"Look at you." My dad grins proudly coming in and I grin back.
"Hey, I didn't know that this room was here." Jackson came in and looked around. The awed expression on his face probably resembled mine. The gravity of all of this was beginning to sink in. We are responsible for all of this. These people will depend on us to lead them, to take care of them and to manage their finances. What were they thinking? I don't even manage my own finances. I deposit and withdraw. I bite my lip. This was too big for us. Jackson and I are children for pity's sake. "Whoa, what are you thinking Summer? You look like you are about to bolt." Jackson came around the desk and hauled me to my feet. "It's okay. It will be okay. We are going to handle this. Your dad is a phone call away. He and I have been talking and he thinks we've bitten off a lot but he thinks we can do it. He has offered to give advice and help if needed, we are allied and he's there if we need him." I look up at my dad. His craggy face is softer than I've ever seen it. He gives me a nod.
"You can do this sweetheart." I think that is the biggest compliment I've ever gotten from my dad. He thinks that I can do this. He has faith that I can handle this, that Jackson can handle this. "You've been preparing for this for your whole life. You two did it a lot faster than I expected, yes, and I always thought you two would lead our pack but no matter. You are the alphas of the East View pack now and you must behave as alphas. That means you are in charge, right or wrong, it all falls on you. Shirley and I will explain your responsibilities in depth and if you have questions later, you have our numbers." Who was this man? I don't know him. I turn and rush into his arms and he hugs me. "I'm very proud of you Summer. I don't like the way that you went about it and I'm not sure that I approve of you deciding whom to mate but I am proud. You did choose your mate well, I should've seen that a long time ago, but it didn't seem like that kind of relationship to me. I suppose that I don't know everything after all. Sometimes part of being a parent is giving your kids room to screw up." I laugh. "Now I am starved. I want to take you out to dinner, Shirley you will join us. Also, Summer tell your sister and her new mate to come. I want to meet him." I nod and look at Jackson. He's busy with the computer. I know he's wondering if the internet works yet.
"I'm not sure if, um … "
"I'll take care of it." Jackson volunteers and hurries from the room. The internet is still off. I smirk. Once it's on, I may never see him again.
Shirley takes us out to the porch and tells us about some of the pack members. Evelyn walks by with her dog and waves at us. I didn't know that she lived here but it seems that she does. She goes to a little pink house with white shutters that has a white picket fence around it. It's cute. Dad is studying Shirley. He likes her. It doesn't matter that he's always thought that humans weren't good enough. This one seemed to be good enough. I smile but turn my head away so he can't see my grin. They've moved away from me and are murmuring softly. I grab my broom and do some more sweeping. I see Jackson, Kelly, and Earl headed this way. I wave at them and put the broom back against the house. I go down to meet them.
"Dad has a thing for Shirley." I tell Kelly who blushes then I see it. Earl's mark. "Oh Kelly! Already?" I hear a chuckle behind me. "Did we interrupt?" Kelly shakes her head.
"Yes you did, but it is okay. I wanted to spend the evening with my new mate but I want to meet her father too. Since he's here and we have the rest of our lives we will put our evening on hold for a few hours." Earl says. Jackson is not happy about this. I think he is uncomfortable with interrupting them.
"Earl and I are mated and that's all that matters." Kelly said. "Daddy can't make me leave. I knew that he would show up here and try to take me back so I hurried Earl. He wanted to have this whole romantic evening but I wanted to stay more."
"Oh Kelly. That sucks. That's twice your mating has been subpar." I feel bad. I knew when Dad said that he wanted to see her that they may be … busy but I didn't say anything."
"It wasn't subpar, it was beautiful." She glanced back at Earl and flushed again. "Daddy can see that I am mated to a strong and wonderful wolf. He can go home and leave me to live my life." I nod. If she is happy then I am happy.
Chapter 9
"I feel so bad about interrupting Kelly." Jackson said as he pulled his clothes off when we returned to the house after a great dinner. Everyone was happy and having a good time, even my dad with his two freshly mated, without permission, daughters.
