“Are your brothers at the new house?” I whispered as he closed the door.
We stood in the narrow hallway and he nodded. “Reno stayed behind to watch over your family. I can’t give you a personal guard like Lorenzo, but I don’t think that’s what you really want—to be followed around by someone for the rest of your life. That’s not how I run my pack. I trust you, and yeah, shit happens. But everyone in the territory will know you and your family are protected by my pack, and nobody fucks with my pack,” he warned. That was the dark moment when I could see a flicker of the dangerous man Austin truly was.
Austin folded his arms and pushed out his biceps, temporarily distracting me. “I want you to make a decision before we move, which is soon. Shifters live alone all the time, but it’s too dangerous for a female wolf to turn rogue. Your mom is human and if she wants to go back to her old life, fine. But if she wants to stay here with us, then they’re part of our pack and we treat them the same.” He lowered his chin and looked serious. “That’s an open invitation, Lexi. I mean it. I’ve brought it up with Lynn and she’s thinking it over. Raising a child alone is stressful on her.”
I leaned against the wall and cupped my elbows. “How permanent is this? It sounds like a big decision and I just want to be sure.” I turned my head, listening to Ivy and my mom in the kitchen humming a song. Well, mom was humming and Ivy was singing. Couldn’t make out the song, but it sounded like an oldie. A few pots clamored and the fridge door opened and closed.
“You’re not signing your life away in blood. There’s always a choice to switch packs if your needs aren’t filled or you’re unhappy.”
Deep down, I knew my mom would only stay if I did. Being alone was wearing on her, which is why I visited so much. Having a houseful of men and women gave her people to look out for who, in turn, would offer her protection. I hadn’t seen her look so energized in years.
“Just give me a little time to think about it, Austin. It’s a lot to take in.”
He stuffed his hands in his pockets. “Is it him? Church? Are you thinking about going to his pack? He’s got a lot to offer a woman like you.”
I sighed, unable to look him in the eye. I didn’t really want to go with Church, but I wanted to know more about my real parents. Would moving in with Austin be a good idea? How would it change our relationship? Maybe he felt an obligation to Wes to look after his family; Austin was loyal like that. He would have jumped in front of a train for Wes. But did he see us as a burden on his pack?
“I just need to think about what’s best for everyone,” I finally said. “There are just way too many decisions being dumped on me at once and I need a little time to think them through. I’ve got this thing with the business, and then I’ve been contemplating calling the cops about my dad. Of course, I don’t know how to explain that one, but I feel like someone should be looking for him.”
“Someone is.”
His statement rattled me. “Who? Ivan? I don’t want you owing a man like him.”
He took a deep breath through his nose and spoke on the exhale. “No, it’s not Ivan.”
“Then who?”
“Prince.”
“Huh?”
He leaned against the wall across from me, planting his feet beside mine. “Prince called me up; I don’t think the idea of what happened to Maizy, her being left on the side of the road, sat with him too well. He’s a man who looks after his own, and while he doesn’t have a mate or any kids I’m aware of, I guess it hit a sore spot with him. Prince is doing it on his own, no strings attached.”
“He isn’t going to hurt my father, is he?”
Austin tilted his head. “That man is not your father.”
“Doesn’t matter. I don’t know what your rules are, but he’s still Maizy’s father. I’m more concerned about the man who’s after him.”
Austin scratched his chin, deep in thought. “I’ll have a talk with Prince and see where his head is. Why don’t you go in there and help your mom? Rumor has it she’s making prime rib, and Denver is coming out of his skin waiting for dinner. I’ve caught that idiot in there three times stealing bites of what they’re cooking on the stove.”
I smiled. “Maybe you need to put him outside in the doghouse.”
Chapter 26
Later that evening, we gathered in the kitchen at the small oval table. Only this time, Austin sat to my immediate left.
“We need a bigger table,” Mom declared, setting the prime rib in the center. Denver sliced into the succulent meat with a carving knife, devouring the visual display with his indigo eyes. He had a fit body—trim, but not svelte like Jericho. By the time my mom was finished with him, he was going to need to upgrade his shirt size.
No one dressed up for dinner. Denver sported an orange Atari T-shirt and Reno wore long sleeves. It was thin, breathable material, but I couldn’t figure out why he’d dress like that in summer. I hadn’t noticed any scars or tattoos, but it did give him a more serious air of authority. Austin had mentioned Reno was the most obedient wolf in the pack, and I wondered how the family dynamic affected the oldest brother who was used to being in charge and looking after his younger siblings.
Maizy sat beside Ivy, who placed a spoonful of cucumber salad onto her plate. Maizy loved vegetables, but she didn’t look crazy about the meat. We also had homemade mashed potatoes, and Austin looked like he was in heaven as he devoured my mom’s home cooking. He used to eat dinner with us at least three times a week, and I could tell each bite took him down memory lane.
Mom periodically described how she seasoned the asparagus, or the technique she used to grill the French bread, just so everyone would compliment her cooking all over again.
Totally eating up all the attention.
“You going back to work?” I asked, sipping my tea.
