Page 38 of Cleat Heat

“Hello, Sir,” Fox says politely, reaching out his hand. “Nice to meet you.”

The two shake hands, and my father scrutinizes him. His eyes flit from Dash to Ty then back again to Fox. The room is silent for a moment, and I squirm.

“Holy heck—you’re Pack Walsh. The stars of the Alpha Crushers!” he exclaims, wonder lighting his face. “Hot damn. Come in! Come in!”

My guys are famous, so I guess now they can roll out the welcome mat. Ridiculous.

“Well, now I know why you missed the first game of the season! Do you think you’ll win this weekend?” my dad chatters, asking a million questions. His excitement is obvious, and it warms my heart. Maybe they’ll come to love them as much as I’m starting to.

He ushers us all down the hallway, past the dining room. “Linda, we need to set some extra plates. Vivi’s brought home Pack Walsh.”

My gaze darts into the room, falling on the table. The table is already set for four people…

“Who else is coming?” I ask in confusion, biting my lip. Worry twists my gut at the empty space, and my mind whirls with the possibilities. We don’t have much family…

Ding. Dong. Ding.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Fox

The peel of the doorbell sends the hair on the back of my neck, shooting straight up. Vivi’s face drains of color, making her so pale that she might as well be a ghost. Confusion swirls within me, but my instincts shove me forward, ready to protect my precious mate at all costs.

“W-what did you do?” she whispers, her eyes wide as her mother re-enters the room with a huge smile plastered on her face. Before the words leave her lips, I tug her into my arms and drop my nose to her neck. Her cupcake scent is off, a clear sign of the turmoil roiling through her, but I’m humbled when she relaxes instantly against my chest.

“Oh, I just invited a friend,” her mother says briskly, shooting a look at Mr. Milone. “But you were supposed to come alone, Vivi. So, this is all your fault.”

She drops that vague little bomb and begins walking to the doorway.

What the ever-loving hell?

But before I even get a chance to voice my concern, Ty lets out a deep growl and steps straight into Mrs. Milone’s path.

“You will tell us who’s at the door before you open it,” he demands. Dominance rolls off him in waves, making her blanch. Tension swirls around the room as they stare one another down—Ty snarling and Mrs. Milone sneering.

“Gladly. It’s the man Vivi’s going to marry,” she says, holding her head high and taking another step forward to go around him. But there’s nowhere for her to pass because Dash has stepped forward to flank Ty. Hell, yes—teamwork, baby.

“That seems unlikely, since we’re all already inside,” Dash chuckles, crossing his thick arms over his chest. The protruding cords in his neck, along with the pulse ticking in his jaw, are the only outward signs that our pack Alpha is pissed.

My packmate’s scents turn bitter with rage, and Vivi lets out a little whimper of protest.

“Please, Mom, tell me you didn’t invite me here to ambush me with Marcel.” Vivi’s eyes fill with tears, and her body trembles at the thought. Had she come here alone, what could have happened?

That tiny weasel of an Alpha is no match for our pack. But a lone omega?

Ding. Dong. Ding.

The doorbell chimes again, and the anger in the room ratchets up another notch.

“Of course I invited him, Vivi,” she says, swinging around to confront the shaking omega in my arms. “You have to see that he’s the right choice. Marcel is a good man. He has a great job, and he’ll be a wonderful father. Not to mention, he’s already so in love with you.”

“Marcel’s not in love with me. He’s stalking me, Mom. That monster tried to force bond me during my heat,” Vivi sobs, a tear trickling down her cheek. Tugging her harder against my chest, I wrap both arms tightly around her, and Ty steps forward to rub the shiny trail from her skin.

“No tears, baby girl. We’ve got you,” he promises, moving forward to sandwich her between us.

“That is a ridiculous allegation!” Mr. Milone sputters. “We’ll settle this here and now and choose who my Vivi girl will marry. After all, it’s long past time for you to give up this ridiculous cheerleading thing and settle down. I want to be a grandpa before I’m dead.”

That can be arranged.

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