Chapter 18

EIGHTEEN

N atalie’s spoon paused halfway to her mouth. “The whole pack?”

“Mother,” Marcus’s voice carried a note of warning. “It’s a bit early for pack celebrations.”

“Nonsense. Natalie’s practically?—“

“More wine?” Marcus cut in quickly, reaching for the bottle.

Victoria subsided with a knowing smile that made Natalie’s cheeks heat. Marcus’s hand tightened on hers under the table, and she wondered what Victoria had been about to say. What was she “practically”? Part of the family? His girlfriend? His mate? The uncertainty made her head spin.

“So, Natalie,” Alexander leaned forward, his eyes twinkling. “Has our son told you about the time he tried to alpha-command a squirrel?”

“Dad,” Marcus groaned. “Really?”

“He was six,” Victoria jumped in eagerly. “So serious about being future alpha. He stood in the backyard for hours, trying to make the squirrel come down from the tree.”

“It was a tactical training exercise,” Marcus muttered.

“The squirrel won,” Emily stage-whispered.

“Thoroughly,” Sheri added. “With extreme prejudice and excellent aim.”

“I have video,” Emily offered.

“You were three!” Marcus protested. “How do you have video?”

“I’m very technologically advanced.” Emily winked at Natalie. “Also, security cameras have excellent backup systems.”

As dinner progressed, Natalie found herself relaxing into the warmth of family dynamics. Victoria kept their plates full of exceptional food while Alexander shared stories of Marcus’s childhood. The sisters tag-teamed embarrassing anecdotes, and through it all, Marcus’s thumb never stopped its gentle circles on her palm.

“I’ve never brought anyone to family dinner before,” Marcus murmured in her ear as Victoria disappeared to fetch dessert.

“So I heard.” Natalie turned to study his profile, gathering her courage. “Why me?”

His eyes met hers, intense and honest. “Because you’re different. Special.” His voice dropped lower. “Because I can’t imagine not having you in my life.”

The admission hung between them, weighted with possibility. Natalie’s heart raced, and judging by his slight smile, he could hear it perfectly.

“Your heart’s doing that thing again,” he murmured.

“Maybe if someone would use actual words instead of cryptic statements and enhanced hearing...” she whispered back.

His eyes darkened with something that made her breath catch, but before he could respond, Victoria returned with a chocolate soufflé that demanded everyone’s attention.

“Just wait until the pack holiday party,” Emily said as they dug into dessert. “Marcus actually has to participate in the talent show.”

Natalie’s eyebrows shot up. “Talent show?”

“He does dramatic readings,” Sheri supplied helpfully. “Very brooding. Very alpha. Last year it was ‘If You Give a Wolf a Cookie.’”

“It was a pack leadership metaphor,” Marcus defended.

“It was adorable,” Victoria corrected. “Natalie, dear, you must come. The pack would love to meet the woman who’s made our alpha smile more in the past week than in the last decade.”

After dinner, Marcus drove them back to Natalie’s apartment in comfortable silence. The evening had left her feeling warm and slightly overwhelmed, but in the best possible way. Still, questions nagged at her. What were they to each other? Why hadn’t he asked her to be his girlfriend if she was important enough to meet his family?

“You’re thinking very loudly,” Marcus said as they pulled up to her building.

“Enhanced hearing pick that up too?”

“No, but you’ve been biting your lower lip for the past ten minutes. You do that when you’re puzzling something out.”

“You notice things like that?” The question came out softer than she intended.

His eyes met hers in the darkness of the car. “I notice everything about you, Natalie.”

Her heart skipped, and his slight smile told her he’d heard it. “That’s not fair, you know. Having an unfair advantage in... whatever this is between us.”

“Whatever this is?” His voice turned serious as he turned to face her fully.

“Well, you haven’t exactly defined it,” she pointed out. “I mean, you took me to meet your family, but?—“

“But?”