Page 30 of Bear with Me

Fletch nodded. “We’re postponing Lawrence Walker’s reckoning until Malachai arrives with Titus Walker.”

“Wait.” Jemma stopped mid-step. “Titus…Walker? Isn’t Titus the one who stepped in as alpha over Em’s old pack? He’s related to Lawrence?”

“His nephew. Malachai doesn’t think Titus was involved at all, though he had his doubts in the beginning. Apparently, Titus wants to join the rest of the den here. Laramie won’t agree until he sees how Titus reacts to Lawrence. He doesn’t want another betrayal from within. He won’t put the den at risk again. Especially with his mate pregnant.” Fletch paused when they hit the gravel clearing in front of his and Milo’s cabins.

It looked like Milo and Ryan had just arrived, and Thomas and another man, who had to be Roman, were helping carry a large quantity of pizza boxes to Fletch and Helen’s cabin.

“How many people are joining you for dinner?” Jemma asked.

“Five male bear shifters,” Helen replied. “Believe me. They can put away pizza. In fact, we better hurry before they get started without us.”

“Hey, gorgeous!” Milo called. “You ready to ditch that mate, yet?”

Jemma laughed at Fletch’s growl.

“Knock it off,” Fletch ordered.

“Who said I was talking to Helen?” Milo asked and winked at Jemma. She had no idea what to say to that.

“He’s teasing you, Jemma. He knows Brock would kill him if he actually hit on you,” Helen assured her.

Milo laughed. “Yeah, no death wishes here.”

“What makes you think he’d care?” Jemma asked as she followed Milo inside. He crossed the room and set the pizza boxes in his hands on the table.

“Brock’s possessive of the things that matter the most to him. Growing up with six other brothers, then Fletch and me, you end up sharing a lot of things. Clothes, toys, you name it.”

“Wait, you and Fletch grew up here, too?” Jemma asked.

“Pretty much,” Milo said.

“There were nine of you?” Jemma couldn’t wrap her mind around that many children, all boys, in one house. She’d been an only child. “How was it?”

“It was pure hell,” Fletch said as he set cans of soda on the table along with bottles of beer.

“And we loved every minute of it,” Milo added.

Fletch snorted but didn’t deny it.

“Have a seat.” Milo held out a chair for her then flopped into the one beside her. Helen sat on her other side, next to Fletch. Her three brothers sat across from them. The newest one leaned over and held his hand out.

“Roman. Nice to meet you.”

“Jemma,” she said automatically.

“Which Holloway are you mated to?” he asked.

She didn’t ask how he knew. “Brock.”

“Which one is he?” Roman asked. “I swear they all look similar.”

“He and Matheus are the youngest brothers,” Milo told him. “They were the ones helping get cabins ready for all the new arrivals.”

Roman nodded.

“Now, let’s eat. I’m starving,” Milo said and started opening boxes and passing them around the table.

Jemma loaded her plate, grabbed a soda, and let the conversation flow around her. The males teased each other, and Helen’s brothers shared embarrassing stories about her as a young girl. It was fun to watch them all interact. Though she’d been with the Holloways for over a year now, she’d never eaten with the family. They usually ate in the kitchen, and she’d never felt as if she’d be welcomed if she’d tried to join them. She’d usually grabbed her food and ate outside where she could be alone. Muriel had joined her once she arrived. Helen had occasionally, as well. Jemma wondered if meals with the Holloways were this entertaining.

---