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“How are you feeling about the trip?” she asked.
“Good,” I said. “Got a chance to talk a bit to my grandfather, Victor. Seems like a decent enough guy to me. Can’t imagine he’s going to be much like my mom and dad have always claimed. How about you?”
I slid my arms around Marley, nuzzling into her a bit more as her nails scratched my scalp gently. She was quiet for a long moment before she let out a breath.
“Well, I’m much less nervous than I was feeling a couple of weeks ago,” she admitted. “But I’m still a little nervous. I really don’t want a redo of the meeting at the gym, you know?”
“I don’t think that will happen. Those were strangers; this is my family.”
“Your family, but they’re strangers to me—and you,” she said. “I just don’t want them to be wary of me. I want them to like me.”
“They will like you,” I promised. “Just show them all what a wonderful person you are. Show them the real you, and you’ll have nothing to worry about.”
She worried her lower lip between her teeth in such a way that told me she wasn’t entirely convinced.
I brushed my hand up her side and kissed the spot over her heart. “I won’t let them hurt you, Marley.”
She smiled at me again and gave a tight nod. “Well, if we made it through that day on the parking structure, we can make it through this, too, right?”
“That’s my girl,” I said, coming onto all fours to kiss her lips. “I’ll get the shower started. You just rest for now.”
“How did I wind up with such a sweet man?”
“Must have something to do with how sweet you are.”
After our shower, we got Noah packed up and headed to my parents’ house. It was still quite early in the morning when we arrived; my mother and father were still in their pajamas and having breakfast. Noah wouldn’t have to be at school for another couple of hours.
When we entered, my mom gave each of us a good squeeze before picking up Noah and hefting him over to the breakfast table.
“How’s that tooth of yours doing, kiddo?” my mom asked.
Noah beamed widely and pushed at it with his tongue. “It’s wiggly!”
“Maybe we ought to tie a string to it. Do the old doorknob trick?” my dad suggested.
“That would be one way to handle it,” I said. “I can’t believe we’re already at the point where Noah is starting to lose teeth.” I shook my head and sighed.
“Time goes by fast, doesn’t it?” My dad smiled and clapped me on the shoulder. “Well, kids, you wanna stay for breakfast, or do you guys need to get on over to the airport?”
“We’d better get a move on,” I said. “Going to pick up some breakfast near the gate. We’re already running a bit late. Last thing I need is for Travis to complain about my punctuality and driving.”
“I’ll walk you out to the car,” my dad offered. “See you off.”
I said a quick goodbye to my son, kneeling to give him a big hug and a kiss on top of his head before leaving him with the promise of goodnight phone calls.
Marley and I both hugged my mom, then made our way back to Marley’s little car—a safer bet than leaving the Jeep at the airport for the next three days. I could sense my dad was following us out to the car for a private conversation, so as we neared the vehicle, I turned to face him.
“All good?” I asked.
“Of course,” he said. “Just wanted to give you a little advice before you head out there and see my parents.”
Marley stilled next to me, her focus homing in on my dad.
“Sure,” I said, reaching for Marley’s hand and giving it a reassuring squeeze. “What’s up?”
“My parents—your grandparents—can be pretty hard-headed. As a result, a lot of their pack is the same,” he said. “I know that my parents are doing better about interspecies couples, and I know they’re getting a lot more progressive, but just be careful while you’re there. If a pack is a body, the alpha is the brain. It can take a while for the rest of the body to catch up after a big change, you know?”
He looked to Marley, placing a firm hand on her shoulder. “Stay near Cole, all right? I’m not saying anyone will go out of their way to hurt you, but sometimes in a closed-off situation like our family’s pack, the wild and animalistic nature of our lupine sides can go unchecked. People start acting more like wolves than people. Just be mindful and aware.”
