“She works like a trojan,” Hudson mutters, sounding a little exasperated. “Hasn’t stopped.”
I frown. “Has she had a break?”
“Maybe a few minutes, and then she went straight back to it. Said she wanted to pull her weight.”
Hudson shoulders past me as he moves towards her. She turns to him as Hudson gestures, his words too quiet for me to hear over the noise of the kitchen around us. I watch in fascination as her color rises, cheeks flushing a deep raspberry red as he leans in to speak in her ear.
Well, now. That’s… interesting.
The omega takes a step back, nodding as she wipes her hands on her apron before wrapping her arms around herself with a glance towards the dishes.
Hud leads her towards us, and I can tell the exact moment she spots Axel at my side. Her foot trips on air, Hudson grabbing her elbow as she staggers.
I can feel Axel’s panic. “Would you calm down?” I mutter out of the side of my mouth. He’s not exactly giving off calming vibes, his huge frame practically vibrating and his mouth open. I push up his chin and he jerks, scowling at me.
“Thanks for the heads up.”
My smirk feels victorious. “Good surprise though, right?”
He jams an elbow into my side before snapping straight as Gabrielle slows, coming to a stop in front of us. I try not to be too insulted that her eyes are focused purely on Axel, her mouth open as she glances between us.
“You… how…?”
“This is Axel,” I announce proudly, poking his arm. It flexes under my fingers, the only outward sign of his agitation as he smiles at our omega. “Nice to see you again,” he says softly.
Gabrielle looks like she might pass out. “You’re all part of the same pack?” she asks, her tone strangled. “All of you?”
“Cade too,” I add. Her brows lower. “I haven’t… met him. I don’t think.”
Axel jabs me again, and a little more clarity filters through. Shit. Maybe I didn’t think this through. Our little omega filched Cade’s wallet, and even though he’s not angry, it’ll be more than enough to send her running out the door if we don’t handle this right.
Hudson gives me a look that tells me he’s got similar thoughts running through his head, and I swallow.
“You’ll see him at some point,” I say airily, dodging her question and feeling like shit about it. “He’s a legal genius, so he only comes out at night.”
Hudson groans silently behind her. The little furrow between Gabrielle’s eyes only deepens at my truly shitty attempt at a joke.
“Anyway,” I clap my hands. “How was your first day?”
She nibbles on her lower lip as she glances between me and Axel, but her eyes brighten. “It’s been good. I think?”
She glances at Hudson uncertainly, and he nods firmly. “Excellent.”
I swear her back straightens, a hint of pride on her face as her lips twitch upwards.
“But now it’s time for dinner,” I point out, glancing between them. “Right, Hud?”
I watch the brief glance they share, both of them looking away quickly.
“I should probably get back—,”
“No,” Hud interrupts her, hand rubbing at the back of his neck. “You’ve worked right through since lunchtime, Gabrielle. You need some food.”
I bounce on my feet. “We normally eat upstairs as a group,” I explain, trying not to sound too eager as she shuffles her feet. Ignoring Hudson’s warning look and Axel’s ominous silence at my side, I carry on.
“Want to join us for dinner?”
I can see the moment Gabrielle tenses up, her shoulders hunching as she takes a step back.
