Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
“Where is my favorite son?”
I set my toolbox on the kitchen counter and roll my eyes.
My mother stands a few feet behind me, hands on her hips, and a glare aimed my way.
She called me first thing this morning, asking me to fix the pipe that broke beneath her sink.
It’s been giving her trouble for a few weeks now.
I should’ve called a plumber, but I’ve been preoccupied with work and the pack.
I don’t want a stranger coming into her house without me here to supervise. Not one that the DAU hasn’t vetted.
“He’s at home. In pre-heat.”
She lets out a sound of outrage. “Then what on earth are you doing here? Go home to your Omega!”
Swinging the cabinet doors open, I frown when I see the pipe hanging loosely from where it was connected to the sink.
Towels line the bottom, soaking up the water that has leaked out.
I think I have the parts to swap out the seals, but I’ll need to set aside time for a plumber to visit after Foster’s heat is over if Hannah doesn’t go into labor early.
“He’s fine, Mom. If he needs me, he will call.”
“If he goes into heat unexpectedly…”
“Then Hannah will call me. I promise I am not neglecting my mates.”
Only the clink of my tools fills the room as I work. At first, it seems like my mother has given up her scolding, but then her face fills the open cabinet. “Who’s Hannah?”
Shit. Right. I haven’t told her about Hannah yet.
Brooke Wilson is not known for her patience. A personality trait that served her well throughout her career as an EMT. That means that telling her about our mate and the kids before Hannah accepts her place in our pack is a no-go. Mom would roll up to the apartment, demanding to see all of them.
Sliding out from beneath the sink, I lean against the cabinets and wipe my hands on a rag. “Our last job, the one that took us to a safe house for a few weeks? The Beta woman we were guarding, her name is Hannah. And it turns out she is our Fate-matched mate.”
Mom claps her hands, a big smile on her face and tears filling her eyes. “Oh, Sheppie! That’s wonderful news! You’re finally expanding your pack! When can I meet her?”
Of course, she dives straight in. No details needed; she’s already claimed Hannah as family.
This is the chaos I grew up with. A mother who was never afraid to help others, giving them a safe space to land when their home lives fell apart.
As a teenager, I was grateful for her willingness to open her doors to others, but as an adult who has seen the worst this world offers, I worry that her kindness will backfire.
“I don’t know. She’s… pregnant.”
Mom’s squeal pierces the air, the sound stinging my ears with how high-pitched it is.
“I’m going to be a grandmother?!” Her hand smacks into my arm, light enough not to hurt.
“You should have told me sooner! When is she due? Do you need anything for the apartment? I think I still have several of your baby blankets in the attic.”
“Woman, will you chill!” She gives me a stern look, but I don’t budge.
This overexuberance is exactly why I haven’t told her about Hannah and the kids yet.
“Look, Hannah’s situation is… complicated.
She grew up in that cult in New Hampshire.
A few months ago, she ran away from her family and the man they forced her to marry.
She has a four-year-old daughter, and she’s eight months pregnant.
Peace and stability are what she needs.”
Mom frowns, still glaring at me. “Of course, she does. They all do! So let me help! Have you gotten what you need for the baby? I can prep easy-heat meals for after she gives birth, and I can babysit if you and Foster want to be there with her when she delivers.”
Nothing is ever easy with this woman. “I’ll mention it to Hannah. That’s the most I can promise.” Trying to end the conversation, I grab the pieces I need and slide back beneath the sink.
“So what’s my grandbaby’s name?”
“Kaitlin.”
I hear her feet pad away from me as I finish my temporary fix on her pipes. She’s up to something, but I’m not stopping what I’m doing to track her down and find out what. Running water into the sink, I grin when the pipe holds and no water leaks from the seal. “You’re all good, Mom!” I call out.
She reappears a few minutes later, after I’ve cleaned everything up. “Here, take this.” She shoves a small tote into my hands, the lid bulging at the top from the amount of stuff she’s forced inside. “No complaints, just take it!”
Tucking it under my arm, I pull her into a hug on my other side. “I love you, Mom. I’ll call you after Foster’s heat, and we can see about you coming over to meet the girls.”
“Call if you need anything!” she hollers as I drop everything into the trunk. I wave at her over my shoulder and climb behind the wheel. The arousal pulsing in my bond with Foster tells me my Omega is getting needy, so I’d better hurry home to take care of him.
