“Family?” I echo.
Hudson nods. “You are now. By agreeing to come here, you became part of this pack. Part of this family.”
Right, because nothing says “family” like being purchased along with the furniture.
“Even if I’m your property? Were the others purchased too?”
“Regardless of how you got here, now that you are, you’re one of us.”
“I know it’s not conventional,” Ethan adds. “But we’re not conventional males.”
I nod, unsure how to feel.
Alpha Hudson gives me one last nod before striding out, the weight of his presence lingering.
“Come on,” Ethan says, offering me a hand. “Let’s get you acquainted with the rest of your home.”
I grasp his hand, allowing him to pull me to my feet. His palm is warm and callused, and its strength is reassuring.
As we walk through the house, Ethan points out various rooms and amenities: their bedrooms, all located on the second floor,and the spacious second living room with its plush couches and massive fireplace, less formal than the one downstairs. It looks like a man cave with large TV screens, gaming consoles, and a pool table. Then there’s Alpha Hudson’s office, lined with bookshelves, which I’m told to stay out of. It’s all so normal, so domestic—a stark contrast to the wild, rugged world outside.
“And this,” Ethan says, opening a door at the end of the hall, “is the training room.”
I step inside, my eyes widening. The room is enormous, with padded floors and mirrored walls. Various workout equipment lines the perimeter—weights, punching bags, and a sparring ring in the corner.
“Training for what, exactly?” I inquire, running my hand along the cool leather of a punching bag.
“Combat, mostly. Self-defense. We like to stay sharp and be prepared for anything.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Expecting trouble?”
Ethan shrugs. “It’s a harsh world out there, Luna. Especially for our kind. Better to be safe than sorry.”
I nod, knowing exactly what he means.
“You’ll begin training too,” he continues. “Basic exercises initially, until we assess your fitness level. Then we’ll intensify the regimen.”
“I look forward to it,” I say.
Ethan’s eyebrow shoots up, apparently surprised by my answer.
He shows me a few more rooms—a small library, a couple of guest bedrooms, and the door to the basement, which he tells me never to enter.
It’s my turn to have my eyebrows rocket sky-high.
Then we circle back to the kitchen, where Oli is wiping down the counters and humming softly.
“All done with the grand tour?” he asks, flashing a grin.
I nod. “It’s a lovely home. Much nicer than I expected, to be honest.”
Oli laughs. “What, you thought we’d be living in caves, eating raw meat off the bone?”
I shrug. “I didn’t know what to expect. This is all new to me.”
“I get it. It’s a lot to take in. But you’ll get used to it. We’re not so bad once you get to know us.”
“Even Damien?” I blurt out.
