She hadknownthis was going to be hardest on Gideon.
He just blinks. And blinks. And blinks.
Eventually, he mutters, “Don’t think this makes me like you, Lauren.”
He hoists Luca up into his arms, pressing him close to the source of that intoxicating mocha-coffee scent, humming a low tune.
Lauren allows a small smile, but it’s wiped away soon after with faux sternness.
“Nor I, Gideon.”
Only Leo sees her squeeze the hand she’s holding before Gideon sits, Luca straddling his lap.
There’s a faint whiff of smoky pine as Jay leans in, his soft lips brushing against Leo’s ear.
“What was that about?”
Hoping Jay has a better grip on his anger than Gideon, Leo responds with a single word.
“Carnell.”
Jay’s reaction is immediate. He tries to move around the cluster of whispering family members, intent on locating Carnell himself.
“What the fuck does he want here?”
Nix steps in, blocking his path. “Jamie. Please stay with me, okay? I need you.” His iron grip on Jay’s arm underscores the desperation in his voice.
“Like Lauren says, is it worth your freedom? I can’t do this without you.”
His pleading eyes flicker as a waft of burnt vanilla floats through the air—though he quickly reins it in.
“Okay, baby boy, okay,” Jay whispers, pulling Nix into his arms, his resolve softening.
With Gideon and Jay busy comforting and being comforted, Leo takes stock of his remaining mates.
Grayson is perched on Rowan’s lap, his mouth pressed to Rowan’s ear, while the baby alpha’s eyes remain closed in deep concentration. Every so often, a low growl escapes Rowan, making Finn’s beta family pale. They stay put in their seats, though—standing firm as a bulwark against the curious crowd.
Only Finn is missing from their row.
Leo decides that since his alphas are best kept right here, he must find their missing pack member.
He climbs onto his chair when his mothers are looking away, deep in conversation with Mrs. Foster.
With his new height advantage, he spots Finn sitting with Arlo and a middle-aged man in a red sweater. They’re using a phone to translate, and it occurs to him that maybe his mom might help as a translator—she’s proficient in ten languages, at last count.
He’ll make a point of introducing them when the dust settles.
Right before he jumps down, the doors at the back open, letting another wave of bystanders in and out.
Just beyond the threshold, Leo catches sight of Hayes’s lawyer in his offensive peach suit—deep in conversation with Patrick Carnell, punctuating his words with a pointed finger.
Carnell looks like he could just bite it off.
Then, the doors swing closed, and they’re gone from view.
A sense of foreboding makes the back of Leo’s neck itch.
“Boo-Boo, get down this minute.”
