“Addie was happy for us.” He recalled the blade held at his throat. “Boaz was less thrilled.”
“He’s stepping into the big-brother role. Probably thinks it’s his job to give you a hard time.”
Ares had no idea how right she was, on both counts. “Any idea what’s got Ford in a tizzy?”
The text from him was vague minus the part that specified Midas’s presence was required downstairs.
“I worked last night and today.” She chugged more coffee. “All I know is, I was sent to fetch you.”
“Security?”
“Yep.” She yawned again. “The Knoxville pack is in town for the week, and you know what that means.”
“I forgot about that.” He twisted his lips. “Hadley’s family is here all week too.”
“Your mom expects you both for dinner at least once. She wants to show off her new daughter-in-law.”
Boaz’s offhand remark about his proposal to Addie drifted to the forefront of Midas’s mind.
Hand to his chest, he rubbed his breastbone. “Do you think Hadley expects a proposal?”
Coffee spewed from Ares’s lips and sprayed the walls. “She’s a necromancer, so I would say yes.”
We’re mated nearly popped out of his mouth, but one dark look from her silenced him.
Hadn’t he told Hadley he had made a mistake in expecting her to conform to his customs without taking her beliefs into consideration? Hadn’t he told her, only yesterday, he regretted how their story had begun? Now he was almost, almost fumbling again not twenty-four hours later.
“Mating is hard.” Ares patted him on the back. “Mating outside the pack is better and worse. You get to learn a new person and experience life from a different perspective. But culture shock is real, and no one expects you to upend your beliefs in a day. Just be careful you don’t grip your roots so hard that you rip hers out of the ground.”
As happy as Ares was in her mixed-species marriage, he would be a fool to disregard her advice.
“Thanks.” He exhaled hard. “Though I’m not sure how I’ll pull off a proposal if I can’t manage a simple date night.”
But he would try. For Hadley, he would succeed. The right ring, the right words. Everything. All of it.
“Ouch.” She winced. “I heard about Choco-Loco.”
Eyebrows climbing, he cut her a look. “Did everyone know I was taking Hadley there?”
“Ford lost his ever-loving mind when he heard about the fire, so yeah. The whole break room—anyone on shift, really—knew you were supposed to be there.” Quickly, she clarified, “I didn’t know ahead of time, if that’s what’s worrying you.”
“I didn’t mean to imply I thought a packmate had anything to do with the fire.”
“You broke a lot of hearts when you chose Hadley over every eligible female in the pack, but your mom has made it clear she accepts Hadley as her daughter and that any move against her will result in immediate punishment.”
“I must have missed that memo.”
“It was important the pack hear it from their alpha first.” She cast him a pointed glance. “They’ll want to hear it from their beta too.”
A groan moved through him as his mother’s intentions crystalized in his mind. “A pack potluck.”
That’s what she had dubbed the enormous meetings where the entire pack gathered while she made announcements that affected everyone. Gwyllgi hated meetings, so she shamelessly bribed them with food, dancing, and the occasional raffle basket, depending on the direness of the news.
“That’s my guess.” She grinned. “The next time your mom mentions dinner, be suspicious. Very suspicious. And probably go ahead and write your speech so you can keep it in your pocket at all times.”
They hit the lobby, and worries about how to proceed with Hadley took a backseat to the overwhelming scents of gwyllgi who were not pack. Familiarity with them didn’t stop the low rumbling up the back of his throat. His inner beast felt its territory had been invaded, and the man wasn’t far behind.
“You might want to dial that down,” Ares murmured. “Here comes Claudia.”
The crowd parted to allow the statuesque blonde a direct route to him, and they watched with interest.
“Midas.” She sashayed up to him. “It’s been too long.”
“Claudia.” He forced the barest smile. “Always a pleasure.”
The Knoxville alpha knew better than to lay hands on him, though her fingers curled as if she wished to do just that. She had sticky fingers, no concept of personal space, and Midas usually counted on Ford to keep her entertained. With Ford spending more time with Lisbeth, Midas wasn’t sure who else to palm her off on.
“Your gorgeous hair.” She sucked in a sharp breath. “I can’t believe you cut it.”
That explained her twitchy fingers. “It will grow back.”
“Ford told me the craziest thing when I first arrived.” She bit her bottom lip. “He said you had mated.”
“I have mated.”
The coy amusement slipped off her face and shattered on the floor. “A necromancer, really?”
Hadley was so much more than a necromancer, but that was none of Claudia’s business. “Yes.”
Ford shoved through the gathering to reach Midas, all smiles for Claudia, but the strain already showed on his face. “There you are, darlin’.”
“I came to hear the words from his own mouth.” She pouted. “I can’t believe he’s off the market.”
“He was starting to smell up the place,” Ford teased. “We discounted him and hoped for the best.”
“I would have paid full price.” She lowered her lashes. “I don’t mind if someone else took a bite first.”
The growl in the back of Midas’s throat revved louder, and her lips twitched in a knowing curve.
“I hate to break it to you.” Ford pulled his aww shucks routine. “His mate isn’t interested in a refund.”
Laughing, she touched Ford’s arm in a proprietary manner. “How will I know unless I ask?”
“Hi,” an overly bright voice chirped from beside him. “We haven’t met, but I signed off on your visit.”
The gwyllgi who knew Hadley backed away slowly, except for Ares, who looked desperate for popcorn.
Nostrils flaring, Claudia cocked her head. “I don’t understand.”
“I’m Hadley Whitaker,
