His smile softened. “Mathan already offered, but thank you. Go enjoy dinner. I can smell it from here, and it smells delicious.”
I could smell it too, and it was making my mouth water.
I gently patted his calf. “Okay. Text me if you need anything.”
I left his room and made my way to the kitchen, where I could hear at least half a dozen bear shifters talking quietly. I paused in the doorway, glancing at the long, picnic-style table.
“Piper,” Taco called, waving me over. “Have a seat. We’re just waiting on Alpha and Mathan. They had a last-minute meeting.”
I didn’t see Alanna with any of the bears present, and my anxiety spiked. “Where’s Alanna?”
“Mathan stole her,” Taco said grumpily. “He’s got her in that baby carrier thing.”
Relieved, I chuckled and slid onto the bench.
We felt Riggs before he entered the room—his alpha aura was intense. I’d heard in passing that he had a particularly strong bear. We all did, being bear shifters, but some were more present, more lucid outside of their shifted forms, and definitely more powerful. Mine wasn’t like that. She was the sweeter of the two of us, which I tried not to feel grouchy about.
I glanced quickly at Riggs as he and Mathan sat down, and everyone began filling their plates. It looked delicious: lemon and thyme roasted chicken, honey-glazed carrots, a green salad, golden rolls with whipped butter, and a berry cobbler for dessert.
I was starving, so I piled my plate high, listening to the murmur of conversation around me without participating as I ate.
I tried to hurry through my meal so I could take Alanna from Mathan and let him eat without interruption. As it was, she kept trying to grab things out of his hands, and he wasn’t getting much into his mouth. I appreciated how patient he was with her. He never seemed frustrated. He just gently redirected her hands so he could finally get a bite.
Alanna seemed very active, and I worried it might not be normal for a four-month-old. Shouldn’t she still be sleeping a lot? I didn’t want to be rude and look it up on my phone at the table, so I’d have to check later.
Riggs cleared his throat, and every conversation immediately stopped and every eye turned toward him.
Whoa. Intense.
“King Draven is stopping by this evening at seven. I’ve already let the enforcers know. I’ll be meeting with him in my office. I’m telling you now so no one does anything stupid.”
Taco looked around and found everyone staring at him. “Why’s everyone looking at me?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” Drew drawled. “Maybe becauseyou’rethat kind of stupid.”
“That’s hurtful,” Taco said. “And mean. Alpha, are you going to let him talk to me that way?”
Riggs cocked an eyebrow. “Are you not a bear shifter?”
Taco looked thoughtful, then nodded. “You’re right. Violenceisthe answer.”
With that, he dumped the salad bowl over Drew’s head.
Drew started swearing as he stood, his chair crashing to the ground while he tried to brush salad from his clothes and hair. It didn’t help. The dressing had already been added to the salad bowl.
Riggs sighed wearily, and I focused on my plate, trying not to laugh.
“That’s not what I meant, Taco. I meant you’re an adult and don’t need my help handling disagreements.”
“Oh.” Taco paused, then brightened. “But I handled it well, yes? No fighting!”
My shoulders started shaking, and I had to set my fork down and take a sip of water before I choked.
When I finished, I took my empty plate to the sink and rinsed it before setting it in the dishwasher. I spun back around when Riggs abruptly stood, intensity pouring off him. His eyes were distant, likely listening through the Clan link. Then he unstrapped Alanna from Mathan and pulled her close, shielding her with his body.
“There’s a fire on Clan lands. Sullivan, Drew, Taco—go help put it out. The rest of you stay and protect the Lodge in case this is a diversion.”
Everyone moved immediately, abandoning food and plates as they rushed to their assignments.
