Julien grimaces. “It could have gone better. They aren’t happy, William especially, but at this point they’re going to have to get over it.”
“Good,” says Rachel, smiling at the two of us. “It’s about time you put your foot down.”
“Let’s head back to the house and figure out our next steps,” says Julien, sighing. “Mom, please give Remy a call and ask him to meet us there to discuss any damage control that might be necessary.”
She nods her agreement and the three of us head out to the parking lot.
I eye Rachel’s car parked crookedly across two spaces.Nope. Not doing that again.
“I’m riding with you,” I say to Julien, tugging him toward a black SUV I’m fairly sure belongs to him.
“I wonder why…” My mate smirks at me.
I narrow my eyes and poke him in the shoulder. “Your mom drives like a maniac.”
“Believe me, I know,” says Julien. “I grew up with her.”
“Hey, you made it to adulthood,” says Rachel.
“Barely,” replies Julien in a dry voice.
Rachel huffs in exaggerated offense, sticks her nose in the air, and walks to her car.
The ride to Julien’s house is much less nerve-wracking than my trip with Rachel. By the time Julien pulls into the driveway behind his mom’s car—she, of course, beat us here—Remy, Dante,andBrody are all waiting for us.
As Julien and I exit the vehicle, the three shifters tilt their heads to the side, baring their necks to Julien. And then to me.
What the hell?
Remy must catch the confused look on my face because he gives me a wide smile. “You’re Alpha Mate now, Keir.”
True. I guess.
But that doesn’t make this any less awkward. I didn’t ask for a title, and I don’t really want one. My gaze strays to Julien. Though, I suppose I don’t have a choice if I wanthim.
“Let’s go inside,” I say, cutting through the awkwardness. Sort of.
This is going to take some getting used to.
Thirty-Four
Keir
Forthenextfewdays, things are pretty quiet while we wait and hope the elders come to their senses without any additional arguments. Julien could simply present me to the pack as the new Alpha Mate and be done with it, but he’s trying to keep the peace. Rachel thinks he’s being too naïve—I kind of do, too—but I definitely appreciate the bit of downtime. There have been a lot of changes in my life in a very short period of time and having some breathing room is going a long way toward helping me adjust.
The first day Julien and I spend most of our time in bed cementing our mate bond. Having a lover who’s actually kind and considerate is still something I’m getting used to, but I’m damn sure not complaining. We’re certainly not lacking for chemistry and the physical intimacy is slowly chipping away at my fears and insecurities.
The second day is much of the same except Julien and I actually leave the bedroom to sit down and eat dinner with Rachel, Remy, Dante, and Brody at the dining room table. The whole family meal thing is a novelty to me. I can’t remember ever sharing a table, much less light-hearted, friendly banter with my dad or anyone else in my former pack. I don’t say much during the meal, still feeling slightly out of place, but there’s a smile on my lips the entire time.
By the third day, we still haven’t heard a word from the elders and I’m getting a little antsy. Having this little reprieve from life’s dramas is definitely nice, but there’s also a heavy sense of apprehension hanging over me, as if something’s waiting in the wings to snatch my newfound happiness away.
That evening, Julien and I are sitting on the deck together when Remy pops his head out the back door and asks us to come inside. There’s something in his tone that sends anxiety spiking through my body.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“We have a bit of a situation,” says Remy as he leads me toward the living room.
“Like what?”
