Chapter 427 Warmth of Her

Chapter 427 Warmth of Her
Perry, being the amazing sister she was, already had the information Hope needed.

Valduz had teamed up with his father and taken Zenep with him.

Alzen, meanwhile, was glued to Ansley.

He loved having her around because, as he had proudly put it...

"She's just like me."

He stood beside Ansley at Hope's computer, happily showing her every pack secret he could think of.

"Mind if I interrupt?" Hope asked as she walked in, holding the file Perry had handed her outside.

"Mommy!"

Zoey's face lit up.

"Ansley is the coolest!"

"We're taking a break."

"I'll go get snacks."

"You read my mind," Ansley said with a smirk as Zoey ran off.

She turned back to the computer and let out a slow breath.

"You're unbelievably good at all of this."

"You know that?"

"Our compromise is starting to make me feel guilty."

Hope smiled.

"Your dad is a really good teacher."

Ansley gave a small shrug.

"Don't."

"I chose this."

"I'll never argue with that."

She turned toward Hope.

"What can I help you with, Luna Valduz?"

Midnight immediately growled.

Ansley only grinned.

"I have a gift for you."

Hope placed the file on the desk.

"But before you open it..."

"I need to say something."

She took a slow breath.

"I understand wolves do things differently."

"But I can't turn hunting someone into a game."

"That's Midnight's territory."

"And letting her take over is dangerous."

"I've already lost time while she was in control."

"And she has a habit of bringing Buddy out too."

"That's even more dangerous."

Hope rubbed the back of her neck.

"So..."

"Finish this however you want."

"I just need you to do it."

"I couldn't sleep last night knowing you're married to someone else."

"I know I probably shouldn't be..."

"But I'm angry."

"Really angry."

Ansley cleared her throat and reached for the file.

"Perry found him?"

Hope nodded.

"She's been looking for him ever since she learned we're related."

"And she told me that if I hadn't figured it out myself..."

"She would've told me before I reached seven months pregnant."

Hope smiled weakly.

"Apparently that's about when I won't be able to shift anymore."

"So I'd still have enough time to kill you myself."

Ansley laughed.

"That sounds like Crazy."

She smiled without the slightest bit of regret.

"I'm not apologizing for this, Hope Elara."

She gently pinched Hope's chin and leaned closer.

"And I'd like you to know..."

"I'm very pleased that you're upset."

"As for the baby's name..."

Hope immediately pointed a finger at her.

"If you say Hope Elara the Second..."

"I'm going to punch you in the head."

Ansley burst into laughter.

"How did you know?"

"I heard you telling Zoey last night."

"We have baby monitors in their rooms."

Hope tapped the screen, bringing up the recording.

"Iris."

Ansley gently squeezed Hope's cheeks until her lips puffed out.

"I like Iris."

"It's cute."

She smiled.

"You're adorable when you try to be assertive with me."

"Gentle parenting doesn't work on me, Hope Elara."

Hope froze.

Ansley leaned in and kissed her.

The same warmth spread through Hope's body that she always felt whenever Valduz kissed her.

Ansley pulled back with a satisfied smile.

"I'll be back."

"My mate is upset with me."

"And I need to fix that."

"Iris is an adorable name."

Hope quickly turned around.

Perry was sitting behind her with a book resting on her lap.

"How long have you been there?" Hope sighed.

"Long enough to watch you embarrass yourself over your very female mate."

She laughed.

"Dude."

"You're so gay."

Hope rolled her eyes.

"How long have you been waiting to say that?"

Perry grinned.

"Since I found out you were Valduz's mate."

"Actually..."

"Even before I knew we were related."

She laughed again.

"You know who's been dying to say it too?"

Hope snorted.

"Alpha Barnes."

"Yes!"

Perry beamed.

"I fucking hate him."

"Vy could do so much better."

She dropped into the chair across from Hope's desk.

"But honestly..."

"Those two are perfect for each other."

"I was hoping their mate would be a twink."

"We could use another Marlon around."

"The guys love him."

Hope leaned back, still feeling the lingering warmth on her lips.

"Right."

"He's an off-limits omega."

She looked at Perry.

"Perry?"

"Yeah?"

"How the hell am I supposed to handle two mates?"

"I can barely handle Valduz."

"And somehow..."

"He's less insane than Ansley."

Perry laughed.

"I have no idea."

"I'm on my second mate now."

"This one isn't nearly as bloodthirsty as the last."

"But somehow..."

"He drives me even crazier."

Hope smiled.

"Do you think she's really going to kill her husband?"

"Oh, definitely."

Perry nodded without hesitation.

"Then she'll take over the pack and the company they married her into."

She grinned.

"Packs during wartime are always entertaining."

"Derek is going to have his hands full."

Her smile faded slightly.

"Actually..."

"I wanted to talk to you about our parents."

Before Hope could answer, Zoey walked into the room carrying his Halloween bucket, now filled with snacks from the kitchen.

"Where's Ansley?"

"She had something important come up, Baby."

Hope smiled.

"Want to share your snacks with us?"

Zoey's shoulders slumped.

"Aww."

"I can just take them to my room."

"I'm working on a school project."

"I wanted Ansley to help me."

"Do you want me to help instead?" Hope offered.

"It's about Valduz Alpha traditions."

Zoey pulled a few things out of the bucket.

"I can wait until she or Dad comes back."

"Thanks, Mom."

Perry placed a hand over her heart.

"That hurt my feelings."

Hope laughed.

"I don't exactly know those traditions."

"Allison only taught me enough to keep the pack running the way she wanted."

"I'm sorry your mate killed her as a traditional Valduz romantic gesture," Perry said with a grin.

Hope stared at her.

"You're not sorry."

"No."

"I'm really not."

Perry laughed.

"That was amazing."

"She gave you the heads of your enemies."

"That's basically how werewolves say, 'You're mine.'"

"So romantic."

She did a little dance in her chair.

"I did it for the King."

"You're insane."

Hope rolled her eyes and reached into the bucket.

Zoey had brought peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

Perry picked one up.

"These were always her favorite."

"Chunky peanut butter."

"Valduz used to eat these every year on their birthday."

Hope blinked.

"He hates peanut butter and jelly."

"Yeah."

"But it was their thing when they were kids."

"He kept doing little things like that."

"You know the eye thing he does before every show?"

"That's for her."

Hope shook her head.

"They argued yesterday."

"And then acted like nothing had happened."

Perry snorted.

"Vy and Vince do the same thing."

"It's like watching the world's most toxic relationship."

"They really fight."

"I mean..."

"They actually fight."

"Not long ago, Vince slapped Vy so hard she ended up with a black eye."

Hope frowned.

"Oh, God."

"I hope the twins never end up like that."

Perry shook her head.

"I've never seen Valduz do anything like that."

"He's incredibly respectful toward women."

"I think he even counts Ansley as one."

Hope smiled.

"Okay."

"You have to get along with her."

Perry groaned dramatically.

"Why?"

"Because she's my mate."

"And she's going to be part of my life."

"I want her to be."

Perry folded her arms.

"What if she's mean to me first?"

"Perry..."

"Okay."

"Okay."

She laughed and raised both hands.

"I surrender."

Hope grinned.

"So..."

"Do you know any interesting secrets about Ansley that I can use against her?"

Perry's eyes lit up.

"Bro."

"That's literally my job."

She took off her messenger bag and dropped it onto the desk.

"What do you want to know?"