Sebastian blushed, looking pleased. “You, too,” he mumbled, glancing at Bjorn and ducking his head at the smitten expression on Bjorn’s face.
“Let’s go,” Viggo said. “We’ve got a long drive.
As they were climbing into the car, Max and his brother jogged over to intercept them. They’d let go of the change and shifted back to their human forms, though they looked no less intimidating. Max’s hulking brow was furrowed in concentration, his jaw clenched, and Viggo pulled back from where he’d been climbing into the SUV to meet him.
“We want to join your pack,” Max said, cutting right to the chase. Viggo looked at him, taking in his tired but determined expression, and without second-guessing himself, nodded.
“Sure. Why not?”
Max blinked at him, clearly not expecting the answer. Judging by the look Bjorn was shooting him, he hadn’t expected it either.
“Really?” Max swallowed, sounding suddenly very young. He couldn’t be more than twenty-five, Viggo realized.
“Really.” Viggo had no reason for his decision other than that his wolf liked them, but his wolf hadn’t steered him wrong yet.
“You want to come with us now?” Viggo nodded at the SUV. It was a seven-seater, and there was enough room for Max, his brother and their human.
“Yes,” Max said, looking excited and intensely relieved. “Let me get Josh. I’ll be thirty seconds.”
Max turned around and ran back to the warehouse, leaving Viggo, Bjorn and Sebastian to stare at his brother.
“I’m Conrad,” the brother said, awkwardly introducing himself.
“If you or your brother make my pack look bad, I’ll rip out your throats,” Viggo warned him.
Conrad grinned, taking the warning in the friendly spirit it was intended. “That’s fair.”
Sebastian made a strangled noise and climbed behind the wheel, mumbling, “You guys are fucking crazy.”
Viggo laughed.
Less than the promised thirty seconds later, Max came running back to the SUV with Josh cradled in his arms. He set the human down gently, presenting him to Viggo with obvious pride.
“This is Josh,” he said, nudging Josh toward Viggo. “Josh, this is Viggo Blackwell. We’re joining his pack.”
The human frowned up at him, and then he rolled his eyes. “Of course we are. Hello, Alpha Blackwell, thank you for taking us in. We won’t give you cause to regret it.”
“Welcome, Josh.” Viggo looked the human up and down, worrying at the state the boy was in. It looked like he’d taken quite a beating.
Noting Viggo’s look, Max pulled Josh back against his chest, stroking his hair and looking down at him with a wrenching sort of guilt.
It was obvious that Josh had been injured in an effort to punish Max, and judging by Max’s guilt, the punishment had been very effective.
“We could stop at a hospital on the way home,” Viggo offered, nodding down at Josh. “Get him checked out?”
“No, thanks,” Josh said, speaking before Max or his brother could get a word out. “I’m fine. I just need rest. Sebastian said your pack was just the three of you. Do you have space for us?”
Viggo gave him a hard stare which Josh endured without squirming. The boy probably knew whether he needed medical treatment or not, Viggo decided, nodding yes to his question.
“We’ve got two extra bedrooms. If two of you can share a king-sized bed, or one of you takes the couch, then we have room.”
There was no question of giving Sebastian the guestroom. Viggo needed to sleep close to him tonight – to tuck him in tight between him and Bjorn where he could feel that he was safe – and he was sure Bjorn felt the same.
“Two rooms is perfect,” Max said. “Conrad needs his own, but I want him with us tonight.”
Conrad nodded, looking relieved at not being excluded. Viggo had wondered if the two brother’s shared Josh, their scents so entwined, but that was not the case.
“In that case,” Viggo said, looking at Bjorn and rubbing his arm. “Let’s go home.”
