“Let’s go inside.” I cut Mercer off. “Believe me, you don’t want details of those incidents.”
When I started walking, he sighed and came along with me. West didn’t hesitate to follow. I waved back at James as Conrad shook off his awe and rushed to catch up.
“I’ll give you a tour.”
“Yes, please,” Conrad said eagerly. “Can we tour the kitchen first? I’m fucking starving.”
One of the maids paused on her way past the entryway and stared at him with wide eyes. He was a lot bigger and a lot rougher looking than most of the people who came here, so I couldn’t entirely blame her.
Her perusal took a hint longer than my omega side was comfortable with, though, so I cleared my throat. “Anne, did you need something from me?”
The maid went pink and in quick succession curtsied, apologized, and rushed away with broom in hand.
Conrad glanced over at the doorway, completely oblivious. “Is that the way to the kitchen?”
Someone laughed from upstairs. “I thought they fed you at Omega Haven?”
My gaze darted upward and I locked eyes with Mom, hovering at the top of the winding staircase. Shaking off Mercer’s hold, I dashed up the stairs and threw myself into her arms.
“Mom,” I whispered. “I missed you.”
She rubbed my back, her soothing apricot and jasmine scent wafting around me. “I missed you too, darling. I would have come to visit, but I didn’t want to overwhelm you. Lavinia kept me updated.”
“I know. Thank you. You’re the reason my fathers didn’t all insist on seeing me too, right?”
“They would have never left your side if I’d let them have their way. I told them two could stop for a visit, or none at all. You have your own pack to take care of you now, right? I’m very excited to meet them. Your fathers have only told me bad things.”
Pulling away from her, I saw my pack hesitating halfway up the stairs. They looked a tad pale. Terrified of Audrey Alfieri’s disapproval, as they should be. I smiled.
Mercer cleared his throat. “Whatever bad things you heard, ma’am, I’m sure we can clear them up. We’re truly devoted to your daughter.”
Mom gestured for them to come up the rest of the stairs. All three looked more nervous than I’d ever seen them, even more than they had when gearing up to meet my fathers. They paused at the top, not daring to come any closer.
“My pack is not at all trustworthy when it comes to assessing potential mates for their daughters,” Mom said. “They’d actually started tolikeBenjamin, for fuck’s sake.”
I blinked at the swear word. Mom wasn’t one to cuss much.
“Then, if possible, we’d like to make a better first impression than what they said about us.” Mercer held out a hand. “Mercer Gutierrez. It’s nice to meet you.”
She stepped away from me and took his hand daintily in hers. “Audrey Alfieri.”
His gaze slipped over to meet mine. I almost laughed at the panic I saw there. He was desperate to impress her.
Little did he know, he already had. He’d stayed with me at the Residence when it would have been easier to walk away. And I loved him—loved all of them. Mom would know without me having to tell her.
“Mrs. Alfieri, these are my packmates?—”
“Let them introduce themselves,” Mom said.
It went dead silent. She looked back at me with a glimmer of amusement in her eye while my pack cracked under the pressure.
Conrad was the first to speak. “Conrad St. Pierre. I may not have much of an education, Mrs. Alfieri, but I’ll do anything for Talia.”
“Education? My understanding,Four Leaf, is that you’re really quite good at making friends and beating people up.”
He grabbed the railing, his face white as a sheet. “Ma’am, I’m not like that around your daughter. I swear on my life.”
Mom laughed. She was playing with him. I almost felt guilty hanging back and watching the show.
