“Did you break in while I was gone? I know the doors were locked. How do you even know how to do that? What the hell have you been up to while you were gone, Axel?”
“This and that,” he replied evasively. “I’d just gotten here when you left with the blonde, and I wasn’t sure how long you’d be gone. Is she your mate? She’s gorgeous.”
His gorilla let out a warning growl, even though he knew his brother didn’t mean anything with his words. It was like neither he nor his animal could control the way she made them feel. Mine. “Yeah, that’s her. Olivia. You don’t have any questions about the fact that we can have mates? Lindsey just about lost her shit at the news.”
Axel gave an exaggerated shudder. “Nope, I’m good. You two can have all that mate shit. I never wanted one when I thought we couldn’t have them, and nothing’s changed now that I know we can.”
Quick flashbacks of his time with Olivia sped through his mind, and he shook his head. “My mate’s amazing. You have no clue what you’re missing, Axel.”
“I’m sure she is, but I’m still happy to wallow in my ignorance. Are there any empty houses available I can take?”
“You don’t want to stay here with me and Lindsey? I meant it when I said this is still your home.”
“I appreciate that, but I’m sure it won’t be just you and Linds for long. I’ve heard what it’s like between mates. I have no desire to see you sucking face with yours at every opportunity, or God forbid, actually hear you two going at each other,” he replied with a shudder that appeared genuine this time.
Cody chuckled. “I have to agree with you there. I have no desire for you to hear it, either. Yeah, there are two open houses right now. The Miller house and the Johnson house. They both need updating though, and our crews are booked out right now.”
“As long as they have walls, a floor, and a roof, I’m fine. It can always be updated later. I’ll stay here tonight and get furniture tomorrow. I’ll take the Miller house, if that’s okay.”
“Totally fine, but that’s the smaller house. Tiny, actually. Sure you don’t want the bigger one?”
“Nope. It’s just me, and I don’t need much space.”
He nodded but before he could reply, the door slowly opened and Lindsey stuck her head inside.
“Is it safe to come in?” she asked, her brown eyes sheepish and a little worried as they came to rest on Cody.
“It is now,” he replied mildly. “You could have given me some warning, though.”
Axel shook his head. “I asked her not to.”
Closing the door, his sister made her way over to him, her eyes apologetic. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you I was talking to Axel. He wanted to come to you on his own.”
“You don’t ever have to apologize for talking to your own brother, Linds. Or for not telling me. My reaction was because of my own shit, and that has nothing to do with you.” Pausing, he watched Axel go up the stairs, probably heading to his old room. Waiting until he heard a door open and shut, he turned back to her and lowered his voice. “But what was that about the other night? When you asked if maybe he was behind the shit at the drive-in? You knew where he was and what he’d been up to.”
Biting her lip, she shook her head. “I know only what he tells me, and he doesn’t tell me much. But I agree with you that he wouldn’t do that. That’s not the kind of man he is, and I felt guilty the moment I asked you. He was just the only one I know of who’s left the troop. He sounded genuinely shocked and upset about what happened when I told him.”
Nodding thoughtfully, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and gently squeezed. “You shouldn’t feel guilty. Like you said, he’s the only one who’s left, so it makes sense to wonder. But I still stand by what I said. He wouldn’t be behind that.”
She went up on her tiptoes and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Thank you for being you.”
Surprised, he raised his eyebrows. “What? Why?”
“You’ve been through so much, and you have every reason to find the negative in everything and everyone around you. But you never let anger or hurt, or even disillusionment, rule your actions. You don’t let your past define you. You’re always searching for the good in people or situations. I admire that about you so much.”
Without giving him a chance to reply, she skipped up the stairs, and he gazed after her, his hand on his chest. If she’d stuck around, he would have told her that he admired her just as much—and next time he could get her to stand still, he would.
She hadn’t had it easy either, and everything she said about him could be said about her.
He wasn’t sure how long he stood in the middle of the room, just thinking about how much life had changed in a short amount of time. He’d met Olivia, learned he had a mate—and that mates were even possible for his kind—then finally stood up to Pops like he should have long ago.
And now, his brother was finally home, hopefully for good.
So many changes so quickly left him feeling slightly dizzy and off centered, but he wouldn’t change a single one of them.
Chapter 20
Olivia