Chapter 20


    Ch 20 Market Research


    Thea and Misty talked as they drove. The first bar was about three hours away. It was the middle of the


    day, so it wasn’t busy, but they ordered some appetizers and got a feel for the ce.


    The next bar was another thirty minutes away, and it only took them a minute inside before they


    realized it catered to men. Only men. Men who liked to have sex in specific ways.


    They got back in the car and startedughing. “The looks we got when we walked in!” Misty said


    betweenughs.


    “They were like, ‘you walked into the wrong bar, sister.’”


    “No penis, no entrance.”


    They realized the double entendre at the same time and burst outughing again.


    “Oh my goddess, I will never forget that,” Thea said.


    They hit a few more bars, and as they were leaving one with a Western theme, Thea heard Misty’s


    stomach growl.


    “You ready for dinner?”


    Misty smiled. “If you are.”


    “I marked a few restaurants in the area since I figured we’d be here around dinnertime. What kind of


    food do you like?”


    “What are the options?” Misty said.


    “There’s a steakhouse that’s supposed to be good, a Thai joint, sushi, and a diner that’s supposed to


    be famous.”


    “Pve never had sushi, but I’ve always wanted to,” Misty said.


    “Me too!”


    A short rideter, they were doing sake bombs and nibbling on edamame while they waited for their


    main order toe out. The waiter looked at them like they were crazy when they ordered one of


    every kind of sushi roll.


    “Who knows when we’ll be able to get sushi again? We have to, right?” Thea said.


    Thea couldn’t help but wonder what the triplets’ reactions to sushi would be. She missed them, and


    spending the whole day away from them made her chest hurt. She knew she would see themina few


    hours. She could make it.


    The waiter was shocked after they ate everything he served them. They were werewolves. Alpha


    blood, both of them. They burned a lot of calories just existing and had to eat a lot to keep their bodies


    going.


    By the time they arrived at the next bar, it was Starting to get busy. It was Saturday night, and


    everybody was out partying. This bar had a dance floor and people already dancing. Thea pulled Misty


    out on the dance floor, and they danced along with everyone. The people there were friendly and nice.


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    “Okay, this is my favorite so far. We need a dance floor in the bar,” Thea said above the music.


    “Totally,” Misty said.


    “Should we get a cocktail?”


    “Yeah!”


    They went up to the bar and ordered drinks. They did ap around the bar then went outside to the


    patio where the music wasn’t as loud.


    “So, what’s your type?” Thea asked.


    Misty bit her lip. “You mean aside from you?” “Yeah. You said you have celebrity crushes. What about


    them do you like? Is there anyone here that sparks anything in you?”


    Misty looked around. “I don’t know that I have a specific type. Pretty is pretty no matter what their hair


    color is, you know? I think maybe I’m attracted to the personality more than looks. It’s kind of difficult to


    pick someone out of a bar if you’ re going by personality.”


    Thea nodded.


    “I guess I like strong women. Not just physically, but a strong personality. Who stand their ground. Have


    a good heart. Strength bnced by goodness. I think that’s what I’m attracted to.” Thea knew Misty


    was describing her. That’s how she saw her. She wondered if Misty felt as intensely about her as she


    did about the triplets. She physically hurt being away from them this long. She tried to imagine kissing


    Misty, but she couldn’t do it. Misty was pretty. She smelled nice. She was fun. Had a pretty smile, hair


    and eyes, and her lips looked soft and pillowy. There was just one problem. She wasn’t ric, Conri, or


    Kai. Thea just didn’t have romantic feelings for her. She felt protective of her. Other than that, it was like


    hanging out with Lizzy. The only feelings she had were pain from missing the triplets and longing for


    them. Thea didn’t know what the triplets had been worried about. She actually felt sick thinking about


    kissing someone that wasn’t one of them.


    Soon they were on the road. Thea felt her pain ease a little knowing she was on her way to the triplets.


    “When do you shift?” Thea said.


    “A few weeks after graduation.”


    “I don’t know how long it will take for you to find your mate after you shift, but Iam sure she’s going to


    make you deliriously happy.”


