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By the time the burgers were finished, they had a huge meal set out with everything from potato salad to a tray of colorful, fresh veggies and dip.
“Rebel and Maverick are going to be pissed they missed out,” Rafe said.
They waited for Demi and her mom to fill their plates first, and then they set into the food. Rhaider hadn’t realized how hungry he was until he smelled the burgers on the grill.
“Yeah, they will be,” Rhaider said.
“We can take them leftovers,” Demi said. “If it wasn’t a meet-and-greet with my parents, we could’ve invited them along.”
“We’d love to meet them too,” Tabitha said.
Rhaider nodded. “I’m sure they’ll be happy to come for a home-cooked meal. We haven’t had one since we left the clan.”
Conversation flowed easily around the table as they ate, discussing the pride and town, the school, and local businesses.
He and Rafe cleared the table for them with Quentin’s help, then carried out a plate of cupcakes for dessert. Rhaider had just set the small plates down on the glass table when the doorbell rang.
“Are you expecting anyone?” Demi asked.
“No,” Quentin said. “Maybe it’s Hemi and Annie.”
“I think they’re out on a date,” Tabitha said. “I texted him to tell him we knew about your mating and that you were coming for dinner, and he said he and Annie had plans.”
“I’ll go see,” Quentin said.
He excused himself from the table and headed into the house. He returned a few moments later with a piece of folded paper in his hands.
His face was white.
“Dad?” Demi asked, lurching to her feet.
Rafe and Rhaider hurried to him, worried that he might pass out.
“He did it,” Quentin said, lifting the paper. “He made contact and it’s not good.”
* * *
Demi took the paper from her dad and read out loud.
“‘This letter serves as warning that your daughter, Pandemonium, aka Demi, has forty-eight hours to appear at 410 Wicker Hollow Lane in Shreeve to take her rightful place as alpha female and mate of Benecio. If Demi does not appear and mate Benecio, the Elk Hills Pride will take it as an act of aggression and bring war to the Kedrick Pride.’”
Demi stared at the neat handwriting, not believing what she’d read. Was it possible? Was Benecio so intent on making her his alpha female that he’d actually start a war between their prides?
Her mouth went salty and her eyes stung. This was monstrously unfair. She’d told Benecio more than once that she had no interest in being his mate. Hemi had told him. And then Duke and her father had told him.
So, now he was trying to force her hand?
Rhaider and Rafe both growled, the sound equally aggressive and possessive.
“This is bullshit, excuse my language,” Rafe said. He took the note from her trembling hand and read it, putting his free arm around her. She leaned into him, holding Rhaider’s hand, grateful for their nearness and comfort.
“Who does that?” Rhaider asked as he took the note from Rafe, looked it over, and then handed it to her parents.
“An asshole,” her mother said.
Demi had rarely heard her mother swear. She was obviously stressed.
“Indeed,” her father said, pulling out his phone. “I’m going to text Duke.” His fingers flew on the screen and then he said, “This is…the most disturbing thing I’ve ever been party to. I had no idea he was so unhinged. A male who cannot and will not take no for an answer is not worthy of being alpha as far as I’m concerned. It’s unconscionable that he would try to blackmail Demi into being his mate.”
