“Thanks.”
He nods, closing his car door and locking it with an audible beep. He pushes into my side, and my alpha flares. I place anarm around him, my fingers curling around his waist, and he lets out a sigh of pleasure. I like the sound he just made, too. Can’t even pretend not to.
“Will they be joining us for dinner?” Arbor asks softly, and I shrug.
“I mean, yeah, but they like to eat outside. But, shit, I—well, my brothers are here, too.”
“Oh. Okay. That’s fine. Do you want me to leave?”
“No. I don’t want you to leave, Arbor.”
He peers up at me, wetting his lips. I stare down at them, wanting to close the distance and kiss him, but he moves onto the porch, not saying hello to the werewolves, who watch him intently. I get it, though. He has every right to be wary.
They scared him that day, and the result was my icing him out.
Fuck, I shouldn’t have done that.
“Are you sure your brothers won’t mind me being here?” he asks softly.
The way he says it, I know he means the scent of him. My brothers won’t mind, though. And if they do, they were raised better than to say anything about it.
As soon as we step inside my house, my brothers’ gazes land on Arbor.
Arbor raises a hand in greeting and seems almost shy in the moment.
“Hello, I remember you,” he says to Forest, and Forest salutes him with a drink.
“Sure do. Loved the cheese, man.”
“I’m glad someone enjoyed it.”
River jostles his brother and moves around him, trying to get to us. His eyes slide to my hand that is still clutching his hip, and I slowly remove it.
“Arbor, you met Forest, but this is my other brother, River.”
River sends up a wave, and Arbor returns it.
“Hello. Nice to meet you, River. I, uh, brought wine.”
I set the bottles on the counter and nod to River. “Open one, please. And don’t get the fucking cork stuck in the bottle again.”
“That was, like, one time,” River grumbles.
“It was at least five times,” Forest corrects.
Arbor lets out a soft laugh as he lowers himself into a chair at the small island.
“Can I help with anything?”
“Nah, it’s simple. Just gonna warm everything up and it’ll be ready. Just sit down and relax.”
I hear the pop of a cork, and River gasps. “I did it!” He beams and glances at Arbor. “You’re good luck, my man.”
“I think that was all you.”
River laughs loudly, and I nudge him, not wanting him to get any ideas about my omega. Not that River has ever shown any interest in men, but still. Arbor is unique. Everything about him is different, in the best way.
“Your eyes are cool,” River says. “Neat to have two different colored ones.”
