Chapter 46

Chapter 46

Lucas

My family were nice people. My mum was the quiet one, much like me, and my dads, while completely full of shit, never made me feel anything other than loved. It might be that rough-and-tumble, put-shit-on-you, kind of love that Australian families specialised in, but still, love. Even my older brothers, identical twins as was often the case with bear shifters, loved me.

But sometimes I wondered if they liked me.

I saw their sly smiles when Kyle coaxed us all back to the table with promises that everything would be fine. Asher was even pricklier than ever, needing to not just protect himself but Imogen too. And me? This was the moment when my family rallied around me, supported me, made clear I was the right guy for my mate, right?

"She's hot," Kevin, or was it Steven, said, looking Imogen over as we all sat down. Her butt hovered in the air, not ready to sit as she stared at me. "How the hell did you get a hot mate, numbnuts?"

That was me. I was numbnuts for as long as I could remember. Also dickhead, wanker, fuckface… You get the picture.

"He didn't find you at one of those ren faire things, did he?" Steven asked Imogen. That was definitely him, the scar on his left forearm from the time we all fell out of a tree becoming apparent as he leaned forward.

"Don't put your elbows on the table," Mum hissed, knocking him away. "And stop teasing your brother."

"Ren faire?" I heard my mate's voice, and for the first time, I didn't want to look down. Apparently her meeting with the female elders was scandalously short, that she'd decided before she even heard what they had to say to accept us. My heart beat too hard, too fast at that knowledge, but right now I felt like we were about to reach the hurdle she couldn't get over.

"I like to do historical fencing when I have some down time," I replied, daring to sneak a look sideways.

There was no way I wanted to bring this up today. Accepting that we turned into bears sometimes was one thing, but a girl being cool about a guy that dressed up in armour and swung a sword around at other guys also wearing armour? That seemed a step too far. I shot my brothers a dark look, mentally swearing I would do my damndest to embarrass the shit out of them if they ever managed to find their mates.

"Like a knight?" she asked, and the lack of disgust in her gaze made me feel a little better. "Do you fight in one of those things they show on TV?"

"Tourneys?" I asked. "Not quite. Our bouts are all pretty heavily controlled. Swinging heavy metal weapons at each other, they have to be."

"Stop trying to make it sound cooler than it is," Kevin said.

"But it is." Her head whipped around and she stared into his eyes. "Lucas would look freaking hot in armour."

"Um, yeah." Kevin looked her up and down. "Standing around in a really expensive tin can in the sun will do that to you."

"Gorgeous," my girl snapped. "Amazing, strong, incredible, do you need me to use smaller words for you that are easier to understand?" I couldn't help but let out a little snort, but that just delayed the rush of warmth that started in my chest and rushed outwards. "And lemme guess, you two love going fishing."

"What's wrong with fishing?"

Watching the twins look at each other in confusion was worth anything that might come after this.

"And you take all these photos holding up your fish like this?" she continued, showing them what she meant. The twins muttered at that because it was true. Their social media was littered with images exactly like that. "Women don't find that a turn on at all. It's like guys are cats leaving dead rats on your doorstep. They're super proud of what they've killed while everyone else is low-key horrified."

"At least you can eat the fish afterwards…" Steven mumbled.

"But playing with swords and ren faires?" Imogen gazed up at me. "That's so cool. Can I come to your next tournament? I'll go as a busty wench." I choked on some spit as her arms went under her breasts. "Though I might need some padding."

"No padding." I'd barely wheezed that out, forced to cough and clear my throat. "You're perfect the way you are."

"Aww…" Kevin snarked, rallying quickly, but my nanna whacked him on the arm.

"Just you wait," she said. "You'll find a girl that will have you selling your fishing boat because all you want to do is get closer to her. She will be all that matters." Nanna's eyes met mine. "Just like your Imogen does to the three of you. Word is you've been protecting her, looking after her."

"We're trying to, Nanna."

"Good boys." Her focus shifted to Imogen. "And if they don't, you come and talk to me. I'll set them straight."

"I appreciate the offer, Glenda," my mate started to say.

"Nanna, that's what everyone calls me now," she corrected. "Now, tell me more about how the lot of you met. There's been stories but that Flo, she never tells it right."

