Chapter 32

Blair waited until Robbie got down into the chair and shifted around a few times to find a position to sit in with the least amount of pain. He should have thought about asking him to sit in the large wooden deck chairs. “If it would be easier we could go sit in the house.” He hadn’t sat on the new furniture in the living room yet, but it looked comfortable.

Robbie shook his head, “no this is fine, now that I’m down.” He leaned to the side, resting an elbow on the chair for more support. “I honestly never knew how many parts of the body were affected when the muscles on your side are injured.” He gave Blair a quick look. “I wanted to be out of earshot to talk.”

Blair offered one of the beers, then hesitated, “are you allowed to drink? I don’t know if you’re on any medication.”

Robbie held out his hand. “As long as we don’t tell that dark-haired one, I think I’ll be fine.”

Blair grinned, “Shaelan knows her stuff.” He leaned over and handed him the bottle, then opened his own. “She’s been trained to be the healer for her clan.”

“Jags?” Robbie asked.

Nodding, Blair glanced around, there was no one nearby. “Yeah, she’s Calum’s mate. He works for the Alliance a lot.”

“Cortney told me about the trip here.” He took a small drink, nodded, and took another one. “I appreciate all you did to get them here.”

“It was a little more hectic than I’d have preferred…”

“Thank you. For getting my daughter back.” He gave him a serious look.

Blair only nodded to that, having no idea what an appropriate reply would be.

“She thinks your superman by the way.”

Blair grinned, “she’s energetic.” Her father smirked at his description. “But a pretty great kid.”

“She is.” He looked at the bottle for a moment. “I wasn’t sure if I was going to get back to her.”

“I’m glad you did.” Blair motioned in a circle with his bottle, “when you’re rested and feel up to it, I’d like more details.”

Robbie took another drink. “Yeah, I figured you might.” He glanced at the house, “Jay filled in a lot of blanks for me.” He cleared his throat, “you’re going after them? Well, not just our clan members but all?”

Blair inhaled a deep breath and blew out slowly. “I am. Kobie, Calum as well and one of the guys from Ed’s too, he was actually one of their captives for fifteen years.”

“Shit,” Robbie whispered. “You’ve got balls, kid.”

“I don’t know about that.” Blair sat forward, “how much did Jay share?”

Robbie gave him his full attention. “The trip, how he got back, all the things that have happened along the way.” He looked over at the house, “that you’re going to be our new Alpha as soon as Kobie stops avoiding it.”

Blair bobbed his head a few times. “I wasn’t raised with my blood clan,” He swirled the bottle and watched the liquid against the tinted glass. “I came to Ed and Beth when I was two.” He took a quick drink, “my father was overthrown, killed and well, long story, short, by my older brother,” he sought the other man’s gaze, “whom I’ve never met or even knew existed until recently,” he’d needed to clarify that first, “was part of the crew that ambushed you guys.” Blair watched his face as it registered, “so it’s not that I’ve got balls for this, it’s more of feeling obligated to right a wrong that’s been going on far too long.”

Robbie was silent for several moments before he looked at him again. He looked at the bottle in his hand and then took a drink. “I may have drunk the same Kool-Aid the girls have.”

Blair wasn’t sure what he was talking about.

Robbie smiled, “I see why they’re all on team Blair. Between what everyone has told me and what you’ve shared, I agree with Jay.” He tipped the bottle toward him, “I couldn’t understand why Jay was willing to hand over his right to you, but with you and Kobie at the head of our clan, I think we’ll heal and prosper.”

Blair ran about six things through his head, looking for the right one before he spoke. “You backing me up means a lot to me.” He took a deep breath and then turned when he sensed someone coming toward them. Kobie was walking toward him slowly. He looked back at Robbie. “Stay here for a moment, please. I’ll be right back.” He got up and jogged to meet her halfway.

She searched his face. “Everything okay?”

Blair dropped a kiss on her mouth quickly. “Yes.” He straightened and then looked down at her. “What would you say to Robbie and Cortney being the second family?” He frowned, “I don’t know what the other family was like, but…”

“I think that’s a perfect idea.” She smiled up at him.

He felt relief with her approval. He smiled. “Great. Can you grab Cortney and Cale if he’s still in there, I’d like a quick discussion with them.”

“What about Daisie?” She looked at the house, “she’s had her nose pressed up against the window the whole time her superman and father have been talking.”

Blair snorted softly and looked at the house, sure enough, there was Daisie looking out the window. He pointed to her and motioned for her to come here. Her eyes widened, and then she vanished from his sight.

“I’ll be right back,” Kobie said softly, then rubbed her hand on his chest.

Daisie got to him before he got back to his chair. “Am I in trouble? I wasn’t spying, I just wanted to see when you were done talking because mom said the men needed to talk.”

Blair sat down and grinned. “You are not in trouble.”

“Okay.” She turned to her father, “Blair is going to take me to Bruce’s for my lessons some time. They have animals there, but no dogs because they’d be scared.” She nodded, “but there are other kids, so it will be like I’m in school, but I’m not…”

Robbie watched every word she said, but he looked exhausted.

“Daisie.”

She looked at Blair. “Your dad just had a long trip, and he’s tired, maybe tell him the rest tomorrow.”

Daisie nodded and then went over and kissed her dad’s cheek and hugged him carefully. Robbie closed his eyes and leaned his head against hers.

“Should you be drinking?”

Blair turned to see Kobie and Cortney standing there with Cale.

“One beer won’t hurt,” Robbie said, giving Blair a quick side glance.

