Chapter 31
“I hope we’re not late,” I told Salem when he pulled into the parking lot.
A few potential customers were waiting by their cars, which took me by surprise since the second Moonglow store wasn’t set to officially open its doors for another four hours.
We had plans.
Mel emerged from the store, waved excitedly, and ran to the car. She yanked opened the back door before Salem turned off the ignition.
I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.
“What was that for?” he asked.
“Helping me with the cake.”
He chuckled. “I helped watch you decorate it.”
Melody poked her head inside the car. “Oh my God, this is gorgeous!”
I stepped out and looked down at the long sheet cake. “Bear made it, but it took longer than I thought to ice it.”
The store opening was a big event. It wouldn’t be the real moneymaker of the two locations, but it would help elevate this community into something more than a place to go drinking.
But the cake wasn’t to celebrate the store. Tak was making a surprise announcement that everyone in the pack knew about except one person.
Colorful balloons danced in the light breeze outside the boutique.
We hadn’t posted any signs to announce the grand opening because word spread fast. There was no telling how many would show up, but Mel and Hope wanted to open the doors at one thirty, which would give us time to prepare and have an early lunch inside.
Salem helped her carry the cake while I held open the front door.
Hope smiled at us from the back counter. “I thought I would be less nervous the second time around.”
Melody spoke while keeping her eyes on the cake. “You worry more than anyone I know.”
“Guilty as charged. Be careful of the rack.”
Melody and Salem navigated around a clothing rack as they circumvented the counter.
I stopped to admire the round racks of clothes, the designer shoes along the wall, pretty dresses hanging from racks on another wall, a display of purses near the front, and a jewelry counter in the back to showcase Hope’s jewelry—both the affordable and insanely expensive pieces.
Melody even designed workout attire, and with each purchase, she planned to include a business card for Robyn’s yoga classes.
Archer didn’t want his card going out to everyone since he primarily worked with the disabled, so Robyn installed a bulletin board where they could promote him whenever he needed new clients.
It would also give other people in town the opportunity to promote their own businesses.
Because of other responsibilities, Melody and Hope couldn’t manage the store by themselves. Most of us volunteered to rotate our schedules and help out. The store hours weren’t unreasonably long, and they were hoping at some point to find a full-time employee.
One of my colorful glass pieces hung in the front window. I had already booked two major projects after a few of Robyn’s clients saw our window.
Weaving around the counter, I followed Melody and Salem down the back hall and into the wide break room. They had designed it that way in case the pack wanted to gather before or after work for a meal. A long table ran left to right, and someone had hung streamers from the ceiling panels and walls.
Mercy leaned over the cake. “Holy mackerel! That’s the purtiest cake I’ve ever seen.”
Bear nodded in agreement.
They were being super nice since I wasn’t a master cake decorator by any means. Bear made the cake from scratch early before dawn, but he didn’t have time to decorate it with everything going on. He had to drive the smoker up to the store and get the food ready for the grand opening.
I had mixed together different bowls of icing colors and worked tirelessly to create something abstract and colorful. I’d decorated smaller cakes for my parents, but when I started working on this one, I realized I was never going to be a professional baker.
Mercy’s blue eyes sparkled as she came to give me a big hug. “I’m so glad to have another girlfriend in the pack.” When she pulled back, one of her clip-on earrings fell off. “Dang it!”
While she squatted on the floor to grab it, Lucian strode by with a long knife in his hand.
“Don’t cut it yet!” Robyn snapped at him.
“Someone needs to measure out the slices to make it fair,” he said. “People always complain someone else got a bigger piece.”
She took the knife from him and set it on the table. “The complaint department is closed today. If you hack it up, you’ll ruin the surprise.”
Mercy nudged me. “Did I ever tell you about a cake I made for Bear?” She laughed and covered her eyes.
“The poor man. I baked it in one of those Bundt pans so I could somehow shape it into a wolf. They were as flat as a pancake, and I made separate pieces that were supposed to be legs. When I slathered on brown icing, it looked like a giant turd. Even worse, I used red velvet cake, so when it was all put together, it looked like we were hacking into a dead animal. Can’t make it up! ”
“Well, I’m never doing that again. It’s too much stress, and the colors are melting together.”
