Valerie nodded and sipped her wine, forcing her smile to stay firmly nailed in place. But somewhere between the word soulbond and the toast to the werewolf girl, her appetite had quietly packed its bags and left.
Tan glanced at her. "Are you alright, Aunt Valerie? You look a little pale."
Valerie laughed a touch too loudly. Loud enough that a few heads around the table turned towards her, and the family exchanged small, puzzled glances.
"I'm perfectly well," she said, recovering. "I'm happy, that's all! We're having a wedding soon! Kai, you're a true man. Knowing exactly what you want and going straight for it. That's the mark of a real Mondragon."
Kai lifted his glass to her in a toast. "Thank you, Aunt Valerie. I appreciate the enthusiasm."
Valerie turned to Jessica, her smile sharpening at the edges. "You must be a very lucky girl."
