Page 44 of It All Started with a Bite

“At least she doesn’t look like something the cat dragged in anymore,” Victoria mused. “No offense, Pearl.”

“None taken, Victoria.”

I gritted my teeth.

Just when I began considering running for the hills, Claudette emerged from the back room with what looked like a small fortune in silk. “Try this. It’s for tonight’s function.”

I stared. The one-piece pantsuit was charcoal gray with subtle silver threading that caught the light. The fabric felt like water against my skin when I put it on, the neckline revealing the right amount of cleavage to be alluring rather than red-light-district raunchy.

“Now that’s alpha mate material!” Bo panted.

Even Pearl looked impressed. “It’ll do.”

Victoria nodded. “That’s perfect for tonight’s dinner.”

My stomach clenched. “About this dinner. I’m not sure I’m ready to meet the entire pack yet.”

“Nonsense.” Victoria waved away my protest. “They are dying to see who their luna is. Besides, Samuel will be there.”

That was what worried me the most.

The mate bond had been difficult enough to handle last night and in his office that morning. How was I supposed to maintain my composure through an entire family dinner?

“Speaking of Samuel,” Victoria said carefully. “Have you two discussed your sleeping arrangements yet?”

My eyes bulged. “Ourwhat?!”

“Traditionally, the luna lives with the alpha,” Victoria said like she was commenting on the weather. “And they share the same bed.”

I scowled and straightened to my full height. “We are not having this conversation!”

Bo’s tail wagged hopefully. “Can I have your room when you move out?”

“No one is moving anywhere!” I snarled.

“Actually,” Pearl drawled, “the pack might have something to say about that.”

I turned to Victoria. “Is she serious?”

The Hawthorne matriarch suddenly became interested in a rack of evening wear.

“Victoria?” I asked in a dangerous voice.

“Let’s try on some cocktail dresses,” Victoria said brightly. “You’ll need them for pack social functions.”

I looked at my reflection and wondered how I had gone from normal accountant to supernatural socialite in less than a day. Two hours and numerous shopping bags later, including a visit to a shoe store that specialized in shift-friendly footwear, Victoria dropped me back at Hawthorne & Associates.

“Don’t be late tonight,” she said as I climbed out. “Seven o’clock sharp.”

“Sure,” I muttered wearily.

“And bring the dog,” Pearl warned from the back seat. “I chose that bow tie for him. He’d better be wearing it when he turns up.”

“I will.” Bo wagged his tail hesitantly. “I like the bow tie.”

“Good,” Pearl said, surprising us even more than when she’d picked out the accessory.

Had I been less tired, I would have been more concerned about my innocent Husky becoming friends with Satan’s feline spawn.

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