Chapter 2
Chapter Two
Heath
Gram-Gram’s house was not meant to hold a pack of five and herself. There were enough bedrooms for all of us to have some private space, but I’d slammed my toe into the bed the night before—twice. Someone was going to lose a pinkie toe or a knee before our house was built.
“Not again,” Romi said, peeking around the corner to check on me. We had been up all night, taking turns, trying to nail down a trace of that scent. I gave up as the sun rose in the sky and took a nap per my omega’s command.
She could command this alpha to do just about anything, and I would.
“It’s okay. I didn’t need that toe anyway.
” I ruffled Maddox’s hair as I passed him.
We got him a booster seat to sit in a big chair at the dining room table.
Seemed he didn’t want to be the only alpha at the table in a high chair.
Romi teared up a bit at the natural rite of passage but settled after Seth whispered something in her ear.
That something also made her blush. She was such a brave, good mother wolf.
No one would stand a chance if they even breathed the wrong way in her son’s direction.
Once we were a pack and registered as such, Maddox would also be registered as our son, cutting any claims her former pack thought they had to him.
I had no clue if our omega wanted more children.
Even thinking about it was getting ahead of ourselves.
I hadn’t even mated her. Neither had Seth.
James was the lucky one. We would all be mated once she decided it was time.
The same would go for pups. If she wanted more, that would be great, but I would be equally happy just rearing Maddox together.
“The trail is dead,” Seth said, sliding a steaming cup of coffee toward me. Dark roast if my nose was correct. It generally was.
“I know.”
Romi wasn’t going to like what I had to say next.
“They have been sniffing close to this house and to Romi, Maddox, and Gram-Gram. That’s unacceptable.
We won’t live a life looking over our shoulders.
Until we know there is no more threat…” I fixed my gaze on Romi.
“I’m going to insist on getting a bit bossy, alpha.
I’m sorry if that bothers you, mate, but I won’t see you or your son, or our pack hurt. That includes all of us and Gram-Gram.”
“Bossy alpha?” Romi’s blush gave her away. She liked that idea. Probably only in the bedroom, but I’d take it. “Explain what that means.”
The three alphas in the room, minus Mads, shared a look. “You have to go to work? Would you consider quitting or taking a leave?”
She snorted and laughed but immediately sobered once she knew I wasn’t kidding. “Quit my job and what? Rely on you three to support me financially? Not a chance in hell.”
“Not a chance in hell we can support you and this family?” Seth asked.
One of his eyebrows cocked upward. Not a challenge to our mate but a challenge to her notion.
We could absolutely support this family.
Our pack had saved and invested in the hopes of one day having a mate. We were by no means poor.
“Oh. That’s not what I mean, Seth.” Her voice softened. “I won’t ever allow myself to lean on any alpha or alphas wholly again. I will have my own money. I will support my son, and I will work if that’s what I want to do.”
I cleared my throat. We were all on the same page.
We just had to remember that. “Romi, no one is asking you to give up any of your freedoms or independence and lean completely on us. You could absolutely do that and it would be our honor to provide for our family, but all we’re asking is that you let us support you until we know there’s no feral wolves breathing down our family’s neck, trying to take our…
your son. I’ll be damned if Jeremy or Clinton or whatever asshole thinks they can sneak around without consequences. ”
She hesitated then looked up at James with so much adoration, it broke my heart.
One day, I would have that bond with her but seeing it, well, I was happy for them.
James was kind and strong and comforted her in a way I might not ever be able to.
He was a big ole teddy bear with sharp teeth that came out if necessary.
“I won’t quit working. I’m sorry if that upsets you. ”
Seth crossed his arms over his chest. His stare was steel and iron. She probably thought he was angry, though his scent told nothing of the sort. He was worried. I knew my brother well. “Then we will come with you.”
“What? You’re going to come with me to work. Every day? Come on, guys. That’s a little much.”
“Is it?” James put his arm around her shoulders. “What if it was me in danger?”
“I’d do whatever it took to keep you safe.” Her words slammed into my heart. Where others saw an omega as a princess to be coddled, our omega was a warrior queen to be worshipped. I believed her. She would protect us. Sweet, fierce female.
“Then you have to see where we only want the same for you and Maddox and Gram-Gram.”
Gram-Gram made a noise from her perch in the living room.
She had caught a chill that morning and made herself a fire, slapping our hands away when we attempted to help.
“They’re not going to give in on this, Romi.
Good alphas don’t give up on the safety of their mates.
Can’t imagine these three are any different. ”
“What else?” our mate asked. “What else is included with the caveman scenario?”
I snorted. Caveman. She had no idea. “We escort you everywhere. To and from work. To and from anywhere you go. Help bring Mads to school. Accompany Gram-Gram anywhere she wants to go. We will continue perimeter runs.”
She blew out a breath. “I’ll have an escort everywhere.”
“Such an imposition to be around your mates all the time. I get it.” Seth got up and walked out of the house. He wasn’t one to slam doors—none of us were. His hurt was palpable. I understood her side of the argument but I also had my side.
The side where nothing happened to her and no one from her old pack got anywhere near her.
“You won’t even know we’re around if that’s what you want. We can stay out of sight. Enough to keep you protected but close enough to be there in case something happens. We can follow you in your car instead of riding together. We’ll keep our distance if that’s what you want.”
She hugged herself, both arms around her middle. “It’s fine. I’m just not used to all this.” An alarm went off on her phone. “Shoot. Speaking of work. I have to leave.” She jumped up from the chair and turned back. “Who is with me tonight?”
I stood. “Me.”
I brought my laptop and picked a half booth in the corner of the Darkheart bar, one that was shrouded in shadow.
Maybe she would forget I was here. Maybe not.
I worked on my laptop, researching jobs at the local community college.
There had to be something for a professor like me.
I loved teaching history, but I would take anything they offered.
We had to have income, and the community college was only about a half hour away.
It would be perfect for me.
“You must be hungry.” Romi slid a plate of sliders and onion rings in front of me. “If you don’t like that, I can get you something else.”
“This is great. Thank you.”
“What are you doing over here?” she asked, taking a seat across from me. She took an onion ring and popped it into her mouth.
“Looking for a job.”
“Oh, okay. The bar closes in about thirty minutes. I shouldn’t be long.”
“Take your time. Can I help with anything?” I shut my laptop. “I heard you’re not a fan of mopping.”
She laughed, and the sound shot straight through me. Goddess, what a laugh. “Yes, please.”
We worked for over an hour getting everything cleaned up and prepped for the next day. No words were spoken. Not even the jukebox was on.
“All done.”
“Let’s go home, then.”
“Hey. Before we go.” I stood, stunned, while my mate walked over and wrapped her arms around my torso. Her head landed on my chest, and I bent slightly to take in her sweet honey scent. She was perfuming like crazy, and it took everything in me not to offer myself to her. Right there. In the bar.
Also, I’d doubted my alpha abilities all night. We hadn’t noticed the scent before. What if something had gotten to her? What if they did something to my mate and her son? All the scenarios crept up in my thoughts and made me question my power and my position.
“What’s this for?”
“For taking care of me. I know you and the…pack are just trying to protect us. I got defensive but I know you mean well.” Her scent intensified.
“We do. We will always do what’s best for you.”
“I really need to talk to Seth. Apologize.”
I chuckled, rubbing circles along her back. “It won’t take much for him to fold. He puts on airs, but he’d die for you.”