Page 27 of The Rabbit's Foot
A slow smile spread over Mal’s face. “I swear I will do my best to never hurt him,” he promised.
“Good.” She reached out and patted his shoulder. “Now, what flavor creamer do you have for the coffee? I’m partial to vanilla.” She clutched Mal’s hand and took a few steps toward the door, then glanced over her shoulder. “Are you two coming or what?”
After the two of them entered the room, Alp turned to his father. “What the hell just happened?”
Dad smiled. “I think your mom just welcomed a wolf into the family.”
Alp wasn’t sure if he was excited or scared to death.
“Alpin! Get your fuzzy butt in here,” she called out.
Scared. Definitely scared.
Chapter 10
Though he wasn’t sure what he should expect, Alp’s family was unlike anything Mal could have dreamed up. He was curious why his mother hadn’t said anything about Alp’s hand, but the moment she was behind closed doors with him, she turned and pulled Alp into her arms and wailed.
“My poor baby,” she kept repeating. “Oh, Alpin.”
His father stood behind her, a steadying hand on her back, as he stared at the residual limb where Alp’s hand had been. His foot began to tap, harder and harder, until Mal feared he’d break something. His eyes were wild, and he began chittering. Mal knew rage when he saw it, and Alp’s father was deep into his.
“Sir?”
He turned toward Mal, his eyes wild. “You’re going to kill these fuckers, right?” he snapped. “If you’re not going to, you can’t be with my son. No one would let his mate be injured and not do anything about it.”
Mal blinked. “His… what?
Alp’s head snapped toward his father. “Dad? What are you talking about?”
Mother and father exchanged a look. Then his mom nodded and turned to Mal. “You two are mated. How do you not know this?”
Mated? Was that even possible?
“No, I gave him my First’s bite, something that makes us pack, that’s all.”
Her eyes widened. “No, no, no. You…. You seriously don’t understand mating?”
Apparently Mal didn’t, and now it bothered him. “It would seem I do not,” he admitted.
She gestured to the table, and he and Alp took a seat. She gazed at her son, and Mal felt unworthy of seeing the love that shone in her eyes. His father stepped up behind Alp and put his hands on those slender shoulders, rubbing gently. If they hadn’t claimed him as part of their family, Mal would be biting their heads off for touching Alp.
“When a First bites a pack member, that’s all there is to it. A quick bite, and then their thoughts open up to the First, allowing him to sense their emotions and general well-being. When a First gives a bite to his mate, it’s given along with the exchange of….” Her cheeks flushed. “Semen.”
Mal turned to Alp, whose face was crimson. “But we didn’t—”
Oh, Maker. Alp had swallowed his seed. He’d opened a connection between the two of them, and Mal had sealed it with the bite.
“Mated?”
His mother smirked. “I did say I could smell him on you.”
Alp’s head snapped in Mal’s direction, his eyes filled with worry. “Mal, I’m sorry!”
“Why?” his mother asked. “A mating is a joyous thing.”
She drew down the collar of her Psychedelic Furs T-shirt, and Mal couldn’t miss the two tiny punctures there.
“You’ve mated with Mr. Dawkins?”
