I sauntered into the quaint little store on the corner, its bell chiming cheerfully as I pushed the door open. The aroma of freshly baked croissants wafted through the air, instantly wrapping me in a warm, buttery embrace. I grinned, feeling victorious in my choice of the day's treat – two fragrant croissants that could rival the Eiffel Tower in their magnificence.With my delightful loot in hand, I practically skipped my way to Grandma's house, anticipation bubbling within me. As I approached her doorstep, I took a moment to compose myself, ensuring I presented the picture of the perfect granddaughter – or at least a granddaughter who occasionally remembered to bring something other than her quirky sense of humor.I knocked on the door, and after a few seconds, it swung open, revealing Grandma's skeptical expression. "Did you run out of money again?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.I rolled my eyes in mock offense. "Grandma, you wound me with your lack of faith in my financial prowe

I feigned a gasp, placing a hand on my chest. "Denise, darling, you flatter me!"Joe, caught in the crossfire of our banter. "Live comedy show."Denise, seemingly unamused. "Mellisa, your comedic tricks are as outdated as your fashion sense. I wouldn't be surprised if your next career move is a stint at the local clown academy."I was to reply her, but kind Larry grabbed our attention: “The main course was served in the form of acting out random scenarios.” The table buzzed with excitement as we eagerly anticipated our turn, and I exchanged an enthusiastic glance with Jenny. As we awaited our cue, the moderator, Gary, decided to spice things up a bit.Jenny and I, assuming we could choose our partners, raised our hands in unison. However, Gary had a different plan in mind."No, no, no. Let's add a touch of suspense to this performance, shall we?" Gary announced with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "We're going to do this fair and square. Draw lots, everyone!"I exchanged a bewilder

He chuckled, a low, throaty sound that did nothing to ease my frustration. " You've been marked as the Anderson family's mate."I squinted at him. "Mate? That's absurd!"He grinned, enjoying my discomfort. "It's a spell, an ancient one. Apparently, someone in my family thought it would be amusing to have our chosen mates marked."I crossed my arms. "Amusing? I find it infuriating! How do I get rid of it?"Killian's eyes gleamed mischievously. "Ah, you see, that's the catch. It's not so simple. You'll have to invite me to dinner first. You didn’t invite me to dinner the first time we did it, I feel like you owe me one.""Did anybody tell you that you have an incredibly slappable face?"He leaned in, his lips dangerously close to my ear. "Consider it a small price to pay. Besides, I'm not just anyone; I'm the son of an Alpha. The process isn't as straightforward as pressing a delete button on a computer."I yanked my hand away, shaking my head. "I'm not buying into this. I need that mar

Oh my my, Richard may have enjoyed himself way too much. I liked him already.Killian sighed, a heavy sound that echoed in the kitchen. "I'll figure something out."As he hung up, a sudden realization hit me. "Operation Walk?"Killian nodded. "It's a pro bono fund for foot deformities.” “I know what that is.” “I've been supporting it for years."Shifting from werewolf showdowns to pro bono surgeries, to me, ice cream seemed to be the universal remedy for anything. I decided to take a walk the convenience store."Mom," I began, turning to my mother with a twinkle in my eye, "how about we indulge in some ice cream? Chocolate, perhaps?"Her eyes lit up, and a smile stretched across her face. "Oh, chocolate sounds delightful, dear. And maybe some extra sprinkles on top."I nodded, appreciating her choice of comfort food. With a glance at Killian, who still looked like he was wrestling with the weight of the world, I decided that a sweet distraction was in order."Come on, Killian," I sa

Killian's well-intentioned intervention only seemed to worsen matters. Mrs. Anderson's gaze shifted from skepticism to disbelief. "An abandoned warehouse? Really?"I nodded, attempting to muster an air of nonchalance. "Well, it had a certain post-apocalyptic charm. Plus, the rats were surprisingly good art critics.""And what about your family, Mellisa?" she inquired, her tone not betraying any warmth. The focus shifted, and suddenly, I was on the proverbial hot seat.I shot a glance at Killian, silently pleading for rescue. He cleared his throat, a subtle sign for me to let him handle it. Reluctantly, I allowed him to dive into the murky waters of my family background."Oh, Mellisa comes from a very... unique background," he began, choosing his words carefully. "Her adoptive parents have been pillars of support, and despite the unconventional circumstances, Mellisa has emerged as a strong and independent woman."If the room had a temperature gauge, it would have dropped a few degrees