“What happened to your arm, son?” Edward asked.
“The damn demon bit me. Pardon my language.” Josh rolled up his sleeve to show the still-healing bite.
Kade and Jasper growled and moved to stand in front of their wives.
“Hey, back off.” Reed growled. “Josh is hurt. We don’t know why the demon bit him, but he needs our help. Now.”
His family’s eyes grew wide, as if they were surprised at the aggressiveness in Reed’s demand. Why would they be surprised that Reed had a backbone? Maybe that was why Reed felt inferior to his brothers’ power and strength. She held back the urge to say something rude to them or kick their ass. Reed was protecting what he deemed his. Plus, Reed looked damn sexy when he acted all Alpha. She liked it.
“Reed, I don’t want to cause a rift between you and your family,” Josh whispered, his voice sad.
Hannah gasped and looked into Josh’s eyes. Would any of them be okay if Josh walked away and out of their lives?
Reed fisted his hands, his eyes darkening like the coming of a deadly storm. “No, you can’t leave. We need you here. And don’t forget the Centrals are after you too. You risked your life for two strangers, and I won’t let you risk it again because some
people
don’t feel comfortable.”
Kade growled and Melanie rubbed his arms.
“It’s not that we’re uncomfortable,” Jasper reasoned, ever the Beta. “But we need to know more about what happened.”
Adam narrowed his eyes. “Yes, Josh, tell us. How did you find them?”
Josh opened his mouth to reply, his eyes narrowed into slits.
Damn it, they are going to fight. This isn’t going to end well.
“Adam, it’s none of your fucking business.” If looks could beat the crap out of someone, Reed’s would have. “Josh found us. He’s a good guy. And he’s my mate. Hannah too. So back the fuck off.”
The room went silent again.
“A trinity bond.” Patricia whispered.
A trinity bond? What is that?
She didn’t realize she’d spoken aloud until Patricia tried to answer. But Edward cleared his throat.
“It means,” Edward said, “that there are three people in a mate bond. It was written long ago that a bond of such nature would come into our lives and into our Pack. But I’d thought it forgotten. I see I was mistaken.” He raised an eyebrow, but didn’t continue.
Hannah knew he was hiding something. She didn’t know why, but Reed’s father obviously refused to reveal everything he knew about this bond and what it would entail. Why wouldn’t he tell them? It was between the three of them—Reed, Josh and her. Was it because she and Josh were strangers? Though it stung, she understood. They were new, and this was a time of a coming war. Why would they unveil all of their secrets to two people they’d just met? Maybe Edward would tell Reed; after all, he was his son.
Reed squeezed her hand. “I see. I’m sure there’s more that you aren’t saying, as always. But we need to rest and heal.”
“While you do that, we’ll regroup and talk about what we will do with the Centrals.” Kade interjected. “This can’t go on.”
“Agreed,” Edward said. “Come to our place and we will discuss this. The three of you can stay here and get some sleep. Talk. Get to know one another.”
Pure anger passed over Reed’s face. How could they just shut out their son like that? Hannah felt rage for him, and by the tension on Josh’s face, he did too. Why didn’t the Jamensons know Reed needed to be there?
“Fine.” One word. One word filled with so much anger that Hannah thought she would have to hold Reed back.
“If it’s all right,” Adam interrupted, “I need to sit this one out. I need to leave for a while. I don’t know when I’ll be back.”
The room fell silent—again.
“Adam, why? What’s wrong?” Patricia asked.
“I just need some time away to think. I can’t do it here.”
Edward looked on his son, the Enforcer, then nodded. “I understand. We can handle well enough. But we will
always
be here for you.”
Tears filled Hannah’s eyes, but she refused to let them fall. Even with the tension and worries, they were still a supportive and loving family. And if it worked out, they could be hers if she mated Reed.
Adam walked toward his mother and kissed her wet cheek. “I love you, Mom.”
His family went to him one by one, patting him on the back, and hugging him. Josh and Hannah stood back. She felt too much like an outsider to intrude on a clearly private and painful moment.
He kissed Finn’s head and traced a finger down his cheek. Whatever else happened to Adam, Hannah knew at that moment Adam had lost a child and his mate. It was the only answer. Her heart hurt for them all.
On the way out the door, he paused and looked back toward where Josh and Hannah stood. “Take good care of him.” His deep voice resonated in the room as he cast a dark look at the three of them. For some reason he was angry as all hell at whatever was happening between her, Reed, and Josh. Then he walked out of the house without another word, leaving a grieving family behind him.
Reed cleared his throat and went to stand between Hannah and Josh, showing a clear sign of the solidarity of their bond.
“Thank you for taking care of us, but we need to get some sleep now.”
The Jamenson men exchanged glances and nodded. Apparently they weren’t going to talk about the fact that they had been thinking about kicking Josh out of the house. Well, then.
