13. Dominic

13

DOMINIC

“Places, places!” I exclaimed, clapping my hands above my head. “The auditions have officially commenced!”

Bexley giggled as she sat on the couch in Voss’s rearranged home. He hated holding auditions in his living room, which was why I couldn’t wait to watch him hold it together for her sake. I tossed the beautiful woman on the couch a playful wink as I set up the last of the things we needed for our afternoon of auditions. Finally, I got a moment to fucking breathe.

I swear, this pack acted like every solstice celebration was some new fucking thing we did.

“Do we need anymore microphone stands?” Bexley asked as I backtracked into Voss’s kitchen. “There’s only two.”

“They can share for now,” I said as I reached into Alpha’s fridge and pulled out a couple of sodas. “Think fast!”

And without turning around, Bexley caught the soda I launched to her with her hand that she shot up from the couch. I watched as the can slapped against her palm, and I couldn’t help but grin. I walked back toward her and made myself comfortable.

I leaned down into her ear. “Sure you’re not a shifter?”

She swatted at me playfully before she cracked open her drink. “We’re ready!”

She took control of the situation, calling out to the first audition, and I smiled when Ronyn’s mother brought in a line of children.

“Hi, Alpha!” Little Billy from her pack whispered as he waved from the back row.

Bexley smiled brightly as she wiggled her fingers at the boy.

“Hey, Alpha!”

“Hi!”

“We’re gonna sing for you,” Gabriella, a child from our pack, whispered as she waved at Bexley.

Bexley cupped her hands over her mouth, but still whispered, “I can’t wait to hear you guys. I bet you sound amazing.”

“Thanks, Alpha!” Little Annabelle exclaimed as she waved her hands over her head.

Bexley giggled with delight as she waved at Annabelle, and soon, Ronyn’s mother took up her position in front of them. She crouched down onto her knees, her fingers pointing from her eyes to theirs and back to hers.

“You know,” I say softly as I lean down toward Bexley’s ear, “I remember being in Miss Shirley’s children’s choir growing up, even though I couldn’t hit a single fucking note.”

Bexley snickered as she took a swig of her soda. “Were you like me where you had to be put on the tambourine just to feel part of something bigger?”

My eyes widened. “You were the percussionist in your children’s choir, too?”

She nudged me playfully as a giggle fell from her lips. “Dom, I’m tone deaf. I was lucky to be put on a wooden block with a little hammer thing, much less a shiny tambourine.”

“That was Dom for ya,” Miss Shirley said as she held her hands into the air to command their attention.

She hummed a soft note that the kids hummed back, then her hands dropped and kept time to an imaginary rhythm inside of her head.

The sound of children’s voices wafted through Voss’s place.

“The Thunderfall Pack is a great big home where we all live happily in our zones, and the way we run and the way we laugh is a great big bonus to our evening baths.”

Bexley giggled at the little song Miss Shirley always had the pups memorize when they were children. I mouthed the words to the pseudo-song she created herself because Miss Shirley believed, and I quote, that ‘all packs should have a national anthem to show their pride.’

I couldn’t help but watch Bexley as I listened to the kids sing a song I knew by heart.

“The Thunderfall Pack is a great big home,” Voss’s booming voice sounded as he walked through the front door of his home.

Ronyn came right in behind him, ducking his head before he held his arms out and let his proud voice break free. “And the way we play and the way we fight is a great big bonus to the way we gripe!”

Bexley threw her head back with laughter as I stood to my feet and held my arms out for Ronyn as the three of us sang the last line with the kids.

“And the Thunderfall Pack is a family where the kids roam ‘round like they’re wild and free. So come on, let’s go, where the waters flow. So come on, let’s goooo where the waaaa-teeeeers floooooooow!”

“Ha-hah!” Miss Shirley exclaimed as she leapt up and clapped her hands.

Bexley quickly followed suit, standing to her feet and clapping her hands together. She let out whistles from between her lips as Voss wrapped his arms around Ronyn and me. The three of us took a bow with the kids when Miss Shirley signaled for it to happen, and I slapped my hands against Voss’s chest before going to sit back down with Bexley.

“Wanna do the honors, Alpha?” I asked as I held out my hand to the kids.

Voss turned to face Miss Shirley. “See you at the opening of the autumn solstice.”

“Yeah!” the kids shouted.

They all hugged and congratulated one another while Miss Shirley just tossed me a playful wink. We’d never say no to the kids. Ever. They could’ve sounded like a freight train careening out of control and we’d still have them open the solstice celebration. It helped the pups of our pack, to have something to work toward. To have something that makes them step up to the plate. They all piled out of Voss’s place, waving goodbye and running to give their Alpha hugs. Little Billy and Annabelle ran straight up to Bexley and clamored into her lap. A few of the other kids made their rounds on her, too, hugging her neck and climbing into her lap for a back-stroking hug.

I had to admit, she looked good with a pile of kids in her lap.

After Bexley finally coaxed the last little pup out the door…

“Please tell me every act is going to be just as lovely as them,” she said as she glanced around the living room at the three of us.

Voss came back from his kitchen with fresh drinks to pass out to everyone. He pulled up a chair behind Bexley’s head while Ronyn and I sat on either side of her on the three-cushioned couch.

“I’ll forgive you for rearranging my furniture this time,” Voss said gruffly as he opened his drink. “But, you’re putting my shit back, Dom.”

I chuckled as I crossed my leg over my knee. “Wouldn’t have it any other way, Alpha.”

