“My name is Isaiah.” He held out his hand.
Luca took the offering. “I’m—”
“Luca Suarez.” Isaiah nodded at Nox. “And Nash Kelli. It’s wonderful to finally meet you.”
“How do you know our names?”
Isaiah placed his other hand over Luca’s.
“We’ve been waiting for you for a very long time.” A wave of sadness and hope radiated from Isaiah’s touch. “I’ve learned as much as I can.”
“A thousand years, waiting?” Wasn’t that what the man named Jelani had said? He stood in the doorway of one of the motor homes watching Nox with a look of worry.
“Something like that.” Isaiah motioned to where his people sat at the picnic table with untouched plates and drinks. “Would you like to join us?”
“We’d—”
“No.” Nox stormed forward. A wall of vibrating muscle and potential violence.
Luca got in his way.
The four men leapt to their feet.
“I said sit down.” Isaiah held up a hand.
“Alpha,” Tanner said.
“Do not question me. They are our guests.”
“No, we’re not.” A growl rolled out of Nox's chest, deep enough to vibrate the air and loud enough to echo over the pasture.
Everyone at the picnic tables retreated except for the four large men and Isaiah.
“Stop it.” Luca tried to push Nox back. “You’re scaring them.”
“They need to be scared.” Nox held Isaiah’s gaze.
“No they don’t.” Luca fueled his statement with calming thoughts and memories of being held.
Nox shifted his attention to him. Only it wasn’t the man watching Luca now.
“I said stop.” Luca urged Nox to back up. He moved two paces before tensing. It was enough. Or at least more than Luca had expected. “I’m sorry,” Luca turned back around. “It’s been a rough few weeks.”
“I understand. But I promise, we mean you no harm.” There was so much reverence to Isaiah’s tone Luca blushed.
“And I don’t believe you.” At least Nox didn’t growl.
“Your apprehension is understandable. If the tables were turned, I’d feel the same way.”
“Good, then you won’t mind telling us what you want.”
“I’ll be more than happy too. But it would be better if we sit. It might take a while and you will have a lot of questions.”
Luca already had a lot of questions.
“Please. We have more than enough.” Isaiah nodded at the tables full of food where his people still hadn’t returned and stood poised as if ready to bolt.
“That might not be a good idea.” Luca didn’t want to make things worse. For them and for Nox.