“I know, but by then, hopefully, I’ll have a sous chef who can take over when needed so my poor mate doesn’t get upset.”
“That’s something we should talk about as soon as you get home.”
“Uh huh, I’d already been thinking of some possibilities but what about my pregnancy? How am I supposed to explain that? All my classmates from cooking school know I’m an alpha.”
“Good point,” agreed Jackson. “Maybe we need to consider someone who doesn’t know you.”
“Hmm,” Dakota said, pausing before answering, “I’m going to ask Slate and Lizzie for recommendations.”
“You do that and I’ll ask Steel. In the meantime, I have something else to ask you. Do you remember our cousins on our mother’s side? The ones that used to spend the summers with us until they moved east when I was five?”
“Not really, Mom talked to me about them a few times, but other than that, no. I would have been about a year old. Did I play with them?”
“Well, the twins…Sawyer and Sam…were about two so yeah, you probably played with them.”
“Nope, don’t remember them at all. Why all the questions?”
“I received an email from them, asking permission to visit…”
“Now? Why after all this time?”
“That was my question, so I asked Dylon to look into them and he didn’t find anything suspicious. They…Hunter, Mason, Sawyer, Sam, Robin and Quin…are living together on land Hunter owns…he’s the oldest. I’m comfortable inviting them for a short visit but before I do, I want to get some input from all my brothers, so that’s why I’m bringing it up.”
“How long would they stay?”
“Only a couple of weeks. I want them gone before you start to show.”
“Are their parents living with them?”
“No, their father died a while back and their mother a couple of months ago.”
Shutting his eyes at the sudden stabbing pain in his chest, Dakota gritted his teeth as a flashback of his mother’s face formed in his mind. The news shook him, but he wasn’t sure if it was sadness at his aunt’s death or relief, he wouldn’t have to see the spitting image of his mother every time he looked at his aunt.
“Dakota? Are you all right?”
Coming back to his brother’s voice, Dakota said, “Yeah, I’m okay. Uhmm, so how long would they stay?”
“Listen, if you’re uncomfortable with them visiting, then they don’t come. It’s that simple.”
“Thanks, I get that but I don’t really have a problem with seeing them. In fact, I think it’ll be good to reconnect with Mom’s family. She would have wanted that.”
“Okay then, it’s not a done deal yet because I still have to talk to Zane whenever that will be. Logan thinks we need to put a tracker on our brother since he has a mate who can pop him anywhere,” Jackson sniggered.
“It is pretty amazing,” Dakota said. “I never knew wolf shifters could do that and even Slate was impressed.”
Groaning, Jackson said, “Trust Zane to get a mate who can do that. I can only imagine what the Fates’ gift to our brother will be.”
“Theyarea cute couple.”
“So Logan said.”
“Did he tell you about Norman proposing to Theo?”
“WHAT? No! When did this happen?”
“Last night. Theo asked me to be his best man and Kieran’s going to officiate and also help plan the wedding. I’m guessing Norman didn’t speak to you about it.”
“No, but not a big deal. If that’s what they want, I would never stand in their way. When will it be?”
