Silas #2
Cassie rounds the corner at that exact moment, one hand skimming the wall as she hurries into the narrow entrance hall, and her grin widens when she spots her family.
“There’s my duckling,” the man exclaims, and she brightens, her scent flooding the hallway.
“Dad.”
He barely gives me time to step aside before gathering her into a hug, lifting her slightly off the floor despite the noise she makes in protest.
My instincts tighten at the way her feet aren’t on the ground, every protective part of me wanting her back on solid ground where I know she’s safe. I don’t love the way he’s manhandling her—father or not—especially when he could hurt her.
The other man enters behind him with significantly more composure, salt-and-pepper hair curling neatly around his ears, and his beard trimmed with enough precision to reassure me that at least one of Cassidy’s parents respects preparation.
His dark eyes take me in, and he nods.
“I presume you’re Silas,” he says, and I nod. “I’m Elliot.”
“Nice to meet you,” I say as warmly as I can manage.
He shakes my hand before pulling me briefly into an embrace.
Wow, okay.
Vivienne follows, and I close the door quickly behind her, unwilling to let even a thread of cold reach Cassidy.
Vivienne’s bright blue eyes immediately fix on Cassidy, who is back on the ground now, thankfully. Her rich brown bob frames a face so similar to her daughter’s that the relationship would be obvious even without the wild berry and leather filling the entrance hall.
“Lovebug,” she says warmly, taking Cassidy’s face between her hands. “You look beautiful. A bit peaky, though. Have you eaten properly?”
I bite back the snarl that’s building. Does she doubt how much we care for our mate? How much we dote on her?
Cassidy flushes beneath the attention, looking at me carefully. “I’m okay, Mum, I promise. Do you want to come through? Harlan’s got some wine out and—”
“That sounds like a good idea,” the first man—Darwin, her dad—says. That must make Elliot her papa. “Lead the way, duckling.”
Cassie nods, lowering her head a little as she takes her parents up the softly lit hallway, Darwin’s broad frame nearly filling the space beside her.
I fall into step behind Vivienne, wishing I could’ve offered to take their coats, but the bell rings again before I make it more than a few steps.
Oh, fuck.
I hope they’ve got her because I’ve got to handle the next group.
I open the door, the cold catching at my face again, and can’t help the natural smile as I see my parents waiting beneath the porch light.
Mum reaches me first, wrapping her arms around me the best she can despite her small frame.
Celeste looks immaculate in soft cream, her champagne blonde hair arranged in loose waves around her shoulders, but there’s nothing restrained about the way she tugs me down so she can cup my face and kiss both my cheeks.
“My darling boy,” she murmurs, smiling at me. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Thank you for coming, Mum.”
Her scent wraps around me—white pear, vanilla, and amber—and for a moment, I’m young enough to believe my mum can still make everything all right.
Julie embraces me next, all broad shoulders, sharp eyes, and spiced cedar, her dark hair pinned back from the strong line of her face. “You’ve been anxious, Son.”
“I haven’t,” I protest.
She raises a brow. “Do you think you can lie to your mother without her knowing?”
I groan, and she kisses my cheek, much more able to do so without needing to pull me down to her height.
“Your brother ratted you out,” she adds teasingly. “I’m so happy for you both. I knew it, I really knew it.”
“Well, he had to give Harlan a chance to catch up, didn’t he?” Celeste says with a fond shake of her head.
She squeezes my hand and glances up the corridor, hearing some laughter.
“Who is already here?” she asks, dropping to a whisper.
“Cassie’s parents,” I say carefully. “And our pack. We’re just waiting on Evander’s sister and her pack.”
My mums both nod and share a glance I don’t bother trying to understand.
Dad waits until they’ve finished fussing, standing tall and controlled in black tailoring, silver touching the temples of his ash blond hair.
His hazel gaze sweeps over me and gives a firm nod. “You’re a good man, Son.”
From Adrian Mercer, that’s practically a standing ovation.
“Thank you.”
His hand settles briefly on my shoulder, squeezing once.
“Let me show you through,” I say, glancing behind me as if expecting the doorbell to ring again.
“We’ve been here before, Si,” Celeste says, handing my dad her coat.
He puts hers, Julie’s, and his own in the cupboard before gesturing for me to lead the way.
He at least understands.
I walk back into the living room, where the music is almost lost beneath the overlapping conversation, and I can see the tension in Harlan’s face the moment I enter.
He’s not quite glowering, but I’ve been by his side long enough to know when he’s annoyed.
