2

“Hello.” I waved to the women and smiled as I slowly made my way from the patio to the kitchen.

“Not so fast.” Cassidy blocked the door, grabbed my hand, and pulled me toward her onto the patio. “Liza, I’d like you to meet Persephone Keller.”

A tall, black-haired woman turned to face me and held out her hand. Her smile was friendly, although cautious, as if she were sizing me up before she offered me a genuine welcome. She wore a sleeveless silk sheath dress with a high collar. Regal. Elegant. Dripping money from her diamond earrings.

I was well aware of who Mrs. Keller was, so I gave a slight curtsey to the alpha’s wife to show my respect, then gently shook her hand. “Wonderful to meet you, Mrs. Keller.”

The Kellers were like royalty in the shifter world, and Persephone Keller was the queen of the south. She was a leader who commanded any room she graced with her presence, and her strong personality intimidated most people. I wasn’t sure why, though. As the wife of the alpha, Persephone Keller was in a position of power that deserved a certain amount of reverence, but the way I saw it, as long as I put my best version out into society, I had no reason to be daunted by her temperament.

She inclined her head slightly but didn’t make eye contact. It was as though she was dismissing me by not acknowledging my presence—a swift reminder of my place in Presley Acres. I didn’t take offense to it, though. In the shifter world, everyone had their place, and I gladly accepted mine.

I turned to Cassidy and widened my eyes. In no world did the help rub elbows with the queen. I couldn’t believe she’d brought me out here in my white clothes, my apron still attached around my neck, to meet Persephone Keller. We’d have to discuss it later. For now, I was heading to my comfort zone and settling in until the event was over. “Well, if you ladies need anything else, I’ll be in the kitchen.”

Cassidy patted my arm before turning to Persephone. “Liza has been with us for years now. She really is a lifesaver in the kitchen.” She chuckled. “I don’t know what I would do without her.”

I eyed Cassidy again, still wondering what she was up to and if I could skip the pleasantries. If it were up to me, I would’ve turned and sprinted to the kitchen like an Olympic runner. I had important work to do, and being in a crowd dressed as I was among all of Cassidy’s high-profile friends made my stomach queasy with nerves.

I couldn’t relate to any of them. As a child, I’d been on the outside, watching from afar. The children from well-off families stuck together through our days as children, then as teenagers and well into adulthood. I had nothing to talk to them about. I was fairly certain they didn’t want to hear about my newest recipes or the moon-shaped burn I’d received from my cast-iron skillet.

Cassidy raised her eyebrows and spoke like this was any other conversation with any other woman in the pack. “The Keller Pack will be hosting the lunar mate ceremony this year, and Persephone was just saying how she needs a caterer for the event.”

Oh. This was business. That made my presence more reasonable.

Persephone finally looked directly at me. For all of her status and nobility, she wasn’t a woman who chose words carefully. She cocked her head to the side, sizing me up.

After a moment, she nodded. “Cassidy speaks very highly of you and your skills. Some of my other friends have mentioned your professionalism, as well. Would you like to cater the event?”

Holy shit.

I clamped my lips together. No way was I going to allow them to flop open in shock in front of the queen of the south. Was this really happening? If I catered the lunar mate ceremony, it would be, by far, the largest event I’d ever been hired to work. I’d catered weddings for many of the pack members, but this would be an event that would bring hundreds of shifters from all over the country, and they would be eating my food. Not only was it a huge undertaking, it was also an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. It went without saying—although I would have to say it—that I was more than willing to take it on.

I wanted to accept gracefully, promise to do a good job, and thank Persephone for the opportunity. This was for my business, and it would elevate me to another level, but instead of managing any of those things, I could only muster a simple sentence: “I’d be honored,” which was also true.

Persephone nodded and smiled as if she’d just won the lottery. “Wonderful.”

I cleared my throat and nodded, too, now back to business. It was time to put my admiration away and do the job I needed to do. “If you have a moment, we can discuss the budget and I can create a couple of mock-up menus for you to review.”

I glanced at Cassidy, who was smiling from ear to ear. Certainly, if it went well, she would take all the credit for recommending me, and if it went badly, she would lament how she’d given me a chance. Either way, she would come out smelling like a rose.

Persephone waved her hand through the air dismissively. “There’s no budget.” She narrowed her eyes as if she couldn’t imagine such a concept as budgeting. It felt a bit as if I’d made my first mistake, but I bounced back with a smile as she continued. “Just put together a quote and I’ll pay whatever.”

Wow. I shouldn’t have been surprised but I was. These people, the ones throwing the mating event, were shifter royalty, and they had a level of wealth I’d never understand.

No budget. I repeated the words again in my head. I was grateful, though. Having an unlimited budget would make my job catering for the ceremony a lot less stressful.

“Okay. I’ll need a couple of days to draw up a contract for you, then I can get to work.” I curtsied again, though I wasn’t sure it was necessary. “Thank you.”

As I turned to leave, I mouthed thank you to Cassidy. She responded with a wink and returned her attention to the multiple guests who were seated around the large brunch table. “All right, ladies. Who’s ready to begin?”

I stumbled into the kitchen, almost unable to believe what had just happened. I’d met Persephone Keller, been offered a job, and in the space of one short encounter, my business had been drastically elevated because, against all odds, Persephone Keller had taken a chance on me.

This was the opportunity of a lifetime, and I planned to make the most of it. I was busy spinning ideas in my head: filet mignon in a creamy mushroom sauce—meat was always a hit with the packs—a brisket seasoned with au jus and the secret blend of herbs and spices that I always used.

By the time I returned to the kitchen, my cheeks ached from the smile I couldn’t have wiped away with foaming soap and a squeegee. But then it occurred to me that Cassidy was a lot sneakier than I’d given her credit for. She’d found a way to ensure that I would have to attend the ceremony I mostly wanted to avoid like the fucking plague.

Of course, I’d be in the kitchen managing my staff, but it would have the distinction of being the first mating ceremony I’d actually attended.