AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She grinned and caressed the rose. “Thank you. It’s an heirloom.”
That explained it. My grandmother had given me a hideous ring, and it was the only thing I had of hers, so I wore it sometimes. Right now, it was locked up with the rest of my stuff at the Colorado house.
I leaned forward across the table. “Saoirse, tell me all the gossip. What do I need to know?” Maybe she’d spill what was going on in the pack. Stranger things had happened.
A plate of food appeared in front of me, and I turned to see a nice-looking Were with an apron. Streaks of gray ran through her hair, which was an unusual sight in the pack. “Thank you,” I said, and her eyes went wide as she spun around.
What was that about? I motioned toward the quickly retreating lady.
Maybe because you grinned at Vivian the same way after you broke her nose.
I nodded. I came off as crazypants, but at least I made an entrance.
That you did. Donovan gave a little chuckle.
Ignoring the stares, I checked out my plate. There was a giant meat pie, mashed potatoes with gravy, chips—also known as French fries—and peas with mint, which I wouldn’t be eating. Mint belonged in toothpaste, gum, and very, very selective desserts. But not with peas. Another small dish held fruit and a crusty roll. A mug was placed in front of me. The scent told me it was jasmine tea. The only tea I’d actually drink.
“This looks amazing.” I grabbed a fork and tucked in, but everyone was still staring at me. What was the deal? Was I supposed to say grace or something?
Donovan laughed and shook his head. I think they’re just now realizing what kind of mates we are.
“Ooooh,” I said aloud. “You’re probably right.” It used to bug me so much when Tessa and Dastien talked to themselves. Half of me was jealous, and the other half felt like they were being rude, having a secret conversation while I was sitting right there. It wasn’t my intention to do the same, but now that I had Donovan, it felt natural. Easy. But it was still rude. “I’m sorry. It’s habit, but I just asked why the nice lady with the food seemed shocked by my thanks.”
“And why did you laugh?” Saoirse asked Donovan.
“She wanted to know why everyone was staring at her. She asked if she should’ve said grace or something.”
A few chuckles came from down the table.
I shrugged. “Hey, I didn’t know. Maybe you’re a more formal
pack.”
“Not in that way. Although we’ve a fair share of Catholics in our midst. But you know how Weres can be,” Saoirse said.
“I do.” Weres saw all kinds of supernatural stuff, and that usually had one of two results. Either they hunkered down in their religion of choice, or they called all religion crap.
“You haven’t completed your bond, but you can speak to her in your mind?” A guy a few seats down said. “A good number of us have mated fully and cannot do that. I’m not liking it. Not at all. Vivian said your mate was cursed and can’t shift. And last night she didn’t shift. Sounds like witchcraft to me.”
From his first sentence alone, I knew this guy and I were not going to be friends. Add in the fact that he was believing to whatever Vivian was spreading about me, and he was officially on my list of suspects. Sure, the curse was real, but I wasn’t cursed anymore. It shouldn’t even be a thing.
“Cursed?” Another male voice chimed in. “You’d mate a cursed one? Bring her among us?” And now that guy was on my list, too.
“You’ve been mated to Vivian for years. How can you do this to her?” The lady in the red shirt now had a place on my list.
“Vivian’s stood by your side for decades, and you’d throw her off for this brasser?”
Okay. Everyone in the fucking room was on my list, except Saoirse, Ian, and Donovan. I was doing a terrible job of narrowing down suspects.
But I had one question. Brasser? I asked Donovan.
Whore. His tone was less than pleased. He let out a rumble. “Did any of you ever attend my mating ceremony?”
There was silence.
“Did I ever say I was mated to Vivian?”
Silence.
