Wolf's Pack (Wolves Next Door #3) - Auryn Hadley Page 0,88

"Yep, this is going to be a long talk. Go tell your Mom that you're ok." And then I raised my voice to the guys. "Lane, can you text Dad and reschedule for me? Guys, we have a new little alpha who needs some advice. I think it's time for a family chat."

Gabby turned back to me with a smile. "Family, huh?"

"Sorry, kid, I'm keeping you," I told her. "Living room, everyone. And yeah, I need a coffee."

Trent turned Elena toward the house, and I could see him leaned close to her ear. Most likely, he was filling her in on all of the important things. Gabby hugged her mom on the other side, promising that she was fine. Might have a bruise on her butt, but only because she'd landed on it. Seth and Pax followed, but Lane caught me at the back door just before I could go inside.

"Is it settled?" he asked.

I nodded. "I have a feeling Xander's going to sulk for about a week, then he'll come crawling back to Olivia. She's made it clear that she's already bound to Gabby - and I don't doubt at all that she is. I figure that in about a month, Xander will truly submit to her and be dragged back into the group."

"He and Roman would be strong betas for her," Lane pointed out. "Not necessarily easy ones, though. And the relationships? That's going to get complicated."

Which was the one thing I was worried about. "Poly?" I suggested.

Lane shrugged. "How do you think Olivia would feel if Gabby made a move on Xander?"

"Or Gabby if Olivia tried with Roman." Fuck, but that was going to get ugly. "Ok, so this is something we need to bring up with her, but how? And with her mom in the room?"

"Let Elena take lead," he suggested. "If Gabby looks like she's embarrassed, I'll ask Elena to step away with me. I mean, we all know I'm not an expert on love triangles. Not with this fate thing in my head."

I nodded. "Ok. I also don't want Elena to be upset about us openly talking to her daughter about this stuff. Sex will come up, Lane."

"Elena's a realist about it," he promised. "She also wants Gabby to not treat her sexuality like it's related to her self value. I'll buffer the mom, but I think this is one of those things that has to be done. If she's truly going to do this - "

"She asked about betas," I whispered. "She meant Nik. Lane, she's already got one human, maybe two. If she takes the tiger as well?"

"And possibly a fox," Lane realized. "Ian, she's bridging the species. She doesn't care what they are. She cares how they work with her, and that girl has a little too much charm for her own good."

"Yeah, she does," I agreed, "but she's going to need it if Wolf's Run becomes a multi-shifter sanctuary. That she's a convert?"

"Means she's not biased to thinking that our way is the only one," he finished, nodding to show he agreed. "Let's make sure we don't screw that up."

"Glad we're on the same page." And I opened the door, gesturing for Lane to go first.

The pair of us made it to the living room just as Seth passed Gabby a very pale coffee. I nodded at him when he lifted his chin at me, silently asking if I was ready for one. Then I claimed one of the chairs. Gabby took the corner of the couch, Elena was in the middle, and Lane moved to the cushion on her other side. Pax took the other chair, leaving Trent and Seth as the delivery boys this time.

"Thank you," I told Trent when he bought my coffee over. "So," I said, looking at Gabby, "you realize this was an important thing, right?"

"Means I'm the dominant alpha of my generation, right?" she asked.

I nodded proudly, glad she'd paid attention to us. "Exactly. Since I also want to claim you as my heir - as I have no intention of having kids of my own - it has even more weight. If Ashley ever has kids, they will most likely inherit the business. That means Wolf's Run as a community. But, I currently am a part owner, and you will inherit that half. That means the houses can never be separated from the pack, but you will always have to work with the other partner. It prevents any one of us from becoming