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ChapterNine
KINGSTON
The scent of home made my whole body relax as soon as we stepped out of the car. Normal. That’s what we needed. Something to show her how our life could be when things finally settled down.
“You didn’t tell me you live on an honest to God ranch,” Sunday breathed, eyes wide as she took in our sprawling property.
“It’s good to have a safe place to run. Your family has mountains and trees. We have ranch land.” I loved the sound of awe and wonder in her voice. Pride settled over me that she was already so enamored.
I could already picture us building a future here. I leaned down and nuzzled her mark, enjoying the way she shivered and pressed back against me. “This could all be ours someday if you wanted. We could fill the house with our pups. Never have to see anybody if we didn’t want to.”
“And where would the others live?”
“With us, obviously.”
“And your pack would be okay with that?”
“Ourpack. And it doesn’t matter what they think. I’m their Alpha.”
I said the words, but I sure as shit didn’t believe them. Thisarrangementof ours was going to be a hard fucking sell to every single wolf in my pack. Hell, evenIwas still getting used to being shacked up with not one but two vampires. How could I assure the people I was supposed to protect that I was doing my job when I brought a couple of their sworn enemies into our territory to let them have their way with my mate?
Sunday let out a short laugh. “Try to tell Caleb you’re his Alpha and see where that gets you.”
I shuddered. “I’ll let you pass that on for me.”
“You want me to be your sacrificial lamb?”
“You love it.”
From the flush creeping up her cheeks, I wasn’t wrong. Before I could tease her further, the front door opened, revealing my father, his usually stern face filled with excitement. I held Sunday tighter, ready to deal with whatever animosity might come from their initial meeting.
“Welcome home!” he boomed, holding out his arms.
But instead of coming for me, he moved straight to Sunday and pulled her in for a... bear hug? My eyes widened. This... wasnotlike my father. The last time we’d spoken about my mate, he’d cursed her name up and down. He’d nearly started a war between our packs to save face after she rejected me. Because refusing my bond meant she’d dishonored my pack. Now he was welcoming her with an embrace?
Before I had a chance to do anything, my dad started sniffing Sunday. “You’re pregnant!”
“Um... surprise?” She went stiff in his arms, and I instinctively tugged her away from him and back against my chest.
My gaze shot over my dad’s shoulder to where my mom and four sisters stood on the porch. “What happened to not saying anything?”
“I didn’t,” my mom said with a shrug. “He’s a wolf.”
“I could smell the pup a mile away,” my sister, Phe, grumbled.
They all stood there staring with mixed emotions flickering in their eyes. Unease, distrust, excitement, elation. The mix was as distinct as the women wearing them. The triplets weren’t going to make this easy on Sunday after her very public rejection of me. They seemed to have inherited my father’s views on my mate, while my youngest sister, Trouble, looked like she was meeting her idol.
Sunday clutched my arm, and I wanted to kick myself for not immediately introducing her to them.
“Sunshine, this is my father, Ronin. My mother, Diana.” Mom bounced on her toes, vibrating with the need to hug my mate. “My sisters, Ophelia”—I gestured to Phe, who stood with her arms crossed over her chest and a disapproving scowl on her face—“Olive, and Odette.” Ollie and Dee were only slightly less hostile. “And, last but not least, Tessa.”
Sunday’s eyes were panicked as she muttered under her breath. “Dad, Mom, Sparkles, Scrunchie, Stripes... Tessa.”
Tessa ran forward, holding out a hand for Sunday to shake. “You can call me Trouble. Everyone does.”
“Everyone does not,” my mom corrected.
“Everyone who knows me does.”
