Page 65 of Lycans & Lattes

“Like a werewolf version of a quinceañera?” Harlow asked.

“Wow,” I whispered, a soft smile tugging on my lips. “They’d all get a choice, then.”

“All?” Harlow echoed. “How many babies are you planning on having?” Before I could answer, she grabbed Jordyn by the shoulders and jostled her. “We’re going to be aunties!”

“I give it a year,” Jordyn said with a grin while she grabbed my sugar canister and a box of tea from the cupboard.

“I don’t know how many,” I added quickly, getting to my feet and joining them in the kitchen. “This is something I should probably talk to Wyatt about first.” I peered over to where he was lying on the makeshift bed on my living room floor.

“I’ve known the wolf pack all my life. Wyatt has always been the fun uncle to all the pups. Don’t worry, I bet he wants at least two babies,” Jordyn teased. “But with the way he looks at you, I’d bet he’d be willing to have as many as you want.”

I let out a loud, surprised laugh, imagining a future that didn’t seem as hard to reach as it once had. I saw us with kids in tow at the Halloween Festival, grabbing ice cream at Midnight Market, and hosting too-big family holiday dinners every year. . .

But the fantasy soured when I thought about Wyatt’s mother.

What if the relationship was always strained? What if she didn’t love our children? What if . . .

I slammed a fist onto the countertop while the kettle whistled its sympathetic outrage.

“Where are you going?” Harlow asked with surprise as I darted toward the door.

“To Wyatt’s mom’s house. I have a few choice words for her.”

“Hell yeah, you do!” Harlow exclaimed, fist pumping the air. “Go get ‘em!”

“Call me if he wakes up,” I shouted over my shoulder. “I won’t be long.”

I rolled my shoulders back and lifted my chin as I shot out into the night. I’d watched my mate almost die in front of me. I could survive one more dramatic moment.

I dashed across a side street and down the lane, and when I arrived at Sandra’s beautiful house, I burst in without knocking. I made it to the kitchen before anyone could even shoot to their feet.

Eloise flashed me a satisfied smile as I took in the matching looks of surprise on the faces of Wyatt’s mom, aunt, and grandfather. Lulu and a smattering of cousins were present too, all with their eyes trained on the crazed human woman who had barged into their inner sanctum unannounced.

At the sink, Wyatt’s mom threw a dish towel over her shoulder and placed a hand on her hip. “You don’t knock?” She looked to her relatives for backup. “Is this how humans behave?”

“It’s how we behave with stubborn family members, yes,” I countered. “And whether you accept me or not, that’s what I am.”

She huffed. “We shall see.”

Normally, I would’ve let those words knock me back, but right then, all I could think about was Wyatt lying bloodied in my apartment, having nearly died in his effort to protect me from a wolf who wanted to kill me, a wolf who had been a close friend to Wyatt’s own mother.

“I don’t have time for your archaic and outdated ideas. Wyatt is still asleep, and I want to be there when he wakes up.”

“That witch hasn’t woken him yet? What’s taking her so long?”

I knew she wouldn’t be able to resist an update about her son. A mother’s concern bled through her anger.

“Citrine has this handled,” I said before squaring up my shoulders again. If ever there had been training for this moment, it was being the eldest daughter in my family. I’d always been made to feel ashamed of being too harsh, too cold, too bitchy. But those things would come in very handy right now. “When he does wake up, I know it would mean a lot to him to know that he has his mother’s blessing for our marriage.”

The room stilled, and she blinked at me.

I let the silence linger for a beat, unsure if she would say anything, when Eloise caught my eye and circled her hand as if to say, “Keep going.”

“I know I’m not your pack’s first choice for him,” I said and was met with a huff of agreement before I pushed on. I had Sandra speechless for once, and I had to drive my point home. This was my chance to show her what type of partner I was to her son. “But I love him with all of my heart. I love him more fiercely than any wolf could. Because to me, he’s more than just the new pack alpha. I loved him before I knew anything about that. I fell in love with him for who he truly is.”

I pinged between Daniel and Sandra, both tight-lipped and silent.

“I love his kindness and his strength,” I continued. “I love how caring and compassionate he is, but I know the ferocity that resides in his wolf too. He’d do anything for everyone in this room. I love how protective he is of all of us. But I am protective of him too. And I love him enough to be by his side even if the pack never accepts me. I don’t care if I let every single one of you down as long as I don’t let him down. Because he is mine and I am his mate.”