Page 70 of Tempest

Cash looked up at him, and within a few moments, he was back in his human skin, pulling Ore into his arms and burying his face in his neck.

"Whoa," Savannah said. "I totally get it now."

Chapter 20

Ore

“Martha left some food in the fridge, but if you need anything you can go into town and get it or shoot me or Cash a text and we’ll take care of it.”

"Are you sure this Martha doesn't mind us using her house for a while?" his dad asked, eyes locked on where his mate sat on the couch, holding his daughters the same way she'd been doing pretty much since Ore and Cash had gotten back the night before.

"I'm sure," Ore said, shooting his dad a patient smile even though he was exhausted and wanted nothing more than to go pick up his mate from Jorge's and go back home. "She and Pops, that's Cash's grandfather, they're going to be staying at Alpha Amato's house until some new housing can be situated."

His dad finally dragged his eyes off the girls and looked at Ore, eyebrows furrowed. "Why aren't they staying with you and Cash?"

Ore ducked his head to hide his blush. They'd offered as soon. As he'd left his parents with the girls late last night, he had returned to the cabin to find Pops and Martha waiting with Cash. They very firmly informed him that his family was goingto stay in her house and that she and Pops would stay with Alpha Amato, that a family needed space, especially one who had been through as much as they had. They needed time to heal together. Cash had immediately insisted that Pops moved back and Martha come with him, but Pops had dumped his cane on the floor and laughed.

"Move in with two newly-mated shifters? There aren't thick enough earplugs in the world, son."

Ore had thought his skin would catch fire he was so embarrassed. But Cash had just shaken his head, not bothered at all.

"Um, they just said that it would be nice to give Alpha Amato some company," he lied quickly.

His dad raised a brow at him but didn't argue. "Where are the others staying?" he asked, looking around the quaint little kitchen. It wasn't big, but it was neat and cheery.

"Only a few came back," he admitted. "But Marcus and the others will help relocate anyone else who doesn't want to stay there while they get a new alpha set up. The ones who did come, one of them is staying at the Alpha house too and a few others are bunking with Silver Oak folks who volunteered to share their space."

His dad looked back at him quickly. "People offered up their own homes to share?"

Ore nodded, a little sad at the fact that his father found that so hard to believe. "They did. In fact, more people offered than was needed."

He didn't share that over a dozen people were choosing to leave, packing up their houses as they spoke, determined not to stay in a pack that was diversifying their ranks. Once they were gone and the places were checked to see if anything needed to be fixed or updated, the others would be able to start moving in.

"Well, that was nice of them," his dad offered.

He touched Ore's arm and led him out of the kitchen and away from the living room. He closed the door to the laundry room and lowered his voice.

"Has Holly said anything to you?"

His gut clenched. "Not really. I wasn't sure if I should ask her what had happened. So I decided that I would let her tell us when she was ready."

His dad nodded. "I could kill that Gladstone," he muttered, his scent thickening with anger.

Ore hesitated and then said, "Cash already took care of that."

His dad looked up at him in surprise once again. "He did?"

"Yes," Ore confirmed. "You don't have to worry about Gladstone anymore and the rest of the enforcers were removed and will be taken back to Michigan with the Kincaid pack members."

His dad nodded slowly, absorbing that information. "Good. I'm glad they were able to help."

"Me too," Ore said, gripping his dad's arms briefly and then grabbing the door handle. "I'm going to take off. But let me know if you guys need anything. Seriously, and if you don't want to ask me, you can ask one of the enforcers or betas here. They want to help," he assured him.

"All right, son."

Ore gave him one last smile and then headed out of the house, calling a soft goodbye to his mom and sisters. But only Hannah chirped back, "Bye, Ore," the others still lost in their grief and pain.

He pulled Cash's keys out of his pocket and headed for the truck. His mate had asked him to drop him off at his friend Jorge's house so he could get one of his tattoos powered up again. Ore could barely reach the pedals, which Cash had found hilarious and promised to get him his own car that he could drive more comfortably. It would probably be a good idea,though he liked the idea of them sharing one, of them sharing everything. It probably wouldn't be practical in the long-term though. He glanced at the storefront that still sat empty and for sale when he paused at the stop sign. He'd wait until things settled a bit and then share his idea with Cash and see what he thought. He couldn't imagine his mate would have a problem with it. He pulled up outside of Jorge's house, jumped down out of the truck and ambled up the walkway. He didn't bother knocking. He knew the two of them were just inside in the little tattoo studio Jorge had set up for when he wanted to work on off-the-books projects like Cash's tattoos.

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