“He did.”
“How about we make some tea?”
I did love tea. We sat in the living room with our tea, and I told her all about my time with the guys—about how they researched activities kids would like and picked bubbles, learned to sign for him on their own. How my wolf longed for their touch, for me to grab their hands, or rub against them. I left out no details.
“They sound like keepers.”
“See, that’s the thing, Gram-Gram. I don’t know if I can keep them.”
“Why not?”
“Well, for one, they’re just visiting. And two, I’m worried that my wolf is just longing for her pack, and I’m latching onto them because they have one, and it’s stable—”
She held up her hand. “Are you buying trouble that doesn’t exist?”
“What do you mean it doesn’t exist? They don’t live here.”
“Location is not the issue. You and I both know that. And yes, your wolf probably wants a pack, but you meet people from packs all the time at work, right?”
“Yeah.”
“And you meet people from packs who welcome others, right?”
“Yes…” Why did she have to be so right?
“So, what makes this different?”
“I don’t know. It’s small, and they all get along. They’re not gonna kill each other for me—crap.”
And just like that, I realized my biggest fear: having my mate die because someone else challenged for me, and having that person, too, was a lot. Of course it was still on my mind.
Gram-Gram came over and sat beside me, wrapping her arm around my shoulder. “What you went through was a sign of a sick pack. Nothing about these guys sounds sick. They work together and appear to care about each other.”
“You’re right.” I rested my head on her shoulder. “It’s so hard. I have all these emotions, and it’s not just me I need to think about—it’s Maddox too.”
“I know, Romi. I know. But I think you should give these guys a chance. These alphas—nothing about them sounds like you should run in the other direction. And I don’t know what’s in your heart, but maybe open it up and let them see.”
“Why are you so smart?” I grumbled, only half teasing.
“Because I’m old. You’ll be smart one day too.”
“I’d like to be smart now.”
“Ah, fine, I’ll trade you—you can be old instead.”
“Yeah, because that’s how that works, Gram-Gram.”
Before our conversation could continue, Maddox padded out, looking for a drink of water.
Chapter Ten
James
I had to see her again. Heath and Seth told me it was too soon, but I’d never been an alpha who kept things cool. I was direct, my heart always on display, but for her? It was cracked wide open. The only way to build intimacy was to be transparent. Clear as glass.
Especially with an omega like ours. Romi was slow to trust, but who could blame her?
Not me.
