Miss Morgen has made it clear she doesn’t think our home is the best place for my little sister. She keeps making statements about how important it is for a young wolf to grow up with their mother. And yeah, I’m sure it is. But the one we got didn’t stick around, and it’s more important for Sofia to stay with us, with people who will always put her first, than to go off with the mother she barely remembers who would throw her aside once again if it suited her. Mother or not, she needs us too. More, if I’m being honest.
Our Alpha offered her visitation. The chance to have a relationship with Sofia if she wants one, but she rejected the idea right away. No hesitation. No willingness to be reasonable. The realization that Sofia might be torn from our home is getting to my baby sister and it shows. Not in a good way either. She’s pale and acting skittish. She inches back every time this Morgen lady asks her a question, as if she is trying to sink into the furniture, and she flicks her eyes toward me and Antonio before she answers. It makes her look guilty as hell. Like she’s afraid of us. Our baby sister is a submissive and this lady knows it, but she still tries to twist her reactions to her advantage—ignoring the fact that this is normal behavior for a wolf in distress.
Antonio jumps to his feet to walk her out and I stay on the couch, pulling Sofia into a hug. God knows she needs it. Her tiny body shudders against mine and I tuck her head beneath my chin. “She’s going to take me away, isn’t she?” she whispers, tears lodged in her throat.
“Nope. This is all just protocol, baby sis. No one is taking you anywhere.” My voice is firm, and I pray to God she can’t scent my uncertainty because inside I’m reeling. They could take her from us and there isn’t a damn thing we could do about it. Not if our Alpha decides this is the right choice. I’d like to say he wouldn’t do that but, there’s an inkling of doubt I can’t seem to let go.
A few hours pass, and the mood in the house is decidedly grim. Sofia’s retreated to her room to read herMeet Josefinabook—they really need to come up with a Honduran girl for that shit, preferably one that is also a wolf—and Antonio and I are sitting in the garage while we both stare out at the road, lost in our separate trains of thought.
A car I don’t recognize drives down the mountainside, getting closer with each minute that passes, clearly heading straight for our home. I lean forward in my seat, angling for a look through the windows, but all I see is the hazy shape of a man through the heavy tint.
The passenger door opens, and a man steps out. Dressed in dark washed jeans and a black henley, a duffle slung over one shoulder, my brother—Roberto—faces us.
Antonio is the first to stand up. He meets our brother halfway across the drive and the two embrace. Roberto has filled out since I last saw him. He’s both taller and broader, damn near engulfing Antonio in his arms. His eyes flicker with emotion, his wolf surging forward and my own eager to respond and celebrate this reunion, but I squash the feeling and hold myself in place.
They separate and walk together to the garage, Roberto stopping a few paces in front of me, a quirk in his brow. “Long time,hermanito.” Little brother.
I nod and push to my feet. “Four years,” I remind him. Four years with damn near zero contact, I might add. But I don’t bother saying that out loud. He already knows how long he’s been away.
Roberto ducks his head and releases a harsh breath. “I’m back now.”
Obviously. He’s standing in front of me. But the question is, for how long?
He flicks his gaze to the side, his jaw stiff before returning his hard hazel stare back to mine.
“Cut him some slack,” Antonio asks.
Before I can respond, Roberto adds, “It’s okay. I’m just happy to be home.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask.
He’s standing stiff, shoulders squared, and feet almost perfectly spaced. “It means I left my Pack. I spoke with my Alpha. I spoke with yours. Made the request and I’ve been welcomed back into the fold. Antonio called. He told me about your kid. I made my decision to come back permanently as soon as I got off the phone with him.” A smile splits his face, one of the few genuine smiles I’ve ever seen on my brother’s face. “Even before I knew about Raul and the mess with Mom and Sofia.” He hesitates, his voice dropping low. “I know I left you. Left like Mom. I don’t blame you for being pissed off with me. I should have called. Or written.” He huffs out a breath. “Look. I’m sorry. But—I’m here now. I want to be here. For Sofia. For you. I want to put our family back together the way it should be.”
I work my jaw and give him a stiff nod. “Okay.”
“Okay?” he questions, as if he doesn’t believe me. I hold my hand out and he clasps it.
“Yeah, man. Okay.” I gave up my grudge years ago. He did what he needed to, and I can’t say I wouldn’t have made the same decision in his place. Okay. Lie. I know I wouldn’t have, but still. This, I can let go. For family. For blood. For Pack.
68
Jo
“We’re going to a party this weekend,” Meiying says as soon as I sit down for lunch.
“Uh, you do know I have a kid, right? And that I’m not Pack. Not even a shifter.”
She nods, black hair bobbing around her face. “It’s not a Pack party. And don’t worry, I already took care of everything.” I look at Isa and she shrugs. What did she take care of exactly? My child or me not being a shifter? She’s not going to try and bite me or anything, right? If I’m being entirely honest, I wouldn't put it past her.
Wait. Is that how someone becomes a shifter? Through a bite? Or can you only be born a shifter? I’m getting ahead of myself. She did say it was not a Pack party. So then, what kind of party is it?
“Explain yourself?” I ask just as Jordy and the rest of the boys join us.
“Explain what?” Jordy asks, plucking César from my arms. He gives me a quick kiss on the cheek and then turns his attention to our son, making faces and blowing raspberries on his neck as he play growls at him. He’s done this a few times before, and when I asked why he growled at my baby, he said he wanted César to get used to his wolf.
“I got you a sitter,” Meiying adds, and I frown. I’m not going to leave César with just anyone. “Relax, it’s KeAnna.”
Oh.My shoulders relax. “I didn’t know you two talked.”