    “Why do you think my mate will be a girl? They teach us that the main purpose for mates is


    procreation.”


    “The moon goddess wouldn’t gift you with someone you couldn’tpletely love. Mates are designed


    for each other. Pups need parents who love each other and stay together. That’s what the matebond is.


    Family. Not procreation. Anyone can


    get pregnant. Staying together is the hard part. There are plenty of ways for same-sex couples to have


    kids, from sperm donors and surrogates to adoption. We all know orphans are a big problem in the


    werewolfmunity. Rogue attacks kill so many parents. I think maybe there’s a cosmic bnce, and


    we’ve unbnced it by teaching it wrong.” |


    Misty nodded. “I wish other people saw it like you do.”


    “I’m going to try to get them to.”


    “Can I ask? You haven’t shifted yet, but you feel so strongly about being mates with the triplets?”


    “They’re sure. So are our parents and our whole pack. I’m hopeful.”


    “You’re not sure?” Misty said.


    “Remember the pressures of leadership thing this morning?”


    “Yeah.”


    “Since we started dating, my pack is acting like I’m already Luna. The Alpha instructed the security


    detail that’s following us today to address me as Luna.”


    “Wow. He believes you’re mates then.”


    “Thing is, I trained my whole life thinking I would take my father’s ce as Beta. There are so many


    stories of people dating, loving each other, then when they shift, they find out they aren’t mates. I feel


    like I’ll be disappointing my parents, my Alpha and Luna, and my whole pack if we end up not being


    mates. I don’t want to let anyone down. Then there’s the idea of watching someone else be their Luna,


    their mate. I don’t think I could stay in the pack, and I love my pack. I’ve been having panic attacks


    about it.”


    “That’s a lot of pressure, and the matebond is something you don’t have control over, so there’s nothing


    you can do but wait. That would weigh on anyone.”


    Thea nodded. “Exactly. You get it. I guess I’m too close to the situation to be objective. I don’t see what


    everyone else sees. I don’t get why they’re so sure. We grew up together. We were born on the same


    day. Our parents are the Alpha and Beta. They raised us together. Of course we’re close. They’ve been


    my best friends since I can remember. That doesn’t mean we’re mates, doesi te”


    “I don’t know.”


    “I know I love them. As our birthday gets closer, there’s a pull that’s getting stronger.”


    “I get that you can’t know for sure until you shift, but there is something special about the four of you.


    Beyond just being childhood friends. How else could three Alphas share one girl without ripping each


    other to shreds in jealousy and possessiveness? That’s moon magic if I ever saw it. ”


    Theaughed.


    “You are going to be the most incredible Luna,” Misty said. “How often do Lunas lead with love? I know


    our packs have good Lunas, but you hear the stories of the ones who just use the pack members as


    servants and don’t do anything to take care of them. Your pack is lucky to have you, regardless of


    whether you end up being mates. No pressure.”


    “Thank you.”


    They talked the whole way home.


    “Thank you. Today was the best,” Misty said when Thea dropped her off in front of her pack house.


    “Thad a good time too. We need to do it again.” Thea gave Misty a hug then drove back to her own


    home, itching to see the triplets.


    After she parked the car in the pack garage, the SUVs with her security detail pulled in behind her.


    “I didn’t see you all day. I assume things went smoothly?” Thea said to Liam.


    “There were people sniffing around. Some had to be dispatched,” Liam said. The aura he gave off was


    more somber than this morning. Like he had to take care of serious business today, and he wasn’t


    done.


    “Really?”


    “We’ll give a full report to the Alpha. I imagine he’ ll bring you in to go over it so you are aware of the


    dangers.”


    “Okay. Is everyone unharmed?”


    “Some minor injuries, a few more serious. Nothing fatal.”


    Thea nodded. She would check up on them tomorrow. “Okay. Thank you, Liam.”


    “Our pleasure, Luna.”


    She made her way to her room, expecting the triplets to be asleep. She was shocked at what she saw


    when she opened the door.