“An odd gesture, if not excessive.”
“You think?” Tak rose to his feet. His imposing stature, along with the tattoo on the left side of his face, intimidated townsfolk.
Tattoos were popular among Packmasters because people could identify them on sight, but facial tattoos were rare. He and his wolf were larger than most, and they emitted a powerful aura that rippled through the air in waves whenever angered or exuding their authority. That alpha energy could either feel comforting or like a threat depending on the situation.
Right now, it was like an invisible hug.
Tak leaned against the railing and crossed his arms. “Who your wolf chooses is not for me to decide, but the same rules apply for everyone. Your chosen mate must meet my approval if he wants to live under my roof. When I picked Salem, I did that knowing you would help strengthen our pack. If you had been a cuckoo lady, we wouldn’t be talking.”
I chuckled softly.
“People who think an alpha’s job is easy should walk in my shoes. In my old tribe, if one of us chose a mate from another tribe, my father had to decide if that person would break harmony with our family. He also made tough decisions on when to let someone go who was causing problems. It’s not about someone’s personality but their intentions. A jackass can still be an asset to a pack. Just look at Krys.”
As if on cue, Krys’s wolf ran past the deck and barked once before disappearing.
“Your mate is your choice. Understand? But he’ll have to earn my respect in order to stay. I’m not a hotel. This is a family, and I take my family’s safety and happiness seriously. That doesn’t mean I’ll keep you apart from someone you love. You’ll still have the option to leave and find a new life together. I doubt a Vampire would want to join a pack.”
I scoffed and pushed myself up. “I’m hardly going to mate with a Vampire. That’s a preposterous idea.”
Tak swatted something on his arm and then flicked it off. “I like Atticus. He’s a generous man, but he wouldn’t be a good match for you.”
“Can we stop this conversation? The man sent me flowers; that’s all.”
Tak chortled. “Nine hundred flowers carries a different meaning from a dozen. But I’ll say this: If I find out he’s charmed you to further his seduction, I’ll sully his good name.”
“You won’t beat him up?”
He gripped the railing behind him and grinned. “There are better ways to piss off a man than with violence.”
I gestured to his bruised hand. “Is that what you really believe?”
He shrugged. “Sometimes you have to take a stand.” Tak approached and cupped my face in his hands. “No one, butno one, harms a pregnant woman in my pack.”
Feeling his protective energy swirl around me, I gripped his wrists. “Thank you. For listening, for understanding, for not tossing me out.”
His brown eyes bored into me as he lowered his arms. “How did your visit with the Relic go? Is everything okay with you and the baby?”
Without knowing what I planned to do, revealing what we saw on the ultrasound was premature. I still hadn’t had a chance to process it myself, and what if Tak viewed this as a bad omen? My own mother, whom I loved and trusted, had labeled me a monster, and that would haunt me forever.
“Milly said everything’s fine. In fact, she wanted me to go out more and have a good time. She thinks there’s too much stress around the house.”
“And is there?” Tak drew back.
“Well, to be honest, yes. Not the work; that keeps me distracted. I suppose it’s a number of things. The secrets, all the worries I have, the isolation. I’m not fond of smoky bars, but I’ve enjoyed my time out with the girls. Getting away once in a while refreshes me, so I wouldn’t mind a few trips to Austin to do a little shopping. The trouble is I have no money.”
He shook his head. “I don’t understand. You had money before.”
My cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “That was Salem’s money. Ask Mercy. I generated wealth during my career, but when we fled, I couldn’t risk contacting my accountant. Someone might have put a guard on him. I’m starting from scratch again with no real-world skills. The only thing I ever knew how to do was imitate someone else.” I strolled to the railing, wondering if he was disappointed in me.
“The pack will take care of you. We had this talk once before, remember? Everyone plays an important role whether they have a job or not. There’s work to be done on a large homestead. Hunting, fishing, clearing land, gardening, harvesting, laundry, organizing, cooking, building. And don’t forget pack roles such as teachers, healers, accountants, hunters, and those with specific gifts like Virgil with construction. With all of Lakota’s truck issues, we could use a mechanic if you want to learn,” he said with a chuckle. “You’ll find your way.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“I’m always right. If you need money, what’s mine is yours.” Tak hitched up his tan cargo pants. “Is there any chance those people will find you?”
I shook my head. “They never saw my face. I’m sure they’ve started all over again with new victims.”
“Is that why you traveled so far to a house in the hills?”
