“Meow,” Titan said.
“Well, this is very interesting,” Abercrombie said, clutching his bakery box more tightly. “Does Mrs. Everdin know about this?”
“Not yet,” Mathlin said.
“Ha!” Abercrombie cleared his throat and straightened his shoulders. “Well then. I should get going. People to see, friends to meet. You know.”
“Have a great day,” Mathlin called as Abercrombie all but ran out of the bakery. “I hope he remembers to tell everyone about the brownies.”
Titan snorted. “The brownies? Math, you threw me under the bus!”
“You wanted more publicity for Twin Buns,” Mathlin said cheekily. “It wasn’t a bad impression. I think it’s an investment. Now everyone will show up.”
“Including Everdin.”
“We’re counting on Everdin,” Mathlin said. “She’ll really spread the news everywhere.”
Titan sighed.
“You know I’m right,” Mathlin said.
Another sigh. “You are.”
Fifty minutes later,Mrs. Everdin charged into Twin Buns.
Mathlin grabbed Titan’s phone and posted on the alpha chat—to log the timestamp, because Titan’s alpha friends had a bet going: how long it would take for Everdin to show up.
Titan
Gossip queen is here. Who won?
He had to set down the phone despite the flurry of messages. “Mrs. Everdin!”
She was red-faced, her chest puffed out. “How dare you!”
“What did I do?” Mathlin asked innocently.
“You’re such a troll,” Titan muttered in the kitchen, quietly enough that only Mathlin heard him. The alpha strode out to the service counter, sliding his arm around Mathlin’s waist. “Good morning, Mrs. Everdin. How can we help you?”
“You!” She pointed a quivering finger at Titan. “First you propose—”
It wasn’t a real proposal, but Mathlin blushed anyway. “It was a very elaborate courtship. I felt very courted.”
“You didn’t invite me!” she wailed.
Titan cleared his throat discreetly. “To be fair, I was proposing to Mathlin, Mrs. Everdin. Not you. But you’re invited to our wedding!”
She huffed and ruffled her shawl, slightly appeased. Then she squinted at Titan. “I thought Abercrombie was lying, but... What happened to your face?”
“Meow,” Titan said. “I’m a wolf-cat.”
Without Mathlin’s prompting, he began to paw at his face.
“You’re just as much of a shit-stirrer as I am,” Mathlin whispered under his breath.
Titan’s lips twitched.
Everdin looked scandalized. “How is that possible? You can only be a wolf or a cat! Not both at the same time!”
