Chapter Seventeen
After the very possessive, very hot, and very public display with Adam at Cuppa that had Liz giving me two thumbs-up from behind the counter, he’s been very quiet.
We left the cafe together, leaving Ben behind, and because he drove there while I’d walked, he drives me back to my place. Once he puts the car into park in my driveway, everything goes silent, the air I almost oppressive. And I don’t like this one bit.
I know Adam would never behave that way under normal circumstances, and now, I consider myself fortunate to know about pack dynamics and how hormones react to pack formations. Especially when the members haven’t consummated their bonds.
Gripping his hand in mine, I draw his knuckles to my lips and place a kiss on his skin, making his head whip toward me. His icy eyes are wide, like he’s scared, and I’ll be honest, sadness is just about all I feel.
If I thought it would fix everything and that it was the right thing to do, I’d fuck and mark Adam right here in his car. Right now.
But I know that’s not what he needs. Adam tends to do something I also do: overthink. And I want to help him break that cycle, even if it’s just for now.
“What you did was really hot.”
The horrified look he gives me screams that wasn’t the right thing to say.
“I mean the passion part of it, not the uncontrolled jealousy.”
Adam’s head drops, his chin almost touching his chest, but he doesn’t take his hand back.
My voice grows softer, and I squeeze his fingers. “I love you.”
His head whips toward me again, lips parted, brow taut. Thoughts scroll behind his eyes until he finally says, “I… I love you, too. That’s why…”
“I know. I grew up in a pack, remember?” I kiss the back of his hand again.
“I promise this won’t last. When you’re ready—when we’re both ready—our mating will be amazing, and this strange behavior will pass.
Well, mostly.” I laugh. “There will always be an overprotective streak in all of us. Including me.”
Adam lets out a long breath, his broad shoulders falling with his exhale.
“I’m ready, Adley. I swear that I am. I just want the time to be right.
It’s… important to me that our first time is special.
How, I’m not sure yet.” His eyes go glassy.
“But I promise to do everything I can to make it amazing.”
“However our first time goes, whatever we do, it will be amazing because it’s us, Adam.
Because we love each other and are meant to be.
Forever.” I reach out with my free hand to cup his cheek, and he leans into my palm, eyes closing as he inhales deep.
“But whatever you want, Adam. However you want us to move forward, I’m with you. ”
Because I know that it’s important to him. His first time ever.
And I will do everything I can to make whatever dreams he has come true.
“It’s up the road here, on the right.”
We’re all in Jasper’s truck, Adam and me in the backseat, Ezra sitting shotgun because, well, he’s huge, and Jasper, of course, driving. Adam gives directions to his brother’s house, and when the place comes into view, all I can do is whisper, “Wow…”
It’s a beautiful two-story house with a built-in three-car garage. If I scrutinize the exterior hard enough, I can tell the side opposite the garages is the addition Adam mentioned. The only telltale sign is the siding being a bit more vibrant, the windows a bit less worn.
We all pile out of the truck and Adam leads the way to the front door and rings the bell.
Inside, there’s a squeal of laughter and some barking before the door opens to reveal Ben.
The second he opens his mouth to speak, the squeal rings out again, and a blur of pink leaps into the air and attaches itself to Adam.
“Uncle Adam!”
The blur of pink is a little girl, her raven-wing hair pulled into a ponytail at the back of her head, the skirt of her dress is frilly, and her leggings are white. She buries her face into Adam’s shoulder, and he’s smiling in a way I’ve never seen.
And holy crap, I think my ovaries are crying.
“Hey, Ivy,” he croons. “Did you miss me?”
The little girl leans back and grins. “Nope.”
I let out a laugh at the same time as Jasper and Ben, and little Ivy gives me a curious look.
“Hi there. I’m Adley. It’s nice to meet you.”
She blinks at me with big, green eyes, then smiles shyly, waving her hand as Adam puts her down inside the doorway.
“Come on in, everyone.” Ben steps back and gives us space to pass.
We come into the house, the interior bright and welcoming.
The floors are a mix of hardwood, tile, and even carpet, the open floor plan swapping from the kitchen to the walkway to the living room.
When we near the kitchen, two women and two men sit at a big table in the dining area.
One man has brown hair and gray eyes, his jaw and cheeks covered in well-manicured stubble.
The other man has blond hair and brown eyes.
Well-defined muscles bulge underneath a tight tee as he baby-talks a little boy on his lap whose hair matches his.
