He didn’t answer, only stared at the floor.
“Would you like something to eat?” she said softly, tipping her head towards the kitchen. “We’re making pancakes, if you’d like some?”
“He isnothavingourpancakes,” Gabriella growled, trying again to make a grab for William.
Someone cleared their throat from the bottom of the stairs, and when they looked up Papa was there with Marty under his arm.
“I think you’re forgetting someone,” Papa said, kissing the top of Marty’s head. Marty buried his face in Papa’s chest, looking at William from the corner of his eye.
“Yeah! Get him, Marty!” Gabriella cried, waving her arms about.
“William,” Papa began, squeezing Marty’s shoulder as he led him over, “is there something you’d like to say to my son?”
William’s top lip curled back as though he was an alpha, but even then he started to back away.
“It’s alright. We talked about this, remember?” Taylor said, squeezing his shoulder. William shuffled on the spot for several seconds, gripping the sweets even tighter.
Letting out a breath, Marty uncurled himself from Papa’s waist, the hem of his Sonic the Hedgehog pyjama bottoms dragging over the wooden floor as he moved to stand in front of William. Rubbing the side of his neck, he said, “You really hurt my ear, you know?”
“Yeah! You deserved to get punched!” Gabriella growled. Maman gasped and ushered her towards the kitchen.
William swallowed, the click of his throat as loud as his heartbeat. “I’m so—rry,” he mumbled, as though the words were completely foreign.
“Pardon?” Marty said, dropping his head and stepping towards him.
“I said I’m sorry, alright? For hurting your ear. It was shitty of me.” The words were snappy, but his face looked sincere. “I… I didn’t mean to hurt you. I just wanted to play with you.”
Marty narrowed his eyes, crossing his arms. “So why didn’t you?”
Johnny glanced at Taylor over the top of William’s head, both of them trying not to smile.
William shrugged again. “I don’t know. Dad said I’ve gotta show people who’s boss. I didn’t… I wanted to play basketball with you, in your garden. I saw your hoop and…” He sucked in another breath, eyes returning to the floor. “It doesn’t matter.” Bending, Taylor whispered something in William’s ear, making him blush furiously. “A-a-a-a-a-and I think you’re cute. L-l-l-like a baby bunny.”
“I beg your pardon?” Johnny scoffed. “This was not what we?—”
Taylor clapped a hand over William’s mouth. “I saidniceandfunny. Jesus Christ!”
Marty started laughing, holding his belly as he smiled from ear to ear. “You’re funny,” he said, reaching out to grab William’shand. “Come on. There’s blueberry and banana syrup. Banana’s my favourite but blueberry’s pretty good too.”
Clementine dropped her head and went to follow, but Papa’s hand flew out to grab her arm. “Your brother has spoken,” he said, reaching up to squish her cheeks between his fingers. “I know you don’t like it, baba, but it’s his choice. Now, go and get your sister and wash your faces. When you come back I want smiles and kinder hearts, yes?”
Clementine grumbled, throwing him and Taylor a filthy look before turning towards the stairs. Papa chuckled, patting them on their shoulders. “You boys are going to be the death of me and Maman.” With that he shook his head and plodded towards the kitchen.
They kicked off their trainers, eyes sliding to one another as the kids’ voices and Papa’s laughter drifted in from the kitchen. Taylor’s Adam’s apple bobbed, his eyes dropping to Johnny’s bandaged arm.
“Hey,” Johnny said, pressing a thumb under Taylor’s chin. “Eyes up here.”
“Is this weird?” Taylor mumbled. “In the pack house, I mean. Will the kids find it weird?”
Johnny pressed his fingertips to Taylor’s sternum, feeling the rapid beat of his heart. “Probably. We need to be careful, break it to them gradually. I think…” He slid a hand around Taylor’s neck, running his thumb over his mating gland. “I think we should act normal for now. Speak to Maman about how to handle it. It might freak them out.”
Taylor dropped his head, stepping closer. “What is normal, JP? I can’t look at you? Can’t touch you? I can’t even fucking think straight anymore.”
Grinning, Johnny patted Taylor’s cheek. “You can do those things, just a normal amount.”
Taylor pushed out his lip and pouted, and if that one look didn’t make Johnny want to kiss his entire face. “Stop it,” he whispered, smiling as he ran his fingers along Taylor’s bottom lip. “We’ll figure it out.”
There was a creak on the stairs, making them slide away from one another like a pair of opposing magnets. Johnny licked his top lip. “Actnatural.”
