Once upon a time, back before everything changed, I would have tried to be the person the object of my affection sought. At that time, I thought I was alpha and praying to be a beta. If they wanted someone smart, I would have read more. If they wanted someone who could cook, well, I’d take classes. I’d never been my parents, looking at mating as power, but I’d so longed for love, I would have done anything. And the worst part was, I didn’t see it at the time.
I wasn’t going to make that mistake again. From now on, I was who I was—take it or leave it.
“The guys want to know if they should bring anything.” I set my phone down, unsure how to answer them.
“Can the boys cook?”
“Um… I had a very interesting sandwich at the picnic.”
“Interesting does not bode well. Let me try to think of something that will accept their offer and not leave us hungry.” She leaned back in her chair. “Been a long time since I’ve been a part of this courting thing.”
“You think they’re going to ask you for my hand?” My jaw dropped.
She got back up. “It’s so easy to get you going, sweetie.”
“What’s courting?” Maddox asked.
I shot Gram-Gram a glare. “It just means Mommy’s making new friends, sweetie.”
He held up three fingers.
“Yes, Maddox. The three wolves we’ve met.”
Of course he knew who we were talking about. My sweet boy never missed anything.
Chapter Twelve
Heath
James prepared a potato salad. Seth baked an apple cobbler.
I wasn’t allowed to cook anything, so I chose to bring a bouquet instead, which wasn’t easy in this small town. There was no florist, so I settled for flowers from the market.
“They’re beautiful.” Romi took them from me then ducked her head. When she lifted it again, rosy pink filled her cheeks and spread out down her neck. Damn. I wondered if she would blush like that when we took her for the first time. And when we knotted her.
“They wouldn’t let me cook anything,” I informed her.
Snorting, she waved us in. James leaned down and kissed her cheek. That was new.
“It’s okay. Gram-Gram and I have been cooking all afternoon, and someone has been sampling the dishes. If you see a spoonful or two of anything missing…it’s the munchkin’s fault.”
Maddox stomped his foot. “I hungry.”
While she picked up Maddox and settled him into a chair, I took a look around. The cabin was small but, inside, it was fit for a female wolf. There were mini nests all over the place. The chairs. Cushions on the sofa. Blankets draped over the back of everything anyone might sit on. A fireplace. Candles lit. The table set with care.
Romi and Gram-Gram, the woman who owned the cabin and was like a mother to her, they had a home. It reminded me of my own home growing up.
“I’m here. We can eat now.” An older woman came out of the hallway, touching her hands to her hair. “Oh, my. A house full of alphas. Hot ones too.”
“Gram-Gram!” Romi admonished.
“What? They might be yours but I have eyes. Good thing we made all this food too. I’ll bet these boys can eat.”
We helped put the dishes on the table then sat down.
And then no one moved an inch. Maddox was already eating, since he was starving, it seemed, but everyone else was at a standstill.
Gram-Gram took the lead.
