“I am. You’re one of Jonah’s friends?” Liv didn’t want to jump to conclusions or growl. Yet.

  “I’m Marnie. James here is my brother, and I’m mated with Boothe. The Alpha.” She said it off-handedly, not as if she was trying to impress. Liv knew family connections were super-important in wolf culture. “Jonah called this morning and asked me to bring groceries up since he’s on patrol today until sundown. I have a pot of stew and a bunch of stuff in my truck.”

  “Oh.” She felt her cheeks heat. “It’s nice to meet you. That’s really nice, thank you.”

  Marnie shrugged, offered her a smile. “We take care of our own. It’s our way.”

  “I just didn’t think everyone would be all that accepting,” Liv said.

  Hank appeared at her side, silent as a ghost.

  Marnie looked at Hank, eyes widening for a second. “So you’re Hank?”

  “I am.”

  “I’ve never known one of your kind.”

  “That’s a shame. I’m a nice guy.”

  Marnie had the grace to flush. “Well, welcome. Are you up to helping me unload? James can borrow some of Jonah’s clothes if not. They’re of a size.”

  “We can help. Let me grab some flip flops.” She didn’t have a bra on, but she was mostly decent.

  “Cool.” Marnie headed back to her truck, and James, well, the big wolf went right to Hank and commenced to crotch sniffing.

  Hank was wide-eyed, but allowed it, submitting.

  “Be nice, he’s ours,” she warned.

  James the wolf chuffed, a merry sound somehow, and she decided right then that she was going to like him. Liv headed out to help Marnie unload, relieved when she didn’t feel any other curious eyes on her.

  She was stunned at Marnie’s generosity. There were bags of meat, of veg, of fruits and oatmeal and sweets. Maybe this was Marnie’s job, being nice to new folks, but it still warmed Liv’s heart.

  “Jonah said you loved butter brickle,” Marnie told her. “And that Hank liked pistachio. I got everyone a pint. I know Jonah likes Rocky Road better than all the others.”

  “He does. It’s more like an obsession than anything.”

  Hank snorted. “If he didn’t run his ass off all day, he’d be big as a truck.”

  Liv giggled, surprising herself with the sound. “Naughty naughty. I’ll have to tell on you.”

  “I’d say it to his face, and you know it.” Hank winked at her, looking happier than she would expect, too.

  Marnie chuckled softly, shook her head. “Lord have mercy, you two are a handful, I bet.”

  “Us?” Hank chortled, and Liv laughed, both of them relaxing even more.

  “Yes. Lord yes. You will have to come for dinner once everyone is whole and settled.”

  “I’d like that,” Liv said. She even thought it was the truth.

  “So would we. Jonah is dear to us.”

  “I’m glad.” She definitely meant that. His pack meant the world to Jonah and no matter what he said, it would crush him to lose them.

  “I am, too.” Hank’s words were soft, gentle, just like their lover. “He means the world to me.”

  “Then we’re gonna get along great.” Marnie helped them put away the groceries and put the stew on the stove. “That’s supper solved for you. Oh!”

  She tugged a piece of paper out of one of the bags and handed it to Liv. “My number is there, as well as James’s cell, and Boothe’s. Call the first if you need to chat, the second if you need a hand and the last only in an emergency, okay?”

  The big wolf had positioned himself at the front door, obviously guarding. No one would come through the door without going through him.

  Tears prickled at her eyes, and Liv blinked them away.

  “It’s okay, honey. We all need a family who loves us.”

  “It’s been a long time since we had anyone but us,” Hank said, coming to slide an arm around Liv. “Thank you for everything.”

  “You’re welcome. Jonah is special.”

  She nodded. She knew that. More than anyone but maybe her Hank, she knew that.

  Marnie patted her on the shoulder, then jerked her chin at Hank. “Sorry about that, uh, stupid thing I said. If you need me, just call. I’m off to take some stew to Mrs. Simpson. Her gout is acting up.”

  “Oh, tell her to put an ice pack on it. That’ll help.” Hank knew the weirdest things.

  “I’ll do that.” Marnie gave them a warm and, Liv thought, genuine smile. “Don’t be strangers!”

  Then she as off as quickly as she’d come, a whirlwind in cut offs and a flannel shirt.

