Seducing The Wolf - By Marisa Chenery Page 0,48

her roast beef on the pink side, but she didn't think she would be able to stomach meat quite that undercooked.

Roxie was quick to assure her. "I can see you eyeing the roast Beowulf is carving, Billie. Don't worry it isn't for us. That one is for Beowulf, Wade and Royce to eat. Werewolves like their meat to barely touch a pan before eating it."

"You're a werewolf now. Don't you like your meat that way as well?"

"Good god, no. That's disgusting." Roxie shuddered. "I think you have to be born a werewolf to be able to eat something that raw and enjoy it."

"Same here," Taryn added. "I like my meat cooked the way it's supposed to be."

Billie filed that bit of information away. She was glad she wouldn't have to worry that she would start craving raw meat if she became a werewolf as well. Once everyone had food on their plates, Taryn opened four bottles of wine that came from her winery. Billie thought maybe that was a lot of wine for the number of people there, even though the wine was excellent. But as the meal progressed and the werewolves of the company seemed able to drink it as if it was water, and have the wine not go to their heads, Billie realized the four bottles weren't going to last long.

She turned to look at Royce as he drained his fourth glass of wine. So far she'd only had one. "Am I going to have to drag your drunken ass home like I do Hayes?"

Royce reached for the nearest bottle of wine and refilled both their glasses. "I'm fine, Billie. Alcohol doesn't affect us the same as it does mortals. I would have to drink a vast amount of wine to come anywhere near to being drunk."

From the amount of wine both Roxie and Taryn had consumed, Billie figured that alcohol didn't affect them either now that they were werewolves. "Good to know. I've had more than my share of dragging drunken men home to last me a lifetime."

At the end of the meal, Belinda cleared her throat to get everyone's attention. When all eyes were on her, she started to speak. "I want to say how pleased I am that Billie is part of our family. She has been a long time in coming. Not only has my father found his mate, but I now have a stepmother."

Billie had just taken a big sip of wine when Belinda started speaking. She ended up spraying it across the table when she heard the word stepmother come out of Belinda's mouth. Hastily grabbing her napkin, Billie wiped the wine off her chin. "Stepmother?" Her voice came out in a croak.

"Of course you're my stepmother, dear. Royce, after all, is my father, the only father I've ever known."

"And I guess that makes you my grandmother, Billie," Roxie cheerfully added. At Royce's hard stare, she was quick to say, "Which I will never call you. I'll just save the grandparent name calling for Royce."

Billie took some deep calming breaths. She had known about the family connection between Roxie's family and Royce, but she hadn't put herself in that equation. She should have realized that being Royce's mate meant she was now a stepmother and a grandmother. Taking hold of her wine glass, she drained the rest of it in one big gulp.

Royce looked at her worriedly. "Are you okay, Billie?"

She nodded. "Yes. I hadn't thought this all through."

"Here, have another glass of wine, but this time sip on it."

As Royce filled her glass once more, Billie could only guess what her father was going to say when he learned she was not only "married", but also had a stepdaughter and a step granddaughter.

* * * *

After the table was cleared, Belinda suggested Roxie take Billie and Taryn outside to sit in the backyard while she did the dishes. The men were already talking amongst themselves. Billie readily agreed, thinking this would be the perfect time to find out more about the spell.

Once they were seated at the patio table, Taryn poured them each another glass of wine from the full bottle she had brought outside with her. Billie was already feeling a bit on the tipsy side, but figured one more glass wouldn't put her under the table. Taking a sip from her glass, she looked up at the night sky. It was a beautiful night. There wasn't a cloud to be seen.

"So, Billie, how are you handling being mated