the fear right out of his eyes. But he didn’t. Clearly there was something on Ryan’s mind, and Ash let him work it out. “Do you think we’ll be any good at it? I mean being fathers. I’ve never had one, so I have no clue what I’m doing.”
And the getting-to-know-you session had begun. “Where was your father?”
Ash dropped a pod into the dishwasher and closed it, waiting for Ryan to gather his thoughts. Depending on Ryan’s childhood, this might turn into a heavy topic. Ash was ready for it. He had broad, thick shoulders, and helping other people with their problems was what he did best.
“I grew up on the streets, fighting for everything I needed to survive. No one really told me what happened to my parents. I lived in an orphanage until I was twelve. Then I struck out on my own because being on the street was better than living with strangers who wouldn’t know kindness if it bit them on the ass.”
Ryan shoved his hands into his front pockets, as if embarrassed that he’d revealed so much. Ash had a feeling that Ryan didn’t let his softer side, his vulnerable side, out too often.
“So, yeah. I’m kinda worried I’m gonna suck at this father thing.” Ryan reached over and hit the button to start the dishwasher. “A nursery. That’s sounds pretty cool.” He wiped his hand under his nose and cleared his throat. “I wish we knew what color to decorate it with.”
Ash wasn’t going to press Ryan to divulge anything else. It wasn’t as though Ash poured all his emotions out. He bottled them up, too. “You got us now,” he said. “One crazy triad where the boss is shorter than both of us.”
Ryan chuckled. “He is a spitfire. I want to piss him off on purpose just to see him wind up and go.”
Ash leaned against the counter and pulled Ryan to him, enveloping him in his arms. “We’ll stumble through this. There’re three of us. How badly can we fuck this up?”
Ryan looked up at him, and Ash could tell his mate had something eating at his brain. “This baby is just as much yours as it is mine. I don’t ever want you to think you don’t fit into this.”
Ash sighed. “That was my insecurities guiding me to the club. I let them take over, which I shouldn’t have.”
When Ash looked toward the kitchen entryway, he saw Warren standing there, his arms crossed defensively over his stomach, as if he wasn’t sure he was allowed to join them.
“We have a little watcher,” Ash whispered.
Ryan turned and grinned. Ash could tell by the look in Ryan’s eyes that he cared deeply for Warren. The human was starting to grow on Ash too.
“Eavesdropping?” Ryan asked.
“No.” Warren quickly shook his head as his cheeks turn a pretty pink. “I was just wondering where you two were. I wasn’t trying to listen to your conversation. But…um…I did hear a bunch, and I’m sorry your life was so crappy, Ryan.”
Ash swatted Ryan on the ass. “Come on, we have some TV to watch and some talking to do. By the time we go to bed, I want to know all about both of you.”
He grabbed Ryan’s hand and led him toward Warren.
Ash stopped as his ears perked up. Ryan hissed, showing his fangs as Ash shifted into his wolf. Warren screamed as Ryan shoved their mate behind him.
The glass in the sliding door that led to the back porch shattered seconds before Macaw dipped his head and stepped inside.
* * * *
“Run!” Ryan shouted when he turned to Warren. There was no way he could take down this beast if he had to worry about Warren’s safety. It would take Ryan’s and Ash’s combined might, and that still might not be good enough.
Instead of turning and running, Warren was all fists and fury as he rocketed forward with a strange war cry echoing on his throat, all balls and no brawn, ready to take down the demon who’d invaded their home.
For a heartbeat Ryan couldn’t move, too stunned, his brain having a hard time processing what was going on. Even the wolf at Ryan’s side cocked his head.
Then Ryan bolted into action, using his inhuman speed to grab Warren around the waist and haul him off his feet, racing back just as Macaw swiped a beefy fist at the air where Warren’s head was seconds ago.
“Your little ragtag team is no match for me.” Macaw’s red