Page 21 of Pack Down Bad

He thinks I’m lagging behind because I can’t keep up. I’m actually staying a few paces behind him on purpose so that I can watch the confident way he leads me around. His boots crunch with every sure-footed step he takes through the snow.

There’s a shed in front of us, and Rhys pauses to open the doors and peer inside.

“Here we go.” He reaches in and retrieves two shovels. “Chore number one after a snowfall like this is clearing a path to the woodshed. With the snow starting to melt, the path might turn icy by tonight. No one wants to be ice skating to the woodshed for more wood if the path is frozen over tomorrow.”

I glance at the shed he seems to be talking about, which is only a few additional feet away.

“You might think I’m exaggerating, but you’d be amazed how intolerant of the short trek some people are when the conditions aren’t ideal.” He begins carving out the path with his shovel, and I do my best to follow suit... which mostly means a pathetic attempt at shoveling that might make more work for him than he started with, if I’m being honest.

Oopsies.

“Not that I’m naming any names,” Rhys adds with a grin that says he absolutely will if I press him about it.

I laugh softly, and instead of asking him more about that, I decide to ask about him. I remember last night he mentioned building the garage with his dad. “How long have you lived in the middle of nowhere?”

He pauses mid-shovel before getting back into rhythm again.

“This land is where I’ve always lived.” His voice lowers and turns a bit dreamy. “My parents raised me in the original house, which the guys and I have expanded over the years since my parents decided to buy a condo on the beach to retire to.”

“How many parents do you have?” I know the question is cheesy since it’s the one everyone asks, but it’s the best way to get a feel for what kind of relationship dynamic was modeled for someone growing up. Not everyone lives in a pack dynamic, the way my parents did.

“I grew up with two. An omega mom and alpha dad. They had another alpha male in their pack when they first got together, but he passed away in an accident before I came along. They honored him in the house while I was growing up, though. Even set a place for him at the table during the holidays. I always liked that.”

“That’s sweet.” I feel a pang of grief as I remember doing the same for my mom the first Christmas after she passed away. I’m not ready to share about my mom just yet, so I’m grateful that Rhys has to change the subject as we draw close to the woodshed.

“We keep the woodshed as fully stocked as possible at all times, which means we’re constantly rotating the wood. The old stuff always gets used first.”

I nod along as he explains, happy to be getting details about the nitty-gritty, day-to-day stuff. There’s something wonderfully intimate about Rhys explaining to me how the household works. As if there’s a reason for me to be learning these details.

I’m determined to take this as a promising sign.

“I chop most of the wood.” Rhys tips his head toward another building, one that’s larger than the woodshed but smaller than the garage, sitting slightly further off from the house. “Knox also takes turns, since he’s got the arms and the attitude for throwing the axe around.”

“He seems like a pretty angry guy...”

“Nah. Just a bit grumpy.” Rhys pauses to choose his words carefully. “Knox is an artist. A great one. With that comes a lot of emotional depth, and he feels all of his feelings in a big way. Sometimes that looks messy for the rest of us, but he’s the most genuine person I’ve ever known and wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

I can’t stop swooning over their admiration for each other. Even if I didn’t know they all were sexually attracted to each other, it’s easy to see their love for one another runs deeper than surface level.

They are apack. Family.

And once again, I wonder how I can fit in that dynamic.

“I’ve been worried he doesn’t like me,” I admit quietly as I watch Rhys for any sign of confirmation or pity.

Rhys shakes his head adamantly. “That’s not true at all. He’s just scared.”

I want to ask a million more questions, but I know that anything I want to know about Knox should come from Knox himself. Just because the guys know each other well doesn’t mean I get to skip the step of getting to know them each for myself.

If Knox will give me a chance.

Before I can ruminate for too long, Rhys pushes the shed door closed and grabs my hand.

“Next, I’ll show you our generator set-up and then, if you’re lucky, I’ll let you watch me chop wood.” He gives my hand a tight squeeze as he pulls me along with him back down the path we–mostly he–shoveled out.

“Thank you for letting me tag along,” I tell him. “I know I’m slowing you down, but I like seeing how you keep the house running up here.”

Rhys slows his steps and studies my face with a warm smile. “Showing you around is my pleasure. Besides, you should learn how everything works. Just in case...”

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