Page 412 of Pucking Feral: Part Two

Every time, they close.

My throat gets tight. I clear it loudly, because I have a fuckin' reputation to maintain.

"AIGHT." I clap my hands together. "I come bearing one omega, slightly wind-chapped, and a full report on your mother's continued reign of terror."

Wraith lifts his head and looks at me over Ivy's shoulder.

How was she?

"Oh, she's great, man. Hates my guts. Called me a cow, a heifer, a hog, a moose, a horse… kind of boring. Nothing creative enough to be fun."

Wraith blows a puff of air through his nose. Did she like the flowers?

"She did! She said mine were the right purple. Even though they were the exact same shade as the ones Val brought, but hey. She's got refined tastes."

Wraith huffs again. His eyes search my face, looking for the things I'm not saying.

I let him look.

"Your mom's fine, bro," I say, softening a little. "Room's clean, staff seems solid, she ate her lunch. I told her I'd be coming back."

You don't have to do that.

"Yeah, I do." I shrug. "I promised. And she needs someone there who doesn't give a shit when she says something fucked up. That's kinda my whole skill set."

Wraith stares at me for a long moment. Then he crosses the clearing in three massive strides and pulls me into a hug hard enough to lift my boots off the ground slightly, which is saying something, because as Claire relentlessly pointed out, I am not a small alpha.

I wheeze.

"Brooooo. Ribs…"

He sets me down. Sorry. Thank you.

"Don't mention it. You just saved me a trip to the chiropractor anyway." I straighten my jacket and crack my neck. "Seriously, don't mention it, because Thane'll give me shit about going off-script and I technically told her some stuff Ivy promised you she wouldn't."

Ivy makes a choking sound behind us.

Wraith looks between us suspiciously. What stuff?

"Nothing bad! Just that… look, she needed to hear that her son loves her and she should stop being a psycho about it. I was diplomatic."

Wraith closes his eyes. Please tell me you didn't call my mother a psycho to her face.

"Not to her face, bro. I told ya. I was diplomatic."

Ivy puts her face in her hands.

Wraith's jaw works, the exposed muscles flexing. For a second I think he's pissed, but then his chest shakes with that silent broken laugh, and his bright blue eyes crinkle at the corners, and I know we're good.

You're insane, he signs.

"Certifiably."

I glance at the tent, the fire, the blankets. Everything's set. Everything's perfect. And for one stupid second, my eyes sting.

Because this is the shit we've been fighting for.

"Okay." I clap my hands together one more time and turn to Ivy. "C'mere, wildcat."