Page 17 of Tempest

“In the meantime, while you’re here, you’re our guest,” Liam continued, rising from his chair and coming around his desk to lean against the edge in front of where Ore was standing. He smiled good-naturedly. “People will treat you with kindness, but they’re not used to strangers. You may run into some wariness. After everything that’s happened the last year, there are a lot of members of the pack who aren’t comfortable with new people.”

Ore raised his brows, then glanced at the others. When no one said anything, he asked, “What’s happened in the last year to scare them so much?”

“Oh man,” someone—Saint, he was pretty sure—muttered behind him.

Apprehension started trickling down his spine, and he looked to Cash. The Enforcer’s jaw was tight as he glanced at his alpha.

Ore turned back to Amato. “I’m sorry. Should I not have asked?”

“No, it’s okay,” he said, sighing and threading his fingers through his hair. “I should have realized you wouldn’t know what had happened.”

Goddess, they were really starting to make him nervous. Had there been a damn apocalypse that he’d forgotten about?

“About a year ago, a pack up in Michigan decided to change the parahuman world.”

“And it’s been a fucking mess ever since,” Saint added cheerfully.

Well, okay then.

Chapter 6

Cash

Cash scowled, but his Pops just chuckled and kept packing.

“This isn’t necessary. I can keep sleeping on the cot.”

Pops shook his head, adding another pair of underwear to his bag. “Don’t be ridiculous. We don’t know how long this young man will be staying with us. You should be able to relax in a real bed.”

He couldn’t exactly argue with that since they had no idea when Ore’s memories would return enough for him to remember where he came from or what happened to him, but it didn’t sit right with him, putting his grandfather out of his own house.

“Still,” Cash grumbled, “we can make it work. You don’t have to leave.”

Pops finally stopped and turned to face him. Cash studied his wrinkled face, loving every single laugh line next to his eyes. This man had raised him like his own son when he’d needed him the most, taking him into his home and doting on him. Showing him what unconditional love really meant.

And now, he was kicking him out of his own damn house.

It wasn’t right.

Pops’s face softened. He shuffled forward and clasped the sides of Cash’s face. He had been nearly as tall as Cash in his prime, but his shoulders were beginning to stoop, and he had to look up to meet Cash’s eyes now. But when he touched his face like that, just like he had when he was a frightened and angry cub, it made him feel eight years old again. But in the best possible way.

He had never gone unloved in this house with his nan and Pops. They had taken care of him in a way his parents never had. He would literally do anything for his Pops.

“Don’t look so upset. It won’t be forever.” Pops patted his cheeks lightly. “Besides, I wouldn’t mind some extended alone time with Martha.”

Cash grimaced and looked away. He knew that his grandfather still missed his mate, but it had been years since she’d passed, and he had grown lonely. Still, it was difficult for Cash to think about his grandfather and hisspecial friendlike that.

“And she’s okay with you staying indefinitely?” he forced himself to ask.

“Oh, yes.” Pops chuckled, releasing his face and turning back to his suitcase. “She was rather excited, I’d say. Told me she would get dinner going and expected me at 6:00 p.m. sharp if I expected to eat with her.”

There was such fondness in Pops’s voice when he spoke about Martha. He was glad that she brought happiness toward the end of his grandfather’s life. He deserved it more than anyone Cash knew.

Once Pops had everything packed that he thought he would need, they took everything out to his sedan and loaded it in the trunk. “If you think of anything else,” Cash said, closing the lid, “just let me know, and I can bring it to you.”

“Or I can come and get it,” Pops said with a wry grin. “I’m not going to be held hostage. It’s not like we won’t see each other at all.”

Maybe. Cash wasn’t sure how much he’d be getting into town while Ore was under his supervision, but he decided not to point that out. He did glance back at the house though, the upstairs windows glowing against the backdrop of the dark sky. Ore had been horrified at the idea of Pops leaving and tried to offer to sleep on the cot or couch too. When Pops just kept refusing, Ore had retreated upstairs, scent full of guilt.

---