Page 67 of Her Second-Hand Mate

“Was she surprised that you were so involved?”

“Unfortunately, yes. I can’t blame her, I never organized any other event with her before.”

Vera frowned. “What about your mating ceremony?”

My mouth tasted absolutely foul.

“I just let her pack organize it, I didn’t want a big thing.”

“What about Penelope’s wishes?”

“I asked her, and she said she was fine with having a small ceremony.”

“I sense a “but” coming?”

I ran a hand through my hair. I needed a haircut.

“I didn’t know then that she was agreeing to everything and saying the right things just to placate me, and I honestly didn’t want to see it. I'm sure you remember how over-the-top my first mating ceremony was, and don’t get me started on Cassie and her mother during the whole planning process. I just didn’t want that hassle, and, as always, Penelope paid for it. I’m such a piece of shit,” I concluded.

The burning feeling in my stomach was a constant companion now. Dr. Ariadne assured me there was nothing wrong with me. Vera stayed quiet.

“Doc?”

“Sorry, I was reminded of someone.”

“Another piece of shit?” I joked, and she smiled.

“Quite the opposite. Someone very determined never to make their mate feel second-best.”

“I wish I’d been that smart.”

“You’re smart now,” she winked and didn’t even care that she’d insulted her Alpha. My pack was seriously testing the limits of what was acceptable.

???

“Old Mrs. Hayworth asked me for my Nana’s beef stew recipe,” Penelope informed me as she was trying to shove one of the presents from the party into the trashcan.

The box was too big to fit so she was using her foot to really get it in there.

“What are you doing?”

“This box got trampled by someone, and the present got ruined.”

“Maybe it can be fixed, let me see.”

“No, it’s ruined, I checked. So, Mrs. Hayworth.”

“Yeah?” there was no logic to this line of questioning. “I told her your stew was amazing.”

“Yeah, she informed me how you raved about it for 10 minutes. I made that stew once, a year ago.”

“I know.”

“You never said you loved it that much back then.”

“I never said many things back then.”

She finished murdering the present and looked at me with suspicion in her eyes.

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