“I’m too old for this shit,” my dad says, using his shirt to cover his nose, but then even he can’t stop laughing, even as he tries to pathetically shield his senses.
Then we’re all laughing, which makes us all look insane. We’re sitting in a jail cell, laughing over the fact that we’re here and basically beat the shit out of our girl’s ex pack and my brother smells like a dead animal.
“Mom will handle it all with the lawyers. We’ll be out of here in no time,” Axel says, because he doesn’t have as much riding on this. His stench was thankfully dissipating in the cell.
Cole and I sober up pretty quick, likely we’re both realizing this could have fucked things up with Shiloh. What if she’s afraid of us now? What if she’s embarrassed?
“You think she’s okay?” Cole asks and I grunt.
I have no clue; she was paralyzed with shock seeing her exes and the altercation after. I don’t blame Cole for what he did, especially after the evil shit spilled out of that dickhead’s mouth, but I’m still worried about Shiloh.
“Those videos are going to be all over the internet,” I groan.
“So will all the vile words they said,” Cole says, planting his face in his hands and resting his elbows on his knees. “Fuck,” he nearly shouts at the ground.
“This is all very dramatic, and exactly why I don’t have a pack,” Axel says.
“Shut up,” I hiss at him and he shoves my shoulder, so I shove his ass right back.
“Knock it the fuck off, will you? Just sit here and wait for your mother to work her magic. Until then, please just be quiet,” my dad nearly growls, and his authority is final.
He’s not just our dad, but he's the pack leader, he’s the Alpha, and he’s irritated as hell right now.
“Are you sure Mack can handle this?” I ask Cole.
He nods at me confidently. “He’s got this.”
I sure fucking hope so.
It takes four hours, but we’re finally out of the pen, and taking the elevator to my parents’ apartment.
My dad is grumpier than hell, probably because it’s nearly 3:00 a.m. and he wants to go to bed. Axel looks like he’s ready to fight someone else. Meanwhile, Cole and I are worried we just messed up all the progress we’ve made with Shiloh.
When the door opens, my mother jumps up between my other two fathers, and grabs my dad by the waist, hugging him tight.
“You’re too old to be getting into fights. You’re going to pay for that later,” she scolds.
“Christ, mom, we’re all still here,” Axel says, and she taps his shoulder.
“What were you thinking getting involved? You fight professionally, you could be charged with more,” she scolds and my brother looks down, fully accosted.
“It was fun to watch though,” my other father, River, says, and I can almost see that he regrets missing out.
This was not the first impression I wanted to give Shiloh of my family.
My mom hugs me and Cole, grabbing my pack mate’s chin.
“You were protecting your Omega. She’ll understand. It’s not the same,” she reminds him. She knows all about his past and how his father abused his mother. I didn’t even think about needing to comfort him in that way, but of course my mom does.
“Thanks, mom,” Cole says, hugging her back.
“Claire’s asleep. Mack took Shiloh to your apartment.”
“How did she seem?” I ask.
My mom pats my cheek. “Hurt, confused, sad, but I’m not sure that any of those feelings are directed at you. Just give her time to talk about it. Don’t push, just be there for her.”
“I need some sleep,” my dad grumbles next to me.
