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That was evidently the wrong move. Seven pairs of eyes instantly landed on the three of us, the power within them immediately evident. I took a step backwards without even thinking about it, only Slade’s hand on my arm stopped me from retreating farther.

“Don’t show weakness in the face of the old ducks,” he hissed. “They’ll be baying for your blood.”

It was then I remembered what was going on underneath all of this civilised facade. We were strange paranormal creatures, surviving on our wits, our instincts, and a distinct pecking order. I squared my jaw, strengthened my stance, and then stared the old biddies down.

Which resulted in them all immediately bursting out laughing.

“What?” I asked, looking at Slade, then Aaron.

Aaron shrugged. “The Nanas, they’re a whole other thing. I dunno if anyone understands them.”

“Rhoda,” the woman in the green dress said, stepping forward and holding out a hand.

She had similar light brown hair and hazel eyes as Aaron, though not the same build.

Her grip was strong however, but not too much, like she had nothing to prove whatsoever.

If an older woman could rock big dick energy, she had it in spades.

“My Aaron will be an asset when you accept him. He is strong, big...” Her eyes flicked to him for a second and then back to me. “All of his grandfathers were.”

I looked into those hazel eyes and just smiled politely, not sure what the fuck to say. Is she talking about his dick? She’s got to be talking about his dick. Why is she talking to me about his dick?

“You will make big, healthy babies together. I can smell it.”

What the actual fuck? While I pondered what kind of alternate crazy world I’d stepped into—where grandmothers talked about cock size and could smell fertility—another woman came forward.

She had a long fall of unruly red hair and was smoking from an honest to goodness clay pipe.

Her blue eyes crinkled when she stepped closer.

“She’ll be having them with my boy first. You swelled within her?” She shot a sharp-eyed look at Slade.

“Nana...”

“Don’t Nana me, boy! I patted your bottom when you were a puling child! Did you lock within the girl or not?”

“Um... what the fuck?”

The words had been on high repeat in my mind the whole time, but this time, they came out before I had a chance to stop them.

But seriously, I stood by them. These weird old ladies—that looked like the residents of a Stevie Knicks inspired aged care home—were asking questions even my gynaecologist would have balked at.

The eyes all returned to me, but this time I was ready for it.

“With all due respect to you, ladies, what the fuck are you talking about?”

“Did you?” his Nan insisted.

“Of course, I did, but Jules?—”

“Excellent, then the deed may well already be done. Your grandson will need to fight to be second.”

Slade sighed, “Nana, Jules is new to all of this. With her illness?—”

“That was an ugly business. How did one of those bastards get through, Aaron?” Rhoda said.

“I’ve been telling people we’ve been undermanned for some time, Nana.”

“Undermanned...” one of the other women muttered. “My Kieran said?—”

“Um... I’m sorry to make this all about me, but seriously, what? Are you saying I could be pregnant?” I looked down at the little implant in my arm, and the women’s eyes followed it.

“That won’t help anymore,” one said with a carnivorous smile. “We work for the strength of the tribe, and children are our greatest strength.”

“They only work for the ones like that Nerida girl, who can’t shift,” Nancy said.

“So you’re saying....” I didn’t have the words, but the two Nanas nodded anyway.

“Pfft...” one of the quieter women said from the back.

“Stop tormenting the girl. She hasn’t gone through initiation yet, and you’re going to play games with her?

” The woman’s dark eyes locked on mine. “Your body is a gift from the goddess, born from the originals who were raped and forced to bear children for those we do not speak of. You will have a child when you feel ready, not before. Never again will fertility be imposed on you. Sometimes, when caught up in the moment of bonding, pregnancies have happened. The swelling you felt inside you heralds the potential for a child from the union, but it won’t happen unless you want it. I’m Asher, by the way.”

“Thanks, Asher.” I gave the Nanas a baleful look, which only made them laugh all the more. “I hope you’re not offended that I’m glad that’s not on the table just yet?” I said to Slade.

“With all the practising we’ve got to get done? Never, princess. Now, about what we were talking about before...”

“Welcome to the family,” Nancy said, exhaling a thin stream of smoke. “That boy gets out of line, you tell me. His grandfather was always a mouthy one, as is his father.”

“Hey, it was opening my fat trap that got me the girl, Nana.”

“Yes, and I’m sure the girl can think of a much better use for it.”

