Page 547 of Love Bites

I giggle when a group of women rush past us to answer the request. I almost expect to have Sierra grab my hand and pull me along.

Platters of whole raw fish are winding through the crowd, and hands reach out to snatch them without slowing down the waiters. A few get tossed in the air to be quickly gobbled up by large mouths. I suspect the no-shifting code of conduct will be waived later in the evening.

I’m grateful Brady can talk in my head as he parades me though all the people, introducing me to the important ones. The older women share a knowing smile when they meet me, and I'm sure they can smell the pregnancy too. I see more than a few tear up, and I'm proud to be creating the future for this clan.

"You're about to meet the Robichaux. We need to work on making them our allies, so suck it up, sister."

I lean back so my body covers his and place my hand on his groin."I think you're a little confused, because if you do what you do to me to your sister, I've married into the wrong family."

Brady's laugh roars through my head before he says, "Marion and Robert Robichaux, I'd like you to meet my wife, Carly Le Roux."

The moment I look into Marion's eyes, tiny hairs prickle on the back of my neck. I close my thoughts off from Brady.Her eyes are my eyes.

She glances down at the pin on my waist, and her hand shoots out to touch it. I grab her wrist before she can, and she asks, "Where did you get that?"

I force a friendly tone. "It was my mother's."

Her face pales, and I hear her whisper in my head. "Charlotte."

I stumble backward a step as I recall my mother's face, and her voice is crystal clear. It's Marion's. The realization makes me move forward to touch her arm as the corners of her mouth begin to lift.

A man steps gracefully between us as if cutting in to dance, and he grabs my hand. Alcohol is on his breath, and I cringe at his touch. "Victor Veilleux. And you must be the lovely new prima." His voice is cold as ice, and I pull my hand away as Brady tugs me against his body.

I say, "Yes."

His eyes are emerald green in a face framed by jet-black hair. "Surely you'll save a dance for me."

I smile sweetly and answer, "Of course."

Robert growls. "Young man, you’re interrupting.” Victor attempts a stare down, but Robert dismisses him by turning to me. “Now, Mrs. Le Roux, where were we?"

Victor steps back with a flourish of his arm as if he’s the one giving permission. I take Robert's hand with a grateful smile and say, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Robichaux."

He says, "The pleasure's mine. I do hope we'll be dining together in the near future. I think we have many common interests to discuss."

I turn to Marion. "I hope so, too." Her mouth is tight as she smiles, and I flash to my mother scolding me for something. It tugs on my heartstrings as hope blossoms in me. I push it away. "Do I know you?"

She stares at me but doesn't answer. Taking Richard’s arm, she walks away. Strange.

Brady lifts me by my hips and off my feet as he twirls me, causing me to let out a squeal. His bear is itching to play, and my skin tingles with the urge to shift too. He says, "Let's feed ourselves before this night gets crazy. You've never seen werebear in full swing.”

I reach up and place my hand on his face. It's smooth and warm under my fingers. "You forget. I like the whole crazy bear thing."

He turns to kiss my palm and says, "Oh, I haven't forgotten."

His voice reverberates through my body, and my core twitches in response. I reply, “God, I can't wait to get you naked.”

He replies with a growl that makes my juices flow. I flush a little at the laughing couple that passes us, knowing they can smell my desire.

Musichas gotten louder, and the buffet is ready. People line up to fill their dishes, and the scent of salmon makes me salivate. Strong fingers seem to blur with motion as a chef fillets them for the more refined guests. Although I suspect he’ll be done soon when a glassy-eyed older man sucks on a lobster claw that never makes it to his plate. Shells rattle when he tosses it into the garbage full of fish scraps. Apparently werebear are never too old for a wild party.

Fortunately Annie knows how my need to eat sneaks up on me now that I'm pregnant, and she has a plate waiting at my seat. I catch her eye and mouth a thank you as I make my way to our table. Brady stands in line to get his food and chat while I sit next to Annie.

I sit and wish my dress weren't so tight. Annie says, "I see you met Victor."

"I sure did. What a pig." I stab a piece of salmon and put it in my mouth. The flavor makes me want to groan and to pick up the whole piece with my hand and devour it. Taking my cues from Donna and Annie, I refrain from both.

She smiles. "Yeah, that's a nice way of putting it."

"You and Donna put on a great party. Everything is perfect. Thank you so much."

Annie says, "No. Thank you for letting us run the show. In case you hadn't noticed, my mother likes to have control. Does she know about your alpha abilities yet?" Annie snorts. "She's going to be green with envy."

I chuckle with her as we scan the crowd. I see Victor flirting with young girls who seem taken with his charm and the Robichaux laughing with another couple. It’s clear they’re not Le Roux, and a tense aura surrounds them as if they don’t feel completely safe here.

Marion's reaction to me earlier makes me wonder who Charlotte is. And I wonder how it is I heard her in my head. I didn't think alphas could talk to other clans. I keep meaning to figure out how that works and make a mental note to bring it up at our next breakfast meeting with Donna.

Sierra catches my attention with her giggle, and I watch her teasing Keith. My adorable friend makes me smile, and I hope her life in the clan is as wonderful as mine.

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