58. Phoenix
Phoenix
When we emerge from the nesting suite, I’ve never felt better in my entire life. We ate incredibly well, we fucked hard, and I had some of the best sleep I’ve had in years.
Honey looks absolutely amazing. She glows so easily and so often now. She hasn’t mentioned sinning or feeling dirty about what we’ve done. It’s as if she shed the skin of her past. While I don’t think every part of her history will stay behind us, at least for now, she’s happy, thriving even.
“So, how are we getting this home? We all came here on motorcycles or in ambulances?” I gesture at the stacks of tubs. “And don’t tell me we’re walking because like six miles of the walk are uphill from here.”
“We’re not walking. My bike has been towed home, and an SUV has been left in its place.” Lazarus jingles the keys as if to prove his point.
A pushcart is provided for us, and we roll downstairs to the parking lot.
The SUV isn’t what I was expecting at all.
It’s dark blue, almost but not quite black, and a custom plate on the front reads LZPH-01.
It’s inconspicuous but clearly personalized.
And, if I wasn’t certain the brand-new SUV was ours, the giant yellow bow and Mom standing next to it would totally give it away.
“I wasn’t rushing you into introducing us. But I couldn’t let you only drive her around on your bikes, and we were supposed to leave twenty minutes ago, but you know how Grisham is.” Mom sighs, but she’s all smiles.
She means well, but my hackles rise, waiting for a lecture or for someone to tell me Honey isn’t good enough. I’m ready to fight to defend her. Especially if Grisham or my sire makes a shitty passive remark about her.
“You make it sound as if I left you alone,” Grisham says from behind us. “Vega and Tatum are right there.”
Mom rolls her eyes.
“Honey, this is our mom, Jane.” Zephyr is much better at the introduction part. “I’m guessing with the key exchange, you remember and have met Lazarus.”
I just stand back and let him take control of the conversation. He’s better at navigating the parents without ruffling feathers.
“Leave it to one of you not to become leader of the pack,” Dad huffs from off to the side.
Zephyr wraps his hand around my wrist and squeezes, probably for the right reason, because I just about spouted off to him about how he isn’t the leader of a pack either. But it doesn’t matter.
“Honey, we expect to see you in four months to make sure everything is doing well and that your body isn’t showing any signs of regrowth.
” Grisham gives her a soft smile. He looks between the two of us.
“I’m sure you don’t care about the points, the spectrum results, or anything else relevant to the family? ”
“It’s nowhere near enough to win.” I roll my eyes.
“We’ve already claimed her.” Zephyr shrugs.
“That’s what I thought.” Grisham sighs like he’s failed somehow before directing his attention back to Mom. “Are you ready to go?”
“No,” Mom huffs.
She doesn’t even spare him a second glance and instead offers her arms out wide for a hug.
Zephyr goes first, and then I get pulled into the same hug.
“Be good to her,” Mom says with a little warning growl.
“We will.” I reassure her.
I thought for sure the hugs would end there, but Mom extends her arms wide open toward Lazarus and Honey.
Honey steps forward quickly, and Mom pulls her in for a hug. Honey smiles when they part.
Lazarus is less enthusiastic but accepts the hug in the shortest, quickest sense before backing away.
“Well, Pack Bellamy, I expect all of you at family dinner with Pack Westergaard in two months. Don’t make me call Fox and have him drag you.” Mom wags her finger at us, but it’s all in good fun before she offers her hand out to Grisham.
He takes it and spins her around gracefully, pulling her close before one casual backward wave and walking away.
Honey tries to help load the totes of blankets into the car, but Lazarus stops her, his shadow wrapping around her and pulling her away from the back of the SUV. “Honey, we are capable of putting away your nesting supplies.”
“I just want to be useful.” She argues, and I think back to the meek and scared Honey we first met.
Would she ever have said something like that before?
The last bin is loaded, and the cart is returned to the nexus. We’re piled in the new SUV with Lazarus behind the wheel.
It’s a luxury model, top of the line, all the bells and whistles, including bulletproof glass and side walls.
It’s part tank, part high-class lounge. And it’s totally lost on Lazarus.
He settles in behind the steering wheel like it’s no big deal.
Zephyr takes the front passenger seat and leaves me with Honey in the back.
Honey looks at everything with wonderment. “This is a very expensive gift.”
“No, when Xavier was engaged to —”
Zephyr clears his throat, cutting me off.
I look at him, wondering why we can’t talk about the fact that our older brother was with Iona. I wonder why we can’t bring it up when we’re closer than ever to bringing her home.
But I change my sentence. “A personal jet is a big fancy pack gift.”
“Remember what Family Baron got for Fox?” Lazarus looks at us through the rearview mirror. “Buckle up.”
As we put on our seat belts, I try to remember what they got Fox, but Zephyr beats me to it.
“An island,” Zephyr answers.
“You can buy those?” Honey gasps. “A whole island? What about the people who live on the island?”
“Oh, it’s not like a big island. I mean, it’s kinda big, it’s twelve acres? But the only people who live there are the staff.”
“I don’t think Evangeline knows about it yet,” Lazarus adds. “They’re saving it until her estrus after the ballet season. So, let’s not spoil the secret.”
“He got so much more because he’s winning the family game.” I try to make this SUV sound nice compared to an island.
“I don’t need you to win the family game.” Honey shakes her head. “I don’t need an island or a jet or this SUV. I just need you. All of you.”