Tessa, Vampire/Werewolf Romance, (Standalone) (Shadow Creek Shifters Book 3) by Maddie Foxx Page B

and guests don’t have kitchen duties. Raphael, on the other hand, can help me out.”
    “Can I sit next to the vampire?” Melody asked.
    “You can if you call me Tessa. You do know it’s supposed to be a secret I’m a vampire, right?”
    “I know. Ms. Katlyn, our teacher, told us that.” She made a motion like she was zipping her lip.
    A snicker came from the opening doorway. Maxwell walked a few feet into the room and asked with interest, “How long have you been a vampire?”
    Palina set a plate of chicken down and she clucked her tongue at the boy. “Are you having dinner with us, Maxwell, or…”
    Maxwell sat across from Tessa. She didn’t smile for the moment. She was more gauging his reaction about sitting that close to an actual vampire.
    “Actually, Maxwell, I’ve been one for about ten months now.”
    “So, where do you live?”
    Raphael and Seth took trips carrying a bowl of salad, scalloped potatoes, and macaroni and cheese, setting them on the table and returning with a bottle of wine. Palina walked in the room and only then did Raphael open the bottle, pouring it into glasses, which were given to Palina, Seth, Raphael and Tessa.
    “Where is our wine?” Melody asked.
    “I must have forgotten,” Seth said. He left, returning with a bottle, which was sparkly on the inside. When it was opened, it smelled very much like sparkling grape juice. It might have been better if Tessa had that instead.
    “This is some spread,” Tessa said.
    “Do you eat real food?” Melody asked.
    “Sure, I do. You’re all too nice to feast on.” She laughed.
    “Good, because Melody would taste very sour,” Maxwell said with a smirk.
    Melody’s eyes narrowed, but Raphael quickly said, “Now, children. How many times have I told you not to argue at the table?”
    Maxwell’s eyes immediately narrowed. “I know, Uncle,” he said, scowling.
    “That would be horrible if your face got stuck like that, Maxwell,” Tessa said. “I’m sure your uncle doesn’t want to hear what I eat or don’t eat. It’s not exactly dinnertime talk.”
    The food was passed around and Tessa opted for a leg, hoping it might at least be a little underdone, but as she sank her teeth into it, no such luck. The flavor of the spices was quite pleasant and tasted as smoky as it smelled. She forced herself to eat at least a small portion of the other food, not wanting to feel too sick in the stomach since she wasn’t all that used to real food anymore.
    After they had finished dinner, Raphael and Seth cleared the table.
    It was nice to see the alpha and his friend helping since Palina was very up in years, but her eyes were brighter than most people she knew half that age.
    “I’m real happy that you’re here, Tessa,” Palina said. “I wasn’t before, but I am now.”
    “Because you thought I was some kind of depraved and blood-thirsty beast?”
    Melody and Maxwell giggled. “That’s what I thought,” Maxwell said. “And you’re prettier than I thought, too.”
    “Thank you, Maxwell.”
    “Do you have any children?”
    “No, but your teacher, Katlyn, is my very best friend and she has two beautiful babies I can spoil.”
    “Are you going to be my uncle’s mate?”
    “Maxwell, that will be enough,” Palina censored the boy.
    “I wasn’t planning to come here to be anyone’s mate. I just wanted to live on my own and have some privacy so I can figure things out.”
    “Oh, I was wondering since you seem like you’d be a good mother.”
    What was this boy hinting at? “Does your mother live here?”
    Raphael froze in his tracks on his way back to the table.
    From the shocked and speechless looks of Palina and Raphael, not to mention the hurt look on Maxwell’s face, Tessa knew she had overstepped herself. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.” She then stood. “I think I’ve overstayed my welcome.”
    “No,” Maxwell began. “They told me my mother left when I was only a baby, but I wonder if that’s the truth. I