“They’re your family. We’re your pack. And if you think Bailey isn’t already working on annexing your family into the pack, then you haven’t been paying attention.”
Koios groaned. “That’s why everyone is going to Iris to get their hair done.”
“Well, no, that’s because she’s damn good at what she does. The moment they all found out Iris was the reason Natasha has her gorgeous hair, they fought over appointments.”
Koios had to admit that Scout’s big sister did have beautiful red hair. “Plus, you can’t just annex my family.”
“I can’t?”
“There isn’t enough room for everyone to live here.”
“There isn’t?”
“No.”
“Hmm. If you say so. By the way, did I mention that Natasha worked her magic and convinced the owners of the warehouse next door to sell? Aleron paid well above asking price. Cash sale, and all that important stuff. It’s awesome having a Realtor in the family.”
Koios groaned. “She didn’t.”
“Yep. We’re working on the block, apparently. I stay out of it. I appreciate you putting this place in my name, in case I haven’t mentioned it lately.”
“You have. Multiple times.”
“I mean, you understand why I thought you were one of the griffin moneybags, right? You threw money around here like one of them.”
Koios didn’t have anywhere near the resources of the billionaire griffins, even though he now had access to more funds than ever thanks to Aleron learning his identity. “I have investments. I’ve been building my family’s wealth since I was old enough to understand compound interest.”
“And how old was that, exactly?”
Koios snorted. “It’s not that hard, Logan.”
“Says you. Point me at a bad guy, and I know what to do. Ask me to balance a budget? I’m not interested. Besides, everybody’s throwing money at us now. It’s kinda nice. I mean, I’m not doing anything with it, but I’m not going to complain about having extra resources either. Aleron’s handling that side of the pack business.”
“Of course he is.” Aleron might pretend to have limited interest in the family business, but guarding wealth was part of being a griffin. Dragons hoarded lots of shiny pretty things. Griffins not only hoarded money, they made money. Lots of it. Now that he had a pack and a mate to look out for, Aleron had taken over the pack finances. It was one more thing off Koios’s plate.
“We’d better go join the others. I smell dinner, and if Bailey has to come looking for us, we’ll both be in trouble.”
Koios groaned again. “I’m not meant for pack dinners. It’s not my thing.”
“Bailey doesn’t seem to agree. He thinks you’re being antisocial for antisocial’s sake or something along those lines. You’re holding yourself apart from the pack because you don’t think of yourself as pack. I get it.”
“I’m not sure you do.”
Logan grinned as he stood and pushed Koios’s chair back toward the desk. “I understand that Bailey is a force of nature, and I trust his instincts as much as I trusted that mysterious voice in my ear. It seems to have worked out for me in both cases, don’t you think?”
Koios couldn’t argue the point, even if he’d wanted to. He followed Logan down the hall to the dining room where the rest of the pack had already gathered. Everyone seemed to know their jobs and moved fluidly around the table as they talked and laughed together.
Logan’s hand brushed Koios’s neck. The touch startled him. He jerked away, but Logan simply moved with him.
“Bailey has a chore chart for everybody,” Logan mumbled quietly. “It keeps them all out of his hair while he’s cooking. You’ll probably be put in the rotation soon, although I bet you could convince Ben to give you a doctor’s note.”
Koios almost smiled at the idea.
“With everyone here, it’s a lot,” Logan continued. “But Bailey likes all of us at the table together at least once a week. Coal and Scout are excused this week, but everyone else is present and accounted for. You aren’t the only one who keeps tabs on the pack.”
The impressive scents coming from the room stirred Koios’s hunger. He hadn’t eaten much all day, even though Bailey always attempted to feed him. All of the attention didn’t suit his way of life. He’d spent so long isolated in his basement with only his siblings stopping by to bring him supplies or visit. With them, he’d been comfortable.
This?
