Page 55 of Whispering Waves

“Hey, Dad. I want to bring Nina in for a meal and a hug. She definitely needs a hug.”

Nina looked back, and Iolana was talking with Drake. He had his phone out, and then he put it away and joined them at the hovercraft. The startled driver took them back to the helipad, and the pilot took off as soon as they were strapped in. They flew up and away, and Nina tried not to cry.

Kimo held her hand and squeezed it. She swallowed and smiled at him. She sent reassurance through their link.

He looked at her and pulled her in to kiss her forehead.

Their flight was short, and they landed in a flattened area near an area coated with grapevines. It was a vineyard.

A smiling woman came out to them, and Kimo grinned. “Mom!”

Nina hung back with Drake after the last fiasco.

The woman walked quickly toward Kimo, pushed him aside, and then wrapped Nina in her arms. “Aw, poor, little chicken. Have the alphas been mean to you?”

Nina blinked, and then she laughed and sniffled at the same time. “Yes and no. Kimo is great. This is my brother, Drake. I just met some family members, and they don’t have any use for betas.”

“Well, I am Melina, and I think that you are adorable. Kimo has been positively giddy on the phone talking about you, and he was worried that you were having a bad day. Now, who made you cry? I will kick their asses.”

Drake filled her in as they walked toward the house. “Our grandparents have a heavy alpha bias. They also called Nina a gold digger, and that is when Kimo grabbed her up, and we left.”

Kimo was next to them. “So, Mom, where’s Dad?”

“He’s getting some wine to take the edge off. You sounded tense.”

Kimo cleared his throat. “Can we also get some juice or soda? Nina isn’t feeling alcohol right now.”

Melina had an arm around Nina and asked casually. “Any particular reason?”

Nina muttered, “Is there any that you would believe?”

Melina made a high-pitched squeal and hugged Nina again. “I always wanted a daughter. Any grandchild will be a delightful blessing.”

Kimo snorted. “If Keanu can fix an error, you will soon have two. Daughters. Not grandchildren.”

“What have you boys been up to out there?”

Kimo smiled. “Well, if we can all sit and relax, I will tell you, or Nina can tell you. Or even Drake can tell you. He has been witness to far more than he would like to see.”

Drake laughed. “Oh, the horror.”

They got in the house and settled in the living room, and when Kimo’s hulking father arrived, Nina understood why Kimo looked the way he did. His dad was a cheerful giant.

Melina grinned. “Pika, this is Kimo’s mate, Nerina. This is her brother, Drake. They have had a bit of a morning.”

Nina stuck her hand out but was enveloped in a warm hug that was very careful. “Hello, daughter. Our house is your shelter.”

“Thank you, Pika. Nice to meet you.”

He chuckled and let her go.

She shook his hand, and he said, “Can I get you some wine? We have an award-winning cab sav or a respectable merlot.”

“Thank you, but no. I will stick to water or juice.”

Kimo said, “Dad. Keep it together.”

Pika was staring down at her with a dawning smile. “Really?”

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