Cassidy’s sitting on the armchair nearest the fireplace with Evander balanced on the arm beside her, one broad shoulder angled towards her while his knee rests against hers.
I’d be pissed, but I can see the same tension thrumming through our girl.
Fuck.
What have her parents done or said now to force this reaction from her?
“Vivienne, Darwin, Elliot, I’d like you to meet Harlan and my parents,” I say, gesturing to them. “Of course, you all remember Vivienne, but these are her two mates, Darwin, and Elliott.”
My parents move over to greet the other set of parents first, as Evander takes the brief interruption to murmur something against Cassidy’s hair.
She heaves a breath, leaning into him for half a second before giving him a grateful smile and rising to her feet.
I wish I was there to help, but the bell goes for hopefully the last time. I move back to the doorway, and I’m flummoxed the moment I open it.
Paxton enters with Sterling and Oscar, the three of them briefly crowding the entrance hall with expensive tailoring, polished manners, and enough alpha presence to turn it into a territorial nightmare if they were lesser men.
They aren’t.
Paxton greets me with easy warmth, the crest cufflinks at his wrists catching beneath the entrance light as cinnamon and vanilla follow him inside.
Sterling’s sharp hazel eyes assess the hallway, one hand absently turning the signet ring on his right hand as he searches for his cousin, I’d imagine.
Oscar nearly walks into him because his attention has already drifted towards something only he can see.
Then Uri ducks through the doorway. Even surrounded by alphas, he looks enormous.
His dark curls are slightly overgrown, his broad frame made less imposing by the open smile on his face—and the tiny baby carrier held with extraordinary care against his chest.
Emmeline steps in beside him, and I close the door behind her. If she’s anything like Cassidy, she’ll be missing her own blankets on this cold night.
Long, wavy brown hair spills past her shoulders, framing delicate features and striking icy blue eyes. She’s polished without appearing cold, dressed in tailored trousers and a pale blouse that moves elegantly with her slim frame.
Lavender and chamomile drift through the entrance hall, and she beams at me.
“Silas,” she says brightly.
I grin at her. “I’d ask how maternity leave was treating you if I wasn’t aware how much you’re missing work.”
She rolls her eyes. “Don’t be a tease. I love being with Dellan, but…”
“But you’re not going back to work until the year mark, as agreed,” Uri cuts in, giving her a firm look.
She scrunches her nose up, and I laugh at her. I’ve worked with Emme more than I have the others.
Even before her promotion last year, she worked with the creative team plenty, and the two of us got on very well. Once she’s back, she’ll still be an executive in Creative Operations.
“Yeah, yeah,” she says, waving off her mate and giving me a pleading look. “Do you have somewhere we can store… half of our home?”
“I was curious about the multiple bags,” I say, leading them into the smaller family room beside the lounge, where the softer furniture leaves enough floor space for Dellan’s things.
Paxton unpacks a small travel cot, and Oscar grabs some chair thing. I’ve got no idea what it is, but Dellan squeals at the sight of it.
“Come on through, then,” I say, leading the pack back along the hallway to the more formal living room, where warm lamplight, quiet music, and overlapping voices spill through the open doorway.
Emmeline hangs back with Uri and Dellan, letting her other mates go in first. Oscar’s face is scrunched up, but he carefully places a blanket on the floor before putting down Dellan’s chair.
Uri places the bag he’s carrying on the floor near the door and efficiently unbuckles the baby carrier, all without dropping the little one.
“Pass him here,” Evander demands, bounding over to us, and another round of introductions takes place.
I don’t care about most of them, though. My focus is on Cassidy, who is practically shaking where she stands as she looks at Emmeline.
I don’t blame her.
Evander’s extremely close to his sister, and Cassidy has been nervous about meeting her.
Isaac’s by Cassidy’s side, one hand hovering near her elbow as he leads her over to us, and the two omegas pause a few feet apart, staring as if each is surprised by the other.
I look at Cassidy, wishing—not for the first time—that our bond was already complete.
Evander and Isaac can reach for her through it. They can feel the precise shape of her nerves, while I’m left searching her expression, her posture, and every shift in the sweetness of her scent.
Jealousy catches under my ribs.
Soon, Si, soon.
I’ve waited this long. Everything is happening exactly as it should, at Cassidy’s pace.
Emmeline’s smile is cautious, but warm. “Hi. You must be Cassidy.”
Cassidy’s fingers tighten around mine as she reaches my side, her shoulders held too carefully beneath the plum fabric of her dress. I wish I could reassure her more than just offering my scent.