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“Oh God,” I muttered. “I think he is.”

Maria smacked Jorge with her dish towel. “Comportate(behave)!” But she was fighting a smile.

“Such a charming chef,” Imo preened, adjusting her jade necklace. “You must show me your kitchen when we visit. I bring special herbs, very rare…”

“Your presence alone would be the rarest spice in my kitchen,” Jorge replied smoothly.

“Mom!” Luke looked horrified. “Are you blushing?”

Imo waved her hand dismissively, but her cheeks were definitely pink. “We discuss recipes later. Now, about the visit?—”

I caught Luke mouthing ‘I’m so sorry’ at me behind his mother’s back, though whether for the upcoming visit or the unexpected flirtation, I wasn’t sure.

‘You’re dead to me,’ I mouthed back.

Scout chose that moment to start howling, setting off a chain reaction that had all three dogs serenading Imo through the screen while she clapped in delight.

“Such powerful guardian spirits!” she declared. “They know! They know I bring special treats for them too.”

The dogs’ ears perked up at ‘treats,’ and suddenly the laptop was surrounded by three very interested wolf-dogs trying to communicate directly with Imo.

“Your dogs are weird,” Luke observed.

“You have no idea,” I muttered, watching Shadow attempt to bow to Imo through the screen.

“Now…” Imo adjusted her hanbok sleeves. “We arrive Saturday. I bring protective salt for doorways, herbs for cleansing?—”

“And normal people snacks,” Luke added. “Because some of us don’t survive on spiritual energy and ancient wisdom.”

“Snacks are important too,” Imo agreed seriously. “Special red bean buns for Kai?—”

“The ones from the old lady’s shop?” I perked up embarrassingly fast.

“Of course! She says her grandson is still single?—”

“Imo,” I groaned.

“What? I must tell her you’re taken now. By three very handsome, very rich mountain men. She will be so jealous! Her grandson only doctor, these three”—she gestured at the brothers—“own whole town!”

“And we’re done with that conversation,” I cut in quickly, noting how the brothers had suddenly gone very still. Even the dogs had stopped their spiritual howling to give me suspicious looks. All three alphas were wearing identical satisfied smirks at Imo’s declaration of ‘taken.’

“Fine, fine.” Imo waved her hand, but I could see her already planning how to spread the news through the Korean community. “But I also bring special tea. Good for wolf spirit. Very expensive, very rare?—”

“Please tell me it’s not that thing that smells like feet,” Luke groaned, though I caught him hiding a grin at my embarrassment.

“That is thousand-year tradition!”

“Pretty sure traditions shouldn’t smell like gym socks, Mom.”

Marcus, bless his diplomatic soul, stepped in smoothly. “We look forward to learning about these traditions. I’ll have Tía Maria prepare the guest wing?—”

“And I’ll handle security protocols,” Derek added, which probably meant the local wildlife was about to be thoroughly traumatized by whatever ‘protocols’ involved.

Imo nodded. “Must prepare ritual space. Many arrangements to make before Saturday.” She peered at the brothers through the screen. “You be good to my Kai until then?”

The brothers straightened like they were receiving orders from a general.

“Yes, ma’am,” they chorused.