“Mom,” I groan. “You’re so embarrassing.”
“I guess I wasn’t very subtle.” Drax’s cheeks turn pink. “But I’m glad that everything has worked out.”
“Let me introduce you to everyone.” I take Mom’s arm and steer her around to meet the group. “This is Orin. The pack leader.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you all.” Orin’s tone is brisk and businesslike. I admire his bravery when he reaches out to shake Dad’s hand first. Although my parents don’t stick to a traditionalpack hierarchy most of the time, Dad is officially their pack leader, which I’m guessing Orin’s alpha instincts sense.
I notice Dad’s teeth clench as he shakes Orin’s hand, presumably from the strength of his grip, but Orin doesn’t even wince. “We’ve all been looking forward to meeting you, and I can assure you we all have Sabs’s best interests at heart.”
“Are you the one who bit my daughter?” Dad demands to know.
“Actually,” Adler steps forward with an ashamed duck of his head, “that would be me.” He holds out his hand. “I’m Adler.” When Dad doesn’t take it, Adler awkwardly drops it to his side.
I can feel how uncomfortable he is as my family looks him over, so I hurry to his side, linking my hand through his and squeezing. He needs to know that he’s not alone.
“You look familiar.” Mom puts her hand on her hip. “Do you model? You have the right face for it. Look at that bone structure.”
“Mom, stop.” I cringe. “Adler is the captain of the college hockey team.”
“Hockey, huh?” Bug seems to perk up. “I used to play back in college too.”
“Okay, we don’t need to hear a rundown from your glory days.” I jump in, gesturing to Luca before we’re all bored to death by a blow-by-blow account of his winning game, which I’ve heard a thousand times. “And this is Luca.”
“It’s great to see, um, meet you.” His obvious nervousness seems to charm Mom as she offers him a warm smile.
“It’s nice to meet you too, Luca.” Tension leaves my muscles, hearing how genuine my mom sounds.
“Luca studies physical therapy,” I add. “Maybe he can take a look at your back, Pops?”
“One step at a time.” Mom raises her hand. “We have some questions to ask first.”
“We’ll be happy to answer anything,” Orin replies. “I know that finding out about us must have been a shock.”
“How long have you been a pack?” Mom asks in a clipped tone that sounds completely unnatural compared to her usual welcoming voice.
“Officially? Around six years.” Orin leans back against the counter, crossing his ankles. “I actually work for SVU as the Head of Security. Adler and Luca both study here. I’ve worked with Drax for the last few years, though he only recently joined us. I invited him to join our pack before the… uh…”
“Why don’t we just address the big bond-shaped elephant in the room?” I decide to get it over with. “It being an accident doesn’t mean that it’s a bad thing.”
“You have to know that I feel terrible about it.” Adler massages his neck, unable to look at them. “But I promised Sabs I’d stand by her. We all will. After getting to know each other more over the last few weeks, we all know she’s the one for us.”
“And you also think you’re scent matches?” Pops questions.
“I do.” Adler’s tone is more confident this time. “We’ve only known each other a short time, but I’m sure I speak for everyone when we say that we can’t imagine life without Sabs now.” He clears his throat. “I can understand why you’d have concerns. I have a little sister, so I’d feel the same way, but we only want the best for your daughter.”
Through our bond, I can feel Adler‘s panic as my mom surveys him.
“And you have the means to take care of her?” Dad asks. He and Orin are very similar being ever practical and favoring security.
Dad always says that we would all be living out of a camper van traveling the world if Bug and Pops were in charge. Although he’s always joked around when saying it, there’s probably more than a smidge of truth in there. After my parents bonded,they spent a few years traveling before Mom got pregnant with Beckett, and they chose to settle down. Saltwave Bay was the perfect place—a small coastal town that offered a laidback lifestyle, while still allowing them to be close enough to the city. Ideal for a growing family.
“Of course.” Orin nods. “We’ve given Sabs a nest with everything she requested, and we’re more than able to financially provide for anything she needs.”
“Very good.” Dad’s chin bobs. “Our little girl deserves the best.”
“I can take care of myself perfectly fine.” The irritation in my voice is loud and clear. “And I’m not a little girl, Dad. I’m going to be an engineer and earn big bucks. I won’t need an alpha to provide for me, but…” I squeeze my eyes shut, counting to three, remembering not to act like such an ungrateful ass. “I do appreciate everything the guys have done for me so far.”
“What about your plans for the future?” Mom quizzes them. “Do you want kids? A family? Where will you live after graduation?”