“Who’s next?” Ronyn asked.

Bexley nudged him with her shoulder as she leaned toward him. “Why don’t you use that voice of yours and ask?”

Without hesitation, Ronyn’s voice erupted. “Neeeeext!”

I watched as Mark and Cindy came in with their bass guitar and keyboard. They quickly set themselves up before the two of them took their places at the mic, and I couldn’t help but look over at Ronyn. He always loved their duos. Probably because he didn’t have half a bad singing voice himself. Bexley’s head turned with mine and she smiled at the profile of his face, and I focused back on the duo to try to give them some time to themselves.

Voss wasn’t having it, though.

Quit thinking with your dick and pay attention, Ronyn, Voss said in groupthink.

Ronyn slowly peered over his shoulder at the man. The hell crawled up your ass and died?

Enough, I said in groupthink as I shot them both a fucking look.

“Ready when you are,” Bexley said, seemingly oblivious at the tension rushing all around her.

Voss was weirdly protective lately, but I shook it from my head and focused on the two shifters in front of me. They put on their best smiles as Ronyn leaned back against the couch, and I swear the entire foundation of the fucking house shifted when he moved.

Mark struck up his first chord on the keyboard and started to play the nostalgic, can’t help but sing along song of “ (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” .

Bexley immediately piped up with her off-key notes and Ronyn shot out of his chair and pointed at Bexley as he joined in on the chorus.

The second Cindy struck her guitar chord, I leapt up from my seat and swiveled my hips while they entertained us with what I felt was one of the greatest songs imaginable. Ronyn gyrated his hips as Bexley scooted toward him, swaying her hips from side to side. Mark and Cindy fucking jammed out in Voss’s living room, filling the space with a thumping beat and their beautiful duetted voices. My hands fell to Bexley’s hips as she wiggled them around to the beat. Ronyn tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as his arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her steadily closer to him. I ground against her, Ronyn and I in tandem with one another as Bexley gyrated and sang those horrid notes of hers at the top of her lungs.

The happiness in her voice alone became a goal of mine. And as my hands traveled up and down the profile of her body, I vowed to always make sure she had a reason to be this happy.

No matter what it cost me.

The song came to a close and even Voss stood to his feet. He clapped his hands as Bexley whooped and hollered. Ronyn clapped his hands above his head while I walked over and hugged both Mark and Cindy as tightly as I could.

“See you guys at the solstice celebration,” I whispered to them, hugging them.

They rejoiced as they packed up and worked their way out of Voss’s place.

“Next!” Voss bellowed.

That’s when Merida poked her head into the house. “I come bearing gifts of food. Anyone hungry?”

“Hey!” Bexley chirped as she rushed over to the woman and ushered her inside. “We’ll always take food. You don’t have to tell us twice.”

“Come on in, girls! They’re hungry!” Merida shouted over her shoulder.

One by one, her healers came in with plates of food from the cooks of the pack. The decadent smells of moist venison and beef jerky filled the air around us. Plates of caramelized fruits and freshly percolated coffee filled our nostrils. The four of us sat back down with Voss perched behind all of us like always, and we passed around the plates and taste-tested the food for the solstice celebration.

“Oh my God,” Bexley groaned, “I’ve never thought to caramelize melon. How did you do this?”

Merida smiled brightly. “A bit of brown sugar and some heat.”

Voss shook his head as he devoured his venison leg. “Whatever marinade you put on this, use it on all the deer for the celebration.”

Merida beamed with pride. “That’s a new one I came up with. Glad you like it, Alpha. Ronyn? You’ve got that same rub on your jerky. How is it?”

His jaw was much too entertained to talk, but he gave two thumbs up, which was as good as it got with him.

Merida clapped her hands with glee. “Perfect. Now, who’s brave enough to try the wine? Again, it’s a new one. We’re trying to use more apple and cinnamon this time around for a nice fall flavor.”

Immediately, the four of us didn’t hesitate as the next musical group slipped inside. They silently got ready while we chugged back the wine, and the euphoria alone that wrapped around my head caused me to chuckle.

“Damn, Merida,” I said, holding the wine glass out for me to see.

“Thought it was just me,” Bexley muttered.

“Now, this is wine,” Ronyn said with a grin.

“Maybe a bit strong,” Voss said, “but the flavor is amazing, as always.”

Merida pointed at us. “A bit strong, but the flavor is good. Got it. We’ll get to work on a softer batch.”

Bexley finished her glass. “You got anymore of this batch?”

Ronyn chuckled. “’Atta, girl.”

Merida’s eyebrows wiggled. “Got two whole jugs of it.”

“Bring it in here,” Voss and I said in unison.

Ronyn barked with laughter as Bexley giggled with delight. Hell, even I had to look over my shoulder at Voss just to make sure he was serious. It had been a long time since I’d seen that man unwind. Since I’d seen him actually sit back and enjoy something. And the shadow of a grin on his face told me that, for whatever the reason, today pressed every good button he had.

“Well, you heard them,” Bexley said with a giggle, “bring those two jugs in here and we’ll make sure they’re put to good use.”

The wine flowed and the hips swiveled, and the food was eaten as musical act after musical act came to entertain us. We threw open the windows of Voss’s home, allowing the gorgeous sounds to trickle out over the whole of the pack. We heard pups giggling outside while they danced to the music. We saw couples outside on the lawn dancing with one another, the men twirling their women around before dipping them down to the ground.

I found myself thanking my stars that I got to enjoy a day like this with my mate.