Red River (Pack 2)

Looking at the light green concoction warily, Wesley said, “It’s a good thing I’m not only flexible and confident, but also hungry and brave.” He held his palm out. “Hand it over.”

He gave Wesley the glass and then leaned against the counter as he drank his own smoothie.

Wesley’s first sip was hesitant but then he took a normal-sized drink. When Jobe looked at him expectantly, he said, “It’s not as bad as it looks.”

“Thanks for the compliment,” Jobe teased, before continuing to drink his breakfast.

“The flavor isn’t something I’d choose, but it’s okay.” Wesley gulped down most of the liquid. “See, I’m almost done with it.”

“The point of this smoothie is how it’ll make you feel, not how it tastes. Almost everything in there is from our land, so you’re communing with Mother Nature as you drink it. You’ll be alert, energized, and dialed-in all day.”

“Uh-huh.”

Laughing at Wesley’s disbelieving expression, Jobe said, “And we can make a dinner that’s less about communion and more about flavor.”

“Steak?” Wesley said hopefully.

Not much more than a handful of hours after Wesley’s arrival and Jobe already knew he’d do anything not to disappoint him. “Steak it is.”

The day had gone better than Jobe could have hoped. They had spent the morning with Jobe’s parents, who had given Wesley a history lesson on Red River and advice for dealing with the more challenging pack members, all while not-so-subtly gleaning information about him. Lunch was a noisy affair with all the pack elders crowded together at Frank and Margaret Lanner’s house, reminiscing about years gone by and competing for Wesley’s attention by telling progressively more outrageous stories. When Jobe realized nobody would leave the house while he and Wesley remained, he had suggested they make the lunch a new quarterly tradition, and then while the elders bickered over who would have the honor of hosting the next gathering, he and Wesley had made a quiet escape.

After lunch, Jobe introduced Wesley to the pack’s sentries, and then Kevin Mckay and Michelle Clarik, the most senior of the bunch, accompanied them on a drive through their territory. Jobe enjoyed showing his mate Red River’s homes, businesses, schools, and their oil and gold mining operations. They ended the tour at the community center, where pack members swam, played on the various sport courts, watched movies in the small theatre, or joined in a variety of card games.

“Is that him?”

A five-year-old’s version of a whisper was louder than an adult’s normal speaking volume, so Jobe had no problem hearing the little voice coming from the doorway to the community center sitting room. He rose from the wingback chair beside the window, leaving Wesley to chat with a few pack members their age.

“Would you like to meet your new Alpha?” Jobe asked as he approached the children.

Eyes widening with excitement and anxiety, they froze and stopped chattering.

“It’s okay to come in. I know you’re excited he’s finally here.” He hunkered down to their level and smiled. “We all are.”

“Jobe, aren’t you going to introduce me to your friends?” Wesley’s deep voice was tinged with amusement.

Jobe twisted his head back and glanced up to see a smiling Wesley.

“Tell your new Alpha your names,” Jobe suggested.

The children didn’t move for several beats, but then one little girl broke away from the group and stepped forward. “I’m Mia.” She tipped her head back and looked up at Wesley. “You’re big.”

“I guess I am.” Wesley laughed and then lowered himself to the floor and crossed his legs. “Is this better?”

Whether it was his friendly tone or his open smile, Jobe didn’t know, but the kids tumbled forward, one after the other, telling Wesley their names and ages along with random tidbits of information about themselves and their families. Each pack member they’d seen that day had been drawn to but also nervous around Wesley, which was exactly the response Jobe would have expected from shifters meeting a person who would be critically important to every facet of their lives. What he hadn’t anticipated was how Wesley had reacted. With every shaky voice saying hello and clammy palm shaking his hand, Wesley’s eyes had softened, his voice had lowered, and his posture had relaxed. Jobe’s heart had warmed watching his mate with his pack, but the gentle voice and tender expression he had as he spoke to the children took his breath away.

“Alpha?”

Jobe glanced up at the pack member who had approached them just as Wesley said, “Yes?”

“It’s almost dinner time and I’d be honored if the two of you would join us.”

Because Alphas served as Mother Nature’s connection between pack members and pack lands, shifters were instinctively drawn to them, even more so with Wesley because he was new and they wanted to learn everything possible about him. While Jobe understood the sentiment, having his mate nearby was new for him too and he itched to take Wesley home and have him all to himself, especially after seeing him interact with the pups.