by Angel Nyx
Eulalie Rousseau, Eliza's aunt, overheard them talking and moved to them. “You listen to her, cher. She knew your mama better den anyone. Her, your mama, and my Adelaide, dey were nigh inseparable when dey were girls.” Her voice hitched when she mentioned her daughter. Adelaide had left years ago, when she was a teenager, and she'd not been heard from since.
“I'll remember dat, Mamere Eulalie.” Everyone called her 'Mamere' even if she wasn't their grandmother.
Eulalie patted his cheek. “You're a good boy, Caine Bordeaux. You'll do right by da Pard.” With that she made her way to her home. She would return once the bonfire started.
Caine nodded as members of the Pard came forward to congratulate him or greet him as the new Alpha. It would take time to repair all the houses that needed to be fixed, but already he was planning out which ones needed attention the most. There was a lot to do but he was confident that he could achieve his goal with the aid of members of the Pard like Remy and Beau. leopards who were young and strong and not afraid of the hard work.
Mia
Mia was helping Adele and Auguste with their homework when news of the challenge reached them. As one, the Lafluer clan went to watch, each hoping that the younger leopard succeeded. There was no love lost with their Alpha because of the way he mistreated the Pard.
Her mama was six months pregnant with her eighth child. She'd been having some trouble with this babe so Mia carried her four year old brother, Dempsey, so her mama didn't have to fuss over him. Dempsey rested his curly, carrot top head on her shoulder and sucked on his thumb. It was a habit they were trying to break him from. Among the Lafluer children, Mia, Julius, and Dempsey were the only ones to get their papa's red hair. The others had their mama's darker locks.
“Do you tink Caine will win?” Auguste asked in a whisper as they got close to the Alpha's house.
“I don't know but I sure hope so,” Mia admitted. Her gaze went around the circle of Pard members gathered there and her heart ached a little when she spotted Gage. Since the day after the Homecoming dance he'd been more distant than ever. With a soft sigh she forced herself to stop thinking about him. She needed to pay attention.
“Do we gotta watch?” Dempsey asked as he wiggled in his sister's arms.
“Yes, we gotta. Now be still. If you want me to put you down, you know how to ask. You'll still have to hold my hand.”
The little boy pouted then gave a sigh that made it sound like it was such a bother. “Please put me down.” Once he was on his feet he bounced in place but he kept hold of his sister's hand. “I can't see,” he grumbled after a minute.
Gage
When word reached him and Remy that Caine challenged the Alpha, Gage stopped working on the table he was making and headed for the Alpha's house. This he had to see. Remy had told him that Caine was going to do it, eventually. If he'd known it was going to happen today he wouldn't have started on the table. He'd only recently realized he loved carpentry work and wood-crafting. He could carve the most intricate details into a piece of wood and the table he was working on was a birthday gift for his mama.
Out of the corner of his eye, Gage saw a splash of red and his gaze was drawn to it. Mia. Fuck. Ever since he saw her in that dress he couldn't get her out of his mind. He'd tired. He kept his distance, he focused on his wood-crafting, he even tried to get her out of his mind with sex and nothing worked. He wasn't sure what was wrong with him.
While Caine issued his challenge and the fight began, he made his way to Mia's side. He heard Dempsey's complaint and scooped him up to sit him on his shoulders. “How's dat? Better?”
“Yeah!” Dempsey practically squealed with excitement.
Gage chuckled then turned his attention to Mia. “Hi. Dis little guy givin' you a hard time, huh?”
Mia shook her head. “No more den Adele, or Auguste, or Constance did at his age. Mama's been a bit tired lately so I didn't want her wearin' herself out carryin' him like she always does.”
“She should be restin', not standin' out here. Caine would understand.”
Mia rolled her eyes. “You know my mama isn't gonna go do dat when challenge has been made. We've all been waiting for dis day. We didn't know it would be Caine, but someone had to do it.”
“True. Your mama's stubborn. Did she have to pass dat on to you?” he teased. He wanted to distract her from the fight.
