Blood Oath (#3, Mystic Wolves) by Belinda Boring

eating, mumbling about how he didn’t need another
mother. I smiled at him sweetly, before popping a piece of cucumber
from Mason’s plate into my mouth.
    “You can call me your Royal Highness, if you
like. That, or Queen Darcy, Ruler Supreme,” I suggested, enjoying
the moment to tease.
    “How about Empress Bossy Boots? That has a
nice ring to it.” Daniel smirked as he smeared a piece of meat with
sauce, taking a bite.
    “Only if you have a death wish, Brother,”
Mason replied, filling my mouth with a cherry tomato from his salad
before I could answer.
    I narrowed my gaze at him as I bite into the
fruit with my teeth. Bossy boots indeed, I thought and I
shook my head. Daniel knew me so well and I winked at him.
    Feeling the need to move around, I noticed
desserts being brought out, and the resulting grumble in my stomach
had Mason helping me off his lap.
    “Does anyone else want something sweet?”
Straight away I saw nods from them both, and heard the request for
chocolate.
    Kissing Mason on the head, and slapping
Daniel on the arm for being a punk, I zigzagged my way through
everyone and almost sighed at the sight of the table. It was laden
with so many delicious things, my sweet tooth felt like
rejoicing.
    I felt someone touch my elbow, and turning
around, I found myself facing one of Vivien’s friends. “Thank you
so much for everything. We appreciate all the hard work you’ve put
into preparing this.” I grasped hold of her small hand and shook it
slightly. “It means a lot, and I know Mason will want to thank you
personally.”
    The young woman, possibly in her early
twenties, blushed and smiled shyly. “Oh, there’s no need to thank
us. It’s the least we could do to show our respect.” Looking around
at the contented crowd, she added. “My name’s Layla. I actually
came over to ask you something. We had a little accident and were
wondering where you keep your cleaning things. I hate to interrupt,
but I didn’t want anyone to trip and fall.”
    “Oh, no problem. Let me go get you some
supplies. Where will you need them?” I stood on my tiptoes and
strained to see if I could spot the area.
    “Please, no. I’ll take care of it. I don’t
want to pull you away from the meal.” Layla’s forehead wrinkled
into a frown and she looked concerned.
    “It’s no worry. It’ll only take me a few
minutes and it’s easier than me giving you directions.” I touched
her arm, reassuringly. “Honestly, it’s okay. I don’t mind.” After
repeating back where I needed to meet her, I headed into the house.
Hopefully, what I was looking for was where I’d last seen it. It’d
been a long day, and I was anxious to spend more alone time with
Mason.
    Arriving in the laundry, I began looking
around for the dust pan and brush. It was the distinct cough of
someone that pulled my attention back to the present. I glanced up,
startled to find a man a few steps away, a knowing smile on his
face.
    “Can I help you?” I queried, unsure of who he
was. I wasn’t going to assume in knowing all of Mason’s
acquaintances, but there was something about this person I couldn’t
quite put my finger on.
    “Oh, I’m sure you can, Darcy.” I didn’t like
the smug way he looked at me or how he spoke my name as though we
were intimately connected. I took a step backward, attempting to
put some distance between us. I felt reasonably safe with all the
pack members and guests just outside, but I couldn’t deny the way
my wolf had instantly awakened. She sensed danger, and so did
I.
    “If you’re looking for Mason, he’s outside.
Here let me take you to him.” I moved quickly, aiming toward the
door and protection. I miscalculated a step, banging my hip against
the washing machine, and I yelped in surprise. Rubbing my side,
ignoring the pain as it throbbed; I kept my eyes focused on the
stranger. But even doing that, I didn’t see him move until it was
too late.
    His hand lashed out, grabbing hold of mine,
and he