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“Because they’re a family. Always there for you. When you’re down, when you’ve just lost the only person you love and you don’t want to do anything else, this family helps you get back up. Maybe it’s not your blood, but it’s the one you chose.
A family…a word that grips my heart. I used to have a close family, a family that loved me. And it was ripped away from me overnight without warning.
I can’t disagree with Dan. Because I know how important family is.
“Come on,” he orders me gently. “Come with me.”
***
Tucker
The Pack is more complex than it seems. There’s the core group of ten or so members—My Family—and then there are the ten or so other members who are in the group but not totally part of it. They’re basically there to help us throw the most insane parties ever and the first two stages of selection.
Tonight was supposed to be a small committee, just the core group. We were supposed to talk about potential newcomers. Two spots are available, and there are four candidates.
That’s the rule this year. Only two spots because I don’t want to go overboard. We need freshness, we need renewal, but most of all we need balance in our fraternity.
So, it was just supposed to be a couple of us, but obviously the plan changed, because when I arrive, the student house is packed.
Can we ever be at peace? It wasn’t enough that my mom threw a fit trying to unplug my sister’s breathing tube right before I left, I also had to have Yeleen and Sarah invite the whole campus?
I mutter a swear word when a guy nearly spills his fucking cup on me. He looks up and, when he recognizes me, apologizes several times as he moves out of my way.
That’s right, man, move before I explode.
Because it’s going to happen, it’s inevitable. I’ve been under a lot of stress the last few days, and what happened tonight isn’t exactly helping me contain myself.
I make it the rest of the way through the crowd without difficulty. I’m not seen as the tough guy in this room. No, it’s much deeper than that. They respect me, my reputation precedes me.
I join Yeleen and her boyfriend, sitting on an old couch, and drop into the chair next to them, my head back.
“Tucker,” Yeleen exclaims in surprise. “I thought you weren’t coming.”
I mumble a grunt but don’t bother to answer her.
“Are you okay, man?” asks Trey as he leans over to me.
Are you okay? Damn it, what kind of question is that? Who cares if I’m okay? I don’t answer him, my gaze settling on the small crowd gathered in the living room.
TJ is talking with a pretty brunette who is smiling at him far too much to be disinterested. I give her another five minutes before she gets caught up in his net.
Trey hands me a cigarette, I take a drag and give it back to him after a nod of thanks.
“You should stop smoking,” Yeleen says reproachfully. “You’ll die faster with that.”
“Who cares,” I say with a chuckle. “Where are the new guys?”
“Amelia is outside with Chase. Sanchez had to leave early. We couldn’t have talked tonight anyway, considering the number of strangers who showed up.”
“And the redhead?”
An image of Iris, all hot between my arms, imposes itself on my mind. While my cock hardens almost instantly at this memory, I try not to let anything show on my face.
But Yeleen seems to have picked up on it. Clinging to Trey a little more, she says to me, “Why are you asking me where Iris is when I’m sure you did your own research?”
I don’t answer, but I glare at her because, damn it, she’s right. TJ told me she was working tonight and wouldn’t be coming in. And while he was telling me how much he liked her temper, I could only think of her bare skin under my fingers.
And I don’t like that. I don’t like that at all.