  “Okay, so…” Hank murmured. “Was that the weirdest thing ever or what?”

  “I know! They were so nice.” She was expecting cold, growly. Terribly suspicious at the very least. Stand-offish.

  “The sniffing thing was… odd.” Hank chuckled. “Maybe he was smelling Jonah on me.”

  “Maybe he was smelling me on you.” She flicked one nipple.

  Hank grunted, eyes going wide. “Maybe. It would have been way ruder to sniff you.”

  “That wasn’t going to happen. It won’t happen again with you.”

  “No?” Hank left the kitchen and peered out the front door. “He’s still out there.”

  “Should we feed him?”

  Hank shook his head. “Jonah wouldn’t want it.”

  “Mmm. I guess so. I mean, not without him saying it was okay.” Territory was an odd thing. Liv wasn’t really jealous of her land since big cats had huge ranges. Her men, now? That she was crazy over. “I need to feed you, though. Peanut butter?”

  “Please? God, yes. Please.”

  “The stew can wait for supper.” Liv led the way back to the kitchen to make peanut butter sandwiches.

  Looked like they were already getting used to the new normal.

  ****

  Jonah grinned at James, who lay on his porch looking so sleepy he could barely keep his ears up. “Thanks, buddy. I know it was supposed to be your day off.”

  James wagged. They fed me. Good people.

  James rose and stretched his furry wolf body, then reached over and grabbed Jonah’s hand with his teeth before trotting off toward home.

  He smelled something earthy and beefy inside, stew maybe, Yum. Jonah headed inside, searching for Liv and Hank.

  Hank was curled on the sofa, buried beneath blankets and Liv was doing yoga in front of the fireplace.

  God. God, his family was home.

  An enormous smile threatened to split his face in two. He ever so casually wandered into the front room and plopped down on the couch next to Hank’s feet. “Hey.”

  Liv arched up into cobra pose, smiling at him, and Hank turned, head landing in his lap.

  He stroked that golden hair, his long day falling away now that he was back with his lovers. “Smells like stew.”

  “A lady brought it. She was sweet.” Hank was still mostly asleep, nuzzling his leg, humming for him.

  “Marnie,” Liv said. “She brought us groceries.”

  “Oh, bless her. I haven’t had time to get into town.”

  Hank chuckled. “She brought ice cream.”

  “Oh…” He hoped she got Rocky Road.

  “You can have it after stew.” Liv’s ass looked amazing in a downward dog. Not only did she have Yoga Journal perfect form, but her breasts and ass were so round, so womanly, and the temptation to push behind her, bury his nose in her skin, was huge.

  Hank laughed again, a slow, lazy sound. “Naughty thoughts, Jonah.”

  He reached down, stroked Hank’s shoulder idly. “Moi?”

  “You.” Liv flowed down into up dog. “Are a perv.”

  “The perviest,” Hank agreed.

  “Mmm. I feel pretty lazy and hungry right now.”

  “I’ll toast some bread, huh? To go with the stew?”

  “Nah, you stay put, baby boy. I’ll get it.” Jonah knew Marnie well enough to know she’d sent a loaf or two of homemade bread. It would take no effort to cut off a chunk or two.

  “You sure? I can help out.” Hank said.

  “Only if you want to, boy. I know you’re still hurting some.”

  Hank pushed himself up, kissed him, sweet and slow enough that his eyes crossed. Jonah took the kiss over in an instant, his hand behind Hank’s head, pressing his tongue in deep to taste.

  His boy. God. His boy was here.

  Jonah glanced at Liv when he and Hank broke for air. His lady. His chest threatened to burst with pride.

  Hank rubbed noses with him then stood, headed for the kitchen like he belonged there. He did, because Jonah had redone it a year and a half ago based on Hank’s description of his dream kitchen.

  His heart was going to explode with pure joy. He’d never thought this would happen, that he’d have them here.

  His phone rang, making Jonah jump near out of his skin. Jonah fumbled for it. “Shit. Hello?”

  “You get that northern border locked up today?” Boothe asked without preamble.

  “Yes, Boss. It all looks good. Not a sign of trouble.”

  “Good deal. Marnie says your people are settling in.”

  “They are. Thank you for all this, man. I… I owe you.”

