Jessica’s Wolves(57)

Richard thanked his foreman and told him to go enjoy his holiday. He shut the door and leaned against it.

“I’m so sorry.” The soft voice coming from across the room was Alyssa’s. “I never meant to bring trouble to your door. I’ll just … go with them so no one gets … hurt.”

“You’ll do no such thing,” his mother retorted. “You’re with us now. A member of this family. And we don’t tolerate anyone who threatens our own.”

Charles looked at his frozen mate between him and Reese as she cleared her throat. Her hands shook where she still gripped his arm.

Jessica looked from Charles to Reese. “Suppose we pretended she’s mated to one of us. I mean, I guess they would smell the untruth of that, but maybe intended? Reese? Charles? One of you should pretend you intend to mate her. Would that work?”

“Dad? What do you think?” Charles turned to his father. “There’d be no way to keep these assholes from realizing Reese and I are already mated to Jessica, but I guess if their pack is as fucked up as it is, they probably wouldn’t question us having our own strange arrangements. As it is, we are a group of threesomes. Who’s to say we don’t take on other women and become foursomes?”

Richard furrowed his brow. “Might work. Not sure they will care without her being completely mated though. But we could try it.”

Alyssa whimpered. Tears filled her eyes. “I hate putting you all in such a position.”

The rest of the family had remained quiet during this contemplation. Everyone moved at once, talking on top of each other.

Tessa interrupted. “Someone needs to … well, rub against Alyssa so she smells of him. No one will buy this story if she has no scent of any man on her, as though she’s at least being courted by someone.”

Justin and Trevor, Kara’s mates, stood next to her where she sat on the couch rubbing her huge belly. Trevor spoke up. “I could do it. Might be believable since my mate is clearly so huge with child. We could make up some cockamamie story about me straying because she’s so … God-awful unattractive.” He choked and laughed harder than Charles had ever witnessed when Kara punched him in the stomach. It was common knowledge Justin and Trevor couldn’t keep their hands off Kara and found her increasingly more attractive the further along she was. Not the insinuated opposite.

Ryan and Alejandro, Lindsey’s mates, also the most doting wolves around, looked to their love for her agreement. When she nodded without hesitation, Alejandro spoke up. “It might be more believable if it were me. We Spaniards are known for taking on several women.”

Lindsey rolled her eyes but didn’t hide her grin. Charles knew the day that woman let him stray would be the last day on earth. Not to mention Charles doubted the man had been away from her side long enough to even consider such a ruse.

Charles’ youngest brother had remained silent listening to everyone draw straws. Michael was only twenty. None of them had yet to take much of what he did or said seriously. They all thought of him as the baby still, even though he was a grown man by rights.

Michael stepped forward and walked straight to Alyssa, where she trembled in the back of the room against the wall. “I’ll do it.” No one breathed while he grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips. “Would that work for you?” He cleared his throat and spoke with more strength now. “I mean, would you mind?”

Charles narrowed his gaze on his little brother. What the hell was going on? Had he missed something? Was it his imagination or were sparks electrifying the air? His hair even stood on end, and without moving his head, he gazed around in wonder at the rest of the family where they stood rooted to their spots.

Jessica wasn’t stupid either. She hadn’t let go of Charles’ arm yet, and now she gripped him once again with renewed strength. “Do you think…”

“Not sure what to think,” Charles communicated.

“Well, I’ll be.” Reese wrapped an arm around Jessica and pulled her tight.

“This could work.” Nancy bustled around, grabbing wrapping paper and boxes off the floor. She didn’t take her gaze off her youngest child, but Charles thought he saw a tear as she scurried past. She busied herself as she always did when she was stressed. She sure as hell didn’t need to clean house for these particular guests. Fuck them.

Richard headed for the kitchen. “I guess it’s settled then.” He was uneasy and shifted nervously as Charles watched him cross the room. “More coffee anyone?”

Charles shifted his gaze back to his young brother. Perhaps it would be better for everyone if he gave a few pointers. Shit. Who wanted to give their little brother, barely an adult, pointers about how to make a girl seem to belong to you. And he sure as hell hoped that’s all this was, a mustered-up wave of altruism. He couldn’t even contemplate the alternative. They were both so young.