Page 4 of Moonlight and Mischief
“Really? What do they want?”
“I believe it’ll be some sort of apology. Anyway, I’d like you to join in,” Hawthorne rests his hand on my shoulder.
“Okay, I’d be honored.”
“You did good, Jasper. You deserve the credit for making this happen. I know how many messages you had to send to finally convince them to participate.”
“Thank you,” I say, pride surging in me. It feels like I’m finally earning a place here - as long as the Alpha Counsel goes well.
“Let’s head to dinner, I need to get the girls from Marigold,” he says, pulling me from my mental celebration. Still smiling like an idiot, I follow him toward the diner.
Most of the pack is milling about waiting for Heath to arrive. Marigold stands chatting with Slate and Hazel, a toddler balanced on her hip. Her strawberry blonde hair tumbles from a claw clip and cascades down her back in gleaming waves. I love her hair.
“Dahlia,” Hawthorne croons, lifting her from Marigold’s arms. The toddler’s brown hair is barely long enough to be pulled into two curly pigtails atop her head.
She excitedly squeals, “Daddy, dadda!”
“Ready to see what Mama made for dinner?” he says, his voice pitched higher. His mate, Crickett, serves as the pack’s lead chef, and she makes most of the dinners we share together.
“She’s so cute,” I say to Marigold, watching Dahlia bob her little head. She hums in response, rubbing the spot on her arm Dahlia has been sitting against.
“I’m flipping-dipping starving,” Hazel mutters.
Alpha Heath strides across the meadow. His pack members lower their heads in a sign of respect that ripples through the crowd, though conversations continue. He’s an Alpha who is loved and respected, not feared. It’s been enlightening to learn the difference.
True to shifter etiquette, Heath gets his food first. Slate and Hazel follow him through the line. Hawthorne goes next, taking food one-handed while holding Dahlia and coaching Daisy on how much food to put on her own plate.
After those senior leaders, it’s open to anyone.
“Come on.” I usher Marigold in and grab a plate.
Onyx bounds behind us, jostling Marigold. “Tamales!”
“Watch out,” I warn, my hand going to the small of Marigold’s back. She smiles prettily at me. But then Cedar walks in after his brother, and Marigold immediately diverts her attention from me to him. Sighing, I stack two tamales on my plate with a sizable scoop of rice and beans.
We eat at our usual table on the outskirts of the clearing where the trees cluster in as if to swallow us up entirely. Conversation is light, while Hazel reviews her training for the day and Marigold entertains us with her students’ antics. I soak up every second, reveling in the connection andaffection between everyone.
2. Bonfires and Brothers
MARIGOLD
The campfire crackles as we settle on the split log benches and old Adirondack chairs weathered gray. The scent of woodsmoke mingles with the crisp pine air.
Cedar gathers an armful of kindling while Jasper snags the blankets we use during the winter months from the covered porch. Spring is solidly here, but the winter chill still creeps in once the sun sets.
“Feeling cold?” Jasper stands, a blanket draped over his shoulders with one side held out in an offer to share. When he first arrived, looking like a kicked puppy, I sat with him and shared a blanket, and since then it’s been our tradition.
I let out a long sigh. It’s been a day. I broke up two squabbles today and comforted crying children three times. When talking about school, I only share the cute moments, but the truth is most days, it’s draining. As if sensing my tension, Jasper rubs his hand up and down my arm. I can’t help melting into him.
Slate pulls Hazel into his lap in their favorite chair, tucking another blanket around them. She nestles her nose into his neck, placing a kiss across the ring of tiny scars that show they’re a mated pair who have claimed each other.
“Do we have any s’mores tonight?” Slate asks. Hazel has a major sweet tooth, and he’s always looking for ways to spoil her.
“I think the store is out of marshmallows,” Cedar says apologetically. Onyx lets out a dramatic gasp.
“Are you serious?” Hazel pops up. “Do we have any at home, babe?”
Slate shakes his head.
