“You could help pay for this, you know? It wasn’t cheap.”
“We’ll pay you in friendship,” Corvin adds with a laugh.
I roll my eyes just as Forest pulls up. The motorcycle he’s riding is far too loud. My ears twitch, and I see birds fluttering in the surrounding trees.
“Hey,” I say, and Forest eyes the werewolves sprawled out on my porch. Corvin has a feral kitten on his lap, petting it gently.
“Who the fuck are they?” Forest asks, his eyes meeting mine.
“Unwanted friends, but friends nonetheless. Come on in. River’s already here.”
“Why is he here?”
“He’s hungry.”
Forest lets out a laugh and nods, following me up the steps. When I catch Marlow’s gaze, I add, “My omega is coming over. Don’t scare him away, or no food for you.”
He salutes me, and I nod, moving inside. Like I thought, River has already made himself at home, boxes of food on the counter, and an open drink in his hands.
“Hey!” he says with a grin when he sees me and Forest. “Look! It’s a family reunion.”
Forest moves over and pulls our brother in for a short hug.
“Yeah, didn’t know you’d be here.”
“I invited myself. I’m hungry.”
I set the bags of food onto the counter, and River pulls everything out, wetting his lips when he takes it all in.
“Gods, you’re too good to us,” he murmurs, and I swat his hand away when he tries to pull a piece of bread from the bag.
“Save it for dinner, asshole.”
He pouts, but moves away, grabbing another beer from the fridge for Forest. Forest pops it open and takes a seat, sprawling his legs out in front of him. His jeans are slightly dirty from working on his motorcycle, but I don’t mind it. Besides River and Sage, we’re all blue-collar workers.
“So, you have an omega coming over? Was this supposed to be a date, but you forgot you invited me over, too?”
“Maybe,” I grumble.
“Good thing you always overbuy shit.”
“Fuck you.”
Forest laughs and then cocks his head. “So, who’s the omega? Man or woman?”
I wet my lips and then murmur, “The guy who brought me the cheese.”
“He’s his boss,” River chimes in, and I eye him in annoyance. “He’s the one he took during The Den’s Heat Hunt.”
“Seriously?” Forest chuckles.
“Yeah, didn’t know he was gonna be my boss until he showed up one day. But it works.”
“You fuck him at work, then?” Forest asks, sitting up in his seat a little.
“None of your business.”
He lets out a laugh and takes another sip of his drink.
