“What?” Mom’s voice was sharp.
“It doesn’t really mean anything. Fate just kind of tried to play matchmaker. I guess that happens to werewolves sometimes.”
“That’sinsane, Bloom,” Mouse protested.
“You can’t be mates with the Alpha,” my mom argued.
“He can’t just bite you and force you to be his,” my dad put in. “He’s awerewolf.”
“We’re not going to be together. The connection isn’t a big deal.” I tried to make myself believe it too.
It didn’t quite work.
“Did he let you leave on your own, or did he go home with you?” Whimsy asked.
“He let me leave.”
“That’s good,” Mouse offered.
“Yeah. I really don’t think he’s interested in me. It’s just some kind of fate-driven connection.”
“Likesoulmates?” Whimsy screeched.
“Dear Lord,” my mom muttered. “I knew we should’ve mated you off to Velour Valenti years ago.”
“I have told you a dozen times, I am not interested in Velour. Or any of the other vampires you keep planning those ridiculous dates with, for the record. It’snotsneaky for you to say you’ll meet me for lunch and send one of the eligible bachelors instead.”
“You have four whole options, Bloom! What more do you want? Unmated vampires aren’t safe!” My mom protested.
“All four of them are assholes, and I’m fine.”
“At least they’re not werewolves!”
“I amnottrying to mate with a werewolf. We’re just… fated.”
“I don’t think that’s better than trying to marry him,” my dad said.
“Being soulmates with him is probably the only reason the Alpha Pack let me live,” I pointed out.
“Probably. Rhone Longfang killed Pepper Valenti the first time they met, less than six months ago,” Mouse agreed.
“She fed on a human man without the guy’s permission and nearly killed him, so unlike Bloom, shediddeserve it,” my mom argued. “And with a name like Pepper, I’m not surprised.”
I was not discussing the ridiculousness of vampire naming traditions with them, or the superstition surrounding it.
“What are you going to do now?” Whimsy asked.
“The Alpha offered me a bunch of money to clean up their company’s paperwork, so I’m staying in Vast for a few more months while I make a plan about where to move and try to find another job.”
“We’ll move cities with you if you have to, of course,” my mom said. “But you should try living on the south side first. No one would expect you to go from a hoity-toity investment firm in the business sector to a small family business out there.”
“I’ll look into it. I’m almost home, so I need to go.”
“Well, we’re glad you’re still alive and kicking,” Whimsy said.
“We are. You’ll be at the gathering tonight, and at dinner tomorrow, right?” Dad checked.
“Unless the Alpha changes his mind about not killing me.”
