Page 31 of Starring Role

Chapter thirteen

Dane Holdst, alphaof a pack of close relatives, happily married father of three sons, watched the boys' interaction with a sense of resignation. They were men, obviously. Technically. But to someone of his age, they seemed a lot more like boys, energetic and clumsy and fresh-faced, and still figuring out so much.

He'd thought Jimmy was the most sensible ofhis sons, the least likely to cause him worry. He'd been so proud when Jimmy got a job and moved out. Most of the pack's younger members still lived on the farm, or with their parents. Nothing wrong with that; he'd just been proud of what a go-getter Jimmy was turning out to be.

And now this. It wasn't that he had anything against non-shifters. And, to be perfectly frank, he didn't haveto worry about whether their babies would be able to shift or not, did he? But as much as he liked Cooper Hayes' acting on television, and as appealing as the young man was in person, this wasn't who he'd have picked for his son.

The guy was viscerally, painfully neurotic and unstable. Not in a dangerous way, not as if he might snap at any moment. He just didn't seem to know who he was orwhere he belonged. His desire to please and be liked was palpable, painful. And of course they all did like him, because he was terribly likeable, and he'd brought chocolates for Linda, and he was kind to the pups, personable and funny, respectful and polite, and really, everything you could ask for.

But it was still unexpectedly shocking and painful to see his son falling for someone forthe first time, and to have it be this guy.

He almost wished he hadn't invited the boy. It was a painful revelation he hadn't been prepared for. But from the way the two looked at each other, this wasn't their first meeting, and whatever was happening between them would have happened one way or another. Dane hadn't been the cause of this meeting; he couldn't take the credit or the blame.But it pained him deep inside to see his boy falling for someone so weak. He'd never minded that Jimmy was gay; it simply was. Everyone was different, after all. But this...

Why couldn't he have picked someone healthy and happy?Why did he have to find a damaged soul?When he looked at Jimmy, it was clear to see the infatuation in his eyes. He thought everything about this man was wonderful.And he thought he was doing so well hiding it, didn't he?

After the meal, and some chatting, and some kitchen cleanup that Cooper had helped with, some of the younger members of the pack had gone out back to throw around a football and generally tear around. Some of the others had put on some music and started dancing on the back porch, passing around beer if they were old enough, soda if theyweren't, laughing and joking with each other.

He liked to keep an eye on the young adults when they drank, because, to be honest, he trusted very few of them to be on their own, even when they were technically old enough that it should be fine. It wasn't; he knew his kids and their cousins, and very few of them were mature for their age, or for any age, even the ones old enough to drink.

As the alpha, he had to find the line between being overprotective and not letting them grow up, or being too permissive and letting them get into trouble that could haunt them for life. Bar fights and alcoholism haunted his worst fears for the future of the pack. So far, it hadn't happened. But he recalled all too well losing an uncle that way, first to drinking too much, then to getting intofights he shouldn't have gotten into, trying to prove himself to people who didn't matter, and ending up in jail, and then dead because of it.

He liked to think his pack members were more sensible, but did he believe that? No, he didn't. At least, not about the young ones. They were still stretching their wings, finding their way, and not always terribly smart about it. Goodness knew they'dgotten into enough trouble when they were in the local school system. They were nearly all graduated from there now, and not without marked relief from the teachers. It had mostly been high spirits, never any harm intended, but they'd been trouble. So if they were going to drink, he'd rather they kicked up their heels here than hide it or sneak into town and drink around hostile strangersin bars.

And if they liked someone enough to want to party and hang out, or date, he'd always made it perfectly clear they'd be welcome here. But still. Standing here, watching his son—Jimmy, the quiet one!—smiling at that actor, dancing in a way that was clearly with Cooper, even if half a dozen wolves separated them, wasn't what he'd planned for the day.

Linda walked up beside him and putan arm around him. "He's a perfectly nice boy, Dane."

"I know." He sighed and leaned into her touch. He would never deny someone their mate; he knew he couldn't live without his own. "I hoped for something different for him."

"But we'll make the best of it. Cooper has a sweet heart and a kind nature. If he's the one for Jimmy, maybe being with him will help him to heal."

So she sawhim as a damaged soul, too. It was good to know they were on the same page—they so often were—but it just confirmed his fears. "That young man is going places. What if he takes Jimmy with him?" It wasn't as bad as if it had been one of the girls, of course—someone who might have babies with the man, and take away from the pack even more. But it wasn't ideal.

"We'll have to wait and see.If he truly does have to leave, maybe they'll at least have the money to visit often."

"Maybe. But will Jimmy be happy elsewhere? He's lived here all his life. He's a quiet boy, a good boy, not a Hollywood type."