Page 66 of New Blood

“Good morning, Parker,” she replied. “I think you can probably stop guarding the room now.”

“Yeah, just wanted to make sure you guys are awake.” He tipped his head in the direction of the door. “Is Jude up?”

“He’s in the shower.”

“Alright then. I’d better catch a couple hours of sleep.” He headed down the hallway.

“Thank you again.”

In her bathrobe, she walked to her room and entered. As she got dressed in fresh clothes, she realized that now that everybody knew about her and Jude, she’d have to move all her clothes and personal items into the master suite. Then somebody else could move into her room, which would help with housing Jude’s men. She would talk to him about it later.

As every morning, she walked into the kitchen to start getting breakfast ready. Priscilla was already there, making hashbrowns, while her brother was filling hot coffee into several thermos carafes.

“Good morning,” Danielle greeted them.

Both looked up, echoing her greeting. She was glad that only Priscilla and Heath were in the kitchen. It gave her a chance to tell them the news in private. She’d always felt close to Priscilla because they were on the same rank within the pack: they were the lowest members, their own wishes rarely considered by the higher-ups in the pack. Until now.

She cleared her throat. “Priscilla, Heath, I have some news. I don’t know how to start…” She searched for the right words.

“You and Jude are mated,” Priscilla said.

Stunned, she stared at her and Heath. “How did you know?”

Priscilla motioned to the kitchen window, which had a good view of the garage. “We ran into Violet earlier when we came in from the cottage.”

Knowing that Priscilla arrived in the main house no later than seven o’clock, she furrowed her forehead. “Violet was up that early?”

“Or rather late, ‘cause she came from the garage,” Heath clarified. “She looked like she was out all night.”

Violet wasn’t one for staying away at night, but maybe what had happened last night had stirred her up, and she’d decided to go out.

“But enough about her,” Priscilla interrupted. “I can’t believe it. You and the alpha.” Priscilla beamed.

“I’ll leave you two to talk,” Heath said and grabbed a tray with coffee, milk, sugar, and jams and left the kitchen with it.

Danielle turned back to Priscilla. “I can hardly believe it myself.”

Priscilla leaned in. “What’ll happen now? You know with Eve and with Flora and the family? Is there gonna be trouble?”

Despite her own qualms when it came to the Gallaghers, Danielle shook her head. She didn’t want Priscilla to worry.

“No. For starters, you will continue living in the cottage with Heath. Nobody can make you share a room with anybody, okay?”

“Thank you!” Priscilla put her arms around her, squeezing her quickly, before stepping back. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to—”

Danielle shook her head, stopping her from apologizing. “Nothing has changed between you and me. We’re still friends.”

And she would need friends, because the next few days would be challenging.

“Now, let’s get breakfast ready for everybody.”

“But you don’t have to do that anymore,” Priscilla protested.

“And let you do all the work by yourself?”

“Priscilla is right.”

At the sound of Violet’s voice, Danielle spun around. Violet entered the kitchen.