  “You do,” Boothe agreed. “I want you to have time to settle in, though, so tomorrow I’ve got Seth and Kent on patrol.”

  “I… I appreciate it. Thank you again. I want… I want to introduce my mates to my family.” He was sweating with the weight of it.

  “I know. Give it a couple of days. James approves. So does Marnie.” Boothe chuckled. “Let them get used to you being around all the damned time.”

  “Are you suggesting I’m hard to deal with?”

  Liv’s snort was echoed by Hank’s soft chuckle.

  “You’re a giant pain in the ass.”

  He flipped Liv off. “Yeah, yeah.”

  “Anyway, I’ll holler at you day after tomorrow, and we can set a meet. Get some rest at some point during your time off. Later.” Boothe hung up, always moving on to the next thing.

  “Everything okay, love?” Liv asked, stretching out on the floor.

  “The boss was just checking in. He’s—” Jonah surprised himself by saying it. “He’s a good friend.”

  “I’m so glad.” She sat up, stared at him. “Really. I never imagined… this.”

  “Neither did I, Kit.” He’d tried to, even built his home around it, but damn. He’d never dreamed it would be real.

  “But it’s real now, right?” Hank was setting the table, pouring milk.

  “Yes. They can’t take it back.” He needed to get more of their things from the condo in Reno: clothes and stuff.

  “Good, come and eat.”

  “Yum.” Jonah hopped up, sniffing hard. “Man, I must have run ten miles today.”

  “It keeps you on your toes, hmm?” Hank winked at him.

  “It so does.” Jonah held down a hand for Liv. “Come eat, lady.”

  “Smells good.” She took his hand, let him haul her up.

  “Marnie’s a good cook.” A strange look passed between Hank and Liv, and he tilted his head. “Was she rude?”

  They both shook their heads, together.

  “What happened?” Jonah demanded.

  “Well, your buddy James crotch sniffed Hank until I got growly.” She grinned, winked at him. “That was hilarious.”

  “For you,” Hank murmured.

  “Uh huh.”

  “She said she’d never met my kind before,” Hank finally said, but held up a hand to stop Jonah from breaking in. “She apologized, but I could tell she didn’t mean anything by it.”

  “I’m sorry, Hank.”

  “Me too, but that’s how it works, right?”

  “It shouldn’t.” Jonah pressed a kiss to Hank’s mouth on the way to the table. “They’re gonna love you. Just like I do.”

  Hank offered him a half-smile. “Come and eat.”

  Liv sat across from him, patting the chair next to her. “You, too, Hank. You need the protein.”

  They sat like a real family, all three of them at the table, eating and talking, drinking their milk. Normal. No rush, no stolen moments. Jonah felt as though he could finally breathe.

  He found himself reaching out to touch Hank’s leg, Liv’s cheek. The stew tasted great, but it was nothing on having his mates right there with him at home.

  They cleaned up together, then meandered toward the sofa, in front of the fireplace, the big screen TV.

  Hank bustled around for a bit, making coffee, putting on a movie. Something with superheroes. He didn’t settle until Liv tugged at his arm, demanding, “Come sit, pup.”

  Hank ended up between them, and Liv pulled a heavy blanket over them. They all touched, and Jonah smiled at the way they kept stroking each other’s skin as if they couldn’t believe all three of them were together.

  They were going to get to go upstairs, get in the huge bed, and sleep. Together. Have breakfast together.

  He couldn’t stop smiling.

  Liv reached over, stroked his lips. “Good?”

  “Very good. I know it will take time, but I hope you two love it here like I do.”

  “We’ll have to get some things from the condo,” she said. “But I think we’ll fit. There’s something appealing about the quiet.”

  “I do have high speed Internet,” he said, then winked at her.

  “We’ve had enough Skype sessions to know that.” Oh, Hank was feeling better.

  “True.” Mmm. Soon he’d be spanking that fine ass right there in his front room.

  He stroked over the ass in question, just enjoying having it in reach. Hank wiggled for him, making happy noises, but they left it at that. No one was up to gymnastics yet.

  Besides, he was happy, settled, and at home.

  Life just didn’t get much better than this.

  ****

  The pack was waiting.

