“How old are they?” Ember whispered to Aaron as they walked away, and Arlo turned back to her.
“Eighty-three and strong as ever,” he said with a hint of smile that crinkled around his eyes. He was a few inches shorter than most of the other men, maybe a little shrunken in the shoulders, yet he made an imposing figure even in his faded black polo shirt and jeans.
Ember’s face heated as Aaron chuckled beside her. “I’m sorry. I keep forgetting there are no private discussions.”
“You’ll get used to it,” Rebecca said with a little laugh.
A group of wolves—all male—were bunched several dozen yards from a plastic orange hoop-target lying in the grass. As Ember watched, someone flung a lawn dart. It flew faster than she expected, its steel tip glinting in the sun. Cheers erupted when it sank into the ground near the center of the target.
“Aren’t those dangerous?” Ember said.
Aaron laughed. “Banned, I think, but Arlo’s had that game for probably fifty years. We don’t let the pups play.”
“You ever have to stitch someone up after a game?”
“Not so far.”
A few of the guys stepped away from the game…to study Ember.
“That’s Trevor and Ezra Sterling, brothers of Cassius’s mate Sydney, who you met,” Aaron said.
Both men were fair-haired, like Aaron around thirty years old, similar facial features marking them as family. And yes, a resemblance to Sydney showed up in the set of their lips. One of them had bright blue eyes, the other dark green. Aaron probably didn’t realize he hadn’t indicated which was the blue-eyed brother and which the green-eyed one.
“Long-time members of the pack, and their folks Robert and Ann should be here a little later. I’ve known the Sterlings as long as I’ve known Malachi. Good wolves and my good friends.”
While Aaron spoke, the blue-eyed brother said something to the green-eyed one, who shook his head. Then the blue-eyed brother came ambling toward Aaron and Ember with a smile that lit his whole face.
“Hey, Ember. Welcome to your first wolf cookout.”
His enthusiasm was sincere and infectious. Hard to believe he was shielding any part of himself from her. Ember smiled. “Thanks. Which Sterling are you?”
“Oh, I’m Trevor.” He hooked a thumb over his shoulder. “The shy one over there is Ezra.”
“Hi, Ezra.” Ember waved, and the green-eyed brother joined them.
“See, Ez?” Trevor shot a full grin at his brother. “She’s not skittish.”
“That’s one word that’s never been applied to me,” Ember said with a laugh.
“It’s a lot to take in,” Ezra said. “I didn’t want to invade your space.”
Trevor rolled his eyes with good humor.
“Noted and appreciated,” Ember said, “but it’s nice to meet you.”
For a few minutes the four of them made small talk. Ezra didn’t say much, but Trevor had words enough for both of them. They seemed a comfortable pair, introvert and extrovert, reserved and outgoing. She told them about Quinn, about the strange misunderstanding that had propelled her here. She watched for a meaningful glance, but neither of the brothers seemed aware of any miscommunication, deliberate or otherwise.
Ezra retreated first, and then Trevor reiterated his welcome before rejoining the darts game. Now another wolf approached, his smile more of a smirk.
“So this is Ember.” He gave her a nod that became a half-bow, allowing him to meet her eyes through a dark fringe of lashes any woman would pay for. His eyes were a lighter brown than Aaron’s; melted caramel came to mind. “I’m Corbin, and the pleasure’s all mine.”
Ember choked on a laugh. She was twenty-six, and this punk had hardly passed twenty. “Thanks, Corbin.”
“How about I keep a spot open for you when lunch is served?”
“Enough of that,” Aaron said, the words laced with a low growl. “Don’t bother the guest, pup.”
Corbin aimed the smirk at him. “She doesn’t seem bothered.” Then back to Ember, “Are you bothered?”
