Page 15 of Brick
They walked up to the front door, and she shook his extended hand. “Hello, Alpha Beaumont.”
He gave her a curious look and then said, “You’re safe here, Jade. We take care of our own, and you’re under mine andCinder’s protection now whether you join up with our pack in the future or not.”
She blinked in surprise. “Oh. I…Thank you so much.”
“I can tell you’re nervous, and from what I’ve heard of your history, that makes sense. Nothing has to happen today but a chat. Come and meet my mate, and we’ll see where the day takes us.”
“Do you need me to stick around, babe?” Alli asked.
Jade smiled. “I think I’m good.”
“We can have one of our security team run you home whenever you’re ready,” Adam said.
“That’s works, thanks.” She hugged Alli and said goodbye, following the alpha into the house.
He introduced her to Cinder, a beautiful blond who welcomed her with a warm hug. They sat in the family room on comfortable couches. After declining a drink, she was asked about her history, and she told them the story of how she’d come to flee Michigan and wind up in Ohio.
“Damn,” Adam said.
Cinder smacked his arm.
“Crap, sorry.” He rubbed his arm. At Jade’s confused look, Adam said, “We’re not really telling anyone, but Cinder’s pregnant. Keep it under your hat for now.”
“Congratulations, and I sure will.”
“This whole pack swears like they’re descendants of sailors,” Cinder said with a sigh.
“So you’ve got quite a backstory there,” Adam said. “Your alpha sounds like a real piece of work. I don’t operate that way. The only way I’d arrange a mating was if I was asked to, and both parties would have to agree.”
“I’m just thankful to be anywhere but there.”
“What if I bring in some females to hang out for lunch? Nothing fancy, just a casual get-together? My mother-in-law isawesome. You’ll love her. We can go for a walk around the territory too, maybe?”
“Only with protectors,” Adam said.
“Of course.”
“I’d love that,” Jade said.
“Let me go make some calls,” Cinder said, excusing herself.
For a moment, Jade felt like whatever she’d been feeling before suddenly got stronger. She rose slowly to her feet and looked toward the hall that led to the front door. Her wolf perked up, eager and alert, as if sensing something nearby.
Or someone.
“You okay?” Adam asked.
The front door opened and everything inside Jade went profoundly quiet.
She opened her mouth to answer Adam, when a male stepped into the family room a few moments later. He was huge. Broad-shouldered and muscular, with dark hair and eyes, and the air of someone with power and authority. Her wolf surged forward, slamming into her with the recognition of the male before her.
Her mind reeled as a word echoed inside her. Truemate.
Chapter
Eight
Brick grabbed lunch from the deli in town run by pack members. Brandon and his mate Claire had been supplying sandwiches and snacks to the pack for decades and were a staple in the community.