I sat back then, letting the afternoon warmth settle over me. Now that the initial excitement at meeting Imogen was satisfied, a strange kind of rhythm set up around the table. People talked with the ease of those that knew each other well. I half listened to updates on people's lives, who was moving house, having a new baby, the situation over at the new shifter school, but none of it really sunk in, not when Imogen was here. My eyes found the slender slope of her neck and trailed down it, almost able to see it. Her skin marked by our fangs, forming angry red marks at first, then healing to something far more discreet. If we were good enough, if we proved ourselves, then one day she'd let us formalise the bond, and then the only thing that would part us was old age.

"Have something to eat, sweetheart," Mum said, giving me a nudge, but I couldn't tell her this. That the only thing I craved was the woman sitting beside me, and food, wine, and beer would never cut it again.

"Are you sure you're all safe in that building of yours?" Gail asked.

We were trying to make our goodbyes, but like most family things, leaving happened in stages. We'd gotten past the deck and out the side gate, so we were getting closer to the car, but not close enough.

"They have to be," Mum reasoned. "It was built with all those security features."

"Probably more secure than our own house." This was one of Kyle's dads. He shot us a knowing look, making clear he understood that his mate was fussing, but he wasn't about to stop her. Gail was a mother hen, clucking over her chicks. "They'll be fine. They're also trying to get home."

"Oh, of course!" She clapped her hands to her cheeks. "I'll let you go." I took a step further away. "But you're sure you don't want some leftovers? There's so much food."

"Because you always over cater, Mum." Kyle stepped between his mother and us. "We love you. Lunch was amazing, but we don't want to be eating the same meal for the next few days straight. Eat the food yourselves or take it to the meeting centre for the other ladies to enjoy."

"That is a good idea." Gail patted his arm sadly, but then looked past him. "Now, Imogen, if you still want that recipe?"

"I do." My grip on her shoulders tightened and I couldn't believe I had that right, the feel of her still foreign and unfamiliar. "That salad was amazing."

"It's the apple," Gail said, sucking in a breath, ready to give us the whole recipe verbally before the sounds of her mates clearing their throats had her pausing. "But I'll email you the details." Her focus shifted to Asher. "You need to get Imogen a replacement phone."

That was a sore subject. We should've stopped and swept the scene for details the last time Phil attacked and were still kicking ourselves for leaving it behind for him to find. The SIM had been deactivated, the device reported stolen, but still the lapse was unforgivable.

"We will," Asher replied. "When we get back to HQ."

"So I better let you go." Gail rushed forward and hugged him, and I caught the moment Asher's eyes went wide. His hands rose belatedly, unsure of what to do before reminding himself to hug her back. I glanced at Imogen, wondering if she saw it, the way he finally sank into his foster mother's embrace, right before she pulled away. "Give us a hug, you big lug," she told Kyle and then giggled as he squeezed her tight and then spun her around before depositing her on her feet.

My mum thought this was a great idea, moving forward to hug me.

"You did well, darling," she said in a low voice before pulling back slightly to turn to my mate. "And, Imogen, you know you can always call us. Just because you didn't have any questions today doesn't mean you won't later."

"Like what's a baculum?"

Kevin asked that in all innocence, only Steven's wicked laugh made clear what they were doing.

"Baculum?" Imogen looked up at me. My throat felt like it was rapidly closing over, but it gave me the incentive to wrap all of this up.

"That's a conversation for the car. Mum, dads, Nan, dickheads, Kyle's family, thank you for everything, but we need to go now," I said.

"Finally…" Asher hissed under his breath.

"We love all of you and will have you over at our place soon," Kyle added.

"Next week?" Gail asked hopefully.

We didn't commit to anything, turning and finally walking down the driveway and back to our car.

"So did you have a good afternoon?" Kyle asked Imogen. "I know they're intense?—"

"Your families are awesome." Her nose wrinkled. "Well, Lucas' brothers could do with some work."

"Something I will tell them with great emphasis the next time I see them," I replied.

"But…" Her eyes narrowed slightly. "The need for secrets made sense before. You didn't want to be like ‘Hey, we've just moved you out of your ex's place. Surprise, we turn into bears on the down low.'"

"Right," I said, tensing as I waited for her to finish.

"But there's no need for that now. So…" She stared each one of us down. "What the hell is a baculum.