“I guess we’d better go see your family.” Temple pointed to the house ahead of us. “There are about fifty of them on the porch.”
“Holy…” I hadn’t expected the whole pack to show up, but we no sooner parked than we were swept out of the car and into the house where Dad had cooked enough food for five packs. When he learned that Temple was a cook at a diner, he dragged him off into a corner to talk food.
I was still trying to tell people that nothing was settled, when I noticed my mate missing. Ducking away from the others, I searched until I ended up in the kitchen where I found Temple and Dad digging through the refrigerator.
“I cannot make a good hamburger,” insisted Dad. “And I want your secrets.”
Dad, for the record, made a very good burger, but he was always trying to improve and I left them there, discussingthickness and temperature and all the other details of a perfect hamburger.
The party went on long into the night, welcoming me home, welcoming Temple into the family, and when Father finally called the event over and closed the door behind the pack members with their paper plates of leftovers, the sun was about to rise.
“You young people are staying in Gabe’s room.” Dad shooed us toward the stairs. “Sleep in as late as you like and breakfast will be ready when you are.”
We were too tired to argue, even if we had wanted to, but when we were in my room, I was amazed at the transformation. From the time I became an adult, I had been coming and going and so I’d never taken the time to change anything. “Oh my goodness.”
“What? The room is so nice. I thought we’d be ending up in your high school bedroom.”
“We would have a few days ago, but apparently Dad decided to fix it up while I was away. Likely today with the help of some of the pack members.” Instead of a twin bed, I had a king. All the posters and banners and things were off the walls, replaced by a couple of pieces of nice art. It looked like a guest room done in shades of blue, without much personality, but if we stayed here, that would take care of itself. New comforter, curtains…everything. I had to look in the closet to find a single thing that belonged to me. They’d gone a little over the top, but done it with love. “Also, I might not have been the neatest.”
Reaching for my omega, I pulled him into my arms and kissed him. “Why don’t we try out the new bed? I assure you, the twin that was here would not have been easy to fit both of us on.”
“As long as we’re together.” He rested his forehead on my chest and sighed. “I’ve never felt so comfortable with people as I did tonight. They really respect you, and they want you to betheir alpha. I can see why. You’re kind and smart and you put other people first.”
“Does that mean you’d consider being my alpha omega?”
“I am your mate. My brothers always said that humans didn’t get a fated, but they were so wrong. Can we make love again—and will you mark me this time?”
“Omega mine, you’ve made me the happiest alpha in the world. And my parents the happiest in-laws.”
“I can’t wait to learn to take care of the pack. Your dad said he’d help me. And your father—”
I cut it off with a kiss. “Can we not talk about my parents when we’re about to make love?”
“Agreed.” He winced. “Do we have to be quiet? I don’t want to disturb them.”
“They’re in the other wing. They moved me in here when I got into music as a teen.”
“Then, alpha, why are we still dressed?”
“Good question.”
Chapter Fifteen
Gabe
“Come on, lazy bones.” Temple shook my shoulder. “You are going to be late for your first day as alpha.”
“No, not the alpha.” I pulled my pillow over my head. “You can be the alpha.”
“I am spending the day baking bread with your dad. We’ve decided that store bought has too many chemicals, and it’s not good for the pack. So we’re going to make—”
“Don’t say it,” I begged.
“Sourdough.”
“Dad has been trying to get that right for decades. He keeps killing it, and then he gets mad.”
“That’s why we’re doing it together.”
