chapter 4

Gerri’s eyes narrowed. “Do I look like I’m new at this?” she asked, her tone sharp.

Connor’s blue eyes widened. “No, but…”

“You’ll take my recommendations without question,” Gerri interrupted, her voice firm. “I know exactly who you two need.”

That was why Gerri ran the Paranormal Dating Agency while Theron and Connor managed the Wildwoods Pack. She had an uncanny knack for matchmaking, and they trusted her instincts mostly.

“If you don’t need any input from us, we’re open to whoever you choose,” Theron said, speaking for both of them.

They’d talked it over before. Sharing a woman wasn’t an issue; their Alpha-Omega bond made it feel natural. Though not related by blood, their animal spirits were so intertwined they were practically one soul.

.

Theron, the Alpha, kept the pack in line with strength and authority. Connor, the Omega, was the emotional anchor, absorbing the pack’s pain and frustrations and channeling them into calm unity. Together, they were the Alpha pair. With their mate, they’d form the Alpha triad with a perfect balance.

Dinner done, they moved to the living room, where Gerri finally relented and brought out the cake. Theron didn’t bother hiding his enthusiasm as he dug into a slice. His aunt’s baking was nothing short of magical.

“We should kidnap you and make you live with us, Aunt Gerri,” he teased, his mouth full of rich chocolate.

“Not a chance,” she shot back, settling into her plush sofa with a grin. “I’ve got a business to run. But you two are welcome here anytime.”

Connor glanced at Theron, his expression uneasy. Theron could sense his friend’s lingering doubts about the mate situation. They both knew the pack’s women could make things difficult for an outsider, especially if she wasn’t from the Wildwoods.

“Connor, sweetheart,” Gerri said, leaning forward to pat his knee. “Stop worrying. The right woman will come along.” She turned to Theron, her gaze piercing. “But you both need to trust me. This won’t be as simple as you think. Finding your mate isn’t like snapping my fingers.”

Theron’s wolf stirred, uneasy at the idea of relying on a dating service. Another dead end in their search for a mate would sting. “We get it,” he said, his voice steady despite his doubts.

“Good.” Gerri gave a sharp nod. “Be ready for a date soon. It might be unconventional, but I have a feeling it’ll work out.”

Theron stared at his half-eaten cake, his appetite fading. Finding a mate was always going to be a challenge, but he hadn’t realized how steep it would be. When his parents and their third died in a forest fire, he hadn’t fully grasped the weight of leading an Alpha triad.

All he knew was that his parents had expected him to step up, and he’d do whatever it took to hold the pack together even if it meant looking beyond their ranks for their missing piece.

****

Tally had already slipped into her cozy pajamas when her phone buzzed with a text from Gerri, inviting her over for cake. The sweet, buttery aroma of Gerri’s baking had been wafting into her apartment all evening, sparking a craving she couldn’t ignore.

She didn’t even need to knock Gerri flung the door open before she reached it. “Hi, Mrs. Wilder,” Tally said, stepping inside.

Gerri rolled her eyes, ushering her in. “I’ve told you, ‘Mrs. Wilder’ makes me sound ancient, and I’m far from it.”

Tally grinned at the older woman’s mock pout and sank into one of Gerri’s elegant beige sofas. A slice of cake sat waiting on the coffee table, paired with a steaming cup of tea.

“Thanks, Gerri,” Tally said, not bothering to worry about late-night calories. Stress had her wound tight, and she was mostly at peace with her curves except when men like the two in the elevator stared at her like she was a five-course meal.

Their intense gazes had left her questioning her self-image, wondering if she’d missed something about herself. Men didn’t usually flash her those kinds of smiles.

“You’re welcome, dear,” Gerri said, settling across from her and picking up a notepad from the table. “Now, about that text you sent…”

Tally winced. “The one where I begged for help so I don’t look like a total failure in front of my family?”

Gerri’s lips quivered, then bloomed into a warm smile. “You’ll never look like a failure, Tally. Not with me in your corner.”

Tally’s thoughts drifted to her ex and her family. They were all so tight-knit, leaving her feeling like an outsider. Only Nita and her grandmother had ever truly had her back.

Paul had a gift for charming everyone, spinning lies that painted her as the one who’d ruined their marriage. For a while, she’d fallen for his act too until the rose-colored glasses shattered.

“So, did you come up with anything?” Tally asked, her nerves making her hand tremble as she reached for her tea. She hated feeling so uncertain. Skipping the wedding wasn’t an option Paul had already isolated her from the family, making it seem like she was the problem.

If she didn’t show up, it would only confirm their assumptions. Screw that. She had nothing to hide, and she’d be damned if she let them push her out. If she skipped the event, it would be her choice, not theirs.

“I have,” Gerri said, studying her for a long moment. “But first, a question.” She glanced at her notepad. “Have you ever considered a ménage?”

Tally choked on her tea, coughing as Gerri calmly handed her a napkin, unfazed by her reaction.

“Excuse me?” Tally sputtered, wiping her mouth.

Gerri’s expression softened with concern. “You do know what a ménage is, don’t you?”

“Yes, I know what it is,” Tally said, her cheeks burning. “And no, I’ve never had one.”