That they were grateful to be there.
Peyton shook with him, smiling and nodding.“You’re good men,”Peyton silently said to him.“I’m glad to have you here in our pack.”His smile faded, and he didn’t release Carl’s hand.“Dewi’s our baby sister. I know she’s your boss, and a Prime, but I expect you to lay down your life for her or her mate, if necessary. That’s the other reason I want you both in Tampa—to help protect Dewi and Ken.”
Carl nodded.“We will, Sir. That’s a promise.”
Peyton nodded and pulled him in for a hug, then Mateo, before walking over to another couple to talk to them.
Mateo slipped his arm around Carl’s waist and leaned in close.“What’d he say?”
Carl nuzzled his ear.“Tell you later.”
As the evening progressed and they mingled, meeting more of their new packmates and chatting with everyone, Carl realized this was the most relaxed he’d felt in years.
Maybe in his whole damned life, since his mom died.
A few minutes before midnight, champagne and sparkling grape juice were passed out to everyone, and they all gathered around Peyton, Trent, Dewi, and Duncan.
Peyton held up his glass. “To those we’ve lost, to those who are absent, and to those who are yet to arrive. May the Goddess watch over us all and bless us with Her light. Thank you all for being here tonight, and may the next year bring all of us far more light than darkness.” They all drank.
That led to the ten-second countdown.
When the clock struck midnight, they all threw their head back and howled…
Which, in retrospect Carl realized Lu’ana and Reggie might think was weird, except the parents had already retired for the night with Bebe.
Carl slanted his lips over Mateo’s for a sweet, sultry kiss that tasted of champagne. “Love you, mister.’
Mateo smiled, the boy he remembered that day that felt like a lifetime ago. “Love you, too,mate.”
Chapter Ten
New Year’s Day
New year, new me.
Ken laid in bed and stared up at the ceiling. Peyton had declared that, at least until late afternoon, there would be no pack business conducted, unless it was a literal emergency.
Meaning he and Dewi could sleep late this morning. He already knew Beck was planning on keeping Nami in bed.
And newlyweds Da’von and Brianna would likely enjoy a late morning, too.
There would be a noon brunch at Peyton’s for anyone who wanted to partake of it.
He didn’t want to think too much about pack business for fear of Dewi overhearing his thoughts and him then spilling the beans by default.
This isn’t going to be easy.
Then again, in the grand scheme of things, it wasn’t like it was Manhattan Project-level secrecy. No one was going to die if he failed.
He’d just feel like a failure.
Which, ironically, while it had been a constant state of being for him before Dewi entered his life, he was no longer resigned to failure as a default mode.
He wanted to do this for Peyton.
All things considered, despite Bebe’s status still being unresolved to the shifters’ satisfaction, yesterday had been a pretty good day. No surprises, good or bad.
He was hoping today would be unremarkable, too. Tomorrow they’d head back to Florida, meaning an end to their vacation.
