Dominic
Shiftinginmyseat,I stared out the car window. The palm trees and manicured lawn zoomed by as Talon took another turn. This must’ve been the third one, but I sensed we were getting closer because I could feel the tension in the car rise. Lucas fidgeted from the backseat, and Talon’s knuckles turned white as he clenched the steering wheel.
“We can always go home,” I suggested tentatively.
Talon shot me a side-eyed glance. “Don’t tempt me,” he muttered, then added, “Too late for that. We’re pulling up now.”
As we slowly drove into the driveway, I took in the sight of Talon’s childhood home. Nestled under the expansive Florida sky, the house was a sprawling single-story with a stucco exterior painted a soft sand color that blended seamlessly into the lush, vibrant landscaping. Palm trees swayed gently in the breeze, framing the house with a distinctly tropical flair.
“Wow, this place is nice,” Lucas commented from the back.
Talon shrugged, a hint of discomfort in his voice. “I think I prefer your parents’ home; I like the ranch style. Plus, you probably have better memories than me.” He parked the car and killed the engine.
“What’s with all the cars?” I asked, then jerked my gaze at Talon. “You don’t have nine brothers and sisters, like Lucas, right? I thought you said it was just your parents and your sister.”
I honestly didn’t know if I could handle that many people again, at least not meeting that many for the first time.
“It’s just supposed to be my parents and my sister,” Talon replied, his brow furrowing as he scowled. “I don’t know why there are so many cars.”
“Only one way to find out,” Lucas said, leaning forward between the front seats. “Whatever happens in there, we’ll get through it together.”
I smiled at my mates. “Yes, we will.” I turned to Talon. “And if anyone gives us trouble, we have our tiger to defend us.”
Talon’s laugh broke the tension, just as I had hoped, while Lucas rolled his eyes playfully and stepped out of the car. Talon and I followed, walking up to the front door. The absence of noise, unlike at Lucas’s home, was a relief.
“I will defend you,” Lucas affirmed as Talon knocked on the door.
“And we’ll defend you, tiger,” I replied, glancing at both. Talon nodded in agreement; his expression resolute.
“You made it,” a young woman said as the door swung open.
“Tessa,” Talon acknowledged. “These are my mates, Lucas and Dominic. Guys, this is my sister, Tessa.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” I replied, extending my hand.
Tessa didn’t shake my hand. Instead, she furrowed her brows and sniffed the air before turning back to Talon. “You mated an ‘other’ and a prey shifter. Dad and the family are going to have a field day.”
“Family? What family?” Talon’s voice carried a mix of surprise and irritation.
“Our family,” Tessa replied, her tone suggesting it should have been obvious to him.
Her dismissive attitude grated on me. Talon had said he and his sister hadn’t gotten along, and I could see why. She was a bitch with a capital B.
“What do you mean, ‘our family’?” Talon pressed, his voice hardening.
Tessa rolled her eyes. “We have an aunt, an uncle, and their families. Dad invited everyone over. We should go inside,” she added with a smirk before turning and heading inside the home.
Talon pressed his lips together and released a heavy breath through his nose.
“Count to ten,” I whispered, recalling his own advice for dealing with stressful situations.
Talon chuckled dryly. “I have a feeling I’ll be counting a lot tonight,” he muttered. “Come on, let’s get this over with,” he said, then led the way inside.
The interior of the house was modern and stark—neither unwelcoming nor inviting, just distinctly impersonal.
As we followed Talon down the hallway to the kitchen, the aroma of cooking food enveloped us—a stark contrast to the cool aesthetics of the house. My stomach growled in anticipation of the meal.
“Talon!” a warm voice exclaimed as an older woman pulled Talon into a tight embrace.
