Page 103 of Taken By the Pack

His mother’s lips press into a thin, unimpressed line. Then she shifts her attention, eyes flicking between Rowan and Jake before landing on me. “And who are these people?”

Rowan turns away from her, facing the gathered crowd. His voice booms, sharp and impatient. “All right, show’s over! Go about your business!”

The murmurs fade as people return to their stalls, the spectacle no longer entertaining enough to hold them.

Ash exhales slowly, then looks back at his mother. “This is Jake and Rowan. And this is Grace.”

His father arches an eyebrow. “And are you going to introduce us or has this town stripped you of your manners?”

I tense, my stomach twisting. I don’t care who this man is. His words make me want to step between him and Ash, to shield my Alpha from the cold disapproval radiating off him.

Ash’s voice is steady, but there’s something tight underneath. “This is my mother and father, Mr. and Mrs. Bennett. And this is Liam’s wife, Rachel.”

Mrs. Bennett nods at Rowan and Jake, acknowledging them without warmth. Then, to my surprise, she steps toward me, offering her hand.

“Your stall is lovely,” she says, her tone polite but distant.

I’m still too shocked to process the compliment, so I mumble a quick, “Thanks,” shaking her hand briefly.

Ash’s father clears his throat. “Maybe we ought to talk somewhere private.”

Ash nods once, but before he moves, he turns back to me.

His family is watching. Waiting.

But he doesn’t seem to care.

He steps toward me, his voice softer when he asks, “Are you okay?”

I nod, still shaken. “Are you?”

His lips twitch, but it’s not quite a smile. “I will be.”

Then, with his father’s sharp gaze drilling into his back, he leans down and presses a kiss to my forehead.

Jake shifts beside me, brows raised. Rowan crosses his arms, looking unimpressed.

Ash straightens, giving both of them a look. “We’ll talk soon.”

And then he’s gone, disappearing into the market with his family.

For a moment, the three of us just stand there, the weight of everything still settling around us.

Then Rowan turns to Jake. “Are you okay?”

Jake wipes at his lip, nodding.

Rowan exhales, glancing toward the direction Ash left in. “So that’s his family.”

“Yup,” I murmur, still processing.

Jake snorts, running a hand through his hair. “Seems the circus is now in town.”

28

ASH

We step out of the market, and my mother exhales like the place physically offends her. “Where can we get a decent breakfast?”

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