She couldn’t help the amusement that swept through her. “I could not agree more.”
Frowning, he crossed the room and sat, sniffing. “Please tell me there’s bourbon in there.”
“Sorry, but no.” She sipped again.
“Fine.” Shrugging, he lifted the cup and downed the contents. “Hmm. Fruity.” Then he sat back, placing the cup on the tablecloth and not on the saucer. “I figure the trophy has a say in all of this, somehow. Why don’t we make an agreement?”
Curiosity had her pausing with her cup next to her mouth. “Go on.”
“Agree to mate me, and let’s get it done. Like tonight. Then I’ll bring in my soldiers, and we’ll make this the most successful era for the Slate Pack.” He smiled again, showing twin dimples. “I’ll shower you with jewels and give you as many children as you’d like. You’ll never have to work again.”
She liked working. Plus, that would break the rules, and apparently this pack was all about rules.
He winked. “Just think about it.”
Solomon leaned his head through the doorway. “I’m sorry but everyone would have to agree. All of the challengers as well as the two of you.”
Somebody was eavesdropping.
“I see. It was worth a shot.” Standing, Dax turned and strode out, leaving the faintest scent of musk in his wake. The expensive kind.
Solomon quickly switched out the tea cups again.
Isaac Pembroke entered next, his broad shoulders nearly blocking the doorway. He bowed, formal and restrained. “Ms. Nightsom.”
Actually, her last name was Hodge, but she could understand the confusion. “You can call me Nadia.” She poured his tea. If this all fell apart, maybe she could get a job as a barista somewhere.
“Then you can call me Isaac,” he replied, taking a seat. He didn’t smile, but he did drink the tea. One of his dark eyebrows rose. “What is that? Blueberry?”
“Huckleberry,” she said. “I guess it’s a big deal around here. Thank you for joining me for the tea, and thank you for not claiming the trophy.”
“You’re welcome.” He met her gaze steadily. “No offense, but I would like to have several strong sons, or daughters, to follow me in the Alpha position. I want a legacy.”
She cocked her head. “All right.”
“You’re short. Petite. I’m looking for someone much stronger to be my mate.”
She leaned back, folding her hands in her lap. “thought you declined because you weren’t a chauvinist asshole.”
“That too,” he said reasonably. “I would never force a female. I think this is stupid, and I give you my word. The second I become Alpha of this pack, I will change those laws. They’re absolutely ridiculous.”
“Yes, they are,” she said.
They spoke a while longer, and she tried not to be insulted by the fact that he didn’t think she was good enough, or large enough, to stand beside an Alpha. Eventually, he took his leave.
“As a jackass, he’s not horrible,” she muttered once he was gone. She sat there for a moment longer, the thought settling fully.
Finally, Caidrik walked inside.
He didn’t knock. He simply entered, heat and the faint trace of steam clinging to him despite the warmth of the house. His presence shifted the atmosphere in the room immediately, making it dense and undeniable. His gaze found hers like it always did. He crossed the distance with unhurried confidence before taking the chair across from her as if it had always been his. “Your pack has some dumbass customs.”
She blinked once. “Exactly.”
The agreement landed harder than she expected, leaving her faintly off balance. She felt a small sting she didn’t fully understand and pushed it aside before it could show. “How could you call me a trophy?”
He cocked his head, studying her. “I didn’t call you a trophy. The book did. I was just using the language.”
“Yeah, but you said we were going to mate.”
