Chapter Ten #2
The interior of the SUV was oppressive. She wished she could read Adam’s mind.
He had his eyes closed, refusing to even look at her.
How confused he must be. The foundation of his life had been ripped out from beneath him.
It was shock enough to meet his dad without the added you-might-be-a-rare-hybrid-wolf-that-shifts deal.
Talk about something from a paranormal novel, except this was real life, their new reality.
God, she was physically and emotionally exhausted.
Her son wasn’t the only one who’d had his life ripped out from under him.
She couldn’t begin to imagine the problems this revelation would create.
She’d deal with it, because there was no other choice.
The main thing, the only thing that truly mattered, was that Adam was alive.
They’d done it—all because of Cyrus. While his methods had been cruel and downright scary, there was no denying the results.
“How are you feeling, sweetie?” She turned her head, needing to see him.
“I’m not going to turn into a raving beast and eat you, if that’s what you’re worried about.” His monotone reply worried her.
“Oddly enough, it never occurred to me that you would.”
“Maybe it should.” He turned his head away.
“We’re here,” Cyrus announced.
In the daytime, the large log home had been impressive. With warm light spilling from the downstairs windows, it gave the welcoming glow of a home, but it wasn’t her home.
Her vehicle was still parked off to the side where she’d left it.
It was tempting to hustle Adam into it and run, but she doubted she’d get far.
And as much as it pained her to admit, he needed his dad.
She’d struggled her entire life to provide her son with everything he needed, but this was something she couldn’t help him with.
Only Cyrus and his brothers understood what he was going through.
She opened her door and climbed out of the vehicle. Adam got out on the same side and stared at the house.
****
It didn’t escape Cyrus that Vinnie and Adam were on one side of the SUV with him on the other. They were a unit, a pack. He was the outsider.
She was angry with him for what she’d view as his harsh treatment of Adam.
Wolves weren’t humans and reacted quite differently in certain situations, especially when they were young and hadn’t learned self-control.
He’d done what he’d had to do, but that knowledge didn’t keep the guilt from gnawing at his gut.
There was no telling what was going through the boy’s mind.
He likely hated the very ground Cyrus walked on.
There was no point in offering an explanation.
Not only was he not in the habit of doing so—to anyone—but whatever he said now would fall on deaf ears.
His wolf paced restlessly inside him, wanting him to do something—anything—to fix the situation.
Nothing he could say or do would have an impact. Not now.
The very idea of defeat was foreign. He never gave up, never stopped once he’d set his mind to a goal. He couldn’t predict their reactions. Burying his fear, he waved them forward. “Welcome to Sin Mountain.”
“You live with your brothers?” There was a slight sneer in the boy’s voice, but Cyrus let that roll off him like rain off a duck’s back.
If Adam thought he could provoke his temper, he was sorely mistaken.
He had six younger siblings. Not to mention he’d spent his entire life dealing with felons and assholes.
“Wolves are pack animals by nature. We’re often away for work. This makes the most sense for all of us. Let’s go inside. They’re waiting to meet you.”
There was no telling what Josiah had told them, but he was confident his brothers would make up their own minds about the new additions to their family. Adam hung back, his uncertainty palpable. Then he squared his shoulders and tilted up his chin.
The mannerism was pure Vinnie. She met the world head-on, not backing down. Pride swelled inside him, even though he knew Adam’s courage had nothing to do with him and everything to do with the mother who’d raised him.
The door opened and Noah stuck his head out. “I’ve got a big vat of chili on the stove, beef stew in the slow cooker, and fresh rolls coming out of the oven if you’re interested.”
“That’s Noah. He’s a hell of a cook.”
“What about our stuff?” Adam looked over his shoulder at the SUV.
“We can get it now or drag everything inside after we eat. Up to you.” He figured it was best to give his son choices, allow him to feel as though he had some say in this strange new world he’d landed in.
Vinnie’s stomach chose that moment to growl.
“Mom needs to eat. It can wait.”
“Heard that, did you?” She pressed her hand against her midsection. “You always had ears like a bat.”
A tiny smile played at the corners of Adam’s lips. He didn’t object when she slung her arm around his waist. The two of them walked side by side toward the house, a united front.
