“Wow. He’s doing his best to forget our way of life,” I say, feeling like I’m failing as the Alpha. He didn’t come to me to tell me his problems until he was ready to run.
“I did that when I was his age. I once lived in El Paso, Texas. I couldn’t stand the heat, so I left as soon as I could. I visit my family on occasion, but I love it where I am now, and I wouldn’t have met Turner if I didn’t.”
She’s already acting like an Alpha female and trying to improve the spirits of her pack.“You have a good point. We just need to have faith. As the Alpha of the pack, I’ve given him my blessing to leave. As a father, you have as well.”
“Yes, so we just need to support him,” my father agrees.
“Now—enough of the misery. Let’s eat. I’m starving,” Aria says. She lets her wolf out a lot, running miles at a time every single morning before the sun is up. No one dares mess with her since she’s the daughter of the former Alpha, but I know she needs to feel the breeze on her face and it’s probably why she can out-eat everyone in this house. She burns so much energy that it makes me tired.
We gather everything needed and carry the trays and drinks to the dining room. I sit at the head of the table, and Maria’s on my right so I can touch her whenever I need. Aria’s on my left and my father is beside her, leaving my mother next to Maria.
“So, Maria, how many siblings do you have?” Aria asks as she takes half a slab of ribs and puts them on her plate. I take the tray from her and offer some to my mate, who takes only three small pieces. I grab a full slab for myself. I need as much food as I can before my father reaches out and grabs the tray to serve my mother. He loves to do such a small but loving gesture. She smiles up at him, grabbing her own half slab.
“I have two brothers who are married, and eight nieces and nephews.”
“Really? That’s crazy.” I feel bad that I haven’t even bothered to ask about her family.
It’s okay. I wasn’t interested in talking about my family. Only making a new one.
“Do you all get along?” my mother asks as she passes the potatoes.
Maria takes them and adds a large dollop to her plate before handing them to me. “Yes, but since I’ve moved away, I tend to talk to them less often.”
“So you’re like me. One girl, two brothers. I wonder if that’s what you two will have.”
“There’s a possibility of that, but we have a long time before we need to worry about that.”
“Not really, sweetheart. We have a shorter gestation period than normal humans,” my mother adds in her expertise.
“Oh, goodness.”
“Oh yes, I forgot to mention my mother’s the local OBGYN for both humans and shifters.”
“Although I do have to say I don’t have experience with a human shifter baby.”
“I’m going to have to call Cat Wolfe for that. They have several kids. Sorry—pups.”
“No, that’s fine, dear. Call them what you will. Most of the time we refer to them as children. With humans around, we must be careful,” my mother says, reaching over and patting Maria’s hand.
“There’s so much to learn.”
“It’s okay. Take your time. Soon it’ll come so naturally that you’ll believe you were born a shifter.”
“I do hope so.”
“You will, or you wouldn’t have made the perfect match for the Alpha.” My sister makes a great point. Maria’s the best woman to be mine for the rest of my days.
We eat dinner and talk about the basics. Aria’s already planning a spa day with Maria, but I don’t mind one bit. I want them to get along. I really want my brother to be here and be happy for me, but he needed to find his own path. My gut tells me he’ll be back and that he just needs time. He wouldn’t be the first to leave and go to college or live life before settling down in White Wolf.
It’s nearly nine when we’re done eating, and everyone takes the dishes and helps clean up. “We’re going to leave you kids to have some time together. I know you still have to go back to work in the morning.”
“Yes. I have to show Maria around and get the hang of everything before Daphne pops.”
“So true.” We exchange hugs, and they leave us to our own devices. I lock up the house and then turn to my queen.
“Mate. It’s time for bed.”
“Time for bed?” she raises her brow, attempting to toss the sexy look my way, but she can’t hide the yawn that follows.