One of the women has auburn hair and green eyes that match little Ivy’s, and she is very, very pregnant.
The final woman has black hair and striking silver-gray eyes. At her feet lay two beautiful pitbull mixes that I find myself wanting to pet way more than any normal person would.
“There she is!” The woman with black hair grins wildly at me before approaching, the two dogs rising to flank her as she moves.
Very impressive training.
She holds her hand out to me, smile never wavering. “I’m Izzy.”
I take her hand, returning her infectious smile. “I’m Adley.” I gesture to my Alphas. “This is Ezra, and I think you know Jasper already, if I’m not mistaken. I know you know Adam.”
Izzy says hello to Ezra, salutes Jasper, then gives a dramatic eye roll to Adam. “Yeah, I may know this fool.”
Adam sighs through his nose, a long exhale that, if he were a cartoon, would have puffs of smoke shooting out of his nostrils.
“And these two smoosh-faces,” she gestures to her dogs, “are Demeter and Persephone. I wanted you to meet them because my pack and I adopted them from your uncle, going on three years ago.”
A well of emotion rises in my chest, warm and happy. I am slow to crouch, so I don’t scare either of them.
Demeter is beautiful, her face black and white with small patches of light brown, that pattern covering her whole body and her floppy ears.
And Persephone is unlike any pitbull mix I’ve ever seen.
Her coat is gray and black with speckles, kind of like a Blue Heeler, but she has white on her face and chest.
“They’re both so gorgeous.” I peer up at Izzy, who’s smiling like a proud mama.
“I know, right?”
Persephone sniffs me, her tail wagging fast and slapping against Izzy’s shin. Demeter sits and gives me an expectant look. I slowly reach out to pet her side, and she pants happily.
“Our guest is hogging our guests.”
The Alpha from the table with the brown hair joins us and starts shaking hands with Ezra. “I’m Vaughn,” he says as I rise to my feet and shake his hand as well, then he says hello to Adam and Jasper before he gestures to the table. “That’s Quinn, who’s holding our son Brandon.”
“It’s great to meet you all,” Quinn says before making Brandon wave his little hand. “Hello!” he calls in a little kid’s voice, which makes me smile like an idiot.
“Nice to meet you.”
“And last, but never least, is—”
“I’m Violet,” says the Omega with auburn hair. Her smile is bemused as she looks at Vaughn, who shrugs. “Please, excuse me for not getting up. It’s a little bit of a hassle when you’re the size of a house.”
I press my lips between my teeth to suppress a laugh and go over to Violet to take her hand. “It’s really wonderful to meet you. Thank you so much for letting us take a look at your home.”
She waves her hand in the air. “It’s not a problem at all. I’m just glad that we’re getting another wonderful pack here in town. It means a lot to us all here. And it means a lot to my pack that Adam found his.” She smiles at Adam, and when I look back at him, his face is turning pink.
“Come on, everyone,” Ben calls. “I’ll show you around.”
We go through the house, room by room, and by the end of our tour, I see how thoughtful this pack was with their setup.
Each member has their own bedroom, their own bathroom, and there’s a dedicated nesting room at the back.
We weren’t allowed in there, which is completely understandable, but Ben told us what it was.
The new addition on the side opposite the kitchen is where the kids’ rooms and playroom are, plus an extra bathroom. And Violet gets a huge office with a personal library on the ground floor.
In that room is where I found out she’s a romance author.
After the tour is over, the Alphas all gather in the living room and put on a basketball game.
Ivy and Brandon play on the floor on top of a lush carpet.
I feel a little voyeuristic watching them all, like it’s an intimate act I’m spying on.
But seeing all the Alphas converse with each other, and how they regard the kids, makes my heart flutter. And I realize something.
I want this. I want a life like this with my pack, where we spend time with other packs for social gatherings, where our kids can grow up together, and maybe even become friends. Play dates and holidays.
Never before had I really thought about it, but now that I’ve found my pack, and I see what we could be one day, I don’t know I’ll ever be able to see things differently.
“Ooh, girl, she’s got it bad.”
I turn to look at Izzy as she snickers beside Violet, whose smile is knowing.
“Uh…”
“No need to explain,” Violet says, her voice smooth and calm. “We’ve all been where you are.”
“Some of us more recently than others.” Izzy winks.
“And some of us, not present, are more stubborn than others.” Violet’s kind tone goes flat, and I know I’m missing something.