His Apprehensive Mate - Brea Alepou Page 0,36
can become a race car driver even if it doesn’t contribute to the pack?”
Kenny placed a hand on Ava’s head. “You’re a part of this pride now, and if you solve this problem you will be closer to your goal. If your dream is to become a race car driver, we will help you along the way.”
Ava seemed pleased with that answer, and she started following Kenny’s instructions. Morgan watched them a few more minutes, enjoying it too much to miss out on it. Kenny turned and blew him a kiss before focusing back on the dreaded math.
Looked as if he was caught.
Morgan pushed away from the wall and turned toward the living room instead. Kash sat on the couch with a bowl of carrots sitting on top of his belly.
“Is it a snack bar now?” Logan asked, coming up right behind Morgan.
Morgan jumped, taken by surprise, but Logan seemed unfazed as he made his way into the living room and plopped down next to Kash.
“Might as well be. This way I don’t have to stretch to get my snacks,” Kash said.
Morgan took a seat on the couch. No one spoke for a long second, and Morgan felt it before it happened. Kash cleared his throat. Morgan twisted nervously.
“Congratulations,” Kash said.
Morgan couldn’t contain the smile. Even if his cheeks ached a little, it still felt good. “Thank you.”
Logan slouched on the couch. “Maybe I’ll go on a few dates instead of one-night stands.”
“Maybe you will meet your true mate,” Morgan offered.
Logan went stone still, and his jaw ticked with the strain with which he clenched it. Kash sat up, and Morgan looked to him, trying to think what he could have possibly said wrong. A tense beat of silence went by.
Logan looked as if he forcibly relaxed against the couch. “It’s not in everyone’s cards to have a fated mate.”
Morgan thought that was sad, but he kept his mouth shut. It didn’t look as if it was a subject Logan wanted to delve into any deeper. Morgan scrambled for a subject change. One came to mind, and although the answer should be clear as day, Morgan was still nervous to bring it up.
“Um, Kash?”
Kash lifted a perfectly arched eyebrow at him. Morgan sat up. “I’d like to firmly join the pride. If it’s okay,” Morgan rushed to add.
Kash grinned at him. “Of course it is, although we already think of you as pride.”
Morgan let out a sigh of relief, but it was cut short when he remembered it wasn’t just him. “Ava is fourteen now, and most shifters pledge the moment they shift, but um, would it be possible for Ava to join too?”
Kash’s grin never faltered. “I don’t see why not, but how about we ask Ava just in case. If she’d rather wait till she is a shifter, then that’s fine too. She’s family after all.”
Kash tried sitting up from his slouched position. It took some wiggling around, but he got up, breathing heavy, the bowl with the remaining carrots in his hand.
“Let me go get Dezi—”
“I’ll get him. It will take you all day at this rate,” Logan said, grumbling as he stood up. He stopped by Morgan and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Glad you’re a part of the family.”
Kash took in a deep breath. “Did you see the adorableness in the kitchen?”
Morgan nodded even though his cheeks were burning.
“Kenny’s a good teacher, and good thing Ava is taking to him so well.”
“Yeah, I can’t believe she’s wants to go to school.”
Kash nodded. “She brought it up a few days ago, and Kenny told her if she wanted to go, she had to catch up on some of the academics first.”
“But once she starts shifting, won’t it be an issue?” Morgan asked.
“It can be, but after the first month or so she should be fine to return. If she’s a part of the pride, she can pull from our strength to control those urges,” Dezi said as he made his way in from the kitchen.
Morgan felt a little nervous, but he stood tall as Kenny and Ava walked into the living room.
“What’s going on?” Ava asked.
Morgan smiled at his niece. She deserved a home that would love her and wanted the best for her regardless of her status as a shifter.
“I am officially joining the Bliss Pride,” Morgan answered.
The smile on Kenny’s face was well worth it even if it was for himself.
“Oh.” Ava looked down at her hands.
“There’s no rush for you to join,