“Tell me about it. I had problems with the icing peeling off the cake every time I pulled the knife away.”
Joy placed baby Violet in the playpen with Jasper before grabbing a stack of paper plates.
The toddlers had a few toys in there to keep them occupied.
When Violet accidentally bopped herself in the head with a plastic toy, she immediately started crying.
Everyone glanced back to see what had happened, but Jasper was already on the move, pulling himself along the edge of the playpen.
He sat next to her and put his arms around her, which made her stop crying.
Tak puffed out his chest and smiled proudly. I had a feeling he took it as a sign that Jasper would be a compassionate alpha who cared for his packmates. The instinct to protect Violet seemed innate. He was even careful with her wolf pup and never pulled her tail or ears.
Atticus branched away from the refrigerator and cocked his head. “They’re here.”
“Shhh.”
Tak smiled at me. “I guess we’re on. Hope you brushed up on your acting skills.” He touched the massive silver-and-turquoise necklace around his neck. He said he only ever wore it on special occasions.
This qualified.
I walked behind him to the front of the shop.
Krys’s motorcycle was already parked in front of the store, and he was setting the kickstand.
Cleo took off her helmet and handed it to him.
Unlike Mercy, who wore a helmet religiously, Krys rarely did.
But with the kids, safety came first. When he noticed us, he did the cool head nod all bikers did.
Krys opened the door and slid his dark shades over his head. “What’s up?” he asked, as if he didn’t already know.
Tak folded his arms and stared down at Cleo, who was checking out the sneaker display. “I need to speak to you.” When she didn’t respond, he said, “Cleo,” in an assertive tone.
She jumped and looked up at the giant. “Me?”
“Yes, you. Come with me.”
She walked beside Krys as we headed to the back hall. Instead of going into the break room, he stopped and faced her.
Eden filled the doorway to block it and held a poker face.
Tak frowned. “You’ve been living in my house for a long time.”
She worried her lip and tucked her hands in the pockets of her black hoodie.
“My home is meant for family,” he went on. “It’s not a hotel. I’ve spent a long time looking for your family. There were some hopeful leads, but they led to a dead end. Do you know what I’m saying?”
She lowered her head. “Yeah. That I have to go.”
Tak crouched in front of her. “You’re part of my pack now.”
“Huh?”
“Because you’re a child, you can’t choose to accept an invitation. You’re not old enough to make those choices. But if you feel unsafe in my home for any reason, now is the time to tell me. Is there anyone who makes you feel unsafe? Is there any reason you wouldn’t want to live in my home forever?”
Tears glittered in her pale brown eyes. “No. I like everyone.”
He chuckled softly. “And they like you too. My packmates made promises upon joining, but with you, I’m the one who will make promises.
As your Packmaster, I vow to provide for and protect you.
I promise you’ll always have my love and respect.
But if I locate your family, I won’t hide that from you.
You’ve stayed with us for a long time because I thought you would be better off with family, but then I realized we can be the family you don’t have. We love you.”
When she raised her arms and covered her mouth with her hands, the sleeves of her long hoodie were pulled over her fingers so all I could see were her big eyes and fragile gaze.
“Every child deserves a home. Not just for a few years until you’re old enough, but forever. This will always be your home, Cleo. Even if you find your family, even if you grow up and leave, you’ll always have a place at my table.” He held his fist over his heart. “My word is my bond.”
“But… But what if I’m not a Shifter? What if I’m not a wolf?”
He took one of her hands and held it. “You’re a person first. Even if you were human, you’d still be a packmate.
You already know we’re not all wolves or even Shifters.
I’m learning late in life that everyone’s uniqueness brings value to our family.
We’re different but equal. You’ll need an education, and as a child of this pack, you’ll learn everyone’s traditions.
It also wouldn’t hurt to pick up a second language…
or five,” he added with a tight grin. “You need to meet everyone’s animal so they know you’re pack now. ”
She smiled wide. “Can I meet the tiger first?”
Eden chuckled. After removing a few bracelets, she handed them to someone before shifting.
Tak shot to his feet. “I didn’t mean now!”
Eden’s tiger growled and lumbered forward.
I backed up. Even though my wolf and I got along with her animal, her size was still intimidating.