Page 18 of The Wolf's Plus-Size Bride

Reiner takes a step closer. “You do look gorgeous.”

I can’t help the blush that stains my cheeks. “Thanks. You clean up pretty nice, too.”

“Well, aren’t you two just the cutest,” Gwen says, clapping her hands together. “Dinner will be ready in about thirty minutes. Please, make yourselves comfortable. Richard, can you give me a hand with the grill? I need to check the chicken.”

“Of course, dear. We’ll be outside.”

Once they’re gone, I gesture to the boys to take a seat on the couch. “Can I get you guys something to drink? Beer, soda, water? I can make you a mixed drink if you’d like.”

“I’ll take a beer,” Jack says.

“Same,” Reiner adds.

I walk to the kitchen and pull a couple of beers from the fridge, popping the caps off and taking a deep breath before heading back to the living room. I’m nervous. I’ve been around Reiner a few times now, and I’ve felt a sort of connection with him, but this feels different.

“I hope you don’t mind that I brought Jack along,” Reiner says when I hand him his bottle. “I thought since it was a familydinner, I should bring some family, and well… Jack’s all the family I’ve got, so…”

“Oh.” I pause, unsure of what to say. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize.”

Jack chuckles, leaning back on the sofa. “It’s not a big deal. I was actually surprised he asked me to come, but I’m glad he did. I’ve enjoyed getting to know the wolves from Stardust Hollow.”

I glance between the two men, and I can’t help the smile that stretches across my face. They definitely do look alike, and I can see the resemblance in their mannerisms, too.

“You guys are really close, aren’t you?” I say.

“We’re like brothers,” Jack says. “You can’t choose your family, but I’d pick Reiner every single time.”

“That’s very sweet.”

“He’s a good guy,” Jack says, shrugging. “A pain in the ass, but a good guy.”

“Gee, thanks,” Reiner says, rolling his eyes.

“You’re lucky to have each other,” I comment. “When I lost my parents, I didn’t have any siblings. Piper’s family took me in, and I don’t know where I’d be without them. It’s interesting, though. I always felt like I had a different relationship with my alpha than the other kids in the pack. It was almost like he was my father, too. Ram’s father, Talos, was alpha back then, and he was a good man. He never seemed to mind stepping up to the plate.”

“It was a lot like that for us, too,” Jack replies. “We were both pretty young when our parents died, and we actually lived with the alpha for a while. Rafe and Evan were like brothers to us.”

Reiner doesn’t say anything, but I can feel his eyes on me. I turn to face him, and he looks away.

When Aunt Gwen and Uncle Richard come back inside, they take a seat in the armchairs across from us.

“Just a little bit longer,” my aunt announces. “So, tell me, boys, what was it like growing up in such a rural pack? You guys are really tucked away from it all, huh?”

“Yeah, it was pretty isolated,” Jack agrees. “But it was a good place to grow up. Lots of space, lots of land to run. We have a huge lake on the property, and a lot of the pack members have cabins there. It’s a nice little community.”

“It sounds lovely,” she says. “And your alpha. Rafe, is it? He seems like a good man.”

“Evan is the alpha,” Jack corrects. “Rafe is the beta. But yes, they’re both great. They’re our uncles, actually.”

“Do your parents live here, too, then?” Uncle Richard asks, and I press my lips together.

Reiner has been pretty quiet since we started talking about our pasts and families, but I can tell my uncle’s question strikes a nerve. He straightens up a bit before standing up. “If you don’t mind, I just need a breath of fresh air for a moment. Excuse me.”

I watch him walk out the front door, and I can’t help but feel guilty.

“Did I say something wrong?” Uncle Richard asks, looking to me.

Jack shakes his head. “No. It’s not you. His parents died when he was younger, and it’s a bit of a sensitive subject for him. I lost mine when I was a boy, too, but I was so young, I barelyremember them. Reiner… he saw the whole thing. He’s never been the same since.”

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