Lone Wolf (The Pack 5)

A knock on the door had me reaching for a pair of sweats as I called, “One sec.” I had no idea who might be on the other side of the door and had no intention of giving Dom’s kids an eyeful. Nudity was a natural state for shifters but I hadn’t run with the Pack in….I started adding it up in my head and a sigh gusted out of me. Too long. The answer was too long.

I pulled the door open, instantly grateful I’d decided on pants when a pair of golden eyes stared up at me. “Hi,” I said as she thrust something in my hand and then darted down the hall. “Bye,” I said to no one as I shoved the cookie she’d given me in my mouth and followed her down the hall.

Pure chaos met me as I entered the kitchen. Dom had a kid hanging upside down on his arm, Jess was putting platters of food on the table, and there was half a dozen kids milling around. My forehead crinkled as I asked, “How many kids do you have?”

“They’re not all mine,” Dom answered, trying to wrestle the kid he held into a high chair. “We’re babysitting.”

“Oh.”

“Sit down,” Dom yelled fruitlessly as kids dashed around him. “Come on. It’s almost time to eat.” I snitched a piece of bacon off the platter and Jess gave me a warning stare but didn’t comment.

“Can I help?” I asked, not entirely sure the past ten years had prepared me for domestic hell. Jess shook her head and pointed at a chair which I took to mean, sit down so I did. Dom managed to get the little one strapped down, but kids still raced around the table.

“Everybody find a seat,” Dom said again, frustration lacing his voice, but none of them obeyed.

“Sit down,” Jess ordered, her voice cracking over the chaos like a whip and there was an instant scraping of chairs as they rushed to obey. “Caleb first,” she added, indicating I should fill my plate and Dom just sat back, shaking his head ruefully.

“I might be Alpha, but we all know who’s in charge,” he commented, a besotted smile on his face as he watched his mate and I couldn’t help but laugh.

“At least you know your place.” I crunched down on the bacon, my plate overflowing as the others filled their plates, and leaving enough left for seconds. Silence reigned as we devoured our food and I accepted when Jess dumped the last of the eggs on my plate.

“More?” She questioned when I finished it and I shook my head no. “You sure? You look like you missed a few meals.”

I chuckled and wiped my mouth. “I’ll never look at a can of Spam the same way,” I commented and her expression turned puzzled. “It was…you know what – never mind.” I found myself reluctant to talk about my time with the Ghost Pack and Dru. Thoughts of her were painful, but more than that they were mine and I wasn’t ready to share.

“Alright, everybody out,” Dom stated, standing up and there was a scurry as the kids all took off and Jess slowly stood, smiling as she kissed his jaw.

“You don’t fool me one bit, Dominic Navarre.” She pinched his cheek hard and picked up the little kid struggling to get out of the high chair. “You just don’t want to keep up with the kids.”

“Tell Monster to keep an eye on them,” he suggested. “They love it when Dylan plays.”

She arched an eyebrow. “Not a bad idea. It’s like you’ve done this a time or two.” He swatted her butt and she dodged out of the way, her finger wiggling my way. “And you, you better still be here when I come back.”

“Yes, ma’am.” I picked up my plate and brought it to the sink, turning on the water as Dom attempted to carry every plate on the table at one time. “How many times have you dropped them?”

“Only once,” he grumbled as several dishes slid with a clatter into the sink. He quickly checked to see if any had broken, grinning at me when he realized they were all good. “See? Faster.”

“Uh huh.” I started scrubbing and rinsing as he picked up the table and then started drying. “I’m fine, you know.”

He made a noncommittal noise, and muttered, “I didn’t ask.” I slide my gaze sideways and he rolled his shoulders. “It’s not like you died or anything.” He turned then, crossing his arms over his chest, reminding me size wise he could crush me, as he added, “Except, you did.”

I nodded, my mouth twisting as I turned to face him. “What do you want from me?” My eyes still only came to his chin even after I’d grown four inches, and I tilted my head up to look at him. “I should have told you were I was, what I was doing, but I didn’t expect to be taken prisoner.”