Page 16 of Slade's Feisty Mate

Jonathon’s brows rose. “Did you? My, my. Belle Terra is turning out to be a very fortuitous city. And you’re still single, Galen?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, hopefully your dreams will lead you where you need to go. We’re here for a few months.”

Galen glanced at his brothers. “If things haven’t changed with my mating-dreams, I’ll continue to travel. It’s the only way to ensure that the dreams will get better. I think I’m not very close to my truemate, or I would have had a very vivid dream right away.”

“It’s only been one night,” Slade pointed out.

“I know,” Galen said. “I like fighting, and we all took an oath to Jonathon and the NWFA until we found our truemates. I’m still unmated.”

“And your sister?” Jonathon asked, one brow rising slightly. Slade had known that Jonathon was interested in their sister since the moment they met him, but she had always politely turned him down.

“She was never part of the oath. She wants to stay in Belle Terra,” Alaric said.

“Of course. I’m sure she’ll find her truemate in good time, as will you, Galen. In the meantime, we’ll see you Friday night.”

“I’ll be there.”

They shook hands with the alpha wolf and left the hotel. As they got into the SUV, Alaric said, “That went better than I expected. I thought he might beg us to fight once more for him.”

“Me too,” Slade said.

Alaric said, “I want to pick up something to wear to the club tonight. Aubrey said there was a men’s store in town. Do you want me to drop you guys off at the hotel?”

Slade looked down at his worn jeans and tight T-shirt. He hadn’t thought about dressing nicely, but it was his and his mate’s first official date. He’d like to do it right, and that started with dressing the part.

“I’m in. What do people wear to vampire-owned clubs, anyway?”

“Aubrey suggested dress slacks and a dress shirt. She said that male patrons wear everything from expensive suits to jeans, but because we would be on Caleb’s private floor, we should dress nicely.”

“Sounds good,” Slade said.

“You can drop me off. I’ll go tonight, but I’ve got a pair of khakis and a button down I can throw on. I’d rather be training than shopping.”

After dropping off their youngest brother, Slade and Alaric headed to the men’s store. While they looked through the dress clothes, they discussed the hotel’s security and how to ensure that both their mates and their sister were safe while they worked.

Lifting a forest green shirt from the rack, Slade said, “I don’t want Gretchen working once she’s carrying my cub. I want to be the sole supporter of our family.”

“I feel the same way. Aubrey said she’d consider working from our room when she’s pregnant but that she didn’t want to quit entirely. Maybe once she actually is pregnant, she’ll change her mind. She said I’m being a Neanderthal because I want her barefoot and pregnant, chained to the stove in the kitchen.”

Slade chuckled. “She’s a little dramatic, I take it?”

“Just a bit.”

They spent an hour in the store, taking the opportunity to expand their wardrobe for their new jobs as well as for times when they took their mates out for a good time. The hotel security guards wore plain black suits with white dress shirts and black ties. After paying for their clothing, they returned to the hotel. On the first floor of the hotel, next to the gift shop, was a florist.

“Wait a sec. I want to get some flowers for Gretchen,” Slade said, handing his packages to one of the bellhops who hurried toward them when they walked in with their purchases.

“Good idea.”

Slade found a human woman behind the counter. She smiled and said, “The boss is out of town, so I only have whatever is in the cases. I’m not very good at putting arrangements together.”

“It’s okay. I just wanted a bouquet for my mate.”

“Oh, that I can definitely do.” She moved from her stool behind the counter and led them to one of three refrigerated cases containing flower bouquets and arrangements.

“Are you Aubrey’s and Gretchen’s new mates? I heard through the staff grapevine that we had some new people moving in. I’m Jocelyn.” She extended her hand, and both shook it after introducing themselves.