Page 75 of Ice Wolf
Even if she was just about the cutest thing I’d ever seen. Especially in my jersey.
The outside lights were immediately flipped on, the door opened. My father stood smack in the middle of the doorway, staring at me as if an intruder had just knocked at the door. Wearing his signature maroon velvet robe and matching slippers, he looked more like a king interrupted from a long winter’s nap than the pack leader of one of the largest wolf dens in the Midwest.
“Oh, is that Saint?” My mother’s voice was full of excitement. She bounded behind my father, pushing him aside so she had a clear view of my fiancée. “Oh, my God. My baby boy.” When Pops didn’t move quickly enough for her liking, she pushed him completely out of the way, immediately throwing her arms out.
“Technically, Steven is your baby boy,” I told her in return.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Her face was practically glowing and it didn’t matter that she was wearing fluorescent pink pajamasand a violet silk robe. The woman was determined to take the opportunity to celebrate.
At my expense.
Correction, at my and Lily’s expense.
I should have warned Lily how enthusiastic my mother was and how dominating my father could be. Or as Steven and I liked to say, the man was oppressive.
As my mother grabbed me, pulling me close, Dad gave me a look indicating he hadn’t confided in her that a public relations expert had been hired. His look was also an indication that I wasn’t allowed to ruin her happiness that her son had finally given her. After all the years of nagging me that she needed grandchildren, I should be used to her fawning over any girl, but this time it felt different.
Maybe because she’d soon be able to gather the same scent that bad permanently stained the interior of my nostrils.
I only prayed to God she wasn’t going to let it slip that Lily was my intended mate. After the raucous night, hearing another abomination wouldn’t go over well. At least I knew my Lily well enough to realize that by now.
The girl would find a way to tar and feather me in the public eye.
Very quickly my mother moved from attempting to squeeze some sense into me to pinning her attention on her guest. With a look only a mother could give the daughter-in-law to be, she clung to Lily’s arms, instantly pulling her into a giant bear hug. “Oh, honey. You have no idea how happy you’ve made me. I am so thankful to bring you into the family.”
Lily was stiff, uncertain how to handle my mother’s reaction.
“Mom. We’ve had a long night. Maybe we could come inside and talk about this?”
Mother finally pulled away, clapping her hands together. “I’ll open a bottle of wine. We’ll talk about wedding plans. Oh, I have so many ideas. You have no idea how long I’ve looked forward to this. Come inside. Let’s go to the kitchen and let the boys chat a bit.”
Lily turned her head toward me, her eyes pleading with me to interject. I’d need to do something special to make this up to her. After I explained how possessive my entire family was.
After flashing what could be called an asshole-ish grin, I shrugged in response, which likely set my Lily flower in a tailspin, but there was little I could do. If she thought I was intent on ruining my career, she’d quickly learn my mother was even more diligent about forcing me to settle down.
That had been the sole Christmas present request from the powerful matriarch for going on four years.
She should know by now it wasn’t going to happen.
Only I’d lied and said it was. How in the hell was I going to get myself out of this mess?
Lily dutifully followed and hearing my mother commenting on a dress, a cake, and flowers within a single breath created the intense need to shoot back a bottle of tequila.
Which I couldn’t do, at least according to Miss Perfect and her new rules.
Sighing, I felt my entire body slumping. Meanwhile, Pops was staring at me with one of those looks on his faces. The look that screamed I’d fucked up royally. I felt like telling him totake a number since I’d been called down, told my behavior needed policing, screamed at by my coach, and cursed at by my teammates.
Somehow in the melee that had followed, everyone had forgotten we’d secured our place in the playoffs and perhaps the history books. The worst part was that I’d felt damn good on the ice. Better than normal and I’d thought it had reflected in every shot. The one thing about being a shifter that I did appreciate was knowing when my body was working at peak efficiency. Tonight was a prime example.
Every muscle was working in conjunction, my heart rate excellent and I had speed, not as much as I could have if I allowed my wolf to crack the surface, but more than normal.
Dad stood stoically doing nothing more than staring at me. “I guess I should say congratulations. Good game.”
“You caught it?” I don’t know why I still needed my father’s approval, but I did. Still, he had a frown on his face that provided a clear indication he wasn’t any happier with my antics than Lily or anyone else.
He chuckled in his deep, condescending tone my father was well known for. “I think there wasn’t a single person in the city who didn’t tune in, son. So everyone heard your proclamation of love.”
My sigh was somehow heavier and expended way more energy than I thought. “Any chance we could grab a drink?”
