Page 45 of To Keep A Wolf
I pretend not to notice and shake my head at them. “You both eat like savages.”
“Keeping you alive is hard work,” Tripp quips from where he stands over the stove pot. “Makes a man work up an appetite.”
I snort and find my father watching me.
“He’s full of shit,” I say and then duck my head. “I mean crap,” I mumble.
Robert Mackenzie tips his head back and laughs. “I think we’re a little past the swear jar stage, don’t you?” His brows lift, and I feel my mouth tip upward in an almost smile.
“Guess so.”
“No salads then?” Levi asks with a nod at the veggies spread out.
“Figured being on the road has left you with a craving for something more solid,” my father says with a shrug. “We can do salads or wraps for lunch tomorrow.”
Tomorrow.
The only thing weirder than this day is the idea of repeating it.
“Sounds good,” Levi says.
The guys take their seats again and I go back to my food. The meal is simple but pretty good. I suspect the stew meat is the rabbit he was smoking out back, but I don’t ask. My wolf doesn’t care anyway, and I’m too grateful for a full belly to be picky.
“Well.” My father finishes off the last of his food and sits back. He rubs his middle appreciatively, which strikes me as funny considering he’s the chef. “Not my best work, but it fills the gullet.”
“It’s great, Mr. Mackenzie,” Tripp says, mouth full of food.
“Call me Rob,” my father tells him.
“This is wild rabbit?” Levi asks as he finishes off his second bowl.
A nod. “I set small game traps on the back hillside,” my dad says. “It’s a little gamy at first, but you get used to it.”
Levi nods, his smile soft. “My mom used to make a stew with it. This reminds me of hers.”
“Your last name is Wild.” Levi nods as my father rubs his chin thoughtfully. “Your mom was—”
“Deanna,” Levi says.
“And Ralph,” my father adds, snapping his finger as he remembers. “How are they?”
“They died a few years ago,” Levi says quietly.
Finished with my food, I set aside my spoon and slip my hand underneath the table to brush my fingers over Levi’s knee in silent comfort.
“Sorry to hear it,” my father says with genuine sorrow on his face. “I don’t get much news of the pack out here.”
“They left the pack years ago,” Levi says. “So you wouldn’t have heard anyway.”
“I see. What made them leave?”
“Support for their message grew too strong, and it became dangerous. Crigger had them driven out and then hunted down to silence it.”
My father frowns. “Their work being…”
“To lift the ban on fated mates,” Levi says, eyes flicking to Tripp then me.
“Ah. And you stayed?”
