When she slapped his shoulder with the back of her hand, he snatched her wrist and kissed it adoringly.
“I vote for you two making some babies,” I said with a snort. “Then we’ll have cousins the same age.”
Denver waggled his brows at Maizy.
I teased my little sis because I knew she was holding off on kids for a little while. She wanted to get her feet wet with her reporting career before starting a family. Both she and Denver were young, so they had hundreds of years ahead of them to procreate. Maybe a few decades would help Denver in the maturity department.
As soon as everyone parked their cars, we got out and headed toward the house. Most of us were moving at a snail’s pace, exhausted from all the running up and down the ramps in the laser tag room.
“Whose bike is that?” Denver asked.
I glanced at the black motorcycle and shrugged. “Probably another Packmaster.”
Lennon and Hendrix raced each other until Wheeler caught the back of Hendrix’s shirt and swung him around playfully. Hendrix laughed, his eyes vanishing into slivers when his ruddy cheeks pushed up from his exaggerated smile. Wheeler disapproved when the boys competed against each other, so he usually stopped it, never picking on one boy over the other. Since they were both alphas, it was important not to show favoritism. When he released his hold, Hendrix took a slow stroll toward the house.
Naya snuck up behind Wheeler and ran her hands up the back of his shirt. Wheeler went rigid and gave her a provocative wink over his shoulder. Meanwhile, Reno and April held hands for a brief moment before he tucked her against his side.
Suddenly I was feeling like the extra wheel on the love train. Maybe I should have stayed home with Izzy since she hadn’t wanted to go without Jericho.
A gentle rain created a sound like distant applause. Trevor removed his shoes at the door and set them inside. He stripped off his necklace and belt before shifting into his wolf. Austin had two wolves on guard most of the time but had told us he didn’t want anyone on the property for several hours, which I found odd.
Reno’s wolf trotted outside, and I brushed my hand along his thick coat as he moved by me. He greeted Trevor for a moment before they branched in opposite directions, Reno toward the private road ahead and Trevor toward the field of high grass.
I picked their clothes up off the floor and folded them over a chair. My mom had gone to a meeting and would be late for dinner, but she liked the house tidy.
“Did you have a good time?” William asked Melody while hanging his keys on the nail above the letter W. He kicked off his shoes and ruffled his curly hair.
She unraveled the multicolored scarf from her neck and tossed it on a chair. “I demand a new system. The same people always win.”
He smirked. “Indeed.”
“I’m serious! Everyone always couples up, and that means I get stuck with you.”
He frowned dramatically, and Melody suppressed a giggle.
“You can’t play laser tag to save your life, Uncle Will. Next time, I want to team up with Uncle Reno. Or even Grandma.”
Katharine hung up her coat and sat down in the living room. “If you want to practice with the bow, I’ll take you out in a little while.”
Melody collapsed on the sofa, one foot on the floor. “I’m pooped. I’ve never had to run back to recharge so much in my life. Uncle Will was even shooting at me.”
He scratched the scruff on his jaw. “All I saw were blinking vests. Say, anyone want cocoa with marshmallows?”
I rapped my knuckles on the wall. “Can I have everyone’s attention? I need to make sure Austin’s meeting is over before we start rattling pans and blasting the TV, so I want everyone to head upstairs.”
“No problem, darling.” Naya patted my arm and then slinked up the steps. “I’ll get a game of cards ready. Girls only.”
“And why’s that?” Wheeler asked, leaning against the banister and wielding a judgmental look.
“Because somehow you men always invent a game that involves clothing removal.”
He winked. “That’s the only game where I don’t let you win.”
“Let me? You’re getting less funny.” She strutted the rest of the way up the stairs, and Wheeler leaned over the banister to admire her round bottom and curvaceous hips.
While everyone hung their coats and exhaustedly climbed the stairs, I poked my head into the kitchen and told William to do the same. He slept in a humble room in a hall behind the kitchen, and it happened to be a few doors down from Austin’s office. He complied and left the room while I tiptoed down the hall and gently knocked on Austin’s door.
When no one answered, I knocked again, this time pressing my ear against the wood. “Austin?”
The hinge creaked when I opened the door to the empty room.