Nefretiri
"They don't bite, I promise." Ivan chuckles, watching me stare at the windows of the house. The curtains keep moving, and I know they're watching us. "Though, they're nosy."
The house they rented was one of the bigger ones in the area, and I could see why Liam was overcharging. Not that I'd tell Ivan that. It was gorgeous and only three blocks from Liam's house. I still prefer the word mansion, but I've argued with Liam. He insists it's not, so I can only assume he's got larger properties elsewhere. This place was less grand, but if you bought it on the market, you were still looking at incredibly high numbers, especially since you couldn't tell we were in the desert.
"Hey, I got you!" Ivan hurries to get out, but I've already opened the door and jumped out, wincing at the sting in my leg. I'd felt so good I almost forgot I was working with broken bones. But my pride wasn't letting Ivan carry me like a child.
"I'm good." Of course, I wasn't, but at least I could move around without crying. Whatever magic existed between Ivan and me, it was intense.
Still, I'd already made a terrible impression on these people. They'd seen me have an emotional breakdown, physically unable to walk without help, and they did help Ivan kidnap me. Yes, I was sticking to the word kidnap. The last thing I wanted to do was have a proper introduction with Ivan cradling me. But, sadly, that was what my body wanted. I was five seconds away from lifting my arms and saying 'up' like I was two. How fucked up is that?
"Are you ready?" Ivan stops at the front door, tucking a piece of my hair behind my ear. "They're just watching TV."
"No." Biting my lip, I motion for him to go for it. I would never be ready, and I'd rather sit down somewhere.
Ivan nods and opens the door, and I barely step inside before men surround me. They were very tall, good-looking guys who were moments away from acting like excited dogs whose owners had just got home. The analogy wasn't wrong, but it bothered me to think of them like that for some reason. The shortest was the most excitable, which isn't saying a lot. He's a teenager with sandy blond hair and pretty blue eyes. Though he wasn't as muscular as the others, I don't doubt he could lift me easily.
"Luna, I'm Greg!" He tilts his head, exposing his throat, before taking my hand. I felt a strange jolt at the contact, but it differed from the electric sparks I felt with Ivan. "I... I... do I.T. for the pack."
"Pup, move out of the way!" Another one grabs his shoulder and shoves him aside. "Don't crowd our Luna; you'll freak her out."
How do you describe meeting Ivan's packmates? It was... an experience. They might have given Greg shit about overwhelming me, but they were just as bad. I found out all their names. Nathan, AJ, and Terry were warriors in the pack, acting as security—Scott, who introduced himself as the pack's lawyer. Steven, the Beta and Taylor's mate shook my hand before pulling the others aside, and then there was Danny.
"I hope you don't mind. I did a checkup on your pup. She's perfect." He grinned, letting me move away from the front foyer. "We got Chinese if you're hungry."
"Oh, no, Ivan... bought me dinner." It had been a while since I'd eaten as much as I had today, and they wanted to feed me more.
Ivan stays behind me, his hand on the small of my back, sending sparks of pleasure along my spine. It kept me calm, and I was grateful. It was a little unsettling that they were following us, but I didn't know what to say to any of them. Not that I needed to talk. They were doing plenty of it for me. All except for Steven and the guy who had yet to approach me, he stood with his back against the archway, watching me with a curious, quiet expression.
"Nefra, this is Vincent," Ivan guides me toward him. "My cousin and Gamma of our pack. Vince, this is Nefretiri Jordans, my mate."
"Nefra, I like that." He smirks at Ivan before focusing on me. "Sorry about these guys. They're harmless."
"Oh, no, it's fine." He takes my hand, and I stop, blinking at him.
He was so powerful I could sense his true nature from a handshake. His energy was almost as radiant as Ivan's, with the essence of a snowy mountain. It was beautiful but could quickly turn deadly. So, when Ivan growls at him, I'm not surprised that Vincent only chuckles. Then he pulls me slightly away from the others without batting an eye at anyone. That only has Ivan more irritated, and he wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me back toward him.
"No one calls her Nefra," He warns, glaring at his cousin. "She's Luna to you."
"Ivan? Families don't use titles," Vince rolls his eyes, crossing his arms and leaning back on the archway. "Besides, I think it's up to her, not you."
"I really prefer Nefra," Anything but Luna.
"See, now do you want me to disobey my Luna's wishes because you're an asshole?" A little snort comes from my mouth, and I hurry to cover it up. Something tells me this banter was typical between them.
