A Pack Family by Shannon Duane

intentionally kept him away. She didn’t want Dante’s bitch of a mother to influence Decker’s opinion of her.
     
    *****
     
    At ten o’clock Tara was wound so tight that she wasn’t sure she could go through with the meeting. She’d taken the basinet from Decker’s room and placed it in the living room with her sleeping children snuggled inside. They were so precious and she wouldn’t let them be taken from her. She needed to set things straight with her old pack. The pups were hers. She would welcome Dante to see them whenever he wanted, but not the others.
    Jake came into the sitting room with a plate of food, “Eat, you’ll need your strength. You look like you’re going to swoon at any moment. Will you be able to hold it together?”
    Tara took the plate of food and began to shovel it into her mouth “I’ll be fine, Dante is a great guy. His pack politics are what’s concerning me.”
    “ I won’t let them take the twins.” At Tara’s look of outrage he clarified, “Or you, simmer down.”
    She’d eaten everything that Jake had brought, but tasted nothing. Even now, she had a sinking feeling in her gut and the food she’d just consumed threatened to come back up. “Is Decker finding his way around okay?” Where had that come from? She didn’t even realize she was thinking about him.
    Jake grinned. “Yeah, he’s a good honest guy. He’ll be a benefit to the force, and the pack, when you choose to accept him.”
    Tara ’s eyebrows rose. “He doesn’t need someone weighing him down and that’s what the twins and I would be. Weights.”
    Jake ’s look became stern. “Do you think that is how I look at my mate and her son?” He made sure to put the emphasis on Trevor being Shana’s child, because he wanted Tara to see that he wasn’t his biological father, but he treated him like a son. “I have accepted her and precious Trevor into my life. I wouldn’t have it any other way. You are blind if you can’t see the love Decker has for those Kids. I saw him last night at two in the morning walking with, and singing, to Abby. He’s a great mate and father even when you haven’t accepted him. He deserves more, Tara.”
    She met his eyes with defiance. “He will get more if, and when, I am able to give it or he will leave. I am not like some of the men around here who cannot hold my urges.”
    Jake growled in her face and she backed down. “We are done talking. We will wait in silence. You will never, ever speak of your pack in a negative way, or you will find yourself looking for another.”
    She began to apologize when Jake roared. “I said silence!” And then the doorbell rang.
    Jake stood and went to the door. He took a deep calming breath and Tara swore she saw him counting to ten. The door opened and Victoria, Dante’s mother, stood on the porch.
    “ Dante is parking the car. Where are my grandbabies?” She pushed past a growling Jake.
    “ Do not attempt to use that tone with me Jake. I am quite some years your elder and you will respect me.”
    Victoria was a piece of work.
    Jake grabbed her upper arm in a punishing grip. “I am not some untried pup who will take your lip. You will refer to me as Alpha Jake, which I am due as my station, and you will never enter my home without express permission from me. Are we clear?”
    “ Crystal.” Came her clipped reply. Not a good start.
    Just then Dante came walking up. “Good afternoon Alpha Jake. Once again, thank you for caring for Tara and my offspring. May I enter and see them?” He looked excited to finally be meeting his kids.
    Jake nodded and replied. “You may.”
    Dante walked into the house and gave Tara a small hug before walking to the basinet. He had tears in his eyes. “They are the most beautiful children I have ever seen. They have my dark hair. What did you name them?”
    His mother approached the basinet. “Yes, they are lovely. When were they born, they look quite old.”
    Tara gave him a hesitant smile.