“Ford lost his ever-loving mind when he heard about the fire, so yeah. The whole break room—anyone on shift, really—knew you were supposed to be there.” Quickly, she clarified, “I didn’t know ahead of time, if that’s what’s worrying you.”
“I didn’t mean to imply I thought a packmate had anything to do with the fire.”
“You broke a lot of hearts when you chose Hadley over every eligible female in the pack, but your mom has made it clear she accepts Hadley as her daughter and that any move against her will result in immediate punishment.”
“I must have missed that memo.”
“It was important the pack hear it from their alpha first.” She cast him a pointed glance. “They’ll want to hear it from their beta too.”
A groan moved through him as his mother’s intentions crystalized in his mind. “A pack potluck.”
That’s what she had dubbed the enormous meetings where the entire pack gathered while she made announcements that affected everyone. Gwyllgi hated meetings, so she shamelessly bribed them with food, dancing, and the occasional raffle basket, depending on the direness of the news.
“That’s my guess.” She grinned. “The next time your mom mentions dinner, be suspicious. Very suspicious. And probably go ahead and write your speech so you can keep it in your pocket at all times.”
They hit the lobby, and worries about how to proceed with Hadley took a backseat to the overwhelming scents of gwyllgi who were not pack. Familiarity with them didn’t stop the low rumbling up the back of his throat. His inner beast felt its territory had been invaded, and the man wasn’t far behind.
“You might want to dial that down,” Ares murmured. “Here comes Claudia.”
The crowd parted to allow the statuesque blonde a direct route to him, and they watched with interest.
“Midas.” She sashayed up to him. “It’s been too long.”
“Claudia.” He forced the barest smile. “Always a pleasure.”
The Knoxville alpha knew better than to lay hands on him, though her fingers curled as if she wished to do just that. She had sticky fingers, no concept of personal space, and Midas usually counted on Ford to keep her entertained. With Ford spending more time with Lisbeth, Midas wasn’t sure who else to palm her off on.
“Your gorgeous hair.” She sucked in a sharp breath. “I can’t believe you cut it.”
That explained her twitchy fingers. “It will grow back.”
“Ford told me the craziest thing when I first arrived.” She bit her bottom lip. “He said you had mated.”
“I have mated.”
The coy amusement slipped off her face and shattered on the floor. “A necromancer, really?”
Hadley was so much more than a necromancer, but that was none of Claudia’s business. “Yes.”
Ford shoved through the gathering to reach Midas, all smiles for Claudia, but the strain already showed on his face. “There you are, darlin’.”
“I came to hear the words from his own mouth.” She pouted. “I can’t believe he’s off the market.”
“He was starting to smell up the place,” Ford teased. “We discounted him and hoped for the best.”
“I would have paid full price.” She lowered her lashes. “I don’t mind if someone else took a bite first.”
The growl in the back of Midas’s throat revved louder, and her lips twitched in a knowing curve.
“I hate to break it to you.” Ford pulled his aww shucks routine. “His mate isn’t interested in a refund.”
Laughing, she touched Ford’s arm in a proprietary manner. “How will I know unless I ask?”
“Hi,” an overly bright voice chirped from beside him. “We haven’t met, but I signed off on your visit.”
The gwyllgi who knew Hadley backed away slowly, except for Ares, who looked desperate for popcorn.
Nostrils flaring, Claudia cocked her head. “I don’t understand.”
“I’m Hadley Whitaker, the apprentice to the Potentate of Atlanta.” She smiled, big and bright. “You required permission to enter my city, and I gave it.”
Frown knitting her brow, she continued to stare at Hadley. “Thank you?”
“I would also like to mention, while we’re chatting, that I will never, under any circumstances, grant you the same permission where my mate is concerned.” Hadley took Midas’s hand and unfurled his cramped fingers from the fists he had been making. “I would also really appreciate it if you guys could stop talking about him as if he were produce, let alone a bargain bin find.”
“You’re his mate?” Claudia sucked on her teeth. “Tisdale is wilier than a coyote.”
There was value in allowing Claudia to believe theirs was an arranged mating, and Hadley must have clued in to it too. She didn’t contradict Claudia, just let her make her own assumptions. His mother would cackle over them later, but rumors of negotiating such a match would boost her reputation in the eyes of the Knoxville pack.
“I need a drink.” Claudia grabbed Hadley by the wrist. “Come with me?”
“It depends.” Hadley shot Midas an uncertain glance. “Are you trying to get me alone to murder me so you can claim my mate for yourself?”
The deep belly laugh was too large for Claudia’s thin frame, and it sounded more genuine than she had ever been with him.
“Murder you?” She yanked Hadley to her side. “Girl, I want to learn from you.” Sliding her arm through Hadley’s, she started dragging her away. “You landed the Prince of Atlanta. How did you do it?”
The women left, arm in arm, her pack trailing them, and Midas could guess which bar they would end up visiting. Claudia and her pack were banned from all but three, so it wasn’t hard to divine their options.
Whistling low, Ford wiped a hand over his mouth. “That went better than expected.”
“I’m confused.”
“Women,” Ford said in agreement. “They do that to a man.”
“Claudia sounded ready to give Mom all the credit, but she changed her tune fast.”
“Ah. That’s one mystery I can solve for you.”
Angling his head toward Ford, Midas waited to be enlightened.
“The political alliance aspect would have held water up until Claudia saw you and Hadley together.” Ford smiled. “Hadley’s not possessive of you so much as she’s protective of you. The former makes sense, if your union is a gambit. The latter, not so much. She would only care if she, well, cared.”
“Guys are so cute when they have no idea what they’re talking about,” Ares said from behind them.
Midas realized then exactly who had tipped off Hadley and sent her to his rescue. “What do you mean?”
“Hadley was throwing I will chew off your arm and beat you to death with it if you touch my man vibes.”
“Huh.” Ford rubbed his jaw. “I didn’t get that.”
“You’re used to it.” Ares rolled her eyes. “It’s not like she pulls it out for special occasions. She’s always rocking that vibe when it comes to Midas. She is protective of him, but you’re nuts if you think she’s not possessive of him too.”