AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My laughter follows me into the closet as his groans fill the bedroom.
Cait will be pleased to know her gag gift to him has brought me so much joy over the years.
Chapter3
ANDIE
Back in Los Angeles…
Ididn’t think I could love Cait more, but I’m pretty sure this is the best news ever. “Foster!” I call out for my mate from the kitchen, hoping he’s still on the first floor of the pack house. “We’re needed in East Texas.”
Before I can put down my phone, He’s in my face, his stormy blue eyes blinking rapidly. “What’s wrong? Did something happen to Dawsyn? If it’s that dragon mate—”
“Easy there, Uncle Killer,” I tease him. “Your niece is fine. Cait’s throwing a Christmas party and we’re going.”
“Christmas?” he groans. “I thought we agreed to stop doing that until we had grandkids.”
Foster grabs a handful of pretzels from the bowl on the counter and heads back toward the living room where he’s set up his puzzle. Yes, my big bad alpha has taken a liking to puzzling. I don’t know why, and I don’t ask. The challenge seems to calm him, and I’m completely okay with that since the pack tends to drive him crazy most days.
“We did, but that doesn’t mean everyone else did,” I say, brushing my pink hair behind my shoulders. “You have today to finish your latest masterpiece. We’re leaving by end of day, as long as our daughter doesn’t have anything going on.”
Aspen seems to have a busier social life than I do, even as the alpha female. Though, I don’t complain too often. She’s stuck around and that’s what I care about most.
Foster mutters words under his breath, but I only catch the last bit. “…without much notice.”
“Quit being a grinch,” I tell him as I sit on the edge of the couch next to him. My arm slides over his shoulders, and I kiss his cheek. “You know you’ll have fun hanging out with Roman and the other guys. You men have a bromance, even if you try to hide it.”
He shrugs my arm off. “Don’t ever use that word again.”
“Broooo-mance?” I tease. “Is my strong, scary alpha too manly to be associated with such a lowly term?”
“Yes,” he grunts out, making me laugh.
“Well, that’s just too bad.” I stand up and take in his puzzle. It’s a nighttime landscape with lots of stars and trees surrounding a shimmering lake at the center. Not too many distinguishing parts, making the challenge even more prominent for him.
“I’m impressed that you’re already done with the lake,” I tell him sincerely. “It’s looking really good.”
His frown deepens as he points to a spot toward the bottom. “Except I’m missing a piece. I’m pretty sure Mack stole it. In fact, I think he does this with every single puzzle, because I magically find the missing one somewhere that it absolutely shouldn’t be just when I’m about to finish.”
Yes, that’s something his beta would do, but little does my mate know…I’m the one who steals from him.
It’s only slightly cruel, and yet, I can’t help myself because ruffling my alpha is something I’ll never tire of.
“I’m sure it will turn up somewhere,” I tell him with a smile. “I’ll pack for you so you can finish here.”
He nods, but I’m not sure he hears me as he puts another piece where it belongs.
Men. Odd creatures they are.
* * *
The universe hates me today.I don’t know what I did wrong lately, but all I want to do is leave for three days with my mate and our daughter, so we can spend time with our closest friends. Yet, it seems everything is going wrong. Stupidly wrong.
“I’m sorry, Mom,” Aspen says breathily through the phone. “I’m not leaving my house for at least two days.”
I look around to make sure her father is nowhere near me. “Are you alone? Do you need me to…find anyone?”
My poor daughter. We didn’t know until she hit puberty if she was a hybrid, wolf, or witch. Beatrix still calls her a hybrid, but I think that’s only because the elder witch wishes for another one of her.
