Page 96 of It All Started with a Bite

Caroline drew a sharp breath.

The noise level in the salon dropped to an expectant hush.

Surprise flared briefly in Danielle’s eyes. She recovered her composure and graciously shook my hand. “It’s nice to meet you…Abby.”

“Don’t mind Mother,” one of the Lupton sisters said with a smile. “It takes a while for her to warm to new people. I can already tell she likes you.”

Danielle cut her eyes to her daughter.

The latter shrugged. “What? It’s true. Everyone in our pack calls you the Fluffy Rottweiler.”

Martha choked on her tea. Caroline muffled a snort into her napkin.

Danielle sighed, not at all unfazed by the revelation of her unflattering nickname. “These are my daughters, Lauren and Beatrice.”

Lauren was the one who’d spoken and looked to be the older sister. She was dressed entirely in black and had purple streaks in her hair. Multiple silver rings adorned her fingers and a skull pendant hung around her neck.

She looked like she belonged at a heavy metal concert rather than a fancy tea party.

Beatrice was her complete opposite. The younger sister wore a designer outfit in pastel pink and had started filming the salon with her phone.

“This is going to get so many likes,” she enthused. “My followers love supernatural tea drama.”

“Bea,” Lauren drawled. “Put the phone away before Mother has an aneurysm.”

A vein had started throbbing in Danielle’s temple. Victoria gave her a sympathetic look.

“But my fans—” Beatrice protested.

“Can wait.” Lauren’s dark lips curved as she observed me. “I gotta say, you’re not at all what I anticipated.”

“I’m not?” I asked warily.

“Nope. I always thought Samuel’s mate would be as stuck up as he is. After all, the guy acts like he permanently has a stick up his ass.”

Victoria and Caroline narrowed their eyes slightly.

“I’m trying my best to remove it,” I said bluntly.

Victoria and Caroline gasped and gave me hurt looks.

I crossed my arms defiantly. “You both know it’s true.”

Lauren burst out laughing, the sound echoing around the salon. Bea and Danielle seemed shocked at the sight.

“I like you,” Lauren chortled, wiping her eyes. “Mind if Bea and I sit here?” She dropped into an empty chair without waiting for a reply, her sister following suit. “Mother’s going to catch up with her old friends.” Her grin widened. “And by catch up, I mean engage in passive-aggressive warfare.”

I found myself smiling back.

“Lauren!” Danielle said sharply.

“What?” Lauren’s expression turned innocent. “I’m just stating facts.”

Danielle lowered her brows. “You do know I’m the luna of our pack, right?”

Lauren shrugged. “And I’m your top enforcer. Now, why don’t you be a dear and go over to Priscilla’s table? Isobel looks like she’s about to fall out of her chair with curiosity.”

Danielle’s shoulders slumped. She addressed the table. “I apologize in advance if my daughters say anything to upset you.”

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