“You can’t do this to the man you love!” Wells shouts from behind a hay bail.
I can see Forrest’s wide grin underneath his mask. “All is fair in love and war, baby!” Forrest shouts back.
“I’m going to text Claire,” Wells says back and I snort.
Forrest looks at me, wondering how Claire might react to us ganging up on her Beta.
“She grew up with two brothers. She knows all about holding her own. Don’t go soft on me now,” I tell him and he scoffs.
“I’m not going soft.”
“Prove it,” I tell him, making quick strides behind another wall.
I watch as my plan falls right into my lap. Forrest hits Wells in the middle of the chest with a yellow paintball, and as soon as Wells is out, I aim right for Forrest’s mask, a pink paintball splatting right on his helmet.
“Oh, you sneaky asshole,” Forrest complains, but when I jump out of my hiding spot, where he’s removing his helmet with a smile, I find it contagious.
There’s a bar right next to the course, and we order a pitcher and a few appetizers to make sure we don’t spoil the meal Claire has prepared for us. Conversation flows easily, laughing about Teddy, the kids in the paintball course, and my victory as paintball champion.
I always thought of being in a pack as competition, but as I sit at this sticky bar top with Forrest and Wells, I see it for what it could be, what I want it to be for all of us. A brotherhood between us, with the common goal of keeping Claire happy and safe.
I smile to myself as I take a sip of beer.
Wells throws an arm around my shoulder and lightly shakes me. “Now I need to work my magic to be your favorite pack mate again.”
“Claire is my favorite pack mate,” I tell him and he nods, agreeing that it makes the most sense.
“We should get back home. Unless you think we should eat more before we go?” Wells asks in the most polite way if we should fill our bellies before trying Claire’s food.
I snort and shake my head. “She’s an unbelievable cook. Just don’t get in her way in the kitchen,” I warn him.
When we’re back at the house, it’s filled with delicious aromas. Wells, of course, did not heed my warning of getting in the way when Claire is in the kitchen and immediately gives her a hug from behind, resting his cheek on the top of her head.
“It worked, but they caught me scheming. They took it out on me with violence,” he says, trying to get sympathy from her.
“There will be violence if you don’t back up out of my kitchen right now,” she says, turning down the burner.
Wells gasps in mock shock as he slowly backs away. “A little kiss though,” he begs and Claire takes mercy on him, giving him a little kiss before pointing her spoon at him as if it’s a weapon.
Wells raises his arms in surrender and comes to where Forrest and I are standing on the other side of the island. Claireis locked in on her task and I sigh in happiness watching her. Her mom and my grandma were the same way. They both love to show their love through food, and I’m just so elated that this is my life.
“We’ll leave you toyourkitchen,” Forrest says, elongating your, like he’s happier than shit that she’s already claimed ownership of it.
Claire looks up briefly, looking how sweaty we all are and crinkles her nose.
“Go clean up. Dinner will be in a half hour.”
We do as she says, and when I step into my room, it doesn’t feel like a stranger’s room. Sure, it’s still empty and devoid of personality, but this place is home. These people are home.
Damn. I’m really a part of the pack. Now all we need to do is make it official.
Chapter 36
Forrest
Claire makesus the best home-cooked meal I could have ever imagined. The roasted lamb melts on my tongue as I praise her for the wonderful food for what’s probably the twentieth time.
But she seems to love the compliments, so I keep giving them.