Lex nodded once and turned back to the table and everyone picked up their utensils and began to eat as the tension eased from the room.

Carter moved around the table and sat at Cade’s left hand and looked down as he filled his plate.

“So, Nina, Rey said you own a flower shop?” Eric asked her smoothly.

Nina liked him for trying to ease the tension for her. “Yes, in Bellevue, as a matter of fact.” She deftly blocked Lex’s attempt to put three rolls on her plate, taking one and passing them on to Cade, who winked at her as he took the basket.

“Her shop is about three miles from the coffee shop,” Lex said and frowned at her when she stabbed his hand with a fork when he tried to put another spoonful of potatoes on her plate.

Nina looked down the table. No less than four people rushed to ask her what she needed.

“Green vegetables? Salad?” Nina looked at the food laid out on the table.

They all looked at her blankly until Tracy laughed. “We’ll have to lay in supplies of green vegetables for you. Wolves aren’t much for salad.”

“Oh my goodness! Let me run to the store,” one of the wolves down at the far end of the table called out.

“No! It’s okay, really.” Nina held her hand up to stay her.

“Are you sure?” Cade asked.

“Of course. Sheesh, I was just looking for some green beans, I didn’t mean to start anything.” She barely held back her snarky comment but she didn’t want to challenge his authority here with his Pack.

Lex kissed her temple. “We’ll be sure to provide them for you next time.”

She smiled at him and looked back to Eric. “So anyway, yes, I own a floral shop. I know Carter runs one coffee shop and Melissa the other, what do you do?”

“Oh, I help with the construction business. I do accounts payable and receivable and the ordering.”

Carter steamed as he watched them all. He smiled and made nice but he couldn’t believe he’d been made to prostrate himself like that before Cade—and over a human! She was pretty hot, though. He’d lay odds she’d be a tiger in the sack. Maybe he’d order the Rogues to subdue her so he could have a bit of quality time with her before he killed her.

That would be win-win for him because the grief, even with the tri-bond, would drag Lex down and he could be killed too, leaving Cade vulnerable. Maybe Carter would be running this Pack six months from now.

After they finished dinner, they got up and moved into the large living room where they mingled and Nina met the other Pack members who were there. It was nice that Tracy and Layla and Sid were there and their other sisters Megan and Tegan were part of the guard. It was a relief to have friendly faces that she knew were in her corner.

Lex kept looking toward the door until Nina finally rolled her eyes and sighed. “Jeez, what is it already? You keep looking at that door and it’s working my last nerve.”

“I need to go deal with something. Pack business. I’m going to get Megan over here before I do though.”

Megan was part of Cade’s guard but she was also being chatted up by a very cute wolf at the other end of the room. Nina put a hand out to stop him. “Oh for heaven’s sake! I’m surrounded by your family, I’ll be fine. I’ll find someone to talk to.” Which was part of their plan anyway.

He looked around and then back at her. “I’ll be back in five minutes. Just don’t leave this room.”

“Okay, Dad. I won’t run with scissors either.”

He tried not to smile and failed. God, she was so totally irreverent. He dropped a kiss on her lips and left the room.

“You’re a lucky girl,” one of the women who’d had a not-so-friendly face on said as she sidled up to Nina. “You hit the jackpot with Lex.”

“Yes, well. I think so.” Nina smiled and resisted cracking on the cow, who was totally asking for it.

“He’s very good in bed.”

Nina smiled. “Yes, I know.”

“This must be so awkward for you, being the only human here and all. Surrounded by people who all know your…man, better than you,” Red said with a pout.

A laugh burst from Nina’s lips. “Not as awkward as it must be for you. Honey, please. If you bent around any harder trying to let me know you f**ked Lex to try and make me feel bad, you’d be a pretzel. Although you’re about as smart as one.”

Red’s eyes narrowed and she moved in to try and menace Nina with her body. “Well! I was just trying to be friendly. It’s not my fault Lex can’t get enough women in his bed. He particularly likes the way I give head. I’m sure that it won’t be a threat to your mate bond when he seeks me out. After all, you’re only human. You can’t possibly give him what he needs.”

Nina didn’t move an inch. “Look, Floozy McSkank, get the f**k out of my face or you’ll find out just how well a human can defend herself,” she said in a low voice.

Suddenly Tracy was at her side and Melissa on the other. “Cindy, you need to apologize for your behavior right now,” Melissa said.

The room got silent again and Nina groaned and rolled her eyes. “It’s fine. Ol’ Floozy here was just about to move along. Right after I told her that if she ever so much as looked at Lex again I’d carve her eyes out with a plastic spoon.”

Cindy’s eyes widened and she took a step back and lowered her eyes. “I apologize.”