Reese wished he’d had time to have his way with his mate before dinner. Jane practically vibrated with anxious nerves, her fingers twitchy, and she couldn’t seem to sit still. Exhausting her with orgasm after orgasm would have helped the situation immensely.

Plus, it would have been fun as hell.

“Are you sure Connor will be all right with Healer Amelia?”

“Your mother said she’s a wonderful healer and is only cranky with the National Circle to keep them on their toes.” Reese suppressed his snicker. Better the National Circle than to have Amelia’s sights land on him. “If she’s good enough to heal your father, she’s good enough to watch Connor for a few hours. Besides...” He placed his hand on her lower back, nudging her forward. “We’re here already. No going back.”

Jane gave him a shaky nod. “