Again Mia rolled her eyes. “Better stubborn den a pushover who lets ever'one walk all over dem.” The sound of a dying snarl drew her attention to the center of the yard. When it was clear that Caine was the victor there was silence. Everyone was stunned and relieved that Zachary Eitenne's reign was over.
“Dere will be a party after the pyre. Save me a dance,” Gage said and winked at her before he set Dempsey back on his feet and went to help collect wood for the fire. He didn't know if she would or if she'd find an excuse to not be there, but he was damn sure going to try to get a dance out of her.
An hour later, the sun was set, the fire burned bright, and music filled the air. Gage was a leopard on a mission. He nodded at Pard members he passed but his sole focus was Mia Lafluer. She was perched on a tree stump, heels kicking against the faded bark, while her head bobbed to the music. “I'm surprised you didn't go hide.” There was a teasing tone in his voice and a grin split his face.
Mia flashed him a wicked grin. “I thought about it,” she admitted. “But knowin' you, you'd have hunted me down and dragged me back so I decided to save you da trouble.”
Gage's laughter filled his face with joy. “You're right, I would have. Dance wit' me.” He held a hand out to her and waited for her to slip her hand in his. Once she did he tugged her to where others were already dancing and pulled her close. “We haven't seen much of each other since da dance. How's your paintin' goin'?”
“Okay. It's not like it's a big deal. It's just...someting to do.”
“Bullshit. You're good, Mia. You could sell your paintin's, easy.”
“You're biased. I know where you sleep and I've been known to retaliate when someone makes me mad.” She wasn't being completely serious but she was known to get someone back when they made her mad.
Gage shook his head. “No, cher, I'm not biased. Well, okay, maybe I am about some tings, but not about dis. You're good.”
Mia ducked her head a little. “Thanks.” Her gaze went to where her younger siblings were and she sighed. “I need to go. I need to get Dempsey and Constance into bed for mama.”
“A'right. Thanks for dancin' wit' me, Mia.” He reluctantly let her go and watched her as she got the two youngest members of her family and ushered them off to their home. He made a mental note to try and make some time to sit down with his papa and ask him about the way he was feeling every time Mia was around.
Chapter Six
Gage
Why was it every time he tried to talk to his papa, the man was too busy to listen? Sometimes Gage wondered if he was just saying it to get out of giving fatherly advice. Almost a month had passed since Caine had become Alpha and already there were changes. Repairs were rapidly being made to the cottages that were in dire need, yards were no longer overgrown with weeds, and moods were lighter. Spotting his father he zeroed in on him. “Papa, I need to talk to you for just a minute.”
Landry Delacroix was a busy man these days. He'd opened a diner in town and it was doing well. Too bad neither of his boys were interested in helping him with it. “You can talk to me while I head to da dock. I've gotta get to da diner. What's on your mind?”
“Business is really pickin' up, isn't it? Sorry I'm so busy wit' school and sports to help out.”
“It's a'right, you got your own tings you want to do. What's on your mind, boy?”
“Oh, yeah. It's Mia Lafluer. I can't stop tinkin' about her. She makes me crazy sometimes.”
“Sounds like you got yourself a crush. Is dat why you keep jumpin' from girl to girl? Got a ting for Mia but don't know how to tell her?”
“We're just fr
iends, papa. We grew up together. She probably tinks of me like a brother.”
“You won't know unless you ask. Talk to her, boy. Find out what she's feelin'.”
“Thanks, papa. Maybe I will. Hey, this weekend I'll come help at the diner.” Football season was finally over, they'd just had their last game, so he had some free time now.
“I'd appreciate dat.” Landry nodded at his son, climbed into the pirogue he used to get back and forth, and headed into New Orleans.
“Now I just need to get Mia alone.” Prom was coming up. Maybe he could ask her to go with him. Yeah, he liked that idea. He liked it a lot. With the decision made he went in search of her. When he approached her house he nodded at her mother who was sitting on the front porch in a rocking chair. “Afternoon, Mrs. Lafluer. Is Mia home?”
