Page 4 of The Alpha Option
“From what the ladies were saying, it’s their lodge, and he’s a squatter.” Blue jerked his thumb toward Marvin.
“Am not.” Marvin’s indignation was sincere. “Rachel owed me a favour. Said I could live here for as long as I want, and I still want. Doesn’t matter that she’s taken off for parts unknown. She made me a promise.”
Jace pointed to the kitchen door then paused. “You got clothes anywhere nearby, or are you living au naturel all the time these days?”
Marvin tilted his chin toward the small door off the hallway. “If you must know, I was doing laundry. It’s easier to wash everything at once. Plus, it’s not as if there’s been anybody around to complain about me letting it all hang out.”
A soft snicker escaped Blue. “Jace. You’re already pinching the bridge of your nose. Obviously, this is going to be all sunshine and roses for you, the whole caretaking thing.”
Dammit. Blue was right. It was a bad habit and a terrible tell.
Jace moved his fingers higher and rubbed at his forehead before taking a deep breath and looking Marvin in the eye. “Get dressed, then get your ass outside. The ladies are human, so we’ve got to come up with a solution that works for everyone, understand?”
Marvin sighed as if extremely put-upon. “I’m not a child.”
“That’s obvious from the hair. Damn, man, I have a spare razor I can loan you,” Blue muttered before dancing out of reach of Marvin’s massive fist.
Outside the kitchen door, Jace faced a wild combination of good memories and sadness. The enormous firepit where they’d spent many pleasurable evenings was still there. Uncle Jim would play his guitar. Friends and family would sing along in either human or wolf form.
But now none of the little touches that had been Auntie Rachel’s work remained. No twinkling fairy lights, no citronella torches. Weeds were everywhere, and a huge collection of beer cans was stacked in the shape of a castle beside the firepit.
Blue stopped and looked down at the recycled art. “I had no idea Marvin was still here.”
“And it seems he intends to carry on.” Jace glanced around again. The main lodge held space for group dining and entertainment along with a dozen rooms in two separate guest wings. But there were also multiple cabins scattered over the property.
Possible solutions began to percolate in his mind.
The sound of car doors closing brought Jace back to attention.
“Are you able to step in around here?” he quickly asked his cousin. Blue was an Omega wolf, which meant he held a separate place in the pack hierarchy. Spending time with Jace wouldn’t put Blue at risk, but it was important to Jace that his cousin made the choice himself and wasn’t pushed into it.
Blue nodded slowly. “I have two or three small projects I’m committed to at the shop, but if you’re talking about helping to fix up this place long term, I’m your man.”
“Want to live here or in town?”
His cousin frowned. “Pain in the ass to commute back and forth. And my rooms above the shop aren’t nearly as nice as what I could organize here. As long as the new lodge owners agree.”
Which was pretty much what Jace figured.
The women rounded the corner of the house. The door of the kitchen opened as Marvin stepped out, fully dressed and carrying a bundle of clothing.
Quickly, before the two groups joined them, Jace nodded firmly. “Okay. I’m still not sure what the hell Auntie Rachel was thinking, but we’ll make it work. I’ll find a way to fix it.”
Blue rested a hand on Jace’s shoulder. “That’s what you do.”
Yes, it was. God help him.
Jace had spent years building his own company. Carter Wells was making a huge difference in the world, providing inexpensive sources of fresh water to remote communities. But now instead of being full-time CEO and all that job description entailed, here he was. Thrust into juggling his work and the position of mediator and caretaker because of his aunt’s wishes.
There wasn’t time for this distraction. It made no sense for him to drop everything and return to Jasper. And yet, he'd never even considered ignoring the summons to come deal with her estate.
So be it, he thought. It was part of being a wolf. Though he hadn’t been in the Jasper pack for many years, it appeared he was going to be now.
He hoped his cousin Del wouldn’t be an ass about that decision.
There wassomething reassuring about having Stephanie at her back, armed and dangerous. Recalling the quick research she had done prior to heading west for this adventure, Cassidy positioned herself upwind of the three men standing beside the firepit.
If anybody was going to be hit by pepper spray, it wasn’t going to be her or her bestie.
