“Yeah, maybe.” Logan would probably laugh in his face, but Nick was right, it didn’t hurt to ask.
“And you could always try contacting some of the other packs on your own. Maybe they’ve just not bothered because the McKillan pack are one of the biggest and richest? Maybe they think they can’t compete?”
“You believe that’s why?”
Nick scrunched up his nose. “Well, no...”
Cole laughed.
“But like I said before, it can’t hurt to try.”
“I guess.” Cole finished off his pint and set his glass down with purpose. “Can we talk about something else? It’s too nice a day to ruin it with all this shit.”
Thankfully Nick laughed. “Yeah, okay. I’ll go get another round in.”
Cole watched him go inside, fingers tapping on the table. If only he could be as excited as Nick was about everything.
He sighed and closed his eyes, face tilted up towards the sun, trying to enjoy this time while they had it.
Tomorrow would come soon enough.
“YOU ALL SET for today?” Cole’s mum leant against the kitchen counter, mug of tea in hand. She was trying hard to hide it, but Cole knew she was worried.
“Yeah, I’m meeting him at the park.”
“The park?” Cole’s dad walked into the kitchen, piece of toast in hand. “Seems an odd place to meet.”
Cole shrugged. Where was a good place to discuss the rest of your life? “I suggested it, actually. Thought somewhere out in the open might be better, and it’s a nice day, so...” He didn’t know how to explain it to his parents. The world felt like it was closing in around him as it was, choices being taken away left, right, and centre. The thought of meeting Logan in an office, or any confined space, made his skin feel too tight on his bones.
Thankfully they both let the subject drop.
His dad took the chair opposite him. “Are you sure you don’t want anyone to go with you?”
“I’m twenty-three, Dad.”
“It’s not that I don’t trustyou. I thought it might be handy to have a witness, so if he goes back on anything you discuss, then it’s not just your word against his.”
Cole relaxed, smiling despite the gravity of the day. “Thanks, but I doubt we’ll get to the agreeing terms part today. Besides, if I agree to join their pack, I want everything in writing first, and I plan to take photographic evidence.” He waved his phone at them.
“Good. That’s good...”
He sensed abutcoming any second. “But?” he prompted.
His dad sighed. “Nothing.” He shot a glance at Cole’s mum. “I need to go or I’ll be late.” He stood and patted Cole on the shoulder as he passed. “I hope today goes well. We’ll talk about it later, yeah?”
Cole nodded, swallowing his mouthful of tea. “Sure.” He waited for his dad to go and, when the front door clicked shut, turned to face his mum. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”
“No, of course not.” She faced the sink and began washing up the few pots in the bowl.
Something wasn’t quite right, but he didn’t have the time or patience to try and coax it out of her. His stomach was in knots as it was, the Weetabix he’d just eaten threatening to make a comeback. “I’m going to finish getting ready and then go.”
“Okay, dear. Good luck.”
Cole left the comfort of his mum’s kitchen and headed out to the garage. He was lucky enough that his parents had a fairly big house with a double garage. His dad had had a well-paid job as a physiotherapist before the shifters took over, and he’d been lucky enough to keep it. They’d renovated the garage into a studio-flat-type space for Cole when he turned eighteen, complete with a shower room and a small kitchenette.
He had no idea where he’d be living once he had to move out, or even if it’d be on his own. The thought of having to share a space with strangers, especially shifters who’d probably look down on him, wasn’t overly appealing.
THE PARK HE’D arranged to meet Logan in was about a ten-minute walk from Cole’s house. Unable to sit around any longer, he’d left early and was consequently twiddling his thumbs and pacing along the side of the duckpond waiting for Logan to arrive.
