“Yeah, I know, but I don’t want any fights to break out. We’re supposed to be keeping you alive.” I winked.
He gave me a sexy look. “What makes you think I can’t hold my own in a fight?”
Well, hot damn. Now my eyes roamed over his chiseled body. Even through his tight hoodie and jeans, I could see he was an athlete. Did he take martial arts? Boxing? God. Now I was dying to know everything about him. Speechless, Jax spoke for me.
“Heads up, bro. Ben and a few of the other guys want Anya for themselves.”
“JAXON!” I roared and faced the front, face beet red.
‘You have no filter. I seriously can’t believe you just said that,’I scolded my stupid twin.
Gavin chuckled in the back. “I don’t blame them.”
My eyes met Gavin’s in the mirror; he didn’t look down.
Oh, boy. This was going to be interesting.
*
When we pulled in, I noticed way more cars than usual. Shit. My dad must have called a pack meeting. As if sensing us, my father’s voice boomed inside my head.
‘Brady is back. Pack meeting. Bring the boy.’
Boy. My eyes would disagree with my father. Jax’s eyes met mine and he nodded. Dad had told him, too. We tossed Gavin’s duffle bag in the house and then walked together to the barn. Crossing through the thick woods, Gavin was looking all around.
“Have you ever been to Mount Hood?” It dawned on me then that other than public ski parks, the mountain was closed off to most humans.
Gavin nodded. “Just skiing, but it didn’t look like this. Your land is beautiful.”
I smiled. Score. He was funny, sexy, and sweet.
As we crossed the clearing, the barn came into view and I saw that Mason and Avery stood outside waiting for us. Avery took one look from Gavin to me, and smiled.
Jaxon pulled Avery into a hug, giving her a quick kiss. Mason was sizing up Gavin, unsure whether or not to let him into our tight little circle.
“Guys, this is Gavin. My mate.” Any hesitation from me and the pack wouldn’t accept him. I needed to own it so that he would be treated with respect. Mason nodded and stuck out his hand.
“Good to meet you, bro.”
Gavin returned the gesture.
I could hear rumbling voices in the barn.
“What’s going on?” Jax asked.
Avery chewed her bottom lip. “Brady’s back. His captors let him go.”
“That’s great!” I exclaimed.
Avery and Mason shared a look.
“What?” Jax prodded them.
Mason leaned in close, whispering, “I overheard Brady tell your dad that the people who took him, did like … experiments on him.”
“What the fu–” I started before my father poked his head outside.
“Pack meeting,” he reminded us sternly.
