and Joel’s house, Mila raised a brow at Dominic. “Ready?”
He gave a curt nod. “If she doesn’t spill everything, I’m going to be fucking pissed—just so you know.”
“I’m not leaving that house until she tells me what I want to know,” said Mila.
Riding shotgun, Trey twisted in his seat. “Ryan will canvass the area just in case Dean is close.”
“There’s no way to sneak up on a pallas cat,” Mila warned.
“Ryan’s like a ghost when he tracks,” Dominic told her, sliding out of the SUV. “Trust me, if Dean’s nearby, Ryan will find him.” Hand in hand, they walked up the cobbled pathway toward the townhouse. “You’re all right going into the home your predestined mate shares with another female? Can your cat handle it?”
“Handle it? She’s surprisingly uninterested. Not because she’s forgiven Joel but because she no longer considers him worthy of the energy it took to hate him.” Mila rang the bell and blew out a breath. “Let me lead here. I know Adele better than you. We need to go easy at first, okay?”
“Lull her into a false sense of security?”
“We have to slowly lead up to the point and—” Mila cut off as the door swung open.
Adele blinked. “Mila, hi.” Her shock was understandable, since Mila had never visited before. Adele’s eyes cut to Dominic, and she forced a polite smile. “Hello. Um . . . come in, come in.” She stepped aside for them to pass. “How are you doing after the shooting, Mila?”
“I’m good, thanks,” Mila told her, her nose wrinkling at the scents of citrus cleaner and freshly cut flowers.
“That’s a relief. I would have called you, but your mom told everyone to give you space.”
“I figured she would.”
Adele rubbed her hands down the sides of her shirt. “If you’re here to see Joel—”
“We wanted to speak with you.”
“Oh. Okay. Sure. We could—” Her eyes dropped to Mila’s neck and then widened with excitement. That excitement bloomed when her gaze snapped to Dominic’s neck. “Oh wow! You claimed each other? This is amazing news. Congrats! I mean, I can sense that the bond hasn’t formed yet, but I don’t doubt that it will. You two suit each other so well.”
“Thank you. I agree.” Dominic also sensed a large dose of relief mingled with Adele’s excitement. If Mila was taken, she’d hardly want Joel.
“Would you guys like some coffee?” Oh, Adele was all grace and courtesy now.
“Coffee would be good,” replied Mila. She followed the female down the hall, her footsteps muffled by the lush carpet.
Coats hung neatly on the hooks near the door. Shoes tidily tucked in the nook beneath the stairs. No clutter anywhere to be seen. The large mirror gleamed, possessing not a single smear or fingerprint. Damn, the couple liked their home spotless.
Mila had never believed she’d ever step foot in their home. But seeing the life the couple had made together didn’t hurt the way it once would have. In fact, Mila felt a smile curve her mouth as she took in the cute portraits adorning the magnolia walls. Pictures of Adele and Joel laughing, hiking, partying, and dancing at what appeared to be their mating ceremony. Yeah, he was happy.
Mila had never begrudged him that, but she hadn’t exactly been happy for him. Not until right then. Now that she’d found that same happiness with Dominic, Mila could be truly glad that Joel had it with Adele.
In the kitchen, Adele waved a hand at the table. “Take a seat.”
Mila almost hesitated. Seriously, everything was so clean and orderly that it was somewhat off-putting.
“So what brings you here?”
“Actually, I just have some questions about the imprinting process,” Mila told her, gingerly perching herself on one of the cushioned dining chairs. “And well, I figured you’d be a good person to ask.”
Adele’s smile widened. “I’d be more than happy to answer any questions you have. Fire away.”
Feeling a little less tense when her mate took the seat beside her, Mila braced an elbow on the table. “How long did it take for you and Joel to fully imprint?”
“A few months, but I heard that it differs from couple to couple.”
As Adele made the coffees, Mila asked a few other inane questions. She needed Adele to relax, lower her guard, and open up. That wouldn’t happen if she was tense or on the defensive.
The whole time, Dominic kept his hand on Mila’s nape, circling the same spot with his thumb over and over. Keeping himself calm, she thought.
While Adele was distracted