Page 39 of Pack Coffey

The movement pulls the neck of my sweater down, exposing Henry's mark. I don't realize it's happened until her eyes drop to my neck and her mouth drops open. I pull the edge back over it as she stares daggers through Lawrence, knowing good and damn well that he's a beta. I know she can scent it.

"Who did you let do that to you, Darcy Levine?" she growls quietly, looking around to make sure she isn't overheard.

"That's barely proper table talk," I say, smarting off her own words back to her.

"Tell me who did that to you," she barks, command in her tone.

I have no choice but to comply, as much as I fight it. I choke down a whine, and Lawrence grabs my thigh with his other hand under the table.

Just as I open my mouth to speak, I'm given another command that will always override hers now. "Don't answer that, love."

Glancing over my shoulder, I see the most glorious sight of Henry making his way over to our table with Saint right on his heels. Looking back at my parents, it's almost comical to see them both sitting like deer in headlights as they stare at my packmates.

Henry takes the seat next to me, but not before he drops a quick kiss on my lips. He turns his attention to the people across the table who have become strangers to me over the years. "I'm Henry. I bonded your daughter and am the one that put that mark there."

My dad isn't looking at Henry or listening to him either I don't think. His wide eyes are watching Saint as he claims the seat next to Lawrence. I know for a fact that he purposely turnsto the side, letting his detective badge flash at him.

"This is improper," she hisses at me and Henry both.

Saint holds out a hand to my dad. "Saint Coffey. Pack Coffey."

Dad takes it without a word, forgetting to give him his name. Lawrence offers it for him. "Alex and Rachel Levine. Darci's parents."

Saint nods. "I've heard great things about you folks."

If my mom's death stare could kill, we'd all be dead. "As the leader of your little pack, you should know better. There are rules. I'm sure your department would be more than happy to hear about this."

"They would, actually," he says. "I haven't had a chance to tell them yet. Thanks for the idea."

As if there wasn't already enough going on, in roll the wild boys. Banks and Keaton are joking loudly, drawing attention to where they're walking over to us. Unfortunately, we're out of seats. Both of them grab ones from other tables and scoot them over crowding ours even more. Banks lets the legs of his drag slowly across the floor, making a screeching noise that draws the rest of the restaurant's attention.

If my mom's eyes got any wider, they might actually pop out of her head.

"Banks and Keaton," Saint supplies, pointing to them in turn. "Also, part of our pack. Guys this is Darci's parents."

My eyes cut to Banks. He's the only one I'm worried about getting out of hand. His smile grows slowly.

"This is unacceptable," Mom hisses again. "You think that having this pack is going to keep you safe, Darci? They can't even follow the rules to properly court you."

"How do you know that they haven't?" I ask. And because she's attacking my pack, I dig the knife deep where I know it'll hurt. "You're too busy ignoring your son to know what's goingon."

Her face contorts in anger before she flips her psychology switch on, turning to Henry first, probably because he's already bonded me. "You don't know what you've done. She is not the person that you think she is."

Henry lifts a single eyebrow at her, unreactive otherwise. So, she turns her attention to Saint, "As an officer of the law, you have a right to know that her brother is incarcerated for murder. I have reason to believe that Darci may have those same tendencies."

Saint's head tilts a smidge to the side. "And what kind of proof would you have of this? The evaluations that you subject her to every month? Pardon me, but, lady, it sounds like you're the one that needs to have your head checked. Our girl is just fine."

"As her pack," Henry says quietly, obviously trying to keep the growl out of his voice, "we're going to have to ask you to leave her alone. Until the time comes that she deems fit for you to contact her. Don't make us take this to the law."

Forgetting all about keeping appearances, Mom jumps to a standing, knocking her chair to the floor with a loud smack. Keaton reaches over to stand it back up for her, and she glowers at him.

"You're all making a huge mistake."

She storms off without a second glance back. Dad, on the other hand, sits as still as he had when Saint first sat down. He finally realizes that Mom has stormed off, and as her little lapdog, he must follow.

He looks at me with a sad smile. "I'm sorry, Darci. For everything. I'm glad you've found such a good pack and place to be happy. Let me know if you need anything, okay? Your mom will come around. Love you, kiddo."

Not waiting for me to respond, he gets up to follow herout. I finally let out the breath that I'd been holding when he started talking, feeling like the weight of the past few years just fell off my shoulders.

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