Chapter Seventy
Drake.
Waverly opened the passenger side of Drake’s pickup and crawled inside. She wore a knee-high summer dress and a pair of sandals. She had the teacher look down with her hair curled to her shoulders, and a sweet smile.
One of the kids from her class waved at her from the sidewalk of the car rider’s line. “Have a good weekend, Mrs. Waverly!” she shouted.
Waverly beamed at her. “You too, Sweeny! Read that book I gave you!”
She gave Waverly a thumbs-up as he backed out of the parking space. “Are you ready for a fun-filled weekend with the wolves?”
Waverly chuckled. “You know I love my weekends at the pack house. Your mother is in rare form there, and she totally fits in. I also love the time outside. Almost makes me wish I was mated to a wolf.”
Drake reached over and gripped her thigh making her laugh out loud. “Uncle! Uncle!” she shouted.
“That’s what I thought,” he said.
Waverly kicked off her shoes, and placed them in Drake’s lap, resting her head against the passenger side window.
“Those kids kick your butt today?” he asked, squeezing her foot in his hands.
She chuckled with her eyes closed. “That’s an everyday ordeal. I wish I had half of their energy.”
Drake smiled. “Roderick and Sarah are going to meet us down there.”
“Are they over their most current fight? What was it? Where to put that stupid picture of them in the house?”
He chuckled. “Who knows? I told them I didn’t want to hear it tonight. If they start, we’re kicking them out of the pack house.” He jabbed his finger over his shoulder. “I grabbed both of your bags so we don’t have to go home first. Do you need anything else before we get on the highway?”
“A pillow?” she asked.
Drake reached behind his seat and pulled one out. “You know I wouldn’t forget that. My girl likes her sleep.”
She pointed at him playfully. “You know me well.”
He drove the drive toward the pack house which was a few hours away. He’d been down often since his mother was inducted as part of the pack.
Being the only vampire, Drake figured she would struggle to fit in, but that wasn’t in his mother’s nature. She would fit in one way or another.
It reminded him of when she met Waverly’s parents. They’d been reluctant to trust Drake after her disappearance. She played it off as a couple of weeks away from reality, where she met him.
Drake could sense her father didn’t believe a word that she said, but didn’t question her. It took him so long to open up that Drake thought about compelling him on occasion.
They’d slowly welcomed him into their family. Now they spent weekends together, had family get-togethers and always asked if Barbie could join.
His mother brought people together.
Drake turned down the long gravel driveway that led toward the pack house. Magnolia trees hung along each side and added a southern feel to the place.
Waverly stirred when he shut off the engine. She rubbed her eyes and craned her neck. “We’re here already?”
“We’re here. I can hear some of the pups coming to join us. Better prepare yourself.”
He opened the door and several pups from the pack house swarmed him. It was nice to be around the kids, and not have a mother wolf watching their every move. The way the fight at the camp, and his mother mating with a wolf, brought them together still shocked him.
“Drake! Drake! I bet I can beat you in a race!” one yelled.
“No! No! I’m going first.”
Drake chuckled. “How about I meet with your parents first and then I’ll show you who is the fastest.”
They all raced toward the porch of the pack house, ushering both of them inside to see Barbie and Alistair. Several of the wolves greeted them and ushered them toward the backyard.
His mother stood in a group of shewolves while the men played football in the back. Drake loved the smile on her face. It’d been so long since he’d seen it.
“Drake!” she yelled when she noticed him.
She rushed over with a bubbly smile and a dress from the 1950s. “I’m so happy you made it, oh, Waverly, you too, Honey!”
She pinched her cheeks and kissed her forehead. “Where are Roderick and Sarah?”
“On their way,” Drake said. “You know we didn’t want to ride with their bickering.”
Barbie rolled her eyes. “I thought they would grow out of that, but apparently not.”
Reid yelled at Drake from the yard. “Come play with us.”
“I don’t have long,” he laughed. “I’m being called out by the pups. They think they’re faster than me. And you know it’s not in my nature to let them win.”
Alistair laughed. “We don’t do that around here. You lose, you lose.”
Drake laughed and joined the men in the yard. Half of them had their shirts off and were flexing for the she-wolves huddled together on the opposite end of the field.
“Where is your brother?” Reid asked, tossing the ball above his head and catching it.
“On his way.”
“Still with Sarah?” he asked with a smile.
“Yeah, they tolerate each other most days. I didn’t want to make that drive with them. Waverly is my peace, and they just rain all over that.”
Alistair chuckled. “Not every perfect match is peaceful. Some of them are wild and test each other. But, I’m glad that isn’t your mother.”
“She’s still seeming to enjoy it here. I’m glad she had somewhere to go, and I’m proud that you care about her more than my father ever did.”
Alistair nodded and turned his attention elsewhere. He wasn’t a man of many words, but the ones he said always counted.
Drake fell into playing football with the wolves, showing off when he knew Waverly was looking, and slacking because he didn’t care who won.
He felt like he’d won enough for a lifetime with his family happy, and Waverly hanging around with him.
He knew when Roderick and Sarah showed up because he could hear them a mile away. Some of the pups lured Roderick into racing them, while Sarah found her way to Waverly.
They’d moved into Roderick’s house after several months of arguing about it. Sarah seemed happy to be with him, a fresh wound on her neck, and a smile that he knew his brother put there.
Barbie yelled that dinner was ready around 7. Drake knew she missed cooking for people, so he was glad she found a family to cook for.
None of the wolves missed a beat. They all lined up and filed into the dining room for their plates. Waverly gave Drake a finger wave before following in line.
He paused on the backstep, looking out at the field and the privacy made him want a place like this. They’d sold their father’s house a year before and bought a property close to Waverly’s job.
Drake was taking classes to finish his degree, and hopefully, they’d find a forever home in the next few years. Something like this.
“Daydreaming?”
Drake looked over at Beau leaning against the railing of the back porch. “I didn’t realize you were coming?” he said.
Beau smiled. “Me either. Barbie is very persuasive.”
“Tell me about it,” Drake said, shaking his hand. “It’s glad to see you here.”
“Yeah, you too.”
Drake and Beau joined everyone in the dining room. He slid into a seat beside Waverly and looked at the warmed blood in his glass.
It didn’t smell as good as Waverly, but he’d take it.
His mother stood up suddenly and raised her glass. “I’m so glad everyone made it this weekend. I’m happy to have two very different kinds of people in this room. I love the alliance. The love. I’m glad I found a place after I thought my life was ruined. I’m glad for Alistair. For the pack accepting me the way I am. For my babies and their mates. For all of you. I love you all very much.”
Roderick yelled loudly and began to clap.
His mother tipped her head slightly at them and sat down.
Drake took a drink from his glass and leaned in to kiss Waverly. She caught his face between her palms. “I’m glad for you.”
He chuckled and kissed her softly. “Yeah?”
“Oh yeah,” she said.
“Prove it,” he whispered.
She lifted both brows. “On the table, right now?”
He laughed and shook his head. “Marry me. The old-fashioned way. No bites, no fangs, just popping bottles of champagne.”
“Don’t quit your day job for rapping,” she laughed. “Seriously though?” she whispered.
“Seriously,” he said.
“Let’s do it,” she said. “I’m down for forever.”
“Good,” he said. “That’s how long I have.”