I just hope I’ll be able to keep my dad’s stink off me while we get what we need.
The lights are on at my parents’ little old house. Unsurprising. My entire family have been night owls for as long as I can remember.
“This it?” Ash asks, falling silent by my side.
“Yeah.”
My eyes catch on the bumper of my old car, a twenty-five year old Toyota 4Runner. There’s a dent along the front bumper that wasn’t there before.
“You’re fucking joking me,” I grumble.
“What?”
“My car. Someone fucked with it,” I huff, throwing open the door to the truck. “Probably my younger brother.”
“The 4Runner?” Ash asks, following me.
“Yeah.”
The t-shirt really is hilarious. I’m a big guy. I know how to hold my own in a fight. If I didn’t know the guy, I’d still be afraid to meet Ash in a dark alley.
With the wolverine howling at the moon across his chest? Maybe I’d be a little less afraid.
“We should take that with us, too,” he says as we walk up the uneven path to the door.
“Should we?”
“I mean, it’s your car and we have to ditch Jett’s anyway.”
He’s right. Plus, my old car would fit all five of us pretty easily. We need a car like that.
“Fine.”
My dad made his choice when he decided he valued getting rid of his gambling debts he couldn’t help but get himself into, over his oldest son.
I take a deep, steadying breath.
Ash’s hand clapping down on my shoulder makes me jump.
“They didn’t give a shit about you,” he murmurs softly.
“Yeah, thanks,” I say, rolling my eyes.
“You didn’t let me finish. I was gonna say they didn’t give a shit about you but that’s not your reality anymore. You’ve got people who give a shit about you. Plus a pretty little bonded omega waiting.”
I can’t help but smile at the mention of Mirabelle. Ash is right.
For the first time in forever, I’m not giving my family something they need. They’re the ones giving me something.
I bang on the door, my fist making it rattle in its old frame.
“Who is it!” My mom’s shrill voice calls from behind. “Leave us alone, we don’t have what you want!”
“I think you do, Ma. Open the door,” I yell.
Silence.
Then the sound of my mom unlocking the three locks on the door.
