Chapter 67


    Chapter Sixty-Seven: Bears, wolves, and peach cobbler


    The four of us got dressed, Jason holding Ryan for Travis while he pulled on the oversized nnel shirt


    and shorts. They were Scott’s clothing and they seemed to swallow my mate’s slim forms. It was a


    small gesture, but it made me feel like maybe mom and Scott were warming up to the idea that I was


    with Jason, Ryan, and Travis and very soon! would be with Gideon too. I knew that it was more than


    likely that my mom hadn’t wanted to see everyone naked. But I liked to think that maybe they were


    coming to terms with everything.


    Travis finished buttoning up his shirt before he looked over at me. “It was nice of them to put clothing


    out for us. Think that means they like us?”


    I smiled, nodding at him. It made me feel good to see those stacks of clothing. Reaching down, I picked


    up the pile of clothing that my parents had left out for me. I didn’t need them, but after a hot shower, I


    would put them on. My body ached and a shower sounded like one of the best things in the world. Well,


    that and something to eat.


    My stomach growled and I realized that all I’d had today was a cup of coffee and a few sips of sweet


    tea. Gideon moved over to me, the big green and ck nnel shirt hanging off his shoulders. He


    raised his hand, reaching out to touch me before shaking his head and dropping his hand to the side.


    “What’s wrong?” I asked, worried that I had done something to make him not want to touch me


    “I just, I don’t know if I’ll be able to control myself if I touch you.” He said, looking down and biting his


    lower lip. “I know we still need to go in there and I just… I don’t want to make a bad impression with


    your parents.”


    “Gideon.” I said, wishing that I could say something tofort him. I wished that I could take him into


    my arms but he wasn’t like my other mates. He didn’t seem as in control of himself as they did and I


    wondered if that had to do with him being an omega? From what Thad gathered from the conversations


    of today, he wasn’t used to holding back from pleasure. Giving or receiving it and right now, we needed


    to go in there and deal with my parents before sexy times could start.


    I went to take a step closer to him, to close the distance between us and his eyes shot up to my face.


    He shook his head, a look of panic filling his face. “No, Tillie. I-“.


    “It can’t be any worse than our meeting with them.” Jason said and I looked over, shooting him a smile.


    He was trying to lighten the mood. It wasn’t working, but I appreciated it all the same.


    Gideon looked over at Jason, swallowing hard before nodding. “You’re right, but I’d rather not chance


    it.”


    I took a step past Gideon. I wanted to touch him, but it could wait until we had more time. Making my


    way over to the door, I let out a sigh before pushing it open and stepping into the house. My mates


    close behind me. The smell of meat cooking hit me and my mouth watered. Garlic and pepper mixed


    with the smell and I heard Travis let out a groan behind me. There was another smell, though, a sweet


    smell that made me worried. My stomach rolled and I hoped that maybe it was just something wrong


    with my nose.


    “That smells fucking amazing.”


    “Language, young man.” Scott chided from the living room; he was sitting on the recliner. He shifted


    around, looking at me and I could see the moment he realized that I was okay. How his massive


    shoulders seemed to fold in and he let out a long breath. “Kiddo.”


    “Scott.” I said, swallowing hard. There were so many things that I wanted to say to him but I didn’t know


    how I was going to say it. The rtionship with both of my parents had changed so much and it scared


    me.


    “I’m d you’re okay, Tillie.” He said, moving to stand. He winced, looking over towards the kitchen.


    “Your mom has been cooking… She made cobbler.”


    Oh no. Mom was a good cook, but baking wasn’t something that she could do. At best, her cakes and


    cobblers were mushy and overly sweet.


    “Is she upset?” I asked, worrying the inside of my cheek with my teeth.


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    “A bit, but she was more worried about you than anything.” He said and I nodded. Scott looked at


    Ryan, his lips pressing into a thin line as his brown eyes squinted slightly. “That one okay?”


    “Yes, he just needs some rest. I could force the shift but it would wake him.” Jason said and my


    stepdad nodded. “Lucky kid.”


    “Cobbler? That sounds amazing.” Travis said, shifting Ryan into his arms. He had taken him back from


    Jason after he had gotten dressed. “Ryan will be upset he missed out.”


    Scott and I shared a look and I winced. “Jewel isn’t much of a baker. She means well though, so


    pretend to like it.”


    “It smells good.” Gideon said. His voice was soft and Scott looked over at him. His head tilted to the


    side as he studied the wolf beside Jason.


    “You’re from Branson’s pack?”


    “He was,” Jason spoke up. “He’s ours now.”