Wen Read online

  “He wouldn’t let me drive,” Gerri muttered. “And we didn’t make any stops except for gas, food, and potty breaks.”

  “I have better reflexes than you do.” Micah dropped their bags and approached his father, grabbing hold of him.

  Gerri felt a little envious as the two men bear-hugged. It was obvious they were a close-knit family. Angelo reached up and fisted some of Micah’s hair, smiling as they pulled apart. “Your mom thinks you’re bringing home a woman to surprise us.”

  “Shit. I told her I was guarding a woman and wanted to stay with you guys since I’m single. It wouldn’t be appropriate to expect Gerri to stay at my place. It’s a one-room cabin. I don’t even have a wall up to enclose the bathroom. Why in the hell would she assume that?”

  Angelo hesitated before he spoke. “You know your mother. She hears what she wants to. You were bringing someone home, and you’re right, it wouldn’t be appropriate for you to take her to your place unless you had already mated her. We assumed she’d be an important human girlfriend you were planning to bond with, and wanted our approval.”

  “Is she really at the store?”

  Angelo snorted. “Kind of. She went shopping to buy more human-friendly clothes to impress your ‘girlfriend’. I told her that she dresses fine but you know how she is. The fact that you finally wanted us to meet a woman was enough for her to start planning your mating ceremony. You called after the shops closed last night and she wanted to be there first thing this morning when they opened. We didn’t expect you to arrive for another hour or so.”

  “Fuck.” Micah growled next.

  “She’ll be disappointed, but at least you know she’d welcome a human.”

  “Thanks, Dad.” Micah scowled.

  “She really wants grandbabies.”

  “I know. Trust me, I’ve heard it before.” Micah rolled his eyes. “Why can’t you give her another baby?”

  Angelo threw up his hands, backing away. “Don’t even go there. I’m lucky to still have my balls after your labor. She was threatening to rip them off with her claws.” He looked at Gerri as his hands dropped to his sides. “Micah put her through sixteen hours of hard labor. It set a record for longest Lycan birth in our pack. He was always stubborn.”

  “It’s not my fault.”

  “You asked. I’m reminding you. Find a mate and get her pregnant. And trust me, pick a human. They’ve got to be less terrifying in labor than your mother was. I have scars. She tore into me during the worst of her pain.” He eyed Gerri again, cocking his head. “You’re carrying Wen’s scent, but it’s not strong enough for him to have mated you. Are you attracted to my son?”

  “Don’t even think about it, Dad.” Micah shook his head.

  “What? She obviously liked Wen well enough and he didn’t scare her away. You’re smaller than he is and less intimidating. Not by much, but it counts to women.” Angelo stepped around his son to get closer to Gerri. “Did the condom break? It happens. How long ago was it? We should be able to tell if you got pregnant within three days. If you’re not carrying a VampLycan, how would you like to have little Lycan babies? Micah would make an excellent mate.”

  “Fuck!” Micah got between them. “Stop. You’re embarrassing me. Gerri doesn’t want me. Her and Wen―”

  “He won’t mate her unless he knocked her up. We all know that.” Angelo shoved him out of the way, holding Gerri’s gaze again. “My son, on the other hand, will. Don’t let what he said about his cabin run you off. He’s still building it. We can get a crew out there and make the place really nice within a week. I’ll even pay out of my own pocket to add a few rooms onto it while you’re pregnant. No problem.”

  “Dad!”

  “No thank you,” Gerri got out, amused and horrified at the same time.

  “Have you met Graves? He’s my other son. He’s not as friendly as Micah but he’s a good-looking man too.”

  “Dad, stop! You’re being worse than Mom.”

  Angelo whirled on him, growling. “She’s driving me nuts. Take a mate or I’ll find one for you, just for some peace of mind. Do you know what it’s like to hear her day after day, going on about it? She’s blaming me! She thinks I wasn’t a good enough example to you boys about how happy a man mated is.”

  They both suddenly stilled, turning their heads toward the front door. Gerri followed their gaze and the door opened. A tiny blonde woman walked in, three shopping bags clutched in one hand. She wore a summer dress, a big hat, and sunglasses.

  “Hello! I’m home, loving family.” She dropped the bags, took off the glasses, and set her purse on the table next to the door. “We are so honored to meet you! I’m Mandy.” She smiled big, her blue eyes fixed on Gerri. She wobbled a little in the high heels strapped to her feet, as if she wasn’t accustomed to wearing them.

  “Oh damn,” Micah muttered.

  Mandy gasped. “Language! Shame on you. I raised you better, young man. Never in front of ladies.” She kept coming, not stopping until she was in front of Gerri. Her eyes widened and she sniffed a few times. The color drained from her face.

  “Yes, you’re smelling Wen on her,” Micah sighed. “Gerri is not my girlfriend, although she is human. She knows what we are so there’s no need for this act. I really am guarding her for Wen. He got hurt, but he’ll be coming to get her.”

  Gerri bit her bottom lip, then offered her hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”

  Mandy slowly reached out and shook it gently, then let her go.

  “I appreciate the trouble you went to though,” Gerri added. “You have a beautiful home.”

  Mandy glared at Micah.

  “What in the hell are on your feet?” Angelo stalked forward. “Are you trying to twist an ankle?” He just grabbed the much smaller woman and lifted her, carrying her to a chair. He gently deposited her into it, crouched, and lifted one of her shoes. “Buckles? They look like torture devises. I’m taking them off you.”

  “Explain this to me right now, Micah,” his mother demanded.

  “You assumed. Remember what they say about that?”

  Angelo turned his head and snarled, flashing fangs. “Don’t call your mother an ass. She was hopeful. We both were.”

  Micah stepped next to Gerri. “Meet my crazy parents.”

  Gerri had a feeling it was going to be a very interesting stay. She hoped Wen came for her soon.

  * * * * *

  “Is the room okay?”

  Gerri turned away from the closet where she had stored her suitcase to watch Micah enter her room through the open door from the hallway. “It’s perfect.”

  “I’m sorry about downstairs.”

  She smiled. “They are actually really sweet.”

  “For crazy people?”

  “They’re nice. I have to admit your mom wasn’t what I was expecting. Both you and your father seem kind of afraid of her. She’s small for a Lycan. Was she turned?”

  “No. Don’t let her fool you. She might have been the runt of the pack but she can be scary at times. May I?” He waved at the edge of the bed.

  She nodded and took a seat a few feet from him. There was a table and chair near the bank of window but it was a large room, so she kept close so they didn’t have to raise their voices.

  “I have to admit I’m really curious about one thing.”

  Micah arched his eyebrows. “What?”

  “How does your mom normally dress?”

  He chuckled. “She loves stealing my dad’s shirts, which look like dresses on her. We’re not as strict about modesty as humans, or as fashionable. His boxers are her bottoms. She hates shoes during the summer. In winter, it’s always these chunky snow boots she tromps around in outside.”

  Gerri laughed. “I hope she wears more than just your dad’s things in the winter.”

  “She does but she steals his jackets. He’s got dozens of them. It’s a scent thing. They’re really in love.”

  “I could see that.”

  “I’m sorry for wha