“Why? She’s already pregnant.” He howled with laughter.
“If you hadn’t been wasted on sensory magic, maybe it wouldn’t have happened.”
Virgil gave him an indignant look. “She was at the end of the bar! I couldn’t evenheartheir conversation. I heard something, and when I looked over my shoulder, I saw him slap her. It happened fast, and I couldn’t have gotten there on time. Nobody could—not even Mercy.” Virgil directed his gaze to me and held a sheepish look. “You’re not mad at Virgil, are you?”
“Gracious no. Everyone needs to calm down. He was unspeakably rude, and I hit him first. Maybe I shouldn’t have reacted so impulsively in my condition.”
Lakota leaned against the back of the leather sofa and crossed his arms. “If anyone ever disrespects you, let me know and I’ll do all the slapping for you. How’s that sound?”
“Ooh, my big strong man.” Melody squeezed his biceps and flashed him a playful smile before scurrying behind the sofa.
Lakota shifted, and when Melody realized she was about to be licked to death, she sprinted down the hall, his wolf chasing behind her. After several barks and a loud thump, Melody squealed and erupted in a flurry of laughter.
I surveyed the flower-filled room, still in disbelief that all these roses were for me. Men had bought me flowers, but never the whole store. “What am I supposed to do with a thousand roses?”
“Make potpourri,” Hope suggested. “Or put the petals in your bath.”
Virgil swaggered out of the room. “She’ll need a bigger bathtub. The real question is what’s she going to do with all the vases after the flowers die.” While heading to the stairs, he sang about laying someone down in a bed of roses.
I crossed the room to the window and admired the roses in the morning sunlight. “Sorry I missed breakfast. I’ve had a lot on my mind.”
Hope put a long-stemmed rose back into the vase. “Tak wants you to eat a nourishing breakfast this morning. No more skipping meals. Bear left you something in the refrigerator before he went to work.”
I gazed out the window at the wind chimes. “I’m not sure if that’ll be necessary.”
“Why?” She joined my side, and we watched a Dragonfly’s catering van pull up the drive. “What’s going on? Did I wake up in a Hallmark movie?”
Archer joined us at the window. “What the actual fuck? The gate alarm didn’t go off.” After the van stopped, the men began unloading. “We better keep a close eye on this Atticus fellow. I get that you grew up with him around, Hope, but how well do you really know him? Even Tak doesn’t trust him all the way.”
Hope put her hand on Archer’s shoulder. “Tak wouldn’t be here if not for Atticus recommending this place.”
“Yeah, and maybe he wants something in return for his… generosity. People have a right to date who they want to, but?—”
“Hold on,” I said, interrupting him. “Nobody here is dating. This is just an apology for last night.”
He grinned and shook his head. “If you say so. I need to talk to Lucian about the gate alarm. Looks like it’s on the fritz again.” Archer headed to the back hall. “Can one of you go out back and let Cici know I’ll be a few minutes?”
“Too late.” Melody squeezed between us to peer outside. “She already shifted. We’ll handle this.”
Two men carried large black containers up the steps.
Melody swung the door open. “Hey, guys. What’s up?”
Lakota’s wolf sniffed the air and moved in front of her.
“Courtesy of Mr. Rain,” the first guy replied while warily looking down at Lakota. “Brunch for the Arrowhead pack.”
Melody walked out of view, onto the porch. “Come on in! I never turn down free food.”
Lakota escorted the men to the dining room, Melody following behind them.
After a moment, she dipped back into the room and cheered, “Steak! They brought us prime rib! Call Tak and tell him to hurry home. I don’t think I can wait until dinner.” Melody darted back into the kitchen.
I turned to Hope. “Where exactlyisTak?”
She led me to the sofa, and we sat. “What happened to you last night carries more weight than you realize. Joy, I know you just want to forget about it—I would too. But that man struck a female wolf who belongs to a pack, and Tak won’t let that stand. He went to deliver his punishment; that’s what Packmasters have to do. If he were to let that slide, it would send a clear message to everyone that our alpha doesn’t protect his people. Would you want to join a pack with an alpha like that? He also needs to send a warning to others. You’re pregnant. Maybe that guy didn’t know it, but he shouldn’t have even hit a woman in the first place.”
The caterers bustled out and then returned with more black containers.