Music fills the apartment when I get back. Both of my mates are in the kitchen cooking, and our princess is dancing behind them. The image of the three of them is too tempting to pass up, so I slip my phone from my pocket and snap a picture.
“Shepherd! Is you hungry? We’re making burbers!” Kaitlin shouts when she sees me, still twirling in circles.
“Burgers, Little Bug,” Hannah gently corrects. Her eyes find mine over her shoulder, and a blush spreads up her cheeks, so red that it has my brows shooting up. “Welcome home, Alpha.”
What on earth happened while I was gone? The tension in here is thicker than steel.
Dropping the tote mom sent on the floor, I kick my shoes into the closet and head into the kitchen to join them.
I reach Foster first, stopping to press a kiss on his lips.
Sweet lemon tart coated in cherries fills my nose as I lean closer.
The scent is so thick on his skin that it has me salivating.
My cock reacts instantly, swelling beneath my jeans.
“You smell amazing,” I murmur, brushing my lips against his again.
His brows wiggle as I walk behind him to press a kiss to Hannah’s lips. “Don’t I?” Her face is nearly scarlet now, and she can barely meet my eyes.
“Did you have fun?” I whisper, stealing the spatula from her hands and gently shifting her back from the stove.
She hums in response and moves to lean against Foster’s side.
His arms wrap around her, face pressed to her shoulder.
The casual affection isn’t new, but the way she molds herself to him is.
Am I jealous? A little, but only because I missed being here to watch the two of them together.
“How is Momma Brooke?”
Flipping the burgers, I raise a brow in his direction. “The same as always. Fiery and demanding.” Glancing down at Hannah, my expression turns apologetic. “I might have let it slip that we met you. She’s excited to meet you and the kids.”
Uncertainty fills Hannah’s face as she glances between us. Our families are a topic we haven’t touched on. Hers excluded, but it’s hard not to know about her family when we were hired to protect her from them. “That’s… sweet?”
“Brooke is harmless. A little pushy, but Shepherd is used to holding her back. She’ll love you as much as we do, I promise.” Foster soothes her with his words, and his hands rub along her hips and the sides of her stomach.
“Tell me more about your family?” she asks, pushing away from Foster with a wink. I chuckle when his lip pushes into a pout. She joins me at the stove and adds pasta to the water she had boiling on the back.
Sliding the burgers onto a tray to rest in the oven, I add two more patties to the pan while I answer. “There isn’t much to tell. I’m an only child, so it’s always been just my mom and me. She’s a Beta, and worked as an EMT until last year when she retired.”
“His father was a firefighter. He died in the line of duty when Shep was four,” Foster explains, wrapping himself against my back.
His nose presses against my shoulder blades, and his hands dip beneath my cut-off shirt to press against my stomach.
Pre-heat instincts mean he needs a lot of touch and scent marking.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Hannah hums as she stirs the pasta and butters buns for me to toast. Working in tandem like this has become second nature to us. It’s like we’ve always been in the kitchen together, despite only having met a few months ago.
I shrug off her empathy. “It was a long time ago. My mom still talks about him often, so I have memories of who he was, just none that belong to me. You remind me of her,” I admit. “In a not-creepy way. You have the same strength, and you’re both great moms.”
She giggles, tapping Foster’s arm and asking him to strain the pasta. “I wouldn’t think that was creepy. And thank you. If she raised you, I’m sure she’s amazing.”
Clatter fills the kitchen as we make plates, assemble burgers, and get everything cleaned up as we go.
Family meals have become a regular thing since the girls moved in.
Before, we were more likely to order takeout and eat on the couch than we were to sit at the table.
Not because we don’t like cooking, but because of our hectic work schedules.
The break we’ve had for the past several weeks has been nice.
“What about your family?” Hannah asks Foster after we’ve all sat down.
My Omega clears his throat and gives her a tight smile. Talking about family is tough for him.
“I grew up in a small pack. Omega dad, Alpha dad, and Alpha mom. They’re all still alive, and live a few hours north. I have not told them about you yet, but only because we don’t talk as often as Shep and his mom do. My parents are… reclusive.”
Hannah slides her hand onto his arm and squeezes, offering him a soft smile.
“Do you have brudders and sisters?” Kaitlin asks suddenly. Lately, she’s been asking a lot of questions about being a big sister.