“Of course, we’ll just get going.” Patricia started forward and hugged and kissed them goodbye, the rest of the family following suit.
They soon found themselves alone in a large and cozy home, knowing they were part of a trinity bond. Reed turned a heated gaze on the two of them, leaving goose bumps in its trail along her too sensitive skin.
Oh crap.
Chapter 13
Reed watched the chicken sizzle in the pan as Josh added more oil to the beginnings of chicken cacciatori. He added olive oil to the boiling water plus linguini pasta. Though Josh was doing most of the cooking tonight, Reed wanted to feel useful.
After his family had left, the three of them had stood in the living room high on tension and low on energy. Josh suggested dinner, and Hannah quickly agreed. Reed could have gone for food, sleep, or frankly sex at this point but didn’t argue. They took turns taking showers and getting dressed while dinner cooked. Pat had come back to the house soon after she left with a pile of clothes for them. Josh fit in some of Kade’s borrowed clothes and Hannah in some of Melanie’s.
Hannah walked into the kitchen. “I feel so clean now. I hadn’t realized how much I wanted a shower until I felt the hot water on my skin.” Both he and Josh groaned.
In borrowed clothes, she looked amazingly fresh, clean, and sexy. That shower had done her well. Her skin looked soft and begged to be nibbled by his teeth.
Damn.
“You look good; the shower helped me as well.” Josh’s voice grew deeper when he spoke, and Reed’s cock hardened. Again.
“It smells good in here. I wish I could cook like you, Josh.” Hannah grinned, and Reed felt just a bit more in love with her.
“I’ll teach you.” Josh went back to his cooking, unaware of the looks between Reed and Hannah.
Josh wanted to stay for at least a cooking lesson? What did that mean? Reed couldn’t get his hopes up, but he wanted to anyway.
“Josh, do you think Reed can brave the stove long enough for me to clean your arm again?” Hannah asked.
Josh laughed. “I sure hope so, since at this point, he only needs to stir.”
Reed held a clean wooden spoon across his chest and nodded solemnly. “I will do my best.”
They all laughed as Hannah led Josh out to the living room to clean his wound. Reed’s fear that something was wrong with the bite never quite left his system, though there were no outward appearances of a curse or such. Well, at least that’s what he thought. He didn’t know much about curses, but Josh could walk and act on his own free will and he wasn’t violent. That had to count for something.
The two of them came back into the kitchen soon after, Josh sporting a new white bandage, and thankfully, Reed hadn’t burned their dinner. The pasta decided to boil over at that thought, causing Reed to blush.
“Shit, sorry, guys.” Reed moved quickly to the pasta, bumping into Josh on the way. A zing of pleasure and warmth traveled up his arm as Josh placed his hand on him to steady to them.
“It’s okay, Reed,” Josh said, desire evident in his eyes. “I left the lid on when I left. You didn’t burn down the house. Yet.”
Reed smiled, and they finished making dinner then plated up the cacciatori. Hannah had buttered the bread and placed it on the table.
“See? I helped.” Hannah winked.
“Yes, babe, you did great.” Josh leaned over and kissed her softly before sitting down.
“Better than I did.” Reed kissed her as well then kissed Josh before finding his seat.
“Thank you for making dinner, Josh.” Hannah beamed, before taking a bite and moaning.
Fuck, she’s the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.
Through the gleam in Josh’s eyes just about tied Hannah for that honor.
They ate with little conversation, a sexual undercurrent dancing along the edges.
“We need them, Reed. Now.”
Reed couldn’t have agreed more with his wolf. Tonight the three of them would spend the night in the same house. He just hoped they were together in the same bed when they did it. Preferably naked and sweaty with lots of intimate touching.
After they put the dishes in the dishwasher, Reed felt at a loss as to what to do now.
“So, are you two tired?” Reed asked. “I know we’ve had a trying couple of days.”
“Not really. I know I should be, but I’m kind of wired,” Hannah answered.
“I agree. I have some pent-up energy.” Josh’s voice deepened, and Reed moaned.
“I know a way we can use that,” Reed teased.
“Oh really? How, pray tell?” Hannah asked.
Reed didn’t answer, but prowled toward her and pulled her into his arms, crushing his mouth to hers. The sweet taste of honey and bitter apples burst on his tongue. He licked the seam of her lips, begging her to open. When she did, Reed danced his tongue along hers, both of them gasping for breaths. He held her face in his hands, as hers roamed his back under his shirt. Her soft skin felt like smooth silk against his.
Josh came up behind Hannah and moved her thick, curly hair out of the way as he trailed kisses along her neck. She moaned in Reed’s mouth, alternatively grinding between the two of them. Josh’s hand brushed Reed’s, and both men gasped at the fire burning at the touch.
Hannah pulled away, gasping for breath. “What’s going on here?”
As if she didn’t know.
Reed looked toward Josh, not surprised to see the heated desire there. But it was the slight alarm and worry mixing in that made Reed pause.