“It’s to help me walk, honey. I hurt my leg, and that wolf will give me the strength that I need to keep up with the pack.”
Maizy tapped the end on the floor and tried hopping with it, but the cane was too tall for her to use properly.
“Come on, Peanut. Give that back to Miss Ivy and let’s go play a game.” Denver had his arms folded, avoiding eye contact with me.
“I’m tired of games. I want to play outside.”
Lynn leaned around, coaxing Maizy over with her outstretched arm. “Come here, sweetie. You need to do as you’re told and stay inside. It’s too chilly to play out there anyway; you’ll catch a cold. I think what we girls need to do is work on a project together. Would you like to help?”
“Like what?”
“There’s a big dresser upstairs that I want to sand down and paint. I don’t think I can do it by myself and you are so good with painting.”
“What color?”
“White,” Lynn said. “I’m thinking about putting flowers on it. What do you think?”
“That better not be my dresser you’re talking about,” Denver grumbled.
I smirked when I noticed the red stain on Denver’s upper lip from one of those sugary drinks that Maizy liked so much. Lynn tried to keep Maizy away from sugar because it made her hyperactive. Denver didn’t seem to care.
“Do you have to work tonight?” I asked Denver.
“Not under these circumstances. Because of your friend, I can’t even sit around my own house and get tanked.”
“Don’t do that, Denver,” Lexi said in a sharp voice. “They were in a pack together, but this isn’t Ivy’s fault. We all have baggage and crazy people in our lives, so drop it.”
Lynn kissed Maizy’s forehead and held her in a motherly embrace. “Go with Denver and then we’ll do some painting. Maybe your sister will bake some snickerdoodle cookies tonight. Sound good?”
Lexi smiled and played with a strand of her hair. “Yeah, Maze, and you’re going to help me. Your big sis is going to show you a secret recipe.”
Maizy strolled toward Denver and he took her hand in his, leading her out of the room.
“Reno stays on the porch most of the time,” Lexi said offhandedly. “April’s not happy about it, and she hasn’t been sleeping well. You’re the only woman in this house who grew up in a pack, so we really don’t know what to expect with these men circling our property. Austin keeps telling me it’s normal for packs to face opposition like this sometimes. The human side of my brain just wants to call the police, but I know we can’t risk them getting mixed up in our business. Dammit, it’s like we live in the Stone Ages. I asked why Prince can’t help us out, and Austin said it doesn’t work that way. It’ll make their pack vulnerable if they get involved in our business.”
“Well, it’s my business,” William said, entering the room. He was the opposite of Caleb—dark curls of hair instead of blond. They were big and messy all over his head, and he had a scruff of whiskers on his jaw.
I rose to my feet and approached him. His brows popped up when I stood on my tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “Thank you for staying here and taking care of my family. Lorenzo said you’ll be here a while longer.”
He smiled with closed lips and scratched his jaw. “Did he now? Say, is he still on the property?”
“Afraid not,” Austin said from the door.
William turned on his heel and I noticed his trousers. Maybe that’s why he reminded me of someone like Robin Hood. His white undershirt had small laces that tied in the middle, like something men had worn long ago. The black jacket was thin with lapels, like a blazer, but not a modern style at all. It seemed a striking contrast for a man who drove a BMW to shop at the thrift store. I’d noticed the silver car out front as not belonging to the Weston pack. He had a mature air about him—not as playful as Denver or some of the men in the house, but still friendly.
“So I’m to join your merry men for a short while?” William asked, his fists resting against his hips.
“Lorenzo wanted me to pass along the message.” The reproach in Austin’s tone was evident. “Your temporary stay is compensation. I’d say that’s fair, wouldn’t you?”
A few people at the table looked up at them with inquisitive eyes.
“Indeed, I would. Whatever you require of me, you’ll have my full support.” William bowed respectfully and gave him a furtive glance.
I returned to my seat and faced the windows, Lexi across from me, and Lynn at the head where Austin normally sat. Most pack members knew better than to sit in the Packmaster’s chair, but Lynn didn’t know all the ways of Shifters, and half the time she didn’t care.
Austin sat on my right. “I’m ready to talk about your past, and it’s your decision if you want to have this conversation in private or in front of the pack.”
He knew. Lorenzo had told him, and an unexpected slice of embarrassment sank into my chest like a dagger. I should have been honest with Austin from the beginning, but it’s not the kind of story a girl is eager to share.