Wolf's Call (Wolves Next Door #2) - Auryn Hadley Page 0,133

the time, smiling stupidly when she's around, and overthinking how to even talk to her isn't what you did back then? I was there."

"Like you're any better," I shot back.

"I hide it better," he pointed out, but the grin made it clear he was right there with me. "So, I say we crush on her like teen boys. Let's go over the top." He tilted his head at Seth. "All three of us, Pax. Flowers, lunch dates, and stolen kisses. Besides, I'm pretty sure she won't say no to adding another dick to her fun."

"She is into it," I agreed.

"Wait." Seth looked from Trent to me and then back. "You're basically talking about replacing Karen with Elena, and this isn't - "

"No," I insisted, stopping him before he could go there. "I'm not just talking about sex. Shit, how long did we go without it? Yeah, and I like her more because of it. Because I actually know her now. Karen? I just talked to her to get some. All I'm saying is that if all three of us get her flowers, all three of us make sure she has company at lunch, and things like that, then there's also nothing wrong with all three of us falling into her bed at the same time."

"One wolf and one man," Seth countered.

"Yeah..." Trent muttered. "About that. Pretty sure we just convinced her to change her mind."

I straightened, realizing something. "Shit, guys. Gabby! That's been a big deal to her, right? She's muddling through figuring out how to be a single mom of a teen daughter. Now her kid's a wolf too. Elena set that rule because she didn't want to do anything inappropriate in front of her kid, and we need to fucking respect that."

"Ok?" Seth said. "Pretty sure we're all trying."

"But Gabby knows," I continued. "Pretty sure everyone has told her about alphas and their betas - including what happens sexually. Since she's an alpha, it's something she needs to know, but it also applies to us. To this entire relationship. And just because there are more of us wanting to share Elena's time, doesn't mean it's always about sex. All we need to do is make it clear to Elena that Gabby understands that, and prove to our mate that her daughter doesn't think that every time we're around is simply to fuck."

"Shit," Trent breathed. "When she asked us to convince her dad to sign away his rights? Yeah, she said something about us being her dads. Plural. All of us." He looked up at me. "That's how we handle this. If we're going to invade her life and spend most of our time over there, then we need to figure out how to be stepfathers to a teenage wolf shifter."

"We're not the best role models," I countered.

"We can be," Seth insisted. "We're the betas of the largest pack in North America right now. We don't have to be traditional father figures. We just have to give a shit, Pax. We just have to put in the effort."

"The right effort," I countered.

"No," he said. "There is no right in this situation. Elena wants to know we care about more than our dicks. We do. So, even if we look like idiots trying to figure out how to be stepdads or wolf teachers, or whatever else we do, so long as we're honestly trying - and listening to her - I think we're fine."

"She just needs to know we care," Trent realized. "That we're all in. But are you?"

"I am," I admitted.

"Me too," Trent assured me.

"So am I," Seth said. "And I'll even wait to drop those words until you two - "

"Oh, no," I said, cutting him off. "Nope. If you're thinking them, then you have to say them. That's the rules, Seth."

"Fuck off," he grumbled.

"Have to," Trent said, siding with me so easily, even if I was full of shit.

Seth's face was getting redder. "And when she doesn't feel the same?"

"Then you keep trying," Trent decided. "Just like we will. And, who knows, maybe the three of us will even figure out how to impress a real woman."

"Fucking hope so," Seth mumbled even as he turned away to head to his room. Then he called back, "You have a woman alone in your bed. Stop acting like chicks and go cuddle or something."

I just caught Trent's eye and nodded slowly. "I'm definitely doing this."

"Together," Trent said, offering his fist.

I tapped mine against it, then reached for the door.