Page 98 of Kidnapping Their Third

Cora’s phone buzzed repeatedly, making her tense. Kimble worried that she might have a nervous breakdown if she kept putting off dealing with her family.

When he looked up, it was to see Pike drying his hands off and staring at Cora’s phone with a frown. “Is it Imani or Aunt Maria?”

“Maria,” Cora admitted, slumping against Kimble.

“Tea?” Pike asked, reaching for the pot of tea he'd prepared earlier. He harvested and dried the herbs himself and every evening, he brewed a small pot for them to share. Even when Cora said no, he’d poured her a mug, and she drank it.

“Sure,” Cora answered, her half grin telling Kimble that she might grumble about having to drink “hot herb water,” but she still found the ritual soothing.

Pike joined them at the table with two mugs of tea. “I have an idea about your family.”

Cora held the hot mug between her hands and stared at the steam. Her answer was a lackluster, “What?”

Kimble could feel her reluctance and apprehension and rubbed a soothing hand over her back. As interested as he was to hear Pike’s plan, his first concern was keeping Cora happy.

“We would never force you to do anything,” he reminded her.

“I know,” she responded, still staring at the cup. “I don’t mean to take my problems out on you guys.”

Pike held up his left hand to show off the ring he wore on his third finger. “They’re officially our family too, remember?”

The three of them had an Alighting Ceremony several weeks ago. It had been a massive party with several wolf packs in attendance along with Pike’s family, Imani with her flock, and Tobias and his flock. Kimble had hated every moment of it, butPike and Cora had enjoyed it immensely. Their joy made the crowds tolerable. They might even be able to talk him into doing it again at some distant future point.

Cora looked at his ring then to the one on her hand holding the mug. “I’ve met your family; I think you got the worst part of the deal here.”

“What’s your idea?” Kimble asked before Cora could start a fight about why her family was “the worst.”

“I think we should have a family board meeting,” Pike answered.

Cora wrinkled her brow in confusion. “Board meeting?”

Pike leaned closer, eager to explain. “Yeah, board meeting. Treat it like you’re negotiating a contract.”

“What do you mean by contract?” she asked.

“I think you’re anxious because you feel trapped,” Pike explained. “You think it’s all or nothing. If you have a relationship with them in any way, they’ll go back to treating you the way they have been, or you’ll have to go no-contact and give up on the people you love.”

Cora’s eyes narrowed. “Did Annette talk to you?”

Pike shook his head. “Of course she didn’t, but I can feel your thoughts sometimes coming through our link, and I can feel all your heavy emotions. With all that, it’s not hard to figure out what’s going on in your head.” His expression changed to one of hurt. “I love you and want to help so I’ve thought a lot about your situation. And I’m not a dumb bear, even if I didn’t go to college or trade school.”

“Oh Pike, I’m sorry,” Cora said.

Sensing her intentions, Kimble was quick to take the mug from her hand so she could scramble from his lap to Pike. Cora hugged Pike around the neck before kissing his cheek and sitting up with her back against the table.

“Tell me about having a family board meeting, please.”

For the first time in a while, Kimble felt Cora opening up to let them help with her family. It had taken time, but she was finally realizing that Pike and Kimble were impossible to scare off.

***

Kimble had made sure the family board meeting was as formal as possible. Several members of the pack had volunteeredto escort the family to a small office building on the compound where he, Pike, and Cora would already be waiting.

Normally, the largest room in the building was full of workstations. For tonight’s gathering, the wolves had shoved everything into other rooms. Gone were all the colorful pictures and notes on the walls or the mismatched chairs, yoga balls, and standing desks.

In their place, the wolves brought in a single, rectangular table and matching chairs. Someone had even set up a small platter of pastries and a carafe of coffee in the center. It was a little late in the evening for most humans to drink coffee, but it set the right tone. This room could be located in any non-descript corporate office in America. It was sterile, inhospitable, and exactly what Kimble had wanted.

The three of them were sitting on one side of the table with Cora between them when Daniel walked into the room followed closely by his five sons. The three of them stood up but didn’t move to physically greet them.

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