Chapter 429
As the group approached Gideon’s home, they gathered in pairs with Damon and Talia in front, Maddox and Tatiana next, and Tony and Kalina in the back.
“Don’t fight. OK?”, Talia said to Damon to what he looked at her questionably.
She could feel how tense he was. He definitely didn’t want to be here.
Talia gave Damon’s hand a squeeze and smiled. “Thank you for coming with me p>
His expression softened. “I will never leave your side, kitten p>
Damon’s words warmed her heart. Talia knew he meant it and she hoped he will be able to make it come true because the only thing she wanted was for the two of them to be together. Always.
They were a few steps away from the cabin when the door opened, and Gideon emerged. He stood at the door, shirtless, pushing his hair back with his hand and observing six young people with a questioning gaze.
“Shaman Gideon”, Talia greeted him first. “We hope we are not interrupting p>
He frowned. Of course, they were interrupting. Gideon didn’t like Damon, as for the others, he didn’t have much of an opinion. However, why did the big guy with a suitcase glare at him?
Wait! A suitcase?
“I’m not accepting people for a sleepover.”, Gideon said dryly.
Mindy’s head popped from behind Gideon, and she smiled brightly when she saw six familiar faces.
“Max is not here for a sleepover. He brought my stuff.”, Mindy said and squeezed next to Gideon. She recognized her suitcase. “That’s my brother.”, she added in a hushed voice and leaned on Gideon when his arm circled around her waist possessively.
Maddox frowned at the sight of a shirtless Gideon and Mindy who wore only a shirt, acting like they are a loving couple. He told himself that they ARE a loving couple, mates, but just yesterday his sister was bouncing all over the place and now she was stuck to an… older guy, and they definitely smelled like they had sex recently. Probably lots of it. He didn’t want to think about it. Yes, they are werewolves, and it’s normal, but Mindy is his baby sister, damnit!
Maddox had to acknowledge that the cottage was nicely nestled among trees and bushes. It was not a cave, there were no tiny skulls lining the entrance, and it didn’t smell funky, but still… he was not completely at ease.
“Everyone!”, Mindy exclaimed. “This is Gideon, the Shaman of the Dark Howlers pack. My mate p>
Gideon’s eyes flashed and a trace of a smile appeared on his lips. He found it amusing that she introduced him like he was the new face. He lived here for decades! But the pride and happiness radiating from Mindy were tangible and it was contagious.
“Congratulations, to both of you.”, Talia said with a smile, and Kalina, Tatiana, and Tony echoed it. Damon nodded in a ‘what-she-said’ manner, and Maddox stood still like an angry statue.
Mindy beamed at Gideon and waved while introducing people. “I guess you know Alpha Damon and Talia. The big guy with a suitcase is my brother, Alpha Maddox from the Blue River pack. The tall beauty by his side is Tatiana, his mate, and my sister-in-law. And those two are future Alpha Anthony from the Lightclaw pack and his mate Kalina p>
Tony nodded during his introduction and Kalina lifted her hand to wave.
Tatiana stepped forward, with two matching palm-sized boxes in her hand that was extended toward Gideon and Mindy. “Please accept these. It’s a small gift to celebrate your union.” She glanced at Gideon. “I am Tatiana Wilkow p>
Before Gideon could say something, Mindy exclaimed, “You really shouldn’t have p>
“Nonsense. It’s a human custom, and I grew up with them, so… Please accept it, sister-in-law p>
Mindy’s smile nearly reached her ears. This was the first time that Tatiana called her sister-in-law, and Mindy didn’t refuse when Tatiana stuffed boxes in her hands.
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“Waah! You are mated!”, Kalina exploded, unable to control her excitement. She gave Mindy a big hug, ignoring Gideon who was forced to take a step back in order to give them space.
When Kalina let go of Mindy, she started talking, “We should do some group activity. How about swimming? Tennis? Volleyball? Ping pong? We can team up in pairs. It would be fun to go hiking and spend the night outside camping p>
Tatiana waved to get Kalina to stop chattering. “Only a city girl would think about spending a night in the forest as fun. Why do all of your ideas include sweating and getting dirty? How about we go to a spa p>
Kalina made a face. “And why do your activities include pampering? Aren’t you a werewolf? It’s normal to get sweaty and dirty p>
Mindy slipped from between two Wilkow sisters and approached Talia. “I am sorry, Lia. I know that we came here with a mission, and I failed. I saw him and p>
“It’s OK, Mindy. I know you couldn’t help it. I am happy for you p>
Mindy pressed her lips into a line. The guilt was eating her up. “How did the event go p>
Talia paused while thinking about how to respond to this. It was not really good, but it was not a total disaster either. “I believe we got an extension p>
“An extension?”, Mindy asked, obviously needing more information.
“It’s a long story p>
Mindy really wanted to hear that long story, but she realized that they were all standing outside.
“Oh, how rude of me.”, Mindy said and glanced at Gideon. “We can invite them inside, right?” He said that this was her home, but she needed time to adjust to the idea.
Gideon wanted to decline. He didn’t want Damon or that big hostile guy (aka Maddox) in his house. Damon was prone to breaking stuff, and Maddox didn’t look better either.
But when Gideon saw that the twinkle in Mindy’s eyes diminished with every heartbeat he didn’t respond, Gideon let out a long breath and nodded.
Gideon stood at the door as Mindy entered the cottage first with Talia, Tatiana, and Kalina.
Tony gave an apologetic smile to Gideon while passing the threshold, and then Gideon looked at Maddox who stopped one step away from him, holding Mindy’s suitcase and staring Gideon down.
Maddox was a full head taller than Gideon, and his shoulders were wider, but Gideon extruded wisdom and experience that can’t be shaken.
They eyed each other, engaged in a silent staring contest, neither of them willing to back off and look away.
“Max!”, Mindy called with the warning in her voice while making her way toward them.
Mindy saw her girlfriends settling in the sitting area, and when only Tony came in, Mindy assumed that Damon and Maddox stopped to talk to Gideon about something important, but then she saw Maddox staring at Gideon, and she couldn’t allow her silly brother to do something stupid. Mindy loves Maddox to pieces, but he is a hardheaded Alpha, and it wouldn’t be the first time for Maddox to cause unnecessary trouble.
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