She shrugs again, watching my expression as she pours herself more wine. “Whatever they want. I mean, the women who’ve settled on the clan with their mates have started getting pregnant, and they’re enjoying the isolation with their mates. But they don’t have to make that their identity.”
She takes a sip before continuing, “Your clan will become your community. You’ll have a woman in the clan that becomes the clan mother—she mostly takes over the child rearing. You’ll have a Luna. You’ll have to answer to her as well as the Alpha. And some women from other packs, prides, and clans work traditional jobs.”
“Traditional jobs?” I echo.
Kade laughs. “Yes. We have teachers, nurses, spa staff, retail clerks, and more.”
“Oh...” I say, feeling a bit relieved.
She rolls her eyes. “I swear you humans make so many assumptions about Wintermoon. It’s not a perfect place, but we work hard to make it our home.”
My face softens. “Sorry.”
She waves her hand dismissively. “Don’t worry about it. But don’t freak out about the giant spiders that sort of pop up on the land. They’re like sweet giant puppies.”
My mouth falls open. “What?”
Jabari approaches, holding three plates loaded with food. “Dinner is ready,” he announces, shooting Kade a warning glare.
“Yay, this smells good,” she says innocently, taking her plate. “Let’s go into the bar and eat.”
He glares at her but follows as I grab the bottle of wine, knowing I’m going to need more of it.
Kade leads us into the bar, which is starting to fill with passengers. She slides into a booth, and I hesitate, wanting to sit at the edge so I could make a quick escape if needed. But with a resigned sigh, I slide in after her.
Jabari sets my plate down and joins us, effectively caging me between them. He watches expectantly as I take my fork and stab it into the golden-brown macaroni and cheese.
The first bite is delicious—creamy, perfectly seasoned, with just the right amount of crunch from the baked top. The pasta is tender, the cheese sauce rich and complex.
“This is delicious,” I tell him, genuinely impressed. “The texture is perfect—creamy inside, crispy on top. And the seasoning... did you use nutmeg in this?”
He nods, beaming with pride as he starts eating as well.
The bartender walks over with a pitcher of water, placing it in front of him who nods in thanks.
“How do you get around on Wintermoon?” I ask between bites. “Is there a market? Do you drive?”
She laughs at that, nearly choking on her food.
“Yes, there’s a market,” she says, “and no, Jabari doesn’t drive.”
I frown. “Then what do you use for transportation?”
“The old-fashioned way. Wagons and carriages,” she replies with obvious amusement.
“Oh hell no,” I blurt out.
Jabari growls and grunts at Kade, who laughs at him teasingly.
“I told you these modern women aren’t playing with you shifters about that shit,” she says. “You have two pickup trucks in the clan. The women mostly use them, but some of the bear shifters in the clan are coming around. Silas, the alpha, has learned how to drive. Jewel, his mate and your future Luna, is pregnant. He’ll have to take her to Wintermoon Medical routinely for her prenatal appointments since she’s a high-risk pregnancy.”
“High risk? And you have a medical center?” I ask, surprised.
Kade rolls her eyes again. “I’m sure Jabari hasn’t filled you in on all of that, but almost all bear shifter pregnancies are high risk. Bear shifters are huge, including the cubs, and it takes a toll on a human woman’s body. That’s why you’ll be lucky if you have two cubs. Three or more is a miracle. I’ve only seen four once, and that’s Axel Clan, Jabari’s cousins.”
I take another deep sip of my wine, trying to process all this information. “Oh...”
Suddenly, I spot India and Kendrick approaching our table. India looks stunning in a sexy purple dress that perfectly complements Kendrick’s tailored suit. Her makeup is flawless, her braids pinned up in an elegant style, and she’s walking confidently in heels that make her legs look a mile long.
