“Either is cool. I guess I’m both,” Madison replied.
Amara glanced at Nathan. “What am I putting for yours?”
I interrupted before he could answer. “You can put Jude’s boyfriend.”
I felt the eyes of every single assembled family member burrow into me.
“Boyfriend is new,” Amara observed, filling out Nathan’s sticker and pressing it to his chest. “Any other boyfriends in the mix?”
“Not yet,” Leo replied, only to immediately be under their gazes as well, mine included.
What did that mean? I suppose the more important question was, what did Iwantit to mean? I’d only considered Madison going into all of this, but after starting things with Nathan, getting involved with the others in the same way it wasn’t as nerve-racking as it would’ve been.
“Put packmate for Alve and I,” Leo instructed.
Amara nodded and put the stickers on everyone, her marker at the ready as we descended into the crowd. Madison walked between Nathan and I, Alve holding onto Nathan’s hand for dear life, the other frantically taking notes as Amara introduced the various aunties and uncles, slapping stickers on them, too, much to their amusement.
While my sisters handled that, I recruited Jazz and Jax to help me get all of the food onto the ice trays set strategically on long tables down one side of the yard.
“They’re a bunch of cuties,” Jazz commented. “I didn’t know you wanted a boyfriend.”
“That was a surprise to me, too.”
“They’re almost at Mom, let’s go.” Jax pulled me over as my sisters nudged my pack up to my parents.
I got to them first. “Hey, Mama.”
My mother beamed, cupping my cheeks and forcing me to lower so she could kiss my forehead. “Good to see you, honey. Introduce who you’ve brought.”
My dads each stole me for a hug before I could, so I did introductions from under two arms draped over my shoulders.
“Come here, sweetheart.” Mama opened her arms to Madison and my omega slipped right in. “My Jude is being good to you?”
“He’s the best,” Madison assured her.
“And you’re being good to him?”
“I hope so.” Madison glanced over to me.
“She is, Mama. I promise we’re all being good to each other.”
My pack went down the line, each hugging my mother and my fathers. Aaliyah stole Madison and I away, moving toward the food table. It was full of all of my favorites, plus a few new items that I assumed were Serenity’s addition, since she was always making us try new things.
“First-time guests fill their plates before the rest,” Aaliyah told Madison with a bright smile. “Get your food so I can stuff my face.”
I waved my pack over so everyone could load up, the rest of the guests already eyeing the situation and forming a line.
Madison paused in front of a bowl of ceviche on ice, turning to me. “Can I have this?”
“Why wouldn’t you be able to have it?”
“I think raw fish is on the list of things you’re not allowed to eat if you’re?—”
“Are youpregnant?” Aaliyah poked her head between us, turning an accusatory eye to me. “You didn’t tell us?”
“I don’t know if I am yet,” Madison clarified.
Aaliyah swiveled to focus on Maddie. “Skip it for now. I’ll be back.”
