Chapter 3
CHAPTER
THREE
GLENN
My dad looks slightly frazzled when I finally make it to his house and hand him the wine.
River, of course, is running late from work.
Skye and Mav never show up on time, so only two of my brothers are here.
Sage, my hippie, vegetarian alpha brother, and Forest, the brother I consider the most like me in terms of hobbies and interests.
Though after our visit to a clan up north, I discovered that he’s into being fucked by alphas.
Like I said, I don’t quite understand it, but as long as he’s happy, I support it.
Not everyone does, though, which is why it’s not something we openly discuss.
“Hey,” my dad says, pulling me into a hug and giving me a slap on the back. “Thanks for coming.”
“Anytime, looking forward to meeting Fia.”
“Yes, and don’t forget her son, Rhodes, is coming too.”
“Ah.”
He runs a hand down his face and shakes his head. “Haven’t met him either, so this could be a total cluster. But I couldn’t say no.”
“Nah, Dad, it will be fine.”
Sage saunters up to me and wraps his willowy arms around my waist and squeezes.
“Long time no see, Glenn.”
“Yeah, been busy at work.”
“Excuses, excuses. You’re a recluse, you know? We have to plan these dinners so we actually see each other.”
He smiles up at me, and I ruffle his long hair. He squirms away from me and runs his long fingers through his locks, trying to put it back to the way it was before I messed it up.
“Where’s Forest?”
“Outside on the porch, texting someone,” Sage replies.
What he means by that is Forest is probably messaging someone from the Crimson Howlers.
He’s been going out to their compound a lot.
I should probably check in with him and make sure he’s being safe.
Because I now know the stuff they get up to out there.
It’s not nice and gentle either. Shifters can be rough and mean.
Before I can head outside to speak with him, a car pulls up in the driveway, the tires crunching loudly on the gravel. My dad peers out the window and shakes out his hands.
“She’s here. They’re here. Oh shit, this was a mistake.”
“No mistake, Dad. It’s been years. It’s time to try.”
He peers over at me, and his eyes water slightly. “Not sure if I even want to.”
“You’re going to,” I tell him. “They’re already here.”
He glances out the window once more and then straightens his shoulders.
“You’re right. This will all be fine.” He mutters this more to himself than anyone else, and then steps outside.
I squeeze Sage’s shoulder when he gives me a knowing look. We aren’t into this, but we support our dad. And who knows? Maybe this woman will be great. It really is time for him to move on. When I said years, I meant over a decade. He’s been alone, mourning all this time.
Maybe this will be the partner he’ll spend the rest of his life with. I mean, he’s still young. I hate to see him wither away alone.
I hear two car doors open and the sound of Forest speaking to them before my dad’s girlfriend and her son enter the house.
My first thought is she’s beautiful, and I can see why my dad is attracted to her.
She has long brown hair, dark blue eyes, and thick lashes.
Her body is curvy, and when she sees us, she smiles, her teeth white and straight.
My dad blushes when she pulls him in for a short hug, slightly embarrassed at the display of affection.
Silly really.
He and Mom were always touching. It was almost electric. I hated it growing up, watching them all over each other, but now I realize how rare that is—to be together for so long and still desire one another.
My eyes move from my dad and Fia to Rhodes, who is standing next to his mom, his hands tucked into his pockets, his eyes moving around the room, taking it all in.
He looks a lot like his mom, his eyes and the color of his hair.
Except he’s not curvy at all, more lean musculature with broad shoulders and a narrow waist.
“So nice to meet all of you. I’ve heard so much about each of Ash’s kids,” Fia says, distracting me from my observation of Rhodes.
“You must be Glenn.” She reaches out her hand, and I shake it.
Her skin is smooth and warm, and there is confidence in her handshake.
Then she turns her gaze on Sage. “Love the hair wrap, Sage. The colors you picked are so unique.”
Sage beams. “Thanks, I got it done at Feral Couture. The one on Main Street.”
“I’ll have to check it out.”
“You should. They do a great job.”
“Uh, Skye, Maverick, and River aren’t here yet,” my dad interrupts, almost nervously.
“Oh, that’s fine. I know they’re busy.” Fia waves her hand toward her son. “Well, this is my son, Rhodes. I believe he’s the same age as Skye.”
My dad nods. “He is. Nice to meet you, Rhodes.”
Rhodes takes his hand from his pocket and looks at my dad through thick lashes. They shake hands, and Rhodes holds on a little too long, but a moment later, releases his grasp on my dad.
