Fighting for her Mate

5

Finally alone, he threw a large duffle bag onto his bed and shoved in clothes, personals, a few pictures of his parents, and anything else he wanted to keep. This would be his last time he’d ever be under this roof—so he hoped at that time.

On his way through the living room, his uncle jumped up, again throwing females off him. “Caleb, stop!”

Caleb’s hand fisted as he turned. “I have nothing to say to you except watch your back. I’m the rightful alpha and I will come back to claim my birthright.”

Unexpectedly, Rocco plowed into him, leaving a hole in the drywall. “If you whisper a word about what goes on in this house, your mate may find herself in danger when you’re not around to save her.”

Caleb had the final word with a punch to his uncle’s face. He might have been younger and not near Rocco’s size, but he wasn’t going down quietly. During his four years of college, he never returned to the house.

He stayed at a cabin his father had built for his mother as her private space on the edge of the property. Even Rocco didn’t know where it was. Throughout his time in college, Caleb had grown into his body and his animal. He wasn’t afraid and wasn’t letting Rocco continue to take advantage of his people.

“Who wants more wine?” Ellie held a red bottle in the air, waving it side to side. The girls and Ellie’s mom gathered in the main house for a bit of men bashing before everyone sat down to Sunday dinner. Man, she loved these women. They were the best friends anyone could ask for. She glanced at Jordan and smiled.

A few years ago, Jordan would’ve been sitting here mindlessly daydreaming of Aric, now she was mated to him and finally living the happy life Ellie wanted for all her friends.

Nicole raised her glass. “I will. I’m not driving. Oh, wait. I’m a wolf now. I don’t have to worry about that anymore.” She laughed at herself. “None of us do, right, Barbara?”

Barbara glanced at Karla. “It depends. Has our mama busted out her fur, yet?”

Karla blushed. “Not in the way you’re meaning.”

“What other way is there?” Emma asked with a confused look on her face.

Ellie laughed. She knew her brothers way too well. They were horny little fuckers. “Let’s just say Jake has always been more creative than Mason when it came to their imaginations.”

“You mean—” Emma’s mouth hung open. “No stinking way. I’m am so going shopping before going home tonight. How late do those type of stores stay open on Sunday?”

“The one in the strip center,” Ellie’s mom said, “closes at six.”

Ellie shook her head and closed her eyes. She tried to shut off the image that popped into her head of her mother shopping at that toy store in Vegas. “Mom, I don’t even want to know how you know that.”

“Please, Ellie,” her mom said, rolling her eyes. “Must we have this discussion again? How do you think you were born?”

“Mom!” Ellie’s hands slapped over her ears. “TMI. I was delivered by a stork. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Perhaps it was childish, considering how much Ellie loved s*x with Caleb, but what she didn’t want to think about was her parents doing it. Ever. It was easy to be open about sexuality around everyone, but her mom was…her mom. Parents having s*x was so…not the image she wanted.

Karla laughed. “That’s what Nate always says. He can be such a dunce.”

Jordan glanced at her watch. “Barbara, when are the guys supposed to be here?”

“Tristan texted saying they were on their way.”

Ellie poured the last of the red wine into Nic’s glass, then turned to her mother with a curious look. “Did Dad say if Caleb was coming? Last I talked to him, he wasn’t sure.”

Her mom gave her sympathetic smile. “He didn’t say. We’ll have to wait and see.”

Ellie let out a long sigh and set the bottle on the coffee table in the middle of the chairs and sofa. Emma eyed her. “Are you and Caleb still having troubles? I thought since you two secretly married—thanks for the invite, there, Ellie—things would’ve gotten better.”

“I thought so, too.” Ellie plopped into her oversized plush seat. “But until this thing with Rocco is done, I don’t think we’ll be normal.”

Karla looked up, worried. “Nate has been with Caleb a lot again hunting for rogue wolves. He comes home every night with torn clothes and scratches on his face. I’m getting worried he may get really hurt one of these nights.”

Ellie clenched her jaw and sighed with frustration. “Caleb says he’s waiting for the right time, but I don’t know anymore. I think he thinks by taking out the rogues, the final battle won’t injure as many people. He knows Rocco is taunting our pack, but I don’t know why Rocco would want to bother us.”

Her mom abruptly stood and hurried out of the room. All eyes watched her walk out then flipped to Ellie.

Jordan raised her brows and motioned with her head toward where her mom had gone. “Is everything all right with Barbara?”

Ellie shrugged. “I don’t know. Ever since the scenting ritual, she’s been really tense. You’d think having all her sons mated and getting three grandchildren in one shot would have mellowed her, but she’s gotten quieter and quieter instead.”

“Well, that explains that.” Jordan pursed her lips. “I couldn’t imagine living with all your brothers after all the stuff that’s happened since the scenting ritual. I thought Aric alone would drive me crazy. He’s calmed down a bit since getting back from the honeymoon.”