Page 35 of Lycans & Lattes

“My and Willow’s privacy isn’t news for the pack,” Wyatt snapped, bringing me back to the matter at hand.

“She needs to know what she’s getting into, though,” Lulu piped up. “Being a blended family in this town isn’t always easy.”

Lulu had many of the same features as her cousins. Their eyes and brows all had a similar shape and weight, but Lulu was part nymph on her father’s side, which gave her an ethereal beauty that was hard to ignore. And I knew for a fact that Edie having a kid with a nymph had been the talk of the pack back in the day. At the very least, I could count on Edie and Lulu understanding how I was feeling right now.

Gregory cleared his throat from the end of the table, then spoke to Wyatt as if I weren’t sitting right there. “I’ve stood at your back all these years, hoping that you’d come to your senses.”

Everyone but Aisling looked at Wyatt for a response. I gave him a short nod and hoped his wolfy connection to my emotions was still there under all his simmering rage.

And maybe it was because his shoulders lowered a smidge.

“And what senses would those be?” Wyatt asked, lethal daring in his words.

Gregory met his future alpha’s gaze head-on. “This pack needs a strong wolf queen. Will she even whelp heirs for you? Our generation will be the last if you don’t choose your wife carefully.”

Daniel pounded his meaty palm on the table in support of his best friend’s proclamation. “That’s right.”

In that moment, I wanted to punch Gregory in the mouth until his lips could no longer form the word “whelp.” Suddenly, I didn’t want to be the calm, reasonable one anymore. If they wanted their alpha to have a queen, then I’d give them one.

Wyatt turned to his grandfather, his whole demeanor shifting. “Willow is the strongest woman I have ever met, and if you’re going to⁠—”

“My sister’s dating a powerful witch, and even without the coven’s protection, we’re pretty good at holding our own,” I cut in as I carved a juicy chunk out of my steak. “And I know there are some who think they can run me out of town, but I’m not going anywhere.” I took a bite and grinned at Sandra. “Delicious.”

Eloise snickered, lifting her glass of wine and tapping it to mine. “She’s got you there,” she said before finishing her drink.

“We don’t fraternize with the witches,” Aisling said, breaking her silence.

“Maybe you should start,” I shot back, anger rising in my chest. “Jordyn has never been anything but kind to Wyatt and me.”

Daniel snarled at me. “Wolves are meant for the moon. Humans for the sun. It has always been that way. How would you manage such a clash of nature?”

I shrugged. “I’m naturally a night owl. I think I can manage a schedule shift. Perhaps the Witch’s Brew will change its opening hours.”

Sandra’s fork clattered onto her plate. “You care more about your café than my son, hmm? Don’t you want him to live a good life?” Sandra asked, finally letting her claws out. “You’re trying to pull this pack apart.”

“Sandy,” Edie admonished. “This is not your decision to make.”

Sandra didn’t budge. Instead, she refocused on Wyatt. “Aisling is the perfect age. She is smart, strong, beautiful, and a proper choice for a wife and queen. And your match would then make Liam the perfect partner for Lulu. You need to think about the well-being of everyone, not just yourself. That’s what it means to be pack alpha, Wyatt.”

Liam and Aisling shrank into their chairs. As far as I was aware, Liam had no interest in women. In fact, rumor had it that he and Dean, Billy’s nephew, had a little fling going on.

Wyatt narrowed his eyes at his mother and grandfather. “If the title already belongs to me, as you say, then it shouldn’t be so difficult to earn it.”

A chill ran up my spine, and I could tell that everyone at the table understood the line had been drawn.

Gregory sat back in his seat, silently claiming defeat, though he looked as if it pained him to bite his tongue.

Sandra, on the other hand, took Gregory’s action as a weak link in the defense she’d assembled. “This is unacceptable. And I won’t have it.”

“You don’t have to,” I said, patting my lips before standing. “I don’t think I’ll stay for dessert. But thank you for this interesting experience.”

When Wyatt moved to stand, I held out a hand and gestured for him to stay while the rest of the table watched on.

“I’m fine. Stay and eat with your family. We’ll talk tonight.” I rounded the table and headed toward the door, but not before stopping to give Sandra one last taste of her own medicine. “Not that you see it as my business, but the only person pulling your pack apart right now is you.”

“Ooh.” Edie laughed, nudging her daughter’s arm. “I knew I liked her.”

Sandra glared at Wyatt. “You’re going to let her say that to me?” she fumed as I headed to the front door with my head held high.