Page 10 of Mating at Midnight: Book 1

A mischievous smile spreads across my face. “I’m going to do what I do best and claim what is mine.”

Pressing the button on my office phone to connect to Fonda, I wait for her to answer.

“Yes, Mr. Hillard,” she says.

“Fonda, clear my schedule for the rest of the day. I have some personal affairs to take care of.”

“Right away, Mr. Hillard. Should I reschedule your appointments?”

“That would be perfect, Fonda and thank you.”

“My pleasure, Mr. Hillard,” Fonda returns in a sultry tone.

Levi laughs, shaking his finger at me. “You better be careful with that one. I’ve seen the way she looks at you. Nyah can deny the bond between the two of you, but if her wolf notices another has affections towards you, there’s going to be trouble.”

I chuckle, saying, “Trust me, it won’t come to that. Have a valet to bring the car around. We’re about to take a trip to the Midnight Pack’s land. I think it’s time for me to officially meet my new father-in-law.”

Thirty minutes later, Levi and I are on our way. Normally, he would drive but since I already knew how to get there, I jumped in the driver’s seat. I already had a plan formulated in my head. Since Nyah wanted to deny our bond, then my only other recourse was to involve her father who is also her Alpha. If Alpha Lightfeather is like any of the traditional pack leaders, he will uphold our bond even with Nyah disagreeing with it.

We finally made it onto the land. Using my wolf’s memory, I steered us to Alpha Lightfeather’s house. I park in front of the modest cabin.

As Levi and I get out, an older Black man with wavy hair pulled back into a long ponytail with an axe in his hand comes from behind the cabin. He has to be damn near seven feet tall and built like a fucking freight train. No doubt he’s Alpha Lightfeather. As he approaches us, I notice the deer fawn following him. I assume it’s the same one Nyah saved the night before.

“Can I help you?” Alpha Lightfeather asks, stopping a few feet away from us.

This is the time for me to put on my charm. Closing the door to the sedan, I step closer to the Alpha and extend my hand. “Hello, Alpha Lightfeather. I’m Braxton Hillard and this is my Beta, Levi Cornell. I just bought the old Harris Hotel in town.”

My admission somewhat puts him at ease as he shakes my hand. “So, you’re the new owner. My daughter, Nyah told me a little bit about you earlier today.”

So, she’s already had a conversation with her father about me...interesting. I wonder how much did she disclose to him?

Alpha Lightfeather continues, “I told her to invite you to our lands...but also to let you know to meet with me first.”

Placing my free hand over ours, I tell him, “She hasn’t extended the invitation as of yet, but I’m sure she was getting around to it.”

“I’m sure she was, but with her new position, you’re probably keeping her busy,” Alpha Lightfeather says. “Anyway, I’m sure you’re not here to talk about the hotel and I was getting ready to serve lunch to the Pack. So, the two of you can follow me this way.”

He points the axe in the direction he came from, then walks away. I shrug my shoulders when Levi looks at me before going in the same direction as Alpha Lightfeather.

We end up in his backyard where there is a whole roasted hog on a picnic table and other tables loaded with more food. If this is what they served for lunch, I can only imagine the amount of food they have for dinner.

Alpha Lightfeather begins to use the axe to cut away parts of the hog as members of his Pack line up with their plates in hand.

“Alpha Lightfeather, can Levi and I help serve?” I ask.

His shoulders hunched over as he turned his head towards me. His wolf’s eyes glare back at me as his meaty hand wrapsaround my throat. “No. Did you not think I wouldn’t recognize you as the wolf that was on my land yesterday?” Levi tries to come to my defense but is soon surrounded by members of the Pack. Although I know he could take down at least three on my behalf, I motion for him to stand down.

“I apologize for not getting permission from you. I didn’t mean any disrespect. That is one of the reasons why I came today,” I inform.

Alpha Lightfeather’s eyes switch back. “The only reason why I don’t rip your throat out is because my wolf and I recognize you as Nyah’s mate.”

“But she is denying the bond. I’m here because I need you to let Nyah know the significance of the bond between mates.” I argue with my eyes now the color of my wolf’s who’s just below the surface of my skin, ready to attack. I keep him at bay.

“She knows and I will not force it upon her. The decision is solely up to Nyah,” Alpha Lightfeather says, then releases me.

My instinct was to put the elder Alpha in his place, but I knew that would be another reason why Nyah would deny me and could potentially start a war between her family and mine. So, instead I stand toe-to-toe with the Alpha and ask, “Where can we help out?”

“You and your Beta are our guests. So, please get in line and enjoy the lunch we have prepared,” he replies.

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