Page 57 of A Wolf's Wound
“That kid there is Cody, Gavin’s son,” Ryder continues, nodding at a teenage boy.“And you’ve met my mom, Lori, but this is my dad.”
An older man who looks strikingly like Ryder steps forward and shakes my hand.“It’s wonderful to finally meet you, Dr.Kelly,” Ryder’s father says.“I’ve heard a great deal about you.All of it very complimentary, of course.”He winks.
I laugh.“I’m sure.It’s nice to see you again,” I tell Lori.
“And it’s lovely to have you here,” she says, sweeping me and Shadow into a hug.
Ryder watches with a pleased expression.When he catches my eye, he smiles at me.It’s so sweet and sincere that I can’t help but return it.As I do, I feel more like a wannabe girlfriend than ever, between meeting the family and laughing with his parents.
But before I can think about that too much, or even say anything to Ryder, he walks over to Gavin.I don’t hear what he says to his older brother, but I’m pretty sure it was about the scene in my apartment.
Gavin’s expression changes from relaxed to tense.He quickly and quietly gets the attention of the other brothers, and they melt away from the group, heading into one of the smaller buildings near the main house.
Either Ryder’s parents don’t notice that all of their sons have left, or they don’t think it’s worth mentioning because they don’t say anything.
“Hannah, are you just joining us for dinner, or will you be staying overnight?”Lori asks.
“I’ll be here tonight.”I blush.“Just for one night.Um, Ryder said I could stay with you?”I ask his mother, and she nods in agreement.
“Yes, in the main house.We have several very comfortable guest rooms.Choose whichever one you want.And you’re welcome to stay as long as you’d like.”
“Thank you, but it really will just be for tonight.”
“Well, then, we better make sure you enjoy it out here with us!”Lori says.I look at her and wonder if she knows what happened earlier at my apartment.She seems so calm but also all-knowing, like nothing escapes her attention.
Ryder’s father is also watching me carefully.“It is very nice to meet you,” he says again.“You know, I know your stepfather.”
“I do.”I nod.“Mason has told me a lot about the Stone pack.”
“I’m sure not all of it was that nice,” he says.
“Oh, don’t put the poor girl on the spot!”Lori says, but Ryder’s dad just grins.
“I won’t do anything of the sort.I promise,” he says.“But we all know Mason hasn’t always been our family’s biggest fan.”
“I think the feeling’s been mutual,” I say and he laughs.
“Fair enough, Doctor, fair enough.But that’s all water under the bridge now,” he promises.
“And it’s about time,” Lori declares.“We’ve been waiting to meet you for so long, dear.”
Her words catch me off guard.They sound so prophetic, somehow, like they’re freighted with meaning that I can’t even begin to understand.
I look at Lori, whose dark eyes calmly meet mine.I have the sense that not only does Lori know everything that happens in her pack, but she somehow knows a lot more about my life than she’s letting on.
Before I can say anything, though, Shadow begins squeaking and pulling at me.
“What’s wrong?”I ask, my heart rate spiking.
Chapter 33
Ryder
“Bringingagirlhome,Ry?”Evan asks teasingly.“Introducing her to the parents?Must be serious!”
“Yeah, really,” Thomas adds with a grin.“Unless she takes one look at your pit of a place and runs for the hills.”
“Can we focus, please?”I ask, embarrassed by their teasing.I look across the room at my oldest brother.“Gavin, I really do think this is the safest place for Hannah.”
