“Yes.” The younger girl pulled her hand back. “I love working there. And I cannot thank you enough for everything you do for the organization. The women appreciate it.”
He’d founded the organization soon after losing his eye. It was in honor of his mother and the countless women he had encountered in his line of work, women who wanted a way out from under oppressive systems and didn’t have anywhere to go. It was for people like that—women, children, and men—that he had established Survivors of Los Fortis so that in a city of millions, they would have a safe haven when they needed it. And even after so many years, it angered him that the number of people seeking refuge hadn’t dwindled.
Zephyr’s younger sister was a good one.
“I appreciate you helping out there,” he told her honestly.
“Oh, Zee volunteers on the weekends too.” Zenith gave her sister a coy look. “She gives the ladies a makeover, whatever they want.”
Alpha knew that already. “Does that help them?”
“Immensely.”
Interesting.
“Welcome. Please have a seat,” the older woman who’d been watching him, his mother-in-law obviously, said as she walked out with a tray of iced drinks, indicating the iron sitting area on the side of the large porch, followed by a lean man with a mustache, obviously the girls’ father.
So he wasn’t being invited in. He got it.
Giving them a respectful nod, he took a seat on a chair too small and watched her mother place the tray on the table. Zenith took a seat on one side, her mother took another, and her father sat opposite him. Zephyr planted her very delectable ass on the arm of his chair, sliding her arm around his shoulder, clearly presenting them a united front. He appreciated that.
Introductions were made and after an awkward silence for a few seconds, her father finally spoke. “You understand why this is a bit disconcerting for us.”
“Of course.” Yeah, he understood. Had he been in his father-in-law’s place though, the boy would’ve been six feet under before he could utter a word.
“Zephyr was seeing someone else one day and then she’s telling us she’s in love with you, and she’s married you at a courthouse,” the older man picked up a glass, and Alpha followed to be polite. “Is it because of her grandmother’s will?”
Alpha appreciated the man’s straight question. But Zephyr had told him her parents couldn’t know she was marrying him for that. He shook his head once. “No. Your daughter… she’s like a ray of sunshine in my very dark life.” What the fuck just came out of his mouth?
He heard Zephyr inhale sharply, her fingers gripping his shoulder tightly. He’d have to tell her later not to take it to heart. He didn't mean anything by it.
Her mother finally leaned forward, a beautiful woman with grays in her hair, and Alpha wondered for a moment if his mother would’ve had gray hair too had she been alive.
“How did you meet my daughter?”
The question broke his thoughts.
Zephyr answered from his side. “I told you we met at SLF, mama. I was there with Zen, he was there, we just… clicked.”
That was a surprisingly realistic scenario. He looked to the younger sister to see her nodding, having her sister’s back, and that earned her another point in his book.
“And how did you meet the first time?” her mother persisted.
The first time? What exactly had she told her parents?
“I’d gone to a party with friends. They ditched me, and Alpha walked me home.”
His little rainbow was quite the storyteller. He was half-interested by her account of the fictional events, half-weary wondering what she was lying to him about.
“And your family, Alpha?” her mother questioned.
“Mama,” Zephyr chided.
“I have a half-brother.” He took a sip of the iced drink. Too fruity. “He’s getting married tomorrow, so we’re attending his wedding. Other than that, no one.”
He could see where Zephyr got it from, the compassion, as her mother finally softened slightly. “Yes, Zephyr told us. I’m sorry to hear that.”
Shaking off the quiet mood, Zephyr clapped her hand once. “And we need to get going.” She hopped off from the arm of the chair, rushing inside to probably get her bag, and everyone stood up.
“I don’t know if she told you,” Alpha began, wanting to make something clear to them. “But she’ll be moving in with me once we’re back. You’re welcome to visit anytime. We can plan for a proper ceremony later.”
Her mother’s lips pursed. “Yes, she told us. She’s packed everything at her apartment already. It’s just all… very sudden, and very suspicious. I asked her if she was pregnant, if that was the hurry, but she said no. Just said she’d married her love and that was that. She was with Alec Reyes for two years and not once talked about marriage so it’s very hard for us to wrap our heads around this.”
Fucking gambling Reyes. He might’ve spent two years with her but he’d be damned if he tried anything again. Alpha didn’t share, and for the duration of the time together, she was his even if he didn’t plan on fucking her. How hard could it be to resist the little vixen?
Seeing her mother’s reaction, the news of their marriage probably hadn’t gone over well.
And that again made him wonder, why risk a fight with her family for him?
What the hell was she up to?