The Wolf Marshal's Pack (U.S. Marshal Shifters 3)

“You’re allowed to be curious,” Aria said. “You’re not allowed to talk about Colby chowing down on a deer while other people are trying to eat. Especially Mattie and Mom.”

“Now, see, I didn’t even get into that kind of detail. You’re the one ruining table-talk. And we’re not even at a table anyway.” Ben looked at Colby. “Would you consider surrendering the grill to an old man? It’s killing me being a bystander to it, and if you go and entertain Aria, maybe she’ll remember she’s my beloved only daughter and not just her mom’s Miss Etiquette.”

“You’re not old,” Colby said. He stepped away from the grill. “But it’s all yours. My manhood will survive.”

“Never get your manhood near an open flame, anyway,” Ben said, and chuckled.

“Thanks, Dad,” Aria said, “I was hoping there’d be a dick joke. At this family gathering.”

She pulled Colby away. Halfway across the lawn, she turned their walk into a kind of dance. He twirled her and then dipped her, watching her face darken a little as everybody applauded.

“We’re here all week,” Colby said, waving to them.

“It’s a nice honeymoon stage,” Gretchen said, smiling. “When you can’t go anywhere without dancing, even when there’s not any music. And speaking of which, we should get some music going on here, right?”

“Speakers are inside,” Colby said. “Hall closet. Or I haven’t unpacked them yet and they’re out in the garage in the box pile of shame.”

Gretchen nodded and headed in.

Colby looked around at their backyard party. At his family. His pack.

Doreen had joined Ben at the grill and was leaning her head against his shoulder, laughing softly at something he’d said; Ben’s free hand spun one of the slim gold bracelets on her wrist around and around.

Whether they knew it or not, they were mates just the same as he and Aria were.

He could see the same love when he looked out at Martin and Theo and their mates.

Tiffani was fixing new, brightly colored hair bobbles into Mattie’s hair. Martin probably thought no one noticed him twirling a lock of her hair, right at the nape of her neck, around his finger. Just because he was talking to Theo and Jillian and just because Tiffani was busy entertaining the kids—that didn’t mean he was going to go that long without touching her.

Jillian and Theo were, Colby guessed, talking again about their dreams for having kids—he recognized the earnest, hopeful look on Theo’s face even at this distance. Jillian was drinking lemonade instead of beer, just in case.

Live in hope, Colby thought. She’d make a good mom just like Theo would make a good dad.

Mattie was giggling, delighted with the new hair bobbles.

Gretchen came out of the house victorious, the stereo speakers hoisted above her hip, and Luke made an awkward beeline for her. He was eager, probably, to find something he could help with. He still seemed uncomfortable around regular people—Colby could tell he only felt half-civilized. And he was carrying around some guilt, too. But he would turn out okay. Colby doubted that Mel Wondery, currently looking on with approval, would let him do anything less.

Gretchen and Luke got the sound system set up. Music flooded the backyard. Ben started passing out the first round of burgers.

“Now it’s a party,” Gretchen said. “Music, food, people.”

“Family,” Colby said.

“Pack,” Aria said. “You can say it, you know.”

“Pack,” he agreed.

Dinner could wait. He spun her off into another dance, this one slower and more deliberate.

He just wanted to hold her close: to feel the softness of her body against his and smell her shampoo and her own distinctive Aria-scent as she leaned against him. To watch the skirt of her sundress twirl around her bare legs and watch the grass tickle her feet.

Aria rested her head against his chest. “I was thinking about what you said. The first night everything was okay, after you arrested Eli.”

“I’d lost a lot of blood. Whatever I said could have been pretty dumb.”

“It wasn’t.”

He twirled her away and brought her back again.