Page 64 of Altius
“Doesn’t matter. She wanted gold.” Flicking on the blinker, I turned onto a side street. “So, understandably, Owen doesn’t have a good frame of reference for healthy pack behavior. He’s trying to lead by providing what he wanted most as a kid—financial stability and a permanent address. Which Alijah didn’t have either. And since neither of them knows any better, they don’t understand that our pack is still a bit…”
“Disjointed?”
“Yeah, that’s a good way to put it. But my Papa was an amazing alpha. He led by example, embracing and caring for all my other parents equally, even though he was only mated to my biological mother.”
“How many parents did you have?” she asked with utmost care.
“Five. Two brothers—Papa and my uncle—and their beta best friend from childhood, our Duddy. That was my sister Pilar’s fault. Couldn’t say dad, for some strange reason.”
Morgan gave me a knowing look. “Which had absolutely nothing to do with you?”
“Of course not. I was an absolute angel growing up. I never bribed her with stuffed animals. Not once.” The children’s hospital rolled past, already decked out for the holidays. “Duddy met a pair of best friends while working at the college library. Both girls thought he was the hottest nerd they’d ever seen. His alpha best friends? They only found them half as attractive. My mama, Maricela, fell for Papa straight away. Louise only hadeyes for my uncle. So, each girl got one brother, but they both shared Duddy.”
Her thumb snagged the junction of the seatbelt. “Is it an imposition if…”
“Drunk driver. On their way to my baby sister Carmen’s dance recital. Killed them instantly. I was fourteen.”
“God,” she exhaled, fighting back a wave of emotions.
I’d touched a nerve. It happened when I talked about my fathers sometimes, but I didn’t expect Morgan to react so strongly. Or did her usual sangfroid not extend to family matters?
“The more I learn about your families… It almost makes me feel guilty for having grown up like I did. Supported, loved. Always encouraged. Even after…” Tangible sadness overwhelmed her. “Even when I didn’t deserve it.”
Pulling into an empty spot down the block from our destination, I turned to Morgan, cradling her face in my hand.
“Just because we deserved better doesn’t mean you deserved less.” I stroked her cheekbone. “And you having a great family is an incredible bonus in my book. It means more people to love Alijah. He needs that—a lot. My moms and my sisters try, but there’s… Such a void in him. He tries to hide it, Morgan, but it’s there. I can feel it.”
Our bond pulsed with tender curiosity. I’d tried to shield the emotional fallout from this conversation, but he’d still noticed.
“So,” she said with a reassuring amount of sarcasm, “you’re only into me for my family?”
“Doc, I’ve been into you since the first judgmental glance you shot me across the lobby.” Angling my head, I leaned closer, thumb trailing along her bottom lip, and murmured, “Since you first pouted these at me.”
“Hm. And here I thought you were a flirt.” Morgan unbuckled her seatbelt and reached for the door handle. “Turns out you’re just easy.”
***
Sitting next to my mate in the booth while waiting for our food was like getting hit with a mist of freshly squeezed orange juice every time he wriggled with delight. So bright and fizzy—and gloating that Morgan hadn’t let me kiss her first.
“You know Owen doesn’t pick up on social cues, right?” Alijah asked, abruptly bursting his own bubbles.
She didn’t respond to the fluctuation in his scent, just answered the question calmly, as if speaking through a pane of glass.
“Cal warned me. Something about having a big brain, a bigger alpha, and being allergic to small talk.”
“Damn straight,” I said, leaning across the table, unleashing a bit of my peppery scent as I reached for the drink menu. “I know you don’t do alcohol, doc, but you’re having a fun night out with a pair of happily mated hotties. Surely, there’s a virgin option that’ll do the trick.”
Alijah and Morgan exchanged amused glances, each indulging in a few quiet laughs that increased in volume and frequency when I failed to join in.
“I don’t know if something virgin goes with theeverythingpizza,” Alijah said between hoots of laughter.
“Even if it did,” Morgan teased, plucking the drink menu from my fingers and setting it on the table, “it’s too late. Chantal already put in my order.”
“Oh, I see,” I drawled, leaning back to wrap an arm around Alijah’s shoulders. “Is this payback?”
“No,” Alijah said, still giggling, “just—just…”
“Here’s to our dirty minds,” Morgan said, raising her water.
