Page 31 of Wulf's Pack
Elise hesitates, but then nods. She exchanges a look with Matthew, and he nods as well. “That sounds good,” Matthew says. “But we’d like to at least pay our rent toward the pack funds while we’re staying with you. We were on a month-to-month lease. I’ll call the property owners tomorrow on my lunchbreak.”
Again, I want to say no, but I know this is how packs work—everyone contributing for the good of the pack. “All right. That sounds reasonable. I’ll get a pack account set up tomorrow.”
There’s a lull in the conversation, but Skylar picks it back up. “What is it you all do for work?”
“I’m in construction,” Matthew says. “I get general contract work where I can. Been really busy since Gorgeous and that hellhound tore up downtown.”
I’m sure. The property damage that fight caused was massive. The city’s rebuilding, but it’s been slow.
“And you?” Skylar asks Elise.
Elise swallows and dabs her mouth with a paper napkin. “I work at Henry’s casino—or—er—I guess it’s Parker’s casino now.” Her eyes flick to me with an apology in them as if bringing up the master vampire that tried to abduct Nora and put out hits on the rest of our clan would upset me. I give her an encouraging smile, letting her know I don’t mind.
The casino and Henry have been an active topic in our clan since we wiped out Henry’s vampires. It turns out, that while Henry had severed his sire bond with Parker and banished him from the clan, he never got around to changing his will. Parker inherited everything. All of Henry’s wealth, the casino, everything. He’s been real busy trying to get it all squared away while also being run ragged by the FUA. Poor bastard has been exhausted for months. Of course, the billion or so dollars he inherited probably takes some of the stress out of it.
“What do you do at the casino?” I ask.
Elise looks relieved by the question. “I’m a dealer. Mostly blackjack and poker.”
“Do you enjoy it?” Skylar asks. I like that she’s genuinely interested. Maybe it’s the omega in her, but she’s a nurturer. She’s going to be the perfect luna.
Elise’s face brightens. “Yes, actually. The job really suits me, and since the change in management, things aren’t nearly as tense.”
She means since the casino is no longer run by vampire mobsters.
Skyler smiles at Sophia next. “And how about you? You said you work from home?”
For some reason, Sophia blushes and her family all snickers. The reaction is intriguing.
“I’m a fiction writer.”
“Oh! I love books,” Skylar says.
I can’t help teasing Sophia. I lean my elbow on the table and sink my chin into my hand. “What type of fiction? It must be something good if you’re blushing like that.”
Her face turns ever redder. I grin. “It’s dirty, isn’t it?”
Preston barks out a laugh and elbows his mate. She glares at him, but he only laughs harder. When she sees that I’m still waiting for an answer, she clears her throat. “It’s not erotica.” She glances at her grinning family and sighs. “It’s werewolf romance.”
I blink at her and then burst out laughing so hard I throw my head back and almost fall out of my chair.
“It’s become really popular since the outing,” she says defensively, but she’s failing to keep the smile off her face, so I know she doesn’t mind my teasing. “I’m even considering announcing publicly that I’m a wolf. My book sales would skyrocket.”
My laughter dies, and I wince. “I hate to say this, but you’re all about to be outed whether you like it or not. My brother and I are literally the most famous werewolves in the world right now. I won’t be able to hide having a pack.”
They all exchange nervous glances, but it’s a fleeting look before they all sit up straight. “So be it,” Matthew says.
I’m glad they’re taking the news so well. It’s going to take gumption to be a part of a pack so in the spotlight as we’re going to be.
I look at Preston. He’s going to have to take on a bit of responsibility, being the second most dominant wolf. I think he knows that already, but he seems willing to step up to the challenge. It helps that his wolf has been so protective of his family for so long. His wolf is strong. It’s his human side that will need to play catch-up. “What did you do before?” I ask him. “You said you’ve been a wolf for two years?”
Preston nods. “A little more than that. It was two years in December. Sophia and I had been out doing some Christmas shopping when we were attacked. Before that, I worked as a pack accountant.”
My brows lift. That’s convenient. I hate accounting. “Did you like it?”
He shrugs. “Yeah. I’m a numbers nerd.”
I give him a very wolfish smile. “Excellent. Numbers and I aren’t very good friends. If you want, you can be the new pack accountant. Paid, of course, but only part time since there’s not much to do with just the six of us.”
