The two shook hands, and Luther left. Mack moved to the stove and lifted the lid from the stock pot, stirring his homemade spaghetti sauce. He tasted it, adjusted the seasonings, and put the lid back on it. Then he set a pot of water to boil for the pasta. Kross and Kayne were bringing Heaven to the house for dinner, and it would be the first time he was able to share the news of his sons being named alphas. He knew it would be a big surprise, but it was the right choice.
It wasn’t that he thought it would be as easy to find a mate as showing up at a singles’ resort, but he was intrigued by the concept. And truth be told, he was ready to step down from being alpha and let the next generation take over. Kross and Kayne would make great alphas, and so would Heaven, once she learned about wolf hierarchy. Mack didn’t plan to leave the pack, but he would relish not having to be the alpha; he could be just a regular pack member, running the bar full time and being a wonderful grandpa when his kids had pups.
Glancing at the clock, he saw he had some time before Kross, Kayne, and Heaven arrived, so he took the opportunity to call his daughter and share the news with her and her mates.
“Hey Dad,” Whisper said when she answered.
“Hi sweetling. How are you?”
“Good. I’ve been working on some new songs, and Azrael signed us up for an online baking class, so we’ve been learning how to make crepes.”
“Sounds like fun.”
“It is, unless they burn or tear.”
Mack cleared his throat, and then told her of his plans to leave for Florida.
“I’ll need a ride to the airport, sweetling, if you don’t mind getting up early Thursday morning.”
“Of course. I hate driving to Philly, but for you…anything. It sounds kind of like the gathering where I met my guys.”
“Yes, but it’s in Florida where it’s sunny and warm. Maybe nothing will come from this, but I feel like I need to do it.”
“It’s been long enough, Dad. You have my full support, and I know that Kross and Kayne will be behind you too. When you come home, hopefully you’ll have a sweet female as your mate, and I’ll have another mom.”
“Thank you, sweetling.”
“Sure thing. Text me your flight details.”
“You got it. I’m making gravy, would you like some?”
“Yes! Freeze some for me, okay? You know how much I love it.”
Kross called out from the front door to let him know they’d arrived, and he shouted back that he was in the kitchen.
“Okay, sweetling, your brothers are back with Heaven, so I need to go. I’ll make sure to save you some gravy. Do you have macaronis?”
“Yes, Dad.”
“Okay, Love you.”
After saying goodbye to his daughter, he turned to greet the boys and their mate.
Mack had them sit in the family room so he could tell them about his trip, and then they moved to the kitchen so he could serve them one last meal before he left. He was feeling hopeful. Hopeful that he might find someone to love down in Florida, that he might not be lonely anymore, and that his kids could handle everything while he was gone.
Chapter 3
“I’ll give you ten dollars if you go grab me a one-piece,” Miracle said through the changing-room door.
She and Tonya were in a swimsuit store in the mall, and her friend had bullied her into only picking bikinis. Miracle had never worn a bikini, but after Tonya signed her up for a singles’ resort in Florida, she’d had to go shopping for weather-appropriate clothing. Her best friend had insisted on bikinis. Miracle stared at herself in the three-way mirror, trying not to focus on her curves, which hardly seemed contained by the material.
“That’s a hard no. You’re beautiful, and you should own your curves.”
“How do you own curves?”
“Accept yourself. I love my big butt, and my mate did, too. He used to pinch it every chance he got.”
Miracle snorted, squeezed her eyes shut, and then opened them slowly. She had a generous figure, with wide hips and large breasts. She’d never really dressed sexy, because her ex hadn’t encouraged her to. She spent most of her time in her studio making glass items, so her wardrobe had been almost entirely work clothes.
Inhaling deeply, she turned and opened the door. “Well?”
“Gorgeous,” Tonya said.
“You’re my best friend.”
“So?”
“You’re biased. You’d tell me I looked good even if I looked like ten pounds of crazy shoved into a five-pound bag.”
“Not true. I always tell the truth. Like when you got that perm and you looked like a frightened poodle for six weeks.”
Her cheeks turned scarlet. “You gave me that perm!”
“That’s when I thought I wanted to be a hairstylist. Your bad ‘do gave me nightmares, and now I’m much happier.”
Tonya worked at a high-end clothier. She spent her days dressing clients in way-too-expensive frocks, and her nights doing freelance drawings for clients through her online business.
“Back to the suit,” Miracle said.
“You’re getting it. It looks great.”
“You could come to Florida with me, for emotional support.”
Miracle closed the door and stripped, tossing the two-piece over the door so Tonya could hang it up. “Sorry. I read the fine print for the resort – the only people they allow on the island are those interested in finding their mate. I’m not ready to start looking for a mate yet.”