  Jonah glanced at Liv, who wore a sundress so smokin’ hot that he wanted to wrap her in a blanket. Hank wore a pair of cargo shorts and a T-shirt that said Jeep Naked.

  Both of them looked perfect for one of Boothe’s Texas style barbecue cookouts.

  Time to run the figurative gauntlet.

  “Are you sure you want me to come?” Hank whispered. “It will be a lot easier if I stay home.”

  “For who, baby?” No. He wasn’t ashamed of Hank, and he wasn’t gonna let his boy hide. “No one will fuck with you, and if they do I’ll bite them in a bad way.”

  There was no way, no way he was treating his Hank like a back door whore. No fucking way.

  Liv moved like a dream, daring anyone not to want her. Graceful, smoldering, and full of charisma, she drew admiring looks from both males and females.

  Hank got stares, though. There was no denying that his lover wasn’t a wolf, wasn’t one of them, and Jonah didn’t want him to be. Hank was perfect as he was.

  Jonah pinched Hank’s butt, laughing when his lover jumped. “Come on, you two. Meet Boothe and get it over with.”

  “Am I supposed to, like, give him my throat, honey?” Liv asked.

  “No.” He growled the word out, his hackles trying to rise. Jonah cleared his throat. “No, Kit. Just say hi. Thank him for the help if you feel inclined, but that’s it.”

  “That’s more than fair.” She nodded, her black hair sliding over her shoulders, tempting his fingers.

  Jonah pushed ahead, his chest out and chin up, daring anyone to say a word while he blazed a path to the grill.

  Boothe looked over at him, nodded, eyes moving over Hank and Liv both.

  “Hey, Boss. Thanks for the invite.” Jonah took Liv by the hand and drew her forward. “This is Olivia. Liv. And Hank? Come here, baby.”

  Hank came close, not making eye contact, unlike Liv, who offered Boothe a warm, open, self-assured smile.

  “Hey. Glad to meet you when it’s not an emergency.” Boothe flipped his tongs to his left hand and held out the right to shake with both Liv and Hank.

  Liv took Boothe’s hand easily, shaking firmly. Hank took longer, slipping close to Jonah before shaking.

  Boothe barked a little laugh. “Hold your head up, Hank. You snagged my right hand man. That’s something to be proud of. Act ashamed and people will take offense.”

  Liv bristled, but Jonah put a hand on the small of her back. Boothe was right. Hank needed to buck up.

  “I’m not ashamed of him.” There was a core of pure steel in Hank’s voice. “I’ve never been, not once.”

  “Good deal. I hope you two like meat. Brisket and ribs.” Boothe clapped Jonah on the back. “Watch out for James. I think he likes your boy.”

  Jonah did growl then. “He’s not available. He’s taken.”

  Liv laughed softly. “Incredibly.”

  “Hey, I just observe.”

  “And fret, and ponder and interfere.” Marnie said, coming to give Jonah a hug. “Hi.”

  “Hey, beautiful.” He squeezed her. “Thanks for the groceries. I owe you.”

  “I know.” She winked. “I’ll call it in.”

  “When it’s least convenient for me, no doubt.”

  “Duh.” Marnie linked arms with Liv, surprising the hell out of his lady. “I hear you do yoga.”

  “I do. Every day. You?”

  “I’d love to try it. I need my Zen, you know?” Marnie led Liv away, and she only gave him one panicky backward look.

  Adorable. Utterly adorable.

  Boothe chuckled. “She’s so glad to have a friend that’s an equal. She’s fascinated.”

  “Olivia is amazing.” Hank managed a genuine smile.

  “She is,” Jonah agreed. “She and Marnie are gonna be buds.”

  “Hey, Jonah.” James, the south border guardian walked up and smacked him on the shoulder. Then he glanced at Hank, intense curiosity in his eyes. “Nice to meet you as a human. Me, I mean. Human.”

  Hank held one hand out. “Nice to meet you. I hope you liked your snack yesterday.”

  “I did.” James held Hank’s hand a moment or two too long, and Jonah rumbled.

  “Don’t make me kick your ass, James.”

  James looked up at him, and he could see James pondering a challenge. Jonah bounced on his toes, ready for anything. Hank was his and Liv’s. Only theirs.

 

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