“Afternoon, Gage. No, she said she needed to get away for a little bit. Took her paints wit' her.”
“I know where she is. Thanks.” He paused for a moment. “How are you feelin'? Da babe givin' you trouble?”
“You're a good boy to be worried, Gage. I'm fine, but I tink dis is it for me. I'm done havin' babies after dis.”
“You're important, Mrs. Lafluer. You're my best friend's mama. Glad you're okay. I'll see you later.” He waved and headed into the swamp to the lean-to Mia still used when she wanted to get away from everything.
Ten minutes later, Gage found himself standing outside the lean-to. His nose picked up the faint scent of paint and he knew he'd been right about where she was. He knocked on the outside of it before he ducked inside. “Hey. Been lookin' for you.”
Mia put her paintbrush down and arched a brow at him. “What for?”
Gage was suddenly nervous. What was wrong with him? He was never nervous around girls. “I, uh, wanted to ask you someting.” He took a breath then continued. “Will you go to prom wit' me?”
Mia
If someone had told her two days ago that Gage was going to ask her to be his date to his senior prom, Mia wouldn't have believed them. Still, she would have made a different choice from the one she'd already made in hopes that it was true. She hated herself in that moment because she knew the next thing to come out of her mouth was going to ruin the hope she saw in his eyes. “I'm sorry, Gage I can't. I...I'm already goin' wit' someone.”
Gage gave her a slow blink. “Who? When were you asked?”
“Cole Ambrose. He asked me two days ago.”
“Oh. I see. Well, okay den. I'll let you get back to your paintin'.”
“Gage...” Mia tried to get him to stop and talk to her but he left at a quick walk. She'd seen a flicker of...something in his eyes that puzzled her. Why had he been so hopeful that she'd go with him and why did it look like he was more angry than hurt that she was going to the prom with Cole? Since he wasn't giving her the chance to ask him, she had no way of knowing what the answer was.
She turned back to her painting but suddenly she just didn't feel it. She couldn't focus, so she put her paints away, covered the canvas to protect it from the elements, and headed back to the compound. She debated on looking for Gage, to try and talk to him, but dismissed it. He was the one who'd walked off when he found out she was going with one of his teammates. She'd waited and waited for him to notice her and just when she'd finally decided to give someone else a chance, he makes a move? What was that all about?
“You're back sooner den I thought you would be. What's wrong, sis?” Jules was sitting on the porch working on some homework for his criminal justice course he was taking. It was a college level course and it was presently kicking his ass, or so he claimed.
“Why are boys so damned confusin'?”
“Uh, you're askin' da wrong person if you want some real insight. What happened?”
Mia groaned and flopped down next to him on the porch swing. “You know I've had a crush on Gage for a while, right?”
Jules rolled his eyes. “More like forever, but yeah.”
She stuck her tongue out at him. “Well, Cole Ambrose asked me to da prom, two days ago, and I said yes. I mean, I've waited forever for Gage to notice me, and I wasn't even a blip on his radar. But den, just a little bit ago...he asked me to go to prom wit' him.”
Julius gave his sister a slow blink. “Oh. Shit. Did you tell him yes?”
“No! I told him no, cuz I was already goin' wit' Cole. He looked...I dunno, I expected him to be upset, because he'd looked hopeful when he asked, but he didn't. He looked kinda...pissed. Which is confusin' as all git out. Why would he be pissed when he's never even acted like he liked me dat way?”
“Mia, you can be so thick sometimes. How often does he go lookin' for you when you go off to be by yourself? Just last month, when Caine challenged Zachary for Alpha, and we had dat big celebration when he won, Gage got you to dance wit' him. And he danced wit' you at Homecomin' even though he had a date. I tink he likes you but tinks you don't like him. And goin' wit' Cole will make him tink it even more.”
“Ugh. Like I said, why are boys so confusin'? Why couldn't he have come right out and said it before dis?”
Julius snorted in derision. “Right. Cuz you have any reason to talk. You never told him you liked him, so why do you 'spect him to do da opposite?”
