By the time I left the bathroom clean, dressed, and mostly calm, Kellan had me completely packed up. “Grab your bathroom shit and we’re good to go,” he said, standing next to four brand new suitcases that I knew for certain were not mine.
“Where did they come from?” I asked, eyeing the matching set of gold and pink bags.
Kellan’s smile was sheepish as he ruffled his blond hair until it sat in attractive disarray. “I picked them up for you. I thought you might need luggage, and these… matched your hair.” He mumbled the last few words as his cheeks pinkened.
Damn this alpha.
He was both thoughtful and sweet, and I refused to be the asshole who crushed him in the middle of a nice gesture. “Thank you, Kellan.” Somehow, I managed to keep my voice even. “But you don’t have to buy me stuff.I promise. I’m really low maintenance.”
He glanced down at the bags. “I’m starting to see that. I mean, I only filled one and a half with your clothes, and—” He peered over the top of me into the bathroom. “—it doesn’t look like you have any extras.”
“Most of my personal items were left behind when I had to run from Florida, and then again when they knocked me out in New Mexico and dragged me here.”
His sunny disposition darkened as I felt a wash of powerful dominance. The rapid change reminded me of Warrick’s comment that while Kellan contained more sunshine than others in his pack, if you riled him, you’d get the summer storm of your life.
“I’m sorry that you were brought here under those circumstances.” His voice grew even deeper. “Who was there?Who touched you?Do you know their names?”
A smile tugged at the corners of my lips. “You’re my favorite, Kellan… I hope you know that. But for real, you don’t need to murder them for me. They were just doing their jobs.” A job that had fucked my entire life, and I was ready and willing to kick their asses myself if I ever saw them again. But I refused to let these alphas fight my battles.
Relying on them could be my downfall.
Needing a distraction, I grabbed the small toiletries bag, and filled it with my few items from the bathroom. “Okay, we’re good to go,” I said, heading for the suitcases to help him haul them downstairs.
Kellan got to them first, and barely let me take one of the small empty ones, while his massive paws gripped the other three. Deciding that I would choose my battles wisely with this pack, I didn’t argue, and made my way down the stairs to find the entire Annandale pack waiting near the entrance.
“We’re going to miss your gorgeous face,” Cora cried as she wrapped her arms around me and yanked me into one of her full-bodied hugs.
Nope.No freakin’ crying.Now was not the time to fall apart. “I’ll see you all for a family dinner soon, okay?”
Sierra hugged me quickly, but the three male shifters kept their distance thanks to the giant alpha standing at my back. “It was a pleasure to have you here, darlin’ girl,” Marcus said, blowing me a kiss. Richard nodded in his stoic way, and then there was Warrick.
“I can’t thank you enough, Alpha Warrick.” I placed my hand on his arm and ignored the scowl boring into the side of my head. “I’ll never forget the kindness you so freely offered.”
I might have only known them for days, and there was still the whole Hunter-stalking-me-in-their-territory to deal with, but my wolf didn’t care. She considered them allies, and we were grateful for their freely offered support.
Warrick’s eyes softened and I got the feeling he wanted to say more, but ended with, “I’ll contact you about our next family dinner. I can go through one of the Reeves pack until you get a phone.”
He glanced over my head toward my towering alpha shadow. “Any night except Sunday,” Kellan said shortly. “That’s our family bonfire night.”
Tilting my head back to take in his tense features, I wondered if they’d truly expect me at theirfamilybonfire when I’d made it very clear that I wasn’t family and never would be.
Kellan’s gaze settled on my face, and I could see in the depths of his blue eyes that I would absolutely be there. No excuses. Not wanting to argue in front of the other pack, I filed that topic away to speak with Hunter about later. For now, I’d continue to choose my battles wisely.
When we exited their Tudor house, there was a blue Range Rover parked outside. It was the model up from Warrick’s fancy ride, and I did a quick walk around while Kellan loaded the suitcases in the back. “Do you own shares in Land Rover?” I asked in a tone that conveyed my shock. “Because you all are driving models that aren’t even released yet.”
Kellan laughed, looking more relaxed now we were out of the Annandale pack house. “Reeves Industries probably does. Fin and I stay out of the company stuff most of the time, but we’re happy to reap the benefits. Getting early models not yet released to the public is one of those benefits.”
“That they occasionally pass on,” Warrick called from where he stood near his front door.
I narrowed my eyes because he’d conveniently forgotten to add that part when we were discussing his Range Rover the other day. It made sense that the strongest alphas would all be tied in financial ways, but it irritated me all the same.
Kellan opened the door for me, and a scent I could only associate with leather and wads of cash drifted from the interior. I made a rapid decision to enjoy this aspect of living with Reeves Pack, even if it was the only benefit I got from the four powerful alphas.
Kellan closed the door behind me and hurried to the driver’s side. When he jumped in, I kicked myself for not taking that seat first. Hunter had forced me to live at their house, and for that reason alone I should get to drive this glorious baby.
As the engine fired up, Kellan shot me a cocky grin. “Ready to go, freckles?”
“Freckles,” I said with a disappointed shake of my head. “Very original.”
