“Then I can see why you didn’t lead with that.” Whitney gives him a motherly smile. “It’s nice to meet you too, Hayden.” She turns her attention to Kole. “And you as well, Kole.”
Christopher stares at his wife like she just grew a second head, and West isn’t that far behind him.
“You’re taking this whole thing rather well,” West notes suspiciously.
Whitney shrugs. “Why shouldn’t I? This morning I woke up, thinking that my only son would die alone and miserable. Now, I find out that he has a beautiful, loving mate, and three alpha pack members to help keep him safe throughout all this? I’m on cloud nine, dear.”
Hayden sheepishly raises his hand. “To be fair, I’m not really analphaalpha. And West could kick my ass if he wanted to.”
Kole places a comforting hand on his shoulder. “Hush,Bratishka. Your control over your alpha nature is not a measure of your worth. We all help in different ways.”
“Like whenever we need an unhinged pyro to light shit on fire or worship the ground Jo walks on, we call you.” Sam smirks, and Hayden smiles, shaking his head.
“It’s sweet, how well you know me.”
My in-laws watch the interaction with barely disguised fascination.
I pull them from their observations with a tentative hand on Whitney’s arm. “Would…would you like to stay for a late dinner? I can’t cook, but Sammy makes a mean grilled cheese.”
Whitney and Christopher exchange a look, before they take hold of each other’s hands and turn back to face us. Whitney smiles. “I think we would like that very much.”
thirty
Jo
Ascream wakes me out of a dead sleep, and before I know what’s happening, I’m bolting out of bed. The guys call out in panic after me, but I can’t hear what they’re saying. My heart is pounding, my blood roaring in my ears as I take the stairs two at a time, rip the front door open, and sprint in the direction of where the scream is coming from.
The omega housing.
What could be happening? For a split second, I’m worried that West’s parents betrayed us as soon as they left dinner last night, but quickly dismiss the idea. Nobody can get on the propertywithout Aidan knowing about it, so where is the threat coming from?
The screams turn to shouting.
“Get away from me!” she sobs, and my eyes widen when I see Mabel on her knees in the front yard, wearing nothing but one of Rory’s hoodies and a pair of sweatpants. The two guards that had been on duty are standing nearby with weapons at the ready to dispel the threat.
Declan is standing a healthy distance away from her, hair rumpled and only a pair of sleep pants on, while Rory is backing away further by the second, hands raised. “How did I get out here?” Mabel cries, her hands coming up to cover her face.
Off-duty guards are starting to trickle out of the guard house, including Ozzy. The omegas we rescued, plus Adela’s daddy, gather on their front porch, concerned looks on their faces.
My eyes dart between Declan and Rory, my lip lifting in a snarl. “What the fuck—”
“Jo!” She’s on her feet in an instant, her tear-stained face red with distress as she comes over to me. “I don’t know what happened. I went to bed, and then I woke up out here, and Rory—”
“Rory,what?” I snap, my glare cutting to him. I swear, if he did something…
“Let me explain,” he pleads, his eyes wide. “I saw her coming out of the house, and she had this slack look on her face, like she was sleepwalking. All I did was try to wake her up, I swear.”
Shit. I’m really glad Doctor McFadden is finally coming tomorrow so we can get her medication sorted out.
Rustling from behind tells me that my pack has joined me on our little late-night adventure.
I look over at Declan, who is watching Mabel with a broken expression. “What wereyoudoin’?”
“I heard the scream and came out. Rory really was just trying to wake her up—I saw it.”
Nolan and Aidan appear on the front porch, brows furrowed.
“What were you doin’ out here so late?” Mabel whips around to question Rory, who goes pale. “And why are you fully dressed?”
