“It’s fine,” Haven says softly.
“Everyone out,” Rylee demands. “I want to talk to Haven before you go.” I push against Lawson’s chest when he doesn’t move. Hunter stops on his other side. Bane looks at Haven before stiffly walking out the door. “Wait at the end of the hallway, and don’t eavesdrop.”
“Brother,” Hunter says.
Lawson exhales harshly before allowing us to usher him out the door. Once we enter the hallway, he prowls down it, stopping at the end. Everyone passes him, leaving out the back door, except Sally and her mates. I lean against the wall beside him.
“He wants out,” he growls.
“You have to restrain him,” I whisper.
“Isn’t your animal clawing at your chest?” he asks, pressing his palms against the wall.
“Yes, he’s very impatient,” I confirm, sighing.
“How can you be so calm?” he continues.
“I’m not. I just have more experience hiding it.” I tilt my head, meeting his eyes. “She doesn’t know about us. Being a human thrust into our world has to be jarring. Give her time.”
“I don’t know how,” he whispers.
“I’ll help.”
“We all will,” Hunter says, stopping across from us.
“I doubt she has been with four men before,” Bane drawls, slapping Lawson on the back. “Let’s not fuck it up.”
Lawson laughs abruptly. “You always know what to say.”
“I try.” Bane smiles slightly, and Lawson turns, some of the tension leaving his body.
“As much as we want to take her home with us, we can’t,” Hunter says, looking at each of us. “Rylee will want her at her place. We won’t rush or scare her. If she needs to go slow, we go slow. Our animals will be pissed, but they have to deal with it. This isn’t a woman we're going to fuck one night and never see again. This is forever. Our goal is to help her understand and want to be with us.”
“We’re just going to leave her at Rylee’s? Without our protection?” Lawson asks roughly.
“I never said we wouldn’t be close,” he says.
“Stalking, Brother,” I smirk.
“No. Protecting. She belongs to us. I believe we deserve a family.” Hunter closes his eyes briefly. “Finally, a piece of happiness.”
“We do,” I say softly.
“Are we in agreement?” Hunter asks.
“Yes.” I look at Bane.
“Of course,” he says.
We focus on Lawson.
“I'll do my best, as long as I can stay close to her, even if she doesn’t know I am,” he says.
“Good. Bane will take the first watch with you.” Hunter looks down the hallway. “Heath gave us the rest of the night off. He knows our schedule will depend on our mate.”
“Sally, it looks like you have something to say,” Bane says. I forgot she was still here.
“It’s a good plan.” She lifts a shoulder and moves closer. “Don’t overwhelm her, yet stay close. Be prepared to expose your life. A woman wants to know the man, or men, who plan to make her deliriously happy.” Her mates chuckle. “I don’t think she’s going to run away screaming; she would have already. She knows about your animal, yet she still sat next to two of you, let you touch her, and followed your directions. I’d say that’s an excellent sign. Just don’t be a dick, and don’t underestimate her. She may like a little bossiness.”
