Page 34 of Homecoming

“Yeah. He did. He’s always supported my alternative view of the world.”

Ahheel laughed. “I am up for it. He’s a beta?”

“Yes.”

“I will be gentle with him.”

“Don’t be. He’s scrappy.” She smiled and looked at her phone. “He’s happy for me.”

Exeter kissed her temple. “He should be.”

The bride was fuming.

The variety of fish was brought out, and Aeryn smiled as she got her battered nuggets.

Mini looked at her wistfully. “Are there any more of those?”

The crewmen nodded, and a platter was set near her.

There were grilled fish, poached, baked, and even a tureen that boggled the imagination.

Thera laughed. “Aeryn shopped hungry.”

Aeryn’s half of the table laughed.

Sohar smiled. “Nothing like a good provider in the family.”

Loken chuckled and got a serving of grilled fish. “I will hunt on the land; she can hunt in the sea, and you can pay for everything else.”

Sohar laughed and took samples of everything. “My mate caught it, and I am going to eat it.”

Loken’s thread of the link was fading again. She wrapped herself around it and tried to make the link stronger.

“Aeryn, we can work on the links after lunch.”

He had used the plural, and she shivered a little. The fish nuggets were tasty, and the tartar sauce they had made was good. “The cooks are really good.”

“Chefs. We have two chefs. Calling them cooks makes them cranky.” Loken chuckled.

Sohar nodded. “And if you do that, all you get is oatmeal for all meals for a week.” He grimaced.

She giggled. “Noted.”

Thera thought of something. “Hey, Aeryn, Sohar, and Loken and Mini, Ahheel, and Exeter, I want you on the deck for photos. It is so rare to see links before they are locked in.”

Sohar grinned. “That is a great idea. Will you also do photos when we have completed the link?”

“Absolutely. I need practice to build a portfolio.”

Amby grinned. “We are working on making a wedding venue out here. I think I am going to drag my guys in to do the first ceremony when we get the venue set up.”

Orc asked, “What’s the deal with weddings? It seems so much fuss when the importance is the bond.”

Mini piped up. “Betas don’t get the bond. They don’t get a link at all. It is just two people agreeing to live together, hopefully bound by trust and affection. Tricia, be happy. This at least means I won’t be at your wedding.”

Tricia paled. “No. You have to be there. He said he won’t marry me if his family isn’t there.”

Mini blinked in surprise. “Then why are you such a bitch to me?”

---