Her Pack by Tamara White
Chapter Thirty
I gather allmy mates in the living area, explaining I have something I need to tell them. Even though Cam, Eli, and Jason know what it is I have to discuss with them, they still sit with the others and let me tell today’s story without once interrupting.
Now that they know though, I’m nervous as hell. No one has spoken for at least two minutes, and it’s worrying me. Jonnie clears his throat, rubbing his legs. It’s something he does when he’s processing something. “Wait, so Lia is actually your sister? Well, half sister, but like truly? It’s not some mistake or a way of her trying to get close to you and by extension us?”
His eyes hold an expression that I can’t quite discern. Almost like worry crossed with happiness, but maybe I’m just imagining it and it’s just concern for me.
“Yes, I’m pretty sure that she’s definitely related to me. She knew dad’s name he used in the human world, and Tim knew the name of her mother.”
My gaze goes to each of my mates, settling on Nate, who appears to be struggling with what to say. His mouth opens and closes a few times before he just shakes his head, stands and walks over to Pete, delivering a large smack upside the back of his head!
Pete grunts and reaches up to rub the sore spot. “What was that for?!” He glares at his friend, most likely contemplating retribution.
Nate just stands there, a furious expression on his face. “The one girl you let on your lap, against your better fucking judgement, and it had to be Dani’s sister? Some days I swear it’s like your brain is nonexistent or it is there, and it’s fighting you for control. I mean, how could you be so stupid?”
Pete flushes, trying to respond before turning to me with horror filled eyes. “Oh my god, Dani. You have to know, if I had any idea, I would have never let her be that close. I only allowed her out of a sense of comfort, nothing more. I swear to you.”
“Pete, relax,” I tell him with a warm smile. “I know you didn’t know, nor would I expect you to. We don’t look alike, and I didn’t even notice the similarities between her and my father until after she mentioned dad’s name. And as for the whole sitting on your lap, Lia told me what happened. She told me you insisted you had a mate, but that she didn’t listen. She was only trying to get closer to your pack, and to be honest, if I had been in her shoes, I would have done the same thing most likely. Just obviously in the future, no girls other than me, okay?”
“Of course,” he sighs with a relieved smile. “It’ll never happen again, I promise.”
“Good.” I fidget, hoping he will help me with what I’m about to ask. “I actually need you to help me with something if that’s okay?”
He nods for me to continue. “Well, I would like to talk it over with Lily and hopefully we can get Lia closer to her mother. Would you mind if she moved to your pack permanently? I know it’s not exactly a straightforward thing to do, what with the fact she’s technically a rogue, and while I don’t want to just send my sister off after only just meeting her, maybe it would be for the best. Until I deal with all this Luke drama.”
“Of course, we can do that, Dani.”
“Thanks,” I tell him with a relieved sigh. While part of me thinks she should stick around, a small part of me worries about her safety if others find out about her existence. Just because she isn’t a direct line to the Jackson Pack, doesn’t mean she won’t become a target. Moving her to another pack is the safest option for the moment.
“Are you sure you want to do that?” Nate has moved back to his seat and is watching me with worried eyes. “No offense, but you hate it when we decide for you without asking, Dani. How do you think your sister will feel knowing you are making this choice without asking her?”
“I’m not, well, not really. She wanted to be closer to her mother. I’ll just tell her I’m giving her time to process and talk to her mom before making any decisions.”
Mitch chuckles softly. “Yeah, and if we told you that, you’d chew our asses out for days. Maybe you should at least give her the choice, explain what it means if she goes. Because if she moved, then wanted to come back, and you denied her, then it would damage any future relationship you wanted to build with her.”
I sit in the only open seat, wondering if he’s right. Will making a decision like this without her cause her to be more upset than if we talked about it? But then what if she stays?
Before I even have time to voice that last question, a massive bang echoes through the house and has me jumping out of my seat. Each of the guys reacts the same way, but we instantly relax when Laura’s voice echoes through the house.
“Where is she? Dani?”
I cringe at the tone of her voice echoing through the house as her footsteps get closer. It doesn’t sound as if she’s happy to see me. More like pissed and no one should face an angry wolf, especially not one as unsuspecting as Laura. She gives life to the humans saying of ‘it’s the quiet ones you should watch’.
Laura appears in the living room doorway, one hand on her hip, the other on her small rounded belly. As soon as she sees me, she strides into the room; her gaze fixed on me and only me.
Nate steps in front of me, trying to head off his mother. He holds his arms out as if to hug her, but she pushes him to the side and he lands on the floor with a grunt. I shrink back as Laura practically launches herself at me.
When she does nothing more than wrap me in a bone crushing hug, I relax and return her embrace.
“I missed you, Dani. You really need to call more often,” she murmurs into my shoulder.
“Ah, sorry.” I didn’t realize she cared this much. I mean, she’s nice to me, but I guess I assumed it’s simply because I’m her son’s mate. Nothing more.
Nate grumbles as he gets to his feet, staring at his mother who is refusing to let go of me. “Really mom? You just pushed me to the floor and hugged my mate over me. Your own son!”
“Oh, get over it,” she sighs, snuggling into me a little tighter. “I gave birth to you and I talk to you all the damn time. I rarely get to see my daughter-in-law. Let me have this moment, then I’ll acknowledge your existence.”
Nate rolls his eyes, just as Tim comes rushing in from the hall, his eyes wide with worry. When he spots Laura and I, he visibly breathes a sigh of relief. Monique follows Tim, then Walter comes in too. Both of my grandparents offer me smiles, but neither of them moves to detach Laura from my body.
“Laura, honey, maybe you should let Dani go now. I’m sure she’s going to want to say hello to everyone else.” Tim looks nervous, and offers me a weak smile, but even he doesn’t move to pry his wife from me.
I wait, unsure if Laura is ever going to let me go when she finally gives me one last squeeze, then breaks the hug. She smiles at me, cupping my cheek tenderly. “Are you alright, my darling girl? I’ve been worried sick about you, but Timothy refused to let me leave the pack unless you asked for me.”
“You should be resting, not worrying about me,” I chide, looking down at her belly with a massive grin. “How is everything going? Do you know what you’re having yet?”
She grins back at me, letting go of my cheek to cup her belly fondly. “No, we left it as a surprise. They’ve already given us one surprise, may as well add in another.”
“They?” Nate is staring at his mother in shock, his gaze flicking to his father. “You guys are having twins?”
His mother laughs softly, then winks at him. “Damn right we are! Hope you’re prepared for double diaper duty.” Laura gives me another quick hug and pulls away, pressing a kiss to my cheek. Her eyes are lit up with joy, and are watery as she meets my gaze. “Whatever magic you worked on me and my pack, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.”
Tim approaches and takes Laura’s hand, meeting my eyes with just as much emotion swimming in their depths. “Yes, Dani, thank you so much for everything you did for us, including this amazing blessing. You have given hope to those of us who had thought we could never have another child and those who had given up on the dream of ever creating a family. It has given the pack life, something only a true queen can do.”