Hunger grew inside Cyrus. Not for food but for belonging. He wanted to have the right to put his arms around both, knowing he’d be welcome.
That was a way off, if it ever happened. Any attempt to integrate would be met with anger, something he’d rather avoid. Patience was the key. Every apex hunter understood when to bide his time and watch for the right opportunity.
Noah thrust his hand toward Vinnie. “I’d hug you, but I don’t want to make you uncomfortable or cause you to slug me. Figured it was safer not to risk it. At least not until you get to know me better.”
Her brief laugh lightened the weight in Cyrus’s heart. “That’s probably wise. Nice to meet you, Noah.”
His brother eyed Adam. “What the hell. I’m going to live dangerously.” He wrapped his arms around his nephew and slapped him on the back. “I’m damn glad to meet you.”
“Hurry up. We’re waiting to eat,” a voice yelled from inside.
Noah rolled his eyes. “That’s Levi. Don’t mind him. He’s a bottomless pit.” Understanding and support were mirrored in his gaze when he looked at Cyrus. “Let’s get you all fed.”
Vinnie glanced over her shoulder, as if to reassure herself he was there.
Cyrus closed the gap between them. “After you’ve eaten, you can both shower and change.
We can loan you clothes if everything in your knapsacks is dirty.
” He’d do whatever it took to help them settle in, to feel as though they belonged.
It hit him like a bolt of lightning. He wanted them to view this as home, wanted them to stay.
His entire life had been shaped by circumstance and responsibility.
While he had no regrets—the past couldn’t be changed, so having them was nothing but a waste of energy—he’d had to let go of childhood dreams. It was either that or give in to bitterness, which he was too damn stubborn to do.
But fate was offering him an opportunity. It was up to him what he did with it.
As always, his brothers were gathered around the massive wooden dining table. He stopped beside Vinnie and Adam, sensing their unease. They were surrounded by strangers, ones who could shift into deadly wolves at any given time.
“This is Josiah.” Vinnie had already met him but Adam hadn’t.
“He’s the next oldest after me. Beside him are Eli and his mate Kinley.
” Eli nodded and Kinley gave a small wave.
Cyrus was suddenly glad there was another woman in the house to keep Vinnie from feeling completely outnumbered.
Although, she was used to working in a male-dominated environment, so maybe she’d have an easier time dealing with his brothers than most.
He went around the table finishing the introductions.
“That’s Zach, Levi, and Silas.” Noah was in the kitchen taking several pans of fresh rolls out of the oven.
“Don’t worry if you don’t remember their names.
” They were an intimidating lot to meet all at once.
He pulled out a chair for Vinnie. “Have a seat.”
Rather than take it, she gripped the back of it so hard her knuckles went white. “I want to thank all of you for your help earlier.” She went around the room, silently acknowledging all of them. “My son is my life. There aren’t enough words...”
Adam shuffled his feet and kept his gaze lowered, his discomfort palpable. His brothers ran the gambit between amused and embarrassed by her obvious gratitude.
“We’re family.” Cyrus wanted them to understand that they were now part of that. “It’s what we do.”
Vinnie cleared her throat. “I’m grateful all the same. We’re grateful.”
She nudged her son, who mumbled, “Thanks.”
“Adam, you can sit by your mom. What would you prefer? Chili or stew?” Without Cyrus having to ask, Josiah got up and moved to another chair.
“Stew for me, please,” Vinnie said.
“Me too. Please,” Adam seconded.
Rather than try to engage them in conversation, Cyrus went to the kitchen and took the two bowls Noah handed him and ferried them back to the table.
That galvanized the rest of them into action.
In minutes, they were all around the table eating.
He polished off three bowls of the chili and four rolls before the edge was gone from his hunger.
Vinnie was picking at her stew, while Adam was on his second helping.
When he’d emptied the bowl, Noah had taken it and filled it without waiting for the boy to ask.
Love for his family filled him until his heart ached.
Raising them, making certain they were clothed, fed, protected, and educated was his greatest accomplishment.
Different in temperaments, they nonetheless functioned as a single unit, each playing to their strengths.
They were true outliers, not a pack in the traditional sense but one nevertheless.
When Vinnie set her spoon down, Cyrus shoved back his chair and stood. “If you’re done, I can show you where you’ll be sleeping.”