“We could,” he hedged. “But Katy mentioned something to me the other day when we were looking around the new neighborhood. We could build our own house. A new Alpha house.”
I felt my eyes growing wider. “A new house?”
“Think about it. You said it yourself, second generation mates tend to have more kids. We’re going to need space, babe.”
I blushed, looking down. “But what about this house?”
“I’m not waiting twenty years for my dad to step down as Alpha for us to have kids,” he replied with a laugh. “Is that what you want?”
“No. But what about college?”
“We can still do that,” he allowed. “But we’ll need our own place eventually. This space is big enough to build a house that accommodates us. Katy also had the idea that we could build a separate space for the council and offices. Next door, but not actually in the house like it is here.”
I chewed on my lip, thinking. It sounded great.
“It would also make sense since Rhodes is my beta for him and Larkin to live next door, too.”
My gaze snapped to his, and I could see him start to laugh. He knew that would grab my attention. The idea of having two of my best friends so close was a definite appeal.
“But won’t that cost a fortune?” I grimaced. “Last time I checked, I had a couple hundred dollars in my savings account from working with Mom at the cafe.”
“It’s an Alpha house,” he told me, shaking his head with an indulgent smile. “The pack will pay for it. It won’t just be our house, Skye. It’s setting up future generations in Blackwater.”
“I kind of love it,” I said after a second.
He grinned. “And I kind of love you.”
“Kind of?” I arched a brow.
“Completely. Utterly. Hopelessly.” His smile turned teasing as he kissed me again.
The front door banged open and shoes thudded down the steps.
I broke the kiss a second before I was nearly tackled by Dax and then Sam.
Laughing, I hugged them back.
“We missed you,” Sam said, his blue eyes bright.
“And Remy’s an ass without you around,” Dax added, letting me go. “All mopey and angry and—ow!” He rubbed the back of his head where Remy had slapped him.
“I missed you guys, too,” I replied, smiling at them. “Thanks for the welcome.”
The twins exchanged a look.
“What?” Remy demanded.
“It’s not just a welcome,” Sam replied, wincing a bit. “It’s also a heads up.”
“Your mom is inside,” Dax said, turning to me. “She wants to talk to you.”
“Both of you,” Sam added.
“Me and Remy?” I frowned.
“No,” Sam answered. “You and your dad. He’s here, too.”
38
Skye
“When did they get here?” I asked, hurrying up the front stairs with Remy at my heels. Dax and Sam followed us, but stopped at the top stair.
“Your mom got here about five minutes ago,” Sam said. “Your dad just went inside before you got here.”
“He brought his mate with him,” Dax added.
I whirled around. “Natasha’s here?”
As in, inside with my mom? Together?
Shit.
Mom wasn’t ready for a one-on-one with my father. Hell, I wasn’t ready for our first family meeting. I could feel my stress levels start to spike asI struggled to keep my breathing even.
Dax’s blue eyes went wide. “Is she not supposed to be?”
Remy touched my hand, sensing my panic.
“It’s fine,” I muttered, pushing open the front door.
Remy closed it behind us, the twins on the other side. I could hear them moving away from the house, likely to give us space.
No one else seemed to be around either when we stepped into the formal living room. I was surprised to see Mallory with my parents and Natasha.
She stood up, walking across the room as soon as I stepped into the doorway and sweeping me into a crushing hug.
“Thank God you’re safe,” she murmured against my hair. One hand cupped the back of my head. “We missed you, sweetheart.”
My arms wrapped around her, returning the hug happily even as my gaze moved over her shoulder to where Mom was seated on the couch.
Mallory let me go and headed back to sit down right beside Mom, who still hadn’t looked up at me.
My eyes drifted to Nikolai and Natasha, who looked like statues on the adjacent couch. Tasha gave me a thin, strained smile, but Nikolai’s eyes were focused strangely on the floor.
I cleared my throat. “What’s going on?”
Mallory touched Mom’s knee, and Mom lifted her head.
“Maybe you would like us to wait outside?” Mallory offered Mom a supportive smile. “You can talk to Skye and Nikolai alone?”
I could feel Remy’s chest brush against my back as he crowded behind me. Neither of us wanted to be separated, but I knew he would leave in a heartbeat if I told him I was okay.
Natasha started to get up.
“No,” Mom said suddenly, her voice deceptively calm. She drew in a steadying breath and her green eyes met Mallory first before going to me and then Natasha and Nikolai. She winced slightly at the sight of them together.
She looked back at Mallory. “I would like you to stay, if that’s okay.”
“Of course,” Mallory said instantly.
Mom looked behind me, forcing a smile. “And Remy’s family.”
I felt him exhale, relieved not to be sent away.
Natasha was still poised on the edge of the seat. “I’m happy to give you all your space.”
“No.” This time Mom’s voice was sharper, cracking like a whip in the tense atmosphere. “I mean, you’re his … Nikolai’s mate. His wife. You have every right to be here.”
Natasha made a pained sound in the back of her throat, her blue eyes darting to me for a second.
Mom had no way of knowing that Natasha felt about as romantically inclined towards Nikolai as I did to Rhodes.
I jerked my head, nodding for Natasha to stay before looking around the room.
It was spacious, built to be used for pack meetings with two long couches, a few armchairs, and a wet bar across the room. There was a wall of built-in bookshelves that flanked the stone fireplace.
But the large space felt small now, stifling even.
Remy closed the doors behind us, further sealing off the room and I flinched.
He smoothed a hand down my spine and over my hip before taking my hand and leading me into the room to the armchairs. He sat down, pulling me onto his lap before I could consider taking the seat beside him.
“I owe both of you answers,” Mom started softly, and I didn’t need to guess who she was talking about.
All my pushing and prodding for answers, my anger at being kept in the dark, suddenly seemed so selfish as I watched her skin blanch. Her chest seemed to rise and fall faster as she tried to breath, and she absently lifted a shaking hand to the claiming mark she always worried like a touchstone. Realizing what she was about to do, she jerked her hands back to her lap. Her hands trembled as she twisted them together nervously.