“Sounds like a good plan,” the Lycan chef replied. “We could do a theme around sustainability and order ingredients sourced within 100 miles from us.”
Dominic nodded in agreement. “I know of a few farms you could source some cheese from, they’re only upstate.”
Julianna sighed and rolled her eyes. “How you guys find all this exciting is beyond me. I’m bored to tears.” She turned to Darius. “How about we talk about perimeter defense and the best techniques to disable an enemy?”
“Ugh,” Adrianna said with feigned exasperation. “I don’t know if I prefer the two of you”—she looked at her sister then at him—“fighting like cats and dogs or getting along and talking shop all the time.”
After the whole mage episode, he and Julianna were finally able to put their differences aside and realize they actually worked well together. Now, he was actively helping her in training the new recruits for the New Jersey Lycan Security Team.
“Ugh,” Isabelle groaned. “When does this thing end? I have places to be.”
Darius had only met Isabelle Anderson tonight, so he wasn’t sure what to think of the youngest Anderson. She was pretty, closer to Adrianna and Frankie in looks, but she wore far too much cosmetics and fancy clothing in his opinion. Adrianna described her as spoiled and vapid, but that was due to their father’s indulgence of her every whim. Not that his mate sounded bitter; he knew she loved all her siblings, each in her own way.
“I’m sorry to inconvenience you, Isabelle,” Adrianna said dryly. “I—” Her expression changed when her gaze drifted across the room and her eyes sparkled as they did when she was excited. “Lucas!”
Darius didn’t mind that she left his side temporarily, knowing the bond she shared with her twin was different from theirs. Adrianna embraced her brother and spoke a few words to him before dragging him back to their circle.
“You made it!” Gio exclaimed.
“Of course,” Lucas said. “I wouldn’t miss this for the world.” He gave his sister a smile, then looked at Darius. “Hello, Darius. I’m glad to see you.”
He nodded in deference to Lucas. “I also would not miss this for the world.”
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there when the mage came here. Thank you by the way,” Lucas added. “It seems I’m always thanking you for saving my sister’s life.”
“There is no need for thanks,” he said. “She is my mate and thus I would do anything to keep her safe.”
“You’re looking chipper, Lucas,” Julianna noted. “Glad to see you not brooding so much tonight.”
“Maybe it has something to do with that gorgeous brunette he had dinner with at the restaurant the other night,” Gio quipped.
“Brunette?” Adrianna, Julianna, and Isabelle exclaimed at the same time.
Lucas shot his cousin a murderous look.
“Don’t worry.” Gio put his hands up. “I told you, your secret’s safe with me.”
“It’s not much of a secret if you tell everyone that there is one.” Lucas massaged his temples with his fingers.
“Are you okay, Lucas?” Adrianna asked. “What are you thinking about?”
“That I should have gone to Petite Louve instead,” he retorted, glaring at Gio and earning him a rare laugh from Dominic.
“Tell us about this brunette!” Julianna exclaimed. “Who is she? Is she from New York or another clan?”
“Excuse me.” Frankie walked over to them, interrupting them. “The Lycan High Council has arrived. We’re ready to start.”
“Don’t think you’re getting away with not telling me all about her,” Adrianna whispered to her twin.
Lucas sighed. “I know.”
Darius sensed the other man’s exasperation, so he put a hand on her lower back. “Come, my mate. It’s time.”
Adrianna narrowed her eyes at her brother, then at him. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing.” He steered her away from the group. “I’m eager to get this done.
“What did you tell him?”
“Tell him?”
“Lucas.” She stopped and faced him, then put her hands on her hips. “That night. After the dinner with Alesso. You said something to Lucas before he left to go back and check on his date. What was it?”
He was trying to be discreet about telling Lucas what happened that night he waited for Adrianna outside the restaurant. At that time, he had thought she hated him so much—or that she was infatuated with the Alpha of Rome—that she wasn’t paying attention to him at all. But it seems she had noticed the exchange. “Maybe I will tell you later,” he said.
“Later, I’ll be your Alpha,” she pointed out. “And you will tell me.”
Grabbing her by the waist, he pulled her to him and nuzzled at her neck. “We will see.” He gave the soft skin behind her ear a nip that made her shiver. “You have to promise to be a good girl—Alpha and do as I say when I’ve got you under me.”
“That’s not how it works,” she said in a breathy voice.
He laughed and sunk his teeth into the place where her shoulder met her neck. That had her moaning and the scent of her arousal tickled his nostrils. His cock surged, and he groaned when it brushed up against her hip.
“Ahem.” Grant Anderson was standing in the doorway, his furious green eyes throwing daggers him. “If you lovebirds don’t mind, we’d like to get this started.”
As his excitement deflated, he bowed his head to the Alpha of New York. “Of course, Alpha.” As they passed Adrianna’s father, he was muttering something under his breath about “my baby girl”, “out of wedlock”, and “I hope he has a daughter.” Secretly, he smiled. Hopefully, Grant Anderson’s worries would be put at ease later on when he planned to talk privately to him and show him the velvet box in his pocket.
Adrianna wanted to have the ceremony in the main living room. This is where she had the happiest times of her life growing up, she had said. It was where her family celebrated every major holiday and most occasions. A few nights ago, she had told him about her great-great-aunt Gianna, and that this was where they had her
