Skia told me not to tell Braxton about her, but at this point and after what happened, I can’t see no other way around keeping her a secret.

Entering the living room, I find Braxton sitting on the couch. On the coffee table is a charcuterie board of meats, cheeses, crackers, and condiments. Next to it is a bottle of white wine in an ice bucket and two filled wine glasses.

My mate looks handsome as usual wearing a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt. I guess he wanted to be comfortable as well for our talk.

Braxton stands when he sees me and picks up the glasses, offering me one.

“I had this sent up,” he says as I take the glass from him. “I was going to order something stronger, but thought we needed something lighter. Are you hungry?”

“Thank you, but I’m not hungry at the moment,” I tell him, taking a sip of the wine.

“Have a seat,” he instructs.

Braxton waits for me to get comfortable before sitting next to me. He places his glass on the table, not taking a drink. I gulp down the rest of the wine because his actions let me know he’s ready to get down to business.

“Nyah, why did your wolf react to me like that? The last thing I wanted to do was make her or you submit that way, which I shouldn’t have to do. I haven’t pressed you about your destined wolf, but after earlier, you need to tell me something.”

Skia jumps in my head.“I know I told you not to tell him about me, but I think now is the time to do so. I mentioned his crazy yellow eyes before, but I didn’t add that they were the eyes of his destined wolf. His stare was so intense and commanding, I knew those eyes were not from the wolfI initially encountered. I don’t know how it’s possible, but Braxton is close to merging with him.”

“But the eyes of his wolf now are yellow,”I responded.“Wouldn’t the color change after merging?”

“Normally, yes but for some reason Braxton’s destined wolf’s have remained the same. And let’s just say from that small interaction, his wolf is nothing to be played with. They were throwing off so much Alpha dominance, I knew I fucked up.”

“Nyah,” Braxton summons, pulling me out of the conversation in my head. “Are you ignoring me?”

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