Blossom’s nose twitched.
“No, you can’t fool me with that innocent act. I know how your diabolical mind works!”
“He’s lost it,” Wilder said.
Leo and I nodded.
“I am the only one who sees the truth!”
“Of course you are, baby.” I took Blossom from King, keeping her in the crook of my arm as I kissed his cheek. “Let’s go get a slice of cake. That will make you feel better.”
I handed Blossom to Wilder as I led a still-grumbling King to the dessert table.
“I apologized for the ear comment,” he said. “And I made her that castle play area in the cabin.”
I patted his arm. “I know, Daddy. You’re doing great. She’s pranking you because she likes you.”
“You think so?”
It was hard work to suppress my smile. My real answer was that Blossom pranked King because he was so easily flustered, but I wasn’t about to tell him that.
“Absolutely. And why wouldn’t she? You’re the best Daddy I could dream of.”
He wrapped me in a tight hug. “I know you’re bullshitting me.”
I shook my head. “No, you really are the best.”
He snorted a laugh and kissed my forehead. “I love you.”
79
Felix
I trotted through my domain,flower crown perched on my head, enjoying the quiet of Main Street since everyone was still at the Midsummer festival.
I savored the rare moment of peace. Few people understood the true pressures of being the mayor.
The stores were closed, but I still cast my discerning eye over them to ensure nothing was out of place. My tail flicked as I passed the sunshine omega’s bakery. I licked my lips, dreaming of another bánh mì. It was times like these that I wished I had pockets. Maybe I would ask the smiley flower omega to add some to my next outfit.
The sidewalk past Suns Out Bánhs Out was an obstacle course of construction. I pressed my face to the dark glass of the empty shop to check the renovation progress. The interior looked almost complete—the crew had even removed the protective paper from the floor. All that was left was the final touches on the exterior and installing the sign.
A purr strummed through my chest. This summer would be very interesting indeed. There was just one thing left for me to do.
The Beaufort House wasn’t far from Main Street. I’d never met its original inhabitants, but I was certainly familiar with the revolving door of inhabitants who had darkened its doorway these past years.
I slipped inside. It was time to break the curse.
King of Midsummer, curse breaker, matchmaker…the work of a mayor was never done.
My paws silently glided across the floors until I got to the kitchen, where I’d already stored the supplies I’d gotten from Bibi—esfand, or rue seeds, and a metal esfand burner.
Hmm. My apprentice should have been here by now. Maybe her prank was taking longer than expected. The strawberry massacre had been the perfect distraction for me to slip away. Besides, any opportunity to enact psychological warfare against the town’s alphas was worth taking.
Finally, the front door creaked open and my apprentice hopped inside…but she wasn’t alone. I narrowed my eyes at the firefighter alpha.
“Why did you bring me here?” He scanned the space and did a double take when he saw me sitting on the kitchen counter by the stove. “Fuck, no. All I wanted was a quiet day with my pack, and now I have to deal withthis?”
I rolled my eyes. Alphas were so dramatic.
