Not only does Sean get lots of handshakes and backslaps with words of congrats; but I do, too. And it feels good, considering how I’m guessing the pack felt about me after the last large gathering I was at. Wondering if I was losing it. Wondering if they should cast me out.
My eyes find Amelia and she’s back at my mother’s table, sipping her drink and talking to Bailey, joking that she meant it when she told her she was clumsier than Bailey.
“She’s either someone who can hold her liquor real well,” Dad says low into my ear, “Or you’re gonna be holding her hair back later. She’s been drinkin’ the shine, tequila, now whisky? Sherry was in when they first got here and opened a bottle of champagne, too. Your woman had two glasses.”
“Sherry gone?”
“She disappeared a while ago after a tiff with Bailey. Not sure what that was about.”
Sherry, Jase’s sister, is a hellion. Alpha female who loves attention. A bit of a bitch, frankly. The majority of the females in our pack are hoping an alpha from another pack will claim her and take her away.
I catch Bailey eyeballing the guys in the corner. She likes to know what’s going on, has strong instincts for picking up on drama that’s happening under the radar. She’s also generally looking in the direction of the council whenever we’re together because of her crush on Jase.
She looks about to head over there when Amelia grabs her hand and says something into her ear. Bailey shakes her head rapidly.
I strain to listen but there’s too much commotion between the music and all the people.
I move closer to them. “Time to head home, wildberry,” I say.
“Oh? Bummer,” Bailey pouts. “Things are moving outside, though.”
Bailey knows I like to hang out on the patio, often joining in on the wrestling matches.
“Not tonight,” I say.
“Ah,” Bailey replies knowingly. “Alone time. Between the moon and the honeymoon, I’m surprised you even went out today.”
“Don’t remind me,” I mutter.
“Do it,” Amelia encourages her and then hugs her before turning to look at me.
And she’s got a heated expression. What’s this? My mate isn’t about to argue with me for a change?
No. She’s ready to go home with me. I’d wager she’s been anxious to see me all night. And it feels really fucking good.
“What sort of shit are you tryin’ to get Bailey to stir?” I ask.
“Mind your business,” Amelia advises good-naturedly, smile laced with mischief.
It takes a few minutes to get outside, what with Mom and Amelia taking extra-long to say goodbye, Amelia looking almost emotional about it when Mom says she’ll see her in a couple days.
And I can only surmise that Amelia thinks she’ll be gone by then and is feeling melancholy about it. It’s more than obvious to me that my mate has conflicting emotions about our pairing. And it’s my job to tilt the scale in the right direction.
Amelia hugs my father goodbye near the fire pit and then has another quick word with Bailey before waving to Cicely as I grab her hand trying to steer her toward the half-open gate that leads to the parking lot.
Things are getting louder both inside and out on the patio. Outside, a wrestling match is getting going between Linc and Gus, Sean’s alpha brother – a guy that we’re all tight with.
The women move away to give them room to brawl. Nobody wins against Lincoln at wrestling, the guy and his wolf are both built like tanks, but it never fails – liquor and an abundance of testosterone in close contact and things devolve into shifters lined up trying to take Lincoln’s crown. It often starts as them in human form and transitions to wolves wrestling when whoever is refereeing blows a whistle.
Lincoln never loses; never tires.
As I have this thought, Amelia gasps. Linc and Gus are both wolves now. That didn’t take long. And nobody blew a whistle.
“I still can’t believe my eyes when I see that,” she says, in awe.
Cade rushes over, whistle in hand.
“You’ll get used to it,” I say.
She smiles but then her smile drops. She doesn’t think she’ll have that opportunity.
I hear a grunt as Gus returns to male form and then he lets out a groan. Linc shifts to man, tackling him. Amelia laughs.
“Naked men rolling around together is kinda hot. Oh wait… he’s bleeding!” She points.
Blood gushes from Gus’s face, near his eye.
“Fuck!” I hear shouted.
Sean’s nephew is pissed off and taking a swing at Linc. Not real smart. The kid is barely old enough to drink and obviously overflowing with his own testosterone, not to mention protective instincts for his blood family. He’s not from around here otherwise he would know better.
Sean cuts in, backing the kid away from Linc, who eyeballs the kid like he’s an annoying mosquito.