“Crispy.”
Pushing some stray hairs off her face, she followed behind into the open kitchen. The apartment was large enough to fit a whole family.
“Mom, Dad, I’d like for you all to meet my woman, Mary,” Zeke said, holding her in front of him.
She saw his father first, and she smiled at him. Next, she saw the beautiful dark haired woman that looked a little like Zeke. Most of his looks came from his father.
“Hi,” she said.
“Sweetheart, it’s a pleasure to finally see you awake,” Helen said, circling the counter. She wore an apron spattered with grease. “When William told me my boy had gotten a mate, I couldn’t believe it.”
The men in the room tried to hush Helen up.
Mate?
“Shut up, boys. She’s going to know sooner rather than later.” Helen stood in front of her. “Now, let me have a proper look at you,” she said, cupping her cheeks and turning her head this way and that.
Mary went through the motions as the woman assessed her as if she was a prized cow. “What do you mean mate?” she asked.
The men tensed while Helen kissed her cheek. “It’s so good to have another woman in the family. For some reason the line seems to breed a lot of men.”
Helen eased her down into a chair at the counter. She noticed four settings with them all facing each other.
Was anyone going to explain the mate comment?
“Mate?” Mary asked again.
“Honey, my son has picked a fine woman in you.” The raised flesh of her neck prickled.
We’re mated. It’s about time.
“I really don’t know what you mean.”
“Mary, honey, haven’t you ever seen the marks of a mated female?” Helen asked.
“No,” Mary said, glancing behind her at Zeke.
Zeke was glaring at his mother. If looks could kill she’d be nervous.
“Helen, that’s enough,” William said, speaking up. “We’re going to have breakfast, and then we’re going to leave them to their business. This is not our pack, and it’s not our business.”
The hairs on the back of Mary’s neck stood on end. The Alpha within William was demanding obedience.
“I know. I know. You don’t have to go all Alpha on me.” Helen tapped his cheek as she passed.
All she wanted to do was get breakfast over with as fast as she could. Picking up her fork, she tensed when she felt Zeke sit beside her.
He made no move to speak to her, which she was thankful for.
During the breakfast Helen spoke of Zeke growing up, the good old days of being kids. She was given a rundown of embarrassing facts for all seasons. Throughout it all Mary relaxed even as she felt aware of Zeke at the same time.
With breakfast finished she started on the dishes as Zeke showed his parents out of the door. Sticking her hands into the soapy water she curved her hand around the blade of the knife. Zeke walked up behind her. When he was close enough to touch, she tugged the knife out of the water and brandished it in front of her. “You’re going to start talking, or else I’m going to fucking hurt you,” she said.