Chapter 18 #3
“Hey, boy,” Drake called out to the siblings retreating back, “let your dad know Hayden is my personal guest this week.” He needed them to hear the warning in that threat. No one messed with who the Moon Goddess had given him.
“Yes, sir.” The boy’s eyes were large in fear. Drake could only imaging how his face looked. Served them both right if they were parroting their parents abusive talking points.
“There now,” Drake turned back to Hayden. The guy’s face was red and his breathing was harsh. “Please put these on. I’ll at least feel better.”
Hayden nodded and practically dove into the hoodie.
The jacket hung on his slight frame but at least he wasn’t shivering as much.
Wolf relaxed slightly now that the family was gone and mate was warming up.
He kept checking on Hayden, wrapped in how beautiful their blond haired mate was.
He was so delicate in features with full kissable lips.
He needed to be held and pampered forever.
“So, Hayden Haze, what room are you in?”
“I’m staying with the cars, sir.”
“Drake.”
“Oh, yeah, Drake.”
What room is Hayden in, Asher? Drake asked through the mind-link.
He’s not on the list anywhere.
Good. Drake cut the link.
“What do you mean you’re staying with the cars?”
“Guard duty, sir… Drake.”
“Is one of your vehicles heated for sleeping in the cold?”
“It’s okay. I’m happy to do it. I should get going. Thank you for the clothes, Drake.” Hayden stepped back. He wouldn’t even look at Drake.
“I’m not trying to make you uncomfortable. Listen, I’m hungry and your luggage is taken care of. Your dad knows you’re my guest. Let’s go eat.” Wolf pushed to sidle up to Hayden again. It was a move Drake had no desire to stop.
“I could eat,” Hayden said reluctantly but with a hint of enthusiasm.
“Good, got a golf cart over there. Let’s go.”
Drake mind-linked Asher in the cart behind them. Get a guard shack set up by the Ice Claw Pack’s cars. We’ll take Hayden’s guard duty for him.
“You have luggage up in your family suite we need to get later?”
“No, sir.”
“Drake,” he tried to tease. “So, no luggage anywhere?” It was going to get bitterly cold tonight. He’d need clothes to survive even sitting in a car. What in the world was Marcus thinking? Who did that to their son? He’d die of hypothermia tonight.
“Drake, yeah, sorry. And no, no luggage. I’m good. Is that your pack house? I’ve never been over here.”
“Yep. You’ve been to the Winter Solstice before?”
“It was a long time ago. I was ten or eleven. Mostly hung out in the hotel. The food was amazing.”
Drake watched Hayden out of the corner of his eye. The guy held himself tightly, still cold. He’d fix that for him. A hot shower would drive heat back into those bones.
He needed to call Jaxom while Hayden showered. Hopefully Jaxom could come right back. Their new mate was more important than anything else.
Tarra was getting a food cart ready in their personal quarters. Having Asher and Tarra around would reassure Hayden that nothing bad would happen. Drake also knew he needed them to be there too. Their presence would help rein his wolf in form making moves on Hayden.
His 18th birthday is in three weeks, Asher mind-linked him. Asher was an asset. He recognized a mate-bond.
Three weeks, damnit. There’s no way I’m letting him go home with those people.
Agreed. I’ve let Alpha Steven know, Asher said discretely. They want to meet him. Is that okay?
Let them know dinner at 7. Is the spare room ready? It’s Hayden’s room now.
Tarra’s on it, Asher laughed. She also has clothes galore on the way up. Cellphone, laptop, and um, well, she got him a teddy bear, too.
Teddy bear?
You talk to her. I’m not. Asher cut the link, running away from the conversation.
Drake sure as hell was not going to discuss it with her. That woman had a maternal streak a mile long. Useful but weird at times.
Tarra flung open the door. “I’m starving, boys, but you all stink. Showers first.”
Drake knew what she was doing but he protested anyway for Hayden’s sake.
“I do not stink.”
“Do, too. Go, or I’ll tell Jaxom on you. The guy’s gone for six hours and you turn into a slob.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.”
“And you, little brother,” she pointed at Hayden, “your room is this way.”
“My room?” Hayden stumbled to a halt.
“Yes. My guest, remember?” Drake said with a wink. He rolled his eyes at Tarra behind her back, getting a small smile out of Hayden.
It took every ounce of willpower to actually go take a shower. He slipped his cellphone out as he closed the master bedroom door. He needed Hayden tucked in bed in this room. His wolf was pissed to be separated from his mate.
Jaxom picked up on the first ring. “Hey, handsome, miss me already?”
“Always,” Drake’s voice was gruff. “He’s here, Jaxom.”
“Seriously? What did he say? Who is he?”
“Hayden Haze of the Ice Claw Pack. The Beta’s stepson. Three weeks from his 18th. His family is abusive.”
“Shit, shit, shit. I need to come home.”
“I know. Dad’s just going to have to send Beta Tim. He’s better than ninety percent of the Alphas out there.”