Page 63 of Brazen

He squeezed my side then let go. “Okay, I’ll fix some plates for us.” He pointed toward the house. “Straight through the kitchen, into the living room, then on the left. You can’t miss it.”

I followed Sam’s directions. I walked through the living room, a roar of triumph exploded, and people surged to their feet, shouting at the television.

Ted’s profile picture beamed from the corner of the screen as live footage of the race he just won still showed below. “Ted Thorson is the new record holder for the most IndyCar races won in a single season!” the reporter announced with glee.

My insides heated. I wobbled on my axis. I shouldn’t still hate him. I had Sam now. But all those angry, bitter feelings bubbled up just the same. I knew all the hard work the pit crew did to put him past the checkered flag first, yet it was his face on the screen.

He got the glory.

The rest of us? Me? He’d thrown me away like I was dirt. His pack believed I was inferior. All the anger and defensiveness I’d let go unexpressed surfaced. Even after all these years, it hurt.

But that was foolish.

I shoved the anger back down and forced myself to think about Sam. He was different. His pack was different. This wasn’t going to end the same way. He may have reminded me of Ted at first, but he wasn’t the same. I could trust him. Ted was just a face on the TV screen to me now. Nothing more.

I used the restroom and emerged. The kitchen was choked with the group of kids who had been out at the fort now serving themselves from the huge farm table piled high with various potluck items. I caught sight of JT and Remy disappearing with filled plates through the far door toward the deck, side by side and giggling.

Rather than fight my way through the kitchen, I reversed direction to go out front and follow the wrap-around porch to the back deck to head JT off there. Make sure he got something healthy in him. I was sure he’d picked the baked beans because they were his favorite and all the sweets options. Nothing else.

Another crowd bottlenecked that area, and I tried to get around a female and two guys. “Who’s that halfling running around with Clio?” a man asked, holding a plate loaded with barbecue.

I stopped in my tracks then took a step back. Then another.

“Yeah, they’re new to town. Apparently, she’s human. The alpha put Sam on seduction duty to find out what the scoop is. You know, what kind of drama the kid will bring into the pack.”

A wave of dizziness nearly bowled me over. I reached out and set my hand on the side of the house to hold myself up. I couldn’t breathe.

The alpha put Sam on seduction duty? Seduction duty?

The head of the pack thought a five-year-old would bring drama?

Well, I guessed Sam had done his duty all right.

The blonde woman standing beside the man who’d just spoken must’ve sensed my presence because she turned around to find me behind her. She gasped, and her eyes widened. I recognized who she was because she looked just like Sam and Sylvie.

She elbowed the man beside her and hissed, “Chuck!”

He whipped his head around, and his eyes got just as big.

To me, she said, “He didn’t mean it like that. My husband is an idiot. Sam?—”

I shook my head and shoved past them, not interested in anything she had to say about Sam. My vision blurred as I scanned the crowd, looking for JT. I had to get out of there. My stomach balled up under my ribs like a tight fist. The shock of betrayal was almost too much. I could barely think. I had to get away.

Get my halfling with all the drama and go.

“Wait! Hang on!”

I ignored Sam’s sister calling behind me.

“Chuck–you’d better fix this!” she snapped.

I picked up my speed, darting between people to find my son. There. Crap!

Of course, JT was sitting with Sam at a table. Before JT was a plate loaded with cut fruit, a half ear of corn and some cubed cheese. Healthy food. Wes, Joy, and Remy sat with them. A seat was saved beside Sam, no doubt for me.

I walked over, bent down and took the plastic fork from JT’s hand and set it on his paper plate. “Come on, JT. We’re going.”

“What?” Sam’s brows slammed down, and he stood from the table. “What happened? What’s going on?”