“Did you have an affair with my husband?”
“No! How many times do I have to explain? Hunter was my friend. My best friend. He loved you and was excited for the birth of your first child. I never saw him look at another woman.”
Misty narrowed her gaze, cocked her head. “You’re not his type.”
Renee stiffened at the insult crouching inside the woman’s words.
“That’s enough, Misty.” Calian’s sharp tone didn’t cut through the tension, but it did attract his sister’s notice.
Renee inhaled, glad to be away from that forceful gaze. If she were Hunter, fear would’ve kept her in line. Then there was Hunter’s assertions of wolves—the ones Renee had considered crazy. Another inhibitor to cheating, although from what Renee had pieced together, this was one discussion Hunterhadn’thad with his wife.
“Why are you standing up for her?” Misty demanded.
“Because she is our mate,” Kansas snapped into the strained silence.
On the screen, Misty blinked. “You’re making a joke. Very funny. Ha-ha.”
Renee glanced at the brothers. Each wore a poker face but their bodies looked as if they might spring into action at any second. A palpable tension stepped into the hotel room.
The humor slid off Misty’s visage, leaving her sultry lips last. “You’re serious,” she said in astonishment.
“Misty, you need to accept this and move on. Renee promised she never had romantic ties with Hunter, never thought of him in that way, and we believe her.”
“Her word,” Misty scoffed. “What about the photos?”
“What photos?” Renee asked.
Misty disappeared and reappeared. She held up a strip of photos. “What about these?”
A laugh escaped Renee. “Oh, those. We had a party off-base, and the organizers brought in a photo booth. I have similar photos of me and other soldiers in our unit. From memory, Hunter squeezed into the booth with Max, another friend.”
“Hunter is smiling,” Misty snapped.
“Yeah, well. We’d all been drinking. It was before we shipped out on our last tour. Nothing happened between Hunter and I. You can believe me or not, but you’re bloody stupid if you intend to go through the rest of your life thinking Hunter cheated on you. He loved you, but if you want to taint that love with your suspicious mind, you go right ahead. Just don’t taint Hunter for his son too because that would make you a real bitch.” Renee climbed off Dakota’s knee and hit the end call button. “Well, that was fun.”
A beep indicated a return call from Misty.
“Don’t answer,” Dakota said. “Renee is right. Misty has to sort this out for herself. We can’t fix it for her. Let’s grab something to eat.”
“A drink to wash the bad taste out of my mouth.” Renee raised her chin in challenge.
Matto laughed. “I don’t blame you. I had trouble sitting still while Misty was sniping at you. My wolf refused to stop growling inside my head.”
Calian barked out a laugh. “I thought it was only my wolf. I was frightened to open my mouth in case a growl spilled free.”
“You’re all frightened of your sister?” Renee scowled at them. “Big, brave wolves who raced to my rescue through a snowstorm.”
Dakota chuckled. “We gravitated to you because you’re capable of standing up to Misty. Not many people tell her off in that manner. It rankled her.”
Renee groaned. “Excellent. My boyfriends’ closest family hate me. What will your parents think?”
“I’ve already spoken to them,” Calian confessed. “They’re looking forward to meeting you. If you can’t make it to California because of work commitments, they’ll fly here.”
“They’re okay with our relationship?”
“They were surprised at first until Dad reminded Ma about our ancestors. Three brothers mated with the same woman. It’s part of our family oral history,” Calian replied.
“Dinner,” Kansas said when the tablet beeped yet again. “We’ll leave that here. Whose room are you sleeping in today?”