“Our esteemed leader’s here,” one of the women said, peering out the side fence to the front yard.

Nancy glanced over to the back door with a flat gaze. “You need to invite the alpha into your territory. You can rescind it at any time, but for now, you let her in.”

“Thanks, and nice to meet you all,” I said with a nod and then walked off.

The house felt cool and blessedly quiet as I went inside, Slade at my heels. I glanced at the big spread of food arranged over several tables and, he tugged me into the kitchen.

“You OK, princess?” Those hazel eyes searched my face, looking for cues to go with the feelings no doubt rocketing down our link. I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. “I’m sorry, love. Brandon was right to be angry. I didn’t mean to dump you in this.”

My hand went to his cheek, just feeling the rasp of his bristles for a moment. “As much as he would hate to admit it, you can’t plan these things.”

I saw the smile in his eyes as he turned his face, his lips kissing my palm. I gasped at the soft feel of them pressing against my skin. Fuck , I thought as I felt my cunt throb, this is like the heat, but worse.

It was nice of all these people to come and celebrate this moment with us, and I’m sure all of them were lovely, but a house full of guests was not what I wanted right now.

I wanted the silence to settle over us in this foreign space as we stripped ourselves bare for each other, nothing between us as we gave ourselves time to really discover what we’d created together.

“God, princess,” Slade groaned, his eyes hooded. “You smell so fucking hot. Maybe I can flip up your skirts and crawl under and?—”

“Smell?”

His eyes opened slightly, but he still looked dazed, pressing his body against mine, his hands slipping down to my hips to press me closer.

“Like honey, heavy and dripping and hot, just like you’ll feel when I push myself inside you.”

A loud knock on the front door had both of us jumping. For a moment, I just stood there, Slade’s arm loosely wrapped around my waist, the feel of him—hard and heavy against my leg—anchoring me in the now. Another knock came.

“No flipping skirts,” I said, waving a finger before pulling free and walking over to the front door.

Buddy came bounding over, yipping at the door until I pushed him away.

I opened it to find Kelly and Finn standing on the front step, which was to be expected.

What surprised me was Jack and Hawk stood behind them.

“Hi, come in,” I said. “You didn’t have to knock.”

“This is different, Jules,” Finn said, then nodded to Kelly.

She straightened, her demeanour sombre now. “As alpha of Sanctuary, I request entry into your home.”

“Um...sure. Come in?”

I moved aside, and the two of them walked in. I looked back at Jack and Hawk in confusion.

“What about us, love?” Jack said.

“The invitation was implied, Jack,” Kelly said tersely. “Come in and stop playing the fool.”

“Sorry, Mother,” he said with a twisted smile.

Mother? My eyes went wide. If I thought things were awkward before, with Kelly stiffly requesting access to a house she’d just handed over to me hours ago due to some arcane reason, they were now as awkward as when the contestants on the Bachelor realised the dude had been sleeping with each of them.

“As alpha of Sanctuary, I’ll be giving a little speech in front of all gathered, to make it official that your pack has been accepted as one of our own.

Then there’ll be a petitioning ceremony, where those who wish to apply to be part of your pack will offer a gift and deliver a short speech on what they believe they will bring to the pack. ”

“Ah, she already knows,” Slade said. “Aaron got the ball rolling.”

Apparently, there were levels of awkward still to be plumbed. Finn went white, his eyes burning brightly. His fists slowly curled, then relaxed. When he looked at me, I saw something I’d never seen on his face before: fear.

Kelly was a whole other ball game. “That is not how it is supposed to?—”

“We’ve all been playing it by ear, Kelly,” Finn said. Her eyes were grass green when they glared at him for the interruption. “Jules hasn’t gone through initiation, has been largely left to her own devices.”

“Something you argued for. You said it was all under control.”

“Yeah, well, I was wrong... and probably thinking with my dick,” Finn said.

Jack snorted at this.

“It’s the spirit of the rituals that matter, not following them to the letter. If I’d been here early, you’d be damn sure I’d be laying my token and heart at her feet as well. It is what it is.”

Jack watched the whole exchange with a lazy smile, looking over his shoulder to where Hawk stood, a silent sentinel.

“Well, if we’re not following protocol,” he said, and dropped to his knee.

“Jack!” Kelly snapped.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Finn growled.