His voice comes out raspy and deep. “Yeah. Same.”
My dad’s eyes catch on his, and they hold for a long moment, his nostrils flaring. But then he clears his throat and backs away.
Rhodes does the same, stepping toward me, shaking my hand before moving on to Sage. The way he seems so sure of himself makes me admire him. I wasn’t like that at his age. He’s quiet, more of an observer than anything, but I’d rather that than wild and obnoxious.
And Fia seems genuinely kind. My dad could have done worse, to be honest.
“You hungry? We have some appetizers,” Sage says, pulling out a platter of fruit and veggies. “I made the dip.”
“This looks amazing,” Fia croons as she makes her way to the island to take a plateful. Rhodes follows, his eyes moving back to my dad a few times as he goes.
My dad looks everywhere but at him.
What the fuck is going on? Do they know each other? Because it seems like they do.
“We can go outside if you’d like. The front porch has a great view of the forest,” my dad suggests.
“Oh, does it have a view of the pond? The one you go skinny dipping in sometimes?”
My dad blushes and grumbles at that, a vision of my naked father popping into my head. Fucking hell.
Rhodes suddenly swears as he drops a piece of broccoli on the counter and spills the dip. Sage teases him as he helps wipe it up, but I can see the blush staining Rhodes’s cheeks.
“I’m so fucking sorry.”
“It’s fine. I have more in the fridge.”
Rhodes sighs, and Sage nudges him.
“Really, don’t stress. And yes,” he says, his voice rising. “Let’s go outside. That sounds nice.”
I pull two beers from the fridge, handing one to Rhodes. “Looks like you may need it.”
He lets out a long breath. “Yeah, thanks.”
“Don’t stress. We’re chill,” I reply and then grab the platter and head outside, letting everyone get the hint and follow me.
Forest is still in his chair, running his beer bottle across his bottom lip as he reads the messages on his phone.
I kick his foot, and he jostles slightly.
“You good?” I ask, and he nods, taking a long pull of his beer, finishing it, and setting it beside him.
“Yeah, sorry. Been dealing with…stuff.”
The way he says that isn’t lost on me, and I want to ask him about it, but now is not the time. So, I turn my attention back to the rest of my family and my dad’s guests. Fia and my dad sit side by side, and Rhodes takes a seat next to me and my brothers.
I pop my beer open, and so does Rhodes, while Forest disappears inside to grab several more, setting them on the small table between us for anyone to grab. As he does, River finally shows up, his car leaving a plume of dirt behind it as he comes to an abrupt stop on the driveway.
“Heyo! Sorry I’m late!” he calls out, jogging up the stairs and grabbing a beer from the table.
“Oh, hey, guys. I’m River. You must be the girlfriend and the son. Nice to meet you.” River pulls a chair up between Forest and me, shoving his way in.
He did this as a kid, too. Always squeezed himself into spaces he didn’t fit. Just because he couldn’t stand not being included.
He plops down, his chair scraping the edge of mine as he reaches forward to heap food onto his plate.
“Is this all we have here? Veggies and fruit? No meat? Beans? Cornbread?”
Sage rolls his eyes. “Dad is gonna grill stuff up in a minute. Unless you want to do it.”
“Ha! That’s a trick question because you all know I burn shit on grills.”
“Truth,” I murmur, taking a swig of my drink. “Last time he used the grill, he set the porch on fire. Better to have Dad do it.”
“Ha!” River says again. “They just love to exaggerate.”
“Oh, Rhodes is the same,” Fia says. “He wants to learn how to cook on a grill, but I struggle to teach him how. Maybe you can learn some tips from Ash.”
My dad grumbles under his breath as Rhodes glances away. “Mom, it’s fine.”
He’s blushing again, but his mom just laughs it off. “I’m sorry, but you have to learn one day, and Ash is a great teacher.”
My dad reluctantly nods. “Of course, I can show him what I know. If you want a good teacher, though, it’s Glenn. He’s the guy who loves cooking.”
Eyes fall on me, and I just shrug. “Sure do. But Dad’s better. Learned it from him.”
River is munching loudly next to me, wiggling in his chair. I try to ignore him, but he only seems to grow louder.
Fuck. Me.
Thankfully, Maverick and Skye arrive minutes later, the loud rumble of Mav’s motorcycle making all heads turn their way.
When the engine is shut off and the two of them make their way onto the porch, River speaks through a mouthful of food.
“Why are you late, huh? Go into heat again?”
I slap him on the back of the head, and he gasps. “Hey!”
“Leave them alone and focus on eating.”