"They're okay with it Jackson. Earl wanted to meet dad and Kel wanted to show dad that she's good. It worked out. I think Dad will be coming back often too." One of his eyebrows rose. "He's sweet on Shirley."
"No shit?" I shook my head and put our dirty clothes in the laundry basket I found earlier. "Good. He needs a woman to keep him sane and content." I made a face. "You brought it up." He laughed. "Now come here." I go to him and let him wrap me in his arms.
"Jackson?" He made a humming sound. "I don't want to with Dad in the house. Is that okay?" He gave me a squeeze and nodded but he still held onto me. "What do you think he thought of Earl?"
"I think your Dad likes him just fine. Earl did a good job of convincing him that he would take care of Kelly and I think that he liked seeing her happy. It doesn't really matter now because they have mated. When is Autumn coming?"
"Tomorrow, she and her posse should be here by dinner. We need to hit the grocery store first thing tomorrow." I say. Jackson leads me to the bed and we climb in. I've made it with fresh linens that I found in one of the closets. He covers us and nuzzles my neck. "We need to turn the cable and internet on too." He kisses my cheek. "Jackson." He pulls me close and turns me so my back is to his front.
"I know. I just wanted to kiss my mate okay?" His body curves possessively around mine and he is so warm and comfortable that I fall asleep quickly.
***
I wake to the smell of breakfast, not just any breakfast but coffee, bacon and eggs, maybe pancakes. It's heavenly. It has to be Kelly. She is my angel. Jackson is missing. He's gone to breakfast and he's left me here. I had better have a pancake when I get there! I dress quickly then brush my teeth and hair. I hurry through the house to find Dad, Earl, and Jackson at the table eating. Kelly is in the kitchen flipping pancakes and she smiles at me when I come in. I smile back but I scowl at Jackson. I hear Kelly laugh. "There is plenty here Summer. Don't get nasty with Jackson."
"Yeah don't get nasty with Jackson." He was at my side now kissing my cheek. He sits me at the table next to Dad and goes to fill my plate and mug. "Jackson was a sweetheart and let you sleep in, and then he made you a nice big plate with lots of bacon." He set it down in front of me and kissed my cheek again. Dad watched us. My cheeks heated.
"Don't be embarrassed. I'm not. He should be affectionate with his mate. You should present a united front for the pack. They must believe that you are each other's champion and that you have the other's back. Some wolves will try to divide the pack alphas for personal gain. Face challenges together. Be each other's other half. That goes for you two as well." He gave Earl a stern look and then Kelly.
"Yes Daddy." Kelly said bringing her plate to the table. She sat next to Earl. He smiled softly at her.
"Thanks for breakfast Sis." I shovel pancake in my mouth. "Our pantry is empty." She nodded and sipped her mug of warm milk delicately. Eww. I hope nobody makes me drink that when I get pregnant. Milk should be cold. Jackson chuckled. He knew what I was thinking. The disgust was evident on my face. I'm sure. Shirley knocked as she walked in from the living room. I didn't hear the front door. Um …
"Good morning sweetheart." Shirley said. My dad kissed her cheek as she leaned down. "Did you sleep well?" He nodded and she smiled at him then went to the cabinet to get a plate. I looked at Kel whose eyes had gone round, then at Jackson who was trying to hide behind his coffee cup. "Is there a problem Summer?" I shake my head and take a bite of scrambled egg.
"Well maybe. I'm just surprised, I mean I knew yesterday that you were sweet on each other but I didn't expect this. This is a surprise." I say matter of fact. If Jackson and I had pulled that trick, neither of us would be sitting here.
"You aren't kidding." Kelly murmured and I giggled. Her cheeks turned pink. She really needed to learn to control that.
"What does this mean? Are you going home with him Shirley or was it just a one night kind of thing?" Shirley sat on my dad's other side. She took a sip of coffee.