Kobie came over and sat on the arm of the chair, resting her hand on his shoulder.

Cale gave Blair a questioning look.

“Have you met Cale?” Blair asked Robbie.

He nodded, “briefly, yes.”

“I’ve asked him to transfer to this clan, and he’s agreed.” He smirked, “I’m still waiting on the how that works part, but we need the help.” He added.

Robbie closed his eyes briefly. “Yes, we do.” He looked at Cale. “Welcome.”

Cale inclined his head to him.

“I,” Blair looked at Kobie, “we wanted to talk to all of you together before the dinner mayhem begins…”

“We’re having spaghetti.” Daisie blurted out. “I like spaghetti.”

Cortney sat down by her mate’s feet and tugged on her daughter’s hand, so she’d sit too. “Let Blair finish.” She said with quiet patience.

Daisie sat down and then stared at Blair.

“I want Cale to have an active role in the clan,” he motioned to Robbie, “most especially while you’re healing.”

Robbie looked to agree with that.

“Once you are back to full strength, we,” he glanced at Kobie again to receive a soft look for including her, “would like you to be the second family of the clan.”

Robbie looked surprised, he glanced down at his wife, who looked equally shocked.

“You don’t have to answer right this second,” Kobie said, “but please think about it.”

“We will.” Robbie glanced at him and then back to Cortney.

“We’re honored.” Cortney said slowly, “surprised, but honored.”

“I want things to be different for the clan.” Blair said slowly, “nothing crazy, but little things,” he put his hand on Kobie’s knee, “like including the women more.” He looked over at Robbie, “they went through hell and didn’t complain once. They did the clan proudly.”

Robbie touched the top of Cortney’s head. “I’m sure they were a force to be reckoned with.”

Blair grinned, “and then some.” He looked at Cale. “Do you agree with all this?”

Cale nodded and then smiled, “I’m all for good changes.”

Robbie looked at Cortney again, she nodded even though they hadn’t spoken a word. “I don’t believe a lot of thought will be required, we accept your offer and will strive to not make you regret it.”

Blair raised his near-empty bottle to him and then took the last drink.

“Does that make me a princess?” Daisie asked.

Everyone grinned.

“Close.” Blair winked at her.

“Can I tell everyone?” She looked excited.

Kobie nodded, “yes, go.”

Daisie shrieked and jumped up and ran into the house.

“Think she’ll know what she’s even saying?” Cortney asked.

“Probably not,” Robbie answered.

“Before she comes racing back, I have one other thing,” he waited until Robbie was looking at him, “about Niles—”

Robbie downed the rest of his beer and then nodded slowly. “Damar should have put him in his place years ago.”

“This has been ongoing?” Blair frowned.

“Five, six years.” Robbie motioned to the house. “He challenged everything the Alpha said.”

Blair sat there looking at the ground for a moment, then glanced up at Kobie. “He’s welcome to stay, but he’s going to have to drop the attitude.” He scowled and looked at Robbie, “he didn’t even speak to Nichelle.”

“She had her first shift,” Cortney told him.

His eyebrows went up. “She’s always been beyond her years in every other way.”

“She jumped in the river,” Kobie said with a smirk.

“Oh,” Robbie shook his head, “actually that isn’t surprising now that I think about it.”

“She was fantastic,” Blair said as he thought about it. “Fast.”

Robbie looked at Kobie, “Kobie fast?”

“Close,” Kobie admitted.

“Damn. Good for her.” He sobered, and gave Blair a questioning look, “If Niles can’t comply, is she still clan?”

“Absolutely.” Blair didn’t need to think about it. “She’s clan. Always.” He nodded.

“All right.” Robbie took a deep breath and then exhaled. “Piece of advice?”

Blair met his look.

“Deal with Niles now, don’t let him have time to come up with more bullshit.”

Blair looked to Cale, who shrugged, and then to Kobie, she gave him a patient look, letting him know this was his call. He nodded slowly, “Okay, I’ll talk to Shae and see if he’s stable enough from the trip.”

“I’ve got your back, chief,” Cale said, standing straighter.

“I’ll go see where dinner stands.” Cortney got up. She leaned over and looked into her mate’s eyes for a moment and then kissed him softly. “No more drinking.” She whispered.

Robbie smirked and watched her walk away. When she went in the house, he turned to Blair, “give me a hand up, there’s no way I can get out of this chair without pulling a stitch.”

Blair got to his feet quickly, “you should have said something.”

“Not in front of my mate. I would have sat here all night if needed.” His chuckle was short-lived as he grimaced when Blair pulled him up to his feet.

Blair motioned to the house. “Go rest. We’ll be in shortly.”

“I’ll go talk to Shae?” Kobie asked him.

“Yeah,” he started to nod, “wait,” reaching over, he pulled her closer and kissed her. “Okay, now go.”

Kobie smiled up at him. “We still going for a run tonight?”

“Absolutely.”

When she went into the house, he turned to Cale. “And if Niles doesn’t comply,” he made quote marks in the air, “what then? I send a broken man where?”

Cale lifted his hands up, “not my job.”

Blair rubbed a hand on his hair, “think there’s a dummy guide to this Alpha thing?”

Cale laughed, “probably not.”

Blair sighed and shook his head. “Okay, I’m going to check with,” he motioned to the small building they’d set up for security, “I don’t know his name and then I’ll be in.” He turned and walked toward the building. “One step forward.” They had a second family, “maybe two.” Robbie had accepted him. He scowled, “three back.” Talking to Niles was going to suck no matter what he said, he just knew it.