The two females scream, jump up, and hug each other.
“Our son has a pack. Four times the love.”
Fox, because he is simply Fox, doesn’t take any offense to their comments at all; he just smiles at them in amused fondness.
Elijah comes out and puts a massive share tray down with cute little quiches and pastries full of vegetables with sweet and spicy chili sauce.
I cast him a help me look that he ignores.
I’m too nervous to eat, but Katsu calmly serves me up a small plate and lets out a rumbling purr, just a short three seconds, but the effect is instantaneous. My whole body relaxes like I’ve been embraced, like he’s pressed his lips to my ear and told me that I am safe, that he won’t let anyone hurt me. Not anyone. Even his beloved family.
I reach for a quiche, my fingers still shaking a little, but they crowd in around me, Sebastian touching me, shoulder to shoulder, Katsu thigh to thigh. Fox’s eyes stay on me while I eat, as if every bite I make is his triumph.
“Okay, so tell us about yourself, dear heart.”
It takes me a moment to realise Sari is talking to me.
“Me?” I set down my food, ignoring the displeasure from my alphas.
Katsu moves a glass of water to right in front of me. I absently take it out and gulp down a mouthful.
“Oh, well, I grew up with just me and my mum. I like to help people out and…” I trail off, realising how bad I sound on paper.
“Where’s your father?”
Shame hits hard.
“Oh, he left my mother when I was young.”
Their expressions morph to sympathy so strong I want to squirm and sink beneath the table.
“That’s awful.”
I shrug. “I don’t remember him.”
“What about your job?” Tarou asks. “What do you do?”
I open my mouth to respond and realise I can’t. I literally can’t say anything without outing myself.
“I, uh…” I cast around, looking for some kind of way out, but there’s nothing.
“Cordelia has been providing for her family for years,” Sebastian says with fondness. “She’s talented, but she’s no graphic designer.”
“And you are?” Sari asks, jumping on him.
“I am indeed.”
“Ooh, what kind of art have you done?”
I turn and look at Sebastian because he’s walked into a hole he can’t walk out of, and I don’t know how to save him anymore than I knew how to save me. He looks at me, and I can see the panic flare deep in his eyes.
“Um, well.” He presses his lips together and glances at me one last time as if in apology. “I did the covers for Lynn Marino.”
Katsu’s glass lands heavily on the table. “You did what?”
I wince at the hint of anger in his voice.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, I didn’t know how,” Sebastian murmurs.
