29

D inner was wonderfully uncomfortable.

It was wonderful in the fact that the food was beyond delicious, and we basically had our first giant family dinner.

The uncomfortable parts were just the men being all together with Khaos, I think. The energy was a bit off. They weren't as loose. It's hard to explain, but it's like each one of them were waiting for the other to do something to piss them off. Roman and I kept trying to lighten the mood when we could, but you can't undo hundreds of years of animosity in one evening.

Add “Group Bonding" to my ever-growing list of things to tackle.

Since Khaos wanted to choose the restaurant, he led us to the absolute cutest seafood restaurant that's actually on a boating dock with outside seating overlooking the water. It was too chilly to sit outside, but I made a mental note to come back when it's warm and enjoy the view.

The food was beyond incredible. It had been a while since I had some really fresh fish and shrimp. We made it through mostly unscathed, and when we finished up, we all headed back to the hotel where the men left Khaos and me while they went to warm up for the game tomorrow.

I kiss Roman goodbye and plop down on the couch, patting my very full stomach and releasing a heavy sigh.

“Penny for your thoughts?” Khaos asks as he lowers himself onto the other side of the couch.

“Ha! Where do I even start? I mean, you got the rundown earlier; I'm still just trying to process everything myself.”

He nods, and I think we're just going to sit here quietly when he says, “I don't know why Roman and I were given another chance with you, but you must be very important to the Moon Goddess...” He looks up to me, and there is more emotion than I've ever seen swirling in those smokey-gray eyes. “But I promise to be a better brother this time.”

His voice cracks on the last word, and so does my heart. I lean forward, resting my elbows on the tops of my legs and admit, “Hey, I don't have any memories from before. I don't know if I ever will, but I can tell you my soul—my wolf—she doesn't hold any animosity towards you. I feel no negative energies from her at all.”

He lifts his chin to look at me and says, “Really?”

Lifting the left side of my lips into a half smile, I reply, “Really. I wish they could talk to us so we didn't have to guess everything, but it almost feels like she wants to...being a werewolf is so weird...she wants to like brush against you? She and I are still trying to understand each other after her being poisoned for so long, so I hope I got that right.”

He releases a tired chuckle, but it also looks like some of the tension drains from his body.

“Do you mind if I get a little more schoolwork done while the guys are gone?”

“Not at all. I'm still trying to process everything myself.” With that, he finally allows himself to really relax and turns on the sports channel to watch the hockey updates while I scurry to my room and back with my laptop in tow.

We spend the rest of the evening in quiet comfort. Him flipping through the channels, me working on my lessons. Even when the men get back from warm-ups, everyone just kind of blends together.

I'd be a big fat liar if I said I didn't really enjoy getting into these amicable places like a real family.