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Julie looked exactly like her profile picture suggested: blonde, polished, and utterly feminine in light pink.

Hilary held out her hand. “Sloane.”

I shook it. Her grip was firm, and her gaze remained on mine long enough that I wondered whether alphas could detect lies through skin contact.

Another concern I should have researched.

“It’s good to have you back,” Hilary said.

“Thank you.”

“You’ve been gone a long time,” she added.

“I have.”

“Any plans to stay in the area?” she asked.

Patty stepped in before I could answer. “She just arrived. Give her ten minutes before assigning property.”

Julie hugged me, surrounding me in a cloud of expensive perfume and warmth. “We’re so happy you came. I’ve wanted to thank you in person for helping Byron with his math.”

“He probably didn’t need much help.”

Julie studied the shirt I was holding. “Oh, Patty, that turned out beautifully.”

Patty smirked playfully. “Thank you for recognizing my artistic abilities.”

“I said it was beautiful when you showed me yesterday,” Julie said.

“Yes, but now Sloane likes it, which validates me professionally.”

Patty led me deeper into the hall.

It was bigger on the inside than it looked from outside. The main room had a high, timbered ceiling and a stone fireplace rising nearly two stories. Family photographs covered one wall, showing decades of weddings, reunions, children, graduations, and people standing beside vehicles that probably no longer existed.

Long wooden tables laden with food and decorations filled the room. The commercial kitchen occupied the rear wall, where several people moved between industrial ovens, prep counters, and an enormous refrigerator.

“This place is amazing,” I said.

Patty glanced around. “I forget other families don’t have one.”

“Most families struggle to agree on a restaurant for Thanksgiving,” I pointed out.

A teenage boy approached carrying a stack of plates. Byron. I recognized him immediately from his transformation video, which was an unusual way to know someone’s face.

He looked at me with open curiosity. “Sloane?”

“Yes. Hi, Byron.”

He shifted the plates against his chest. “I confirmed your algebra solution from yesterday.”

“I’m relieved.”

He nodded. “It was efficient.”

“That may be the nicest thing anyone has ever said about my math.”

He frowned as he considered that. “It shouldn’t be.”