Page 50

Tenzin

T here were a lot of well-dressed people here in the main lodge, probably for the other event happening tonight. Well-dressed, fierce-looking people, speaking French. There was also a lot of plain clothes security. Perhaps someone famous was part of the other party?

It was amazing being with Clark and Gwen last night. My heart ached at everything they’d been through. If only I could’ve stayed with them.

But I’d see them later.

Maybe we could all spend the night together again? I wasn’t quite ready to make a move on Clark, but I’d happily have a repeat of last night.

I frowned at my phone. In addition to being summoned by Cooter, Jacen had called several times this morning. The urge to call him back tugged at me. What if something was wrong with Morgan or the baby?

No. She wasn’t my girlfriend. It wasn’t my baby. They weren’t my pack.

It was time to put Morgan and Jacen aside so that I could get in the right headspace and be what Clark and Gwen needed.

My phone buzzed again. Jacen. I ignored it and deleted his voicemails. Should I block him? Yes, like I had Morgan. It was time.

I blocked him. As I walked through the lobby, I felt lighter than I had in some time.

“Did you fix whatever was wrong with Babybug? I’m not above beating your ass.” Cooter looked up from his phone, as he sat in a chair by the window, when I entered our room.

“It’s fine. She needed more cuddles.” I’d have to make sure to really take care of her. Her feeling like she needed to tell us her past possibly had something to do with it.

After yesterday’s run-in with her brother, I knew it was complex. I just hadn’t expected it to be like that. Shit. The Prime Minister's son had stalked and kidnapped her. She took things into her own hands, then she held her soulmate as he died.

I could see how her parents might not have been able to go after them. Also, I could understand how it had hurt teenage Gwen’s tender heart. You expected your family to protect you, and when they didn’t, it ached.

Like when my brother turned his back on me after my parents and little sister died.

“You were with her all night?” Cooter smirked.

“And Clark.” Might as well lay it all out. After all, this was Cooter.

“Clark? The puppy with glasses that’s always with Babybug?” Cooter’s eyebrows rose as he handed me a beer from the mini fridge.

“He’s sweet, kind, sexy. The three of us fit comfortably, whether it’s practicing hockey, watching TV together, or anything else.” I took a drink.

“Good. You deserve to be happy. Also, Jacen’s pack was pretentious as fuck. Sure, they were your friends, but they weren’t your pack.” Cooter opened his beer and sat next to me on the bed.

“True.” Not sure that pretentious was quite the right word.

“It’s time to cut Morgan and them out of your life, so they don’t ruin whatever you might have with Babybug and Glasses,” he told me.

I took a long drink of beer. “I blocked him. She’s been blocked for a while.”

The slightest bit of guilt tugged at me. I pushed it back. Not my mates, not my problem.

“Good.” Cooter nodded.

“Last night was a lot.” I took another drink. “Was I quite ready? No. Do I regret it? Fuck no.” I took a deep breath, remembering how nicely she took us. The anguish as she told us her story–and he added his. Two beautiful, wounded souls.

“I know it might feel like a lot, but I think you’re pretty fucking lucky. She’s a keeper and not only because she plays with baby tigers,” Cooter told me.

Cooter hadn’t been very lucky in love. He hooked up a lot, and his couple of longer relationships had all been pretty disastrous. However, based on something he said when drunk, once on a fishing trip, I got the idea that it was a choice. That someone had broken his heart or gotten away, or something.

I nodded. “Yeah, I am.”

This was special. I wanted to not rush things. I wanted to be ready for them. No. I didn’t want to fuck this up.

“Thanks for bringing me with you. Even if I still think you were an asshole for not telling me where we were going,” I added.

A wide grin spread over his face. “It’s more fun this way.” The grin faded. “Her brother’s not a threat, right? No one’s taking her back to Vancouver?”

“No. It’s a heartbreaking and complicated story. But no one’s forcing her back to her family. Given all the security here, I am curious about her brother’s mate’s family. If the security is even here for that,” I told him.

Also, I needed to do more research on dead-mates so I could take better care of her. Losing a soulmate you never knew you could even have? Devastating.

Cooter snorted. “Security? You sheltered boy. But then the mafia in Quebec looks different.”

I blinked. The mafia in Portland was mostly Chinese and Russian. Their reign spanned from below the Bay Area to almost British Columbia. “Mafia?”

“The mating party is made up of French-Canadian organized crime families. That’s not wedding security. Those are the guests. The omega is a fucking assassin. Your girl’s brother married into them. Which makes me wonder about him and that family. One doesn’t simply marry into the mob.” He took another drink of beer.

“There are mafias in Canada?” My brows furrowed in puzzlement. “They must be the most polite mafia ever. Pardon me, but I’m going to shoot you now. So sorry. ” I chuckled.

Cooter looked unamused. “Mostly it’s all silent, hidden under reputable businesses and polite society. Learned that real quick when I went to university here.”

“Gwen’s family is in shipping.” And possibly quite wealthy.

“Shipping.” He nodded. “Would that change anything?”

“No. Gwen wants nothing to do with her family.” That could also explain a lot, like her not wanting their money so fiercely. And her needing to cut everyone out, even those she cared for, as well as her fear of them simply taking her.

It could also make some of her resentment toward her family make a lot more sense. If they were mafia, they couldn’t simply go get her, guns blazing, if the prime minister’s son had her–especially if the police were already bought. The repercussions could be so much greater.

Huh.

Cooter looked at his phone. “If you’re done being a sap, we have shit to do. Tonight’s the wedding. You can dance with Babybug. Just enjoy yourself–and them. Everything else can wait.”