Page 32 of In Plain Sight

“You know, shown affection around those guys? Told them verbally that you’re mated? Taken you out in public around town?”

“Um . . .” I thought through our week. “Yes, today after lunch, she kissed me when she got up to go back to work. Sort of, or at least I know the other guys are all aware she’s off the market. And no, not yet. I’m waiting for my first paycheck to come in next week to venture into town and replace those clothes I borrowed from you.”

“No rush on that, seriously. Clara likes to shop, and I have entirely too much as it is,” Gage informed me.

“When she opens up and introduces you around some and you can basically let others in the area know she’s yours, then your wolf will probably start to settle some. But overall, if you can even stand to walk into the chow hall with her sitting there surrounded by a bunch of males, then it sounds like you’re already in a good place. My wolf still has territorial issues where Elizabeth’s concerned,” Cole confessed.

“After all you went through, that’s not surprising though,” Gage reminded him.

I kept my mouth shut. Something told me I really didn’t want the gory details of what that had been like all those years.

Elizabeth came out to join us.

“How’s it going in there?” Gage asked.

“False alarm, her labor has stalled. We’ve got blankets and munchies set up in there if you guys want to join us.”

“Sure,” I said, as we followed her back inside. It looked like the entire stable area where the cow was being kept had been transformed. There were colorful blankets strewn across stacks of haybales, and a mess of food scattered all around.

Ruby motioned for me to join her on one of the blankets as the other guys joined their mates, too. Doc excused himself with instructions to call if the cow showed any signs of advancing again, but said he wanted to go home and catch a few hours of sleep while things were stagnant.

“Looks like we’re in for an all-nighter,” Clara announced.

“Did anyone call Lily and Thomas and let them know?” Lizzy asked.

“No, why would we?” Ruby asked.

Her sister shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve been gone a while and I missed you guys. It would be nice to just hang out with everyone tonight.”

Ruby rolled her eyes. “Should I call Peyton and Shelby, too?”

“Yes!” Clara and Lizzy said excitedly.

I hadn’t really met Ruby’s family yet and it felt like I was about to be tossed into the fire.

Within an hour the others all showed up. Thomas shook my hand and officially welcomed me to the family—not his Pack, but his family. In some odd way that felt even more important to me.

Peyton was a little on the shy side and quieter than the others. Shelby immediately hugged me and thanked me for putting up with her sister. I had to laugh at the daggers Ruby shot her way.

Throughout the night I got to really know each of the Collier kids. They razzed each other constantly and shared embarrassing stories, especially about Ruby, who seemed to hold the spotlight for the night, but the overall love they shared was hard to ignore.

I had never once felt love or a need to share anything with my brothers. The entire concept was foreign to me, but it was nice and comforting.

As a new day arrived, people started getting tired. A few began to doze off, and smaller groups formed for quiet chats. Ruby stayed by my side and I could tell she was fighting off sleep when her head began to bob.

“Hey, come on,” I said, rising and taking her hand to pull her up with me.

We walked out into the next room. It was quiet and there was plenty of space.

“What are we doing?” Ruby asked, rubbing sleep from her eyes.

“I know you’re trying to stay awake, so I thought maybe if we got your blood pumping you’d at least get through the next few hours.

She lowered her voice and gave me a stern looking. “Bran, all my siblings are in the next room. I’m not . . .”

I chuckled but kissed her quickly before she could finish her statement and change my mind to head in that direction.

“That’s not what I was thinking, but our apartment is just upstairs if you want that sort of break,” I said with a smirk. “What I was going to suggest is we walk through the motions you learned yesterday and maybe do a little sparring.”

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