“Oh, hush. You're supposed to be on my side,” she said and bumped shoulders with him. “Fine, I guess you have a point.” She was reluctant to admit to it but it was true. If she'd been up front about her feelings this might not have happened.
“Well, dere's no'ting you can do about it now. You're a woman of your word, you told Cole you'd go wit' him, so you'll be stickin' to dat decision, right?”
“Yeah.” She kicked the porch railing closest to her a moment. “I'll let you get back to your studies. I gotta go shoppin' anyway.” She still had to pick out her dress so she could tell Cole what color cummerbund to get to match.
Mia loved the dress she'd chosen for her date to prom with Cole. It was almost as risque as the one she'd worn to Homecoming, only in a different way. Where the green dress she'd worn then was short in the front, showing off a lot of leg, her prom dress showed more skin above the waist. The bodice was a halter top with a floral detail. There was a section between the bodice and skirt where the material was sheer and gave off glimpses of her stomach. The halter-like top, which had a cut out in it that was trimmed in the floral material and wrapped snugly around her throat like a choker, was form-fitting over her breasts and showed off her cleavage. The dark purple color looked amazing against her fair skin and once again she left her hair down so it hung in waves almost to her waist. The one thing that would have made this night perfect was if she'd been going with Gage instead of Cole.
“Your date's here. Damn, sis. Dat dress...wow. You're gonna turn heads when you walk in da door. What I wouldn't give to be a fly on da wall to see Gage's reaction to it.” Julius knew the other leopard was likely to lose his shit when he spotted Mia on Cole's arm in that sexy dress.
“I'm not wearin' it for him, I'm wearin' it for me.”
“Don't mean he won't be lookin' and droolin' right along wit' all da other guys who'll be dere.”
That made her roll her eyes. “Right. Because I'll totally be da hottest girl dere. Please.”
“Why do girls always put demselves down? I've never understood it.” He waved a hand. “Doesn't matter. Cole's waitin' for you. You better get out dere before papa or Beau scare him off.”
“Yeah, yeah. I'm goin'.” She stepped into her heels and headed down the short hall to the living room where her date waited.
“Oh, Mia, honey, you look so beautiful. Now, just let me take a couple of pictures and I'll stop torturin' you and let you get outta here,” Eliza said.
Cole smiled at Mia. “You look amazing.”
“Thank you.” Mia tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and accepted the corsage he had for her before she turned to let her mother take her photos. She had high hopes for the prom even if she wasn't going with the boy she really wanted to be there with.
>
Gage
The tables were finally turned. All through high school, Gage had dated one girl after another. Any time there was a dance or something else going on at school, there was a girl on his arm while his best friend, Mia, was often either alone or there with her twin. This time, it was Gage who was alone. After he'd asked Mia to the prom and learned she already had a date, he'd considered asking someone else but dismissed the idea. He didn't want to have to pretend to be interested in whoever he took with him when he knew he was going to have a hard time keeping himself from watching Mia all night.
Gage's jaw just about hit the floor when Mia walked in on Cole's arm. She was breathtakingly beautiful. The deep purple dress molded to her body in a way that really accentuated her curves. He felt a surge of jealousy at the way Cole had his arm wrapped possessively around her. He had to fight with his leopard to stay where he was because the cat in him wanted to rip Cole's arm off. The urge was unsettling in it's intensity.
When Cole and Mia joined their small group, Gage faked a smile to hide his true feelings. “Hey.” He nodded at Cole before he turned his attention to Mia. “You look amazin', Mia.”
Mia smiled a little. “Thanks. So do you.” She arched a brow at him. This was the first time in forever she'd seen him without some girl hanging off his arm. “Where's your date?”
“Decided to go stag.” He shrugged as if it was no big deal.
“Really? Dat's...surprisin'.”
Gage nodded. “Yeah, I know. I guess I just didn't feel like bringin' anyone. Hey, I'll catch you later. I'm gonna go mingle a little.” He needed to get away before he said or did something to embarrass himself.