Page 5 of The Wolves At My Sides

BOBBY: We’re in the parking lot. He seems normal. Nervous, but normal. He has boxes of research and files. Don’t think he’ll cause trouble. See you soon.

I texted Irwin back first and let him know I missed him and the baby too. I made no promises about being extra nice, because I wasn’t sure I could keep it. I talked a lot with my sire about how I felt since Faran was born, but it was normal. All of it was normal. Hell, I needed to take the advice I gave to Cade every week and just accept that it was normal to be protective over a little person with no sense of self-preservation.

Then I texted Bobby a quick thank you and told him to bring him right in. My fox sat ramrod straight inside his inner sanctum. Fen was an omega wolf who had one helluva life, but I knew enough trauma stories to know Alphas weren’t the only ones who could be villains. Fen wouldn’t be staying with us at our house, but at one of the mating moon houses. Irwin had wanted to invite him to stay with us, but I wasn’t at the point in our lives where I could bear having a stranger sleep down the hall from Faran. I didn’t think I’d sleep at all under those circumstances.

Bobby knocked on my office door and I gave myself a quick sniff to ensure my pheromone blocker spray was still working. Not all therapists used the spray that hid our scents from clients, but I usually did. It was easier to guide my clients to their own conclusions when they couldn’t smell mine or overthink my scent.

“Stop worrying about that,”my fox chimed into my thoughts.

THATwas a complicated issue that might never be resolved. Both Irwin and I carried ticking timebombs on our unclaimed shoulders. Someday, someone would walk into our perfect life and turn it upside down by also being our mate. That’s what really bugged me every time someone new planned on coming to Heartville. The thought of feeling the way I did about Irwin toward someone else gave me a headache.

I pushed his words aside and opened the door. Bobby was a hugger. Most shifters were and we hugged in greeting. Over his shoulder I caught the dark hair of Fen and let out a long breath, putting off the moment I had to inhale. Of course, I was being crazy. I didn’t need my fox to tell me that. The odds were that Fen was only a part of our destiny as far as Irwin telling his story.

Only, eventually I had to let Bobby out of the embrace and breathe in. When I did, I knew clear as crystal why Fen’s story was the one Irwin needed to tell.

“Get me Irwin,” I said, managing to keep my voice level.

Bobby blinked at me, his scent turning confused.

“Bobby, get me Irwin,” I said again.

“Are you okay?” Bobby blinked, looking me up and down.

I took another deep breath. The feeling was too familiar. The feeling was too raw and aimed in the wrong direction. I kept breathing, unable to speak to Bobby again just yet as the newcomer’s scent wound its way around my head. Bobby didn’t leave, but he didn’t need to. Irwin and I kept our mating link wide open unless I was in a session with a client. It was open now and my ungodly reaction to the newcomer leaked over.

“I’m on my way, Alpha. I’ll drop Faran at the front desk with Shepard,”he said into my thoughts.

Shepard and Daniel were the only people we allowed ourselves a reprieve with. If we absolutely needed someone to watch Faran we trusted our brothers.

“What’s going on?” Fen asked when Bobby turned to face him.

“I’m not positive,” Bobby said.

I headed back into the office and plopped down in the chair behind my desk, rubbing the bridge of my nose. I spent hours every week preparing myself for this, but I always figured I’d be angrier. I always thought our third would be an Alpha and thinking of him claimingmyIrwin would send me into a rage. Only, Fen wasn’t an Alpha. I didn’t want to beat him into a pulp. I wanted to pull him into the office and shut and lock the door with Bobby on the other side.

“Marcus?” Bobby said from the doorway, blocking my view of Fen.

I didn’t know what to say to him. Anger bubbled deep within my fox, and I wanted to cuss Bobby out. He hadn’t done anything, but he was in between me and my omega. I shook my head. I wasn’t sure I should think of Fen that way. Then again, I was sure I shouldn’t cuss Bobby out for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

“ALPHA!” Irwin’s voice cut through the thoughts spinning through my mind as the front door swung open.

Chapter Four

Irwin

Fen was tall for a wolf omega. Taller than me by at least a foot. He had dark hair with half bangs that swooped over one side of his face, leaving only one deep brown eye looking out at the world. He wore jeans and a black button down that was a bit too big for him as if he wanted to hide from the world.

I was an asshole and my eyes settled on his too kissable lips. Marcus hadn’t lost his mind. Fen was the man we only talked about in theory since meeting. We never thought he’d come this soon, but I’d found him, hadn’t I? Or maybe he found me, when he sent his story in. Whatever had happened, whoever moved the vast and fickle hand of fate, he was here.

“Bobby?” I said our leader’s name unsure of what else to say as Fen stared at me dumbfounded.

“Yes, Irwin?” Bobby said, turning his back toward Marcus’s office, but still blocking the doorway.

“Aren’t you going to introduce us?” I asked, buying time.

“I’m Fen,” Fen spoke up before Bobby could say anything. “And I’m really confused. You’re an omega. A claimed omega. I can smell it on you.”

“Bobby,” Marcus said from inside his office.

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