Page 7 of Matched in Mayhem

“I would’ve had a lot of questions. Hell, I still have a lot of questions. Only tracking him down right now to demand answers isn’t very high on my to-do list.”

“Same. Later. We’ll corner him later and make him tell us.”

“There’s no making that dragon do anything he doesn’t want to do,” Bennie laughed.

A rush of voices sounded off over my family link. I wasn’t sure how long they’d been trying to get my attention but even now they were like whispers in the back of my head.

“Everything alright?” he asked, stepping closer and reaching out for my hand.

“My family is talking. Well, I think they’re talking to me. I just… I think I wasn’t paying attention,” I blushed harder.

“Let’s get you to the car. You look like you could use a minute to sit down. I can give you privacy while you call them if that’s easier for you,” he said, holding onto my hand.

“The car sounds like a good plan. I think they’re excited but be warned one of my grandpas will probably run a background check on you,” I said, knowing no one would stop Grandpa Clyde from doing what he wanted to do. Though, how much of a bad history could this tiger have?

“That may be complicated,” he let out an uneasy chuckle and my phone rang.

“I think he’s calling now,” I said, without looking at my phone.

“You can answer it. I’ll answer his questions. What happened, happened.”

“That doesn’t sound ominous at all,” I laughed, the fur on my wolf’s back standing up.

“Hey, Grandpa,” I answered the phone.

This time I was right about who was on the other end of the line.

“Congratulations, sweetheart,” Grandpa Clyde said and before I could say thank you he added, “Let me talk to him.”

“Grandpa, you don’t have to be a cave alpha. Just check out his social media. I mean, he went to work with the penguin shifters,” I said and kicked myself as soon as the words were out of my mouth. Like seriously?! I couldn’t even keep the fact that I stalked his social media to myself?

“I know. His background check came back. Just let me speak to him, please,” Grandpa Clyde said.

He was being softer than usual. He was never actually mean to us grandkids but he didn’t sound as stern as he usually did. I flashed Bennie a sympathetic smile before passing the phone to him.

“He wants to speak to you,” I said aloud and mouthed ‘Sorry’ silently.

Chapter 4

Bennie

The Hemlock Wolf Pack, The Train Station in Star’s Territory

“Hello, sir,” I said, adding the ‘sir’ for good measure, because most shifters Clyde’s age appreciated it.

“Don’t do that,” Clyde said on the other side of the line. I knew of Clyde from his work with the Omega Liberation Front and how outspoken he’d been about ‘death by pack’ for anyone convicted of heinous crimes. I didn’t have much room to disagree with the wolf, if I was honest.

“Don’t let Alby know what I’m asking you about. Give him something about me warning you not to hurt him or I’ll skin you alive, because I will and I work in medicine. I can keep you alive a long time while making sure you suffer every second of it. Don’t make me go down that route again, okay?”

“Okay,” I nodded, used to the bluster that came from older family members.

“Your background check returned rather quickly. I expected more to be there. Either you are well connected or were an exceptional teenager.”

“My brother and his mate did their best,” I said, avoiding Alby’s eyes.

“Then in your twenties,” Clyde said and I already knew where he was going.

“I—”