32. Sabs #2
“Don’t you dare tell me to chill out, Sabrina.” Mom’s cheeks flush. Although she’s obviously not acknowledging it now, and she has mellowed over the years, I get my ‘act first, ask questions later’ attitude from her. “Bonding isn’t a casual thing. It’s a lifelong commitment.”
“The guys are already nervous enough about meeting you without the four of you charging in like wild animals,” I plead, sick at the thought of what could happen.
“And they damn well should be,” Dad snarls. “They bonded our little girl in what I can only presume was an accident, since you didn’t even tell us you were courting.”
“This is exactly why I didn’t tell you sooner!” I gnash my teeth together. “Regardless of how it happened, they are my pack now. That’s all that matters.”
“And you really think they’re your scent matches?” Pops’s forehead wrinkles. “You’re not just saying that to make us feel better about this?”
“I promise, I’m not.” Frustrated, I grip the back of my neck. “I won’t lie and say it hasn’t been a challenge.” I look down at my feet. “After we bonded, I got bonding sickness pretty bad because I ran away and freaked out—”
“You ran…?” Looking completely shocked, Mom puts her hand over her mouth.
“Oh, baby.” Her disapproval swiftly turns to care as she draws me in for a hug.
“You should have called.” She strokes my hair.
“Even when we may not agree with your decisions, you should know that we’ll always be there for you.
You didn’t have to go through all of this alone. ”
I fight back tears. There’s nothing like a mother’s hug when you’re feeling like shit, and hugging her makes everything feel better as I relax into her arms.
“I know, but I didn’t want you to think I was stupid.” I snivel. “I had to work this out on my own, but I did have the Stellas to help me.”
Mom pulls away from me, cradling my cheek while smiling at me with watery eyes. “I know where you get your independence from.”
Dad still looks unimpressed, worry set in his features. “So Laz knew about this, I assume?”
“Not at first.” I struggle to meet his gaze, ashamed of all the drama I’ve caused. “I forced Faye to keep it from him, but he found out eventually.”
“And he’s met them?” Bug asks. “And they’re still standing?”
“He went mad at first.” I shiver at the memory. “Super mad, but he’s come around, and I think he actually likes them. I hope all of you will too.”
“They have to be pretty special to have caught your eye,” Pops gives me a wink.
“Let us meet them.” Mom wipes her eyes and rolls her shoulders. “You can’t keep us away forever.”
“This way.”
Pulse thundering, I lead them into the kitchen. We haven’t been quiet, so the guys have obviously heard everything. Adler’s nerves are practically bubbling over, his hands shaking as he fiddles with his shirt buttons.
However, it’s not Adler or any of the original Strike Pack, that my parents’ attention is drawn to first.
“Drax?” Mom’s eyes fall to my inked Hulk-sized alpha. “What’re you doing here?”
“Hey, Mrs. Maverick.” Drax waves, wearing a sheepish smile. “It’s good to see you again.”
“Oh, and there’s one more thing I forgot to tell you.” I swallow the thorns lining my throat. “Drax presented as an alpha and joined the Strike Pack, so we’re… kinda together now.”
“A late presentation.” Pops scratches his chin. “Now that is unusual. Your father didn’t mention anything to me when I spoke to him on the golf course a few weeks ago.”
“Uh…” Drax scrubs his face. “I may not have gotten around to telling him yet.”
“It seems like not telling parents is what’s in fashion these days,” Dad grumbles.
“Oh, Drax!” Mom dives at him before he can say anymore, giving him a huge hug. “I’m so pleased! You know I’ve always thought of you like another member of the family.” Her eyes mist over. “I always hoped you and Sabs would get together. Everyone saw how you looked at her.”
“Mom,” I groan. “You’re so embarrassing.”
“I guess I wasn’t very subtle.” Drax’s cheeks turn pink. “But I’m glad that everything has worked out.”
“Let me introduce you to everyone.” I take Mom’s arm and steer her around to meet the group. “This is Orin. The pack leader.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you all.” Orin’s tone is brisk and businesslike.
I admire his bravery when he reaches out to shake Dad’s hand first. Although my parents don’t stick to a traditional pack hierarchy most of the time, Dad is officially their pack leader, which I’m guessing Orin’s alpha instincts sense.
I notice Dad’s teeth clench as he shakes Orin’s hand, presumably from the strength of his grip, but Orin doesn’t even wince. “We’ve all been looking forward to meeting you, and I can assure you we all have Sabs’s best interests at heart.”
“Are you the one who bit my daughter?” Dad demands to know.
“Actually,” Adler steps forward with an ashamed duck of his head, “that would be me.” He holds out his hand. “I’m Adler.” When Dad doesn’t take it, Adler awkwardly drops it to his side.
I can feel how uncomfortable he is as my family looks him over, so I hurry to his side, linking my hand through his and squeezing. He needs to know that he’s not alone.
“You look familiar.” Mom puts her hand on her hip. “Do you model? You have the right face for it. Look at that bone structure.”
“Mom, stop.” I cringe. “Adler is the captain of the college hockey team.”
“Hockey, huh?” Bug seems to perk up. “I used to play back in college too.”
“Okay, we don’t need to hear a rundown from your glory days.” I jump in, gesturing to Luca before we’re all bored to death by a blow-by-blow account of his winning game, which I’ve heard a thousand times. “And this is Luca.”
“It’s great to see, um, meet you.” His obvious nervousness seems to charm Mom as she offers him a warm smile.
“It’s nice to meet you too, Luca.” Tension leaves my muscles, hearing how genuine my mom sounds.
“Luca studies physical therapy,” I add. “Maybe he can take a look at your back, Pops?”
“One step at a time.” Mom raises her hand. “We have some questions to ask first.”
“We’ll be happy to answer anything,” Orin replies. “I know that finding out about us must have been a shock.”
“How long have you been a pack?” Mom asks in a clipped tone that sounds completely unnatural compared to her usual welcoming voice.
“Officially? Around six years.” Orin leans back against the counter, crossing his ankles.
“I actually work for SVU as the Head of Security. Adler and Luca both study here. I’ve worked with Drax for the last few years, though he only recently joined us.
I invited him to join our pack before the… uh…”
“Why don’t we just address the big bond-shaped elephant in the room?” I decide to get it over with. “It being an accident doesn’t mean that it’s a bad thing.”
“You have to know that I feel terrible about it.” Adler massages his neck, unable to look at them. “But I promised Sabs I’d stand by her. We all will. After getting to know each other more over the last few weeks, we all know she’s the one for us.”
“And you also think you’re scent matches?” Pops questions.
“I do.” Adler’s tone is more confident this time.
“We’ve only known each other a short time, but I’m sure I speak for everyone when we say that we can’t imagine life without Sabs now.
” He clears his throat. “I can understand why you’d have concerns.
I have a little sister, so I’d feel the same way, but we only want the best for your daughter. ”
Through our bond, I can feel Adler‘s panic as my mom surveys him.
“And you have the means to take care of her?” Dad asks. He and Orin are very similar being ever practical and favoring security.