"Nefretiri!" I look up to see Taylor rushing down the stairs. She shoves past the others and grabs me from Ivan before tugging me toward the stairs. "I was worried Ivan was keeping you out all night. So, Penelope's sleeping, but she ate. She was okay with the formula I bought since you're breastfeeding her. I couldn't bathe her because of that thing on her belly button, but I sponged her down and got her the cutest PJ. Steven put the bassinet I got together so we can go check on her."
She said all of that in one breath.
Before anyone can stop us, she's got me on the second floor, leading me down to the end of the hall. Stopping in front of the door to the left, Taylor puts her finger to her lip before letting me in. The room was lovely—twice the size of Ricky's bedroom, with modern furniture and a queen-sized four-poster bed. Beside it was a pink and brown bassinet with a baby mobile that played lullabies. When I peek inside, I can't help but grin. Pen-Pen was fast asleep, and the PJ was adorable. She smelled of baby shampoo and lavender lotion.
"She looks so at ease."
"She knows she's with family." Taylor flops on the bed, staring at me with a grin. "So, I figured you didn't want to deal with the idiots until tomorrow."
I raise an eyebrow at her, and she smirks. It seemed that Taylor's almost ADHD attitude was an act. That would be scary good if it was, but at the moment, I was grateful. The truth was, I was not prepared to deal with their excitement, especially since I didn't know what tomorrow would bring. I knew I didn't want to return to Ricky, but I needed to decide about staying here, too.
"Thanks," I sat beside her on the bed, kicking my shoes off. "They all seem so happy to meet me."
"Yeah, they are. We all are." Rolling on her stomach, Taylor rests her chin on her hands. "So, how are you?"
"Um, is overwhelming an appropriate response to that question?" I felt comfortable talking to Taylor as if we'd known each other all our lives.
"As a minimum. Yes, I think that's the proper response." Suddenly, we're laughing, and I don't know why. "At least you look better, happier."
"It's an act."
"No, I don't think it is." She winks, and I think she knows that something happened with Ivan. That makes my face burn, and I'm sure I look like a tomato. "Don't worry. I won't pry. Not yet, anyway."
"Thanks," I tuck my legs up, resting my cheek on my knees. "Today has not turned out like I thought it would."
"Well, in my humble opinion, whatever you thought was in store, you got a better deal out of it."
"It's different." I was exhausted, but I couldn't bring myself to lie down yet. Was I supposed to sleep in the same bed as Ivan? Was this his room? "This is a lot to deal with."
"It is." Sitting back up, Taylor sighs, staring at the ceiling. "Even for us. Just because we know about the mate bond doesn't mean you see each other and fall into each other's arms and fuck."
"Funny, that's the impression I got of things." I almost told her that's exactly what I wanted to do with Ivan, which scared me. "What was it like for you?"
"Oh, no... I assure you it's not as simple as Ivan probably explained. And... I dropped a glass casserole dish of banana pudding on the floor." After that, it was Taylor's turn to look embarrassed, which only got worse when I started giggling.
"You're kidding!"
"I wish I were," she mutters, hiding her grin. "Steven had come home from service... But, oh, you probably don't know about that!"
"Ivan explained it."
"Oh, thank the goddess, I hate politics." She grumbles before continuing. "Well, enough people were coming home to have a coming home party. I smelled him when I got out of my car... and when I got inside, I was so overwhelmed I dropped the dish and got pudding everywhere."
"What do you mean you smelled him?" That was something I still needed to understand.
"Oh, everyone's got a unique smell to their mate. A scent only they can detect. For me, Steven smells like mint chocolate and vanilla beans. We grew up together, but I never sensed that smell from him until we'd been apart for three years, and we'd both come of age."
"I... smell something too." I couldn't believe I was confessing that. "A lightning storm... and heather."
"That doesn't shock me," Taylor looked like she might burst from the grin she had on her lips. "That'll be a great part of your story."
"I doubt it's one anyone will want to hear."
"Are you kidding? It's going to be legendary. Ivan, the contemptible, found his mate, and she made him work for it. Everyone will love it."
"The contemptible?" What was that about?
"Oh no, he didn't tell you about his past?" Now, Taylor looked frustrated. "What did he do? Sugar coat everything?"
"No, he told me." I wouldn't call my conversation with Ivan sugar-coated. "I just don't understand the title."
"Oh, good. Because the last thing I should be doing with my new sister-in-law is telling her about how things were before."
"Sister-in-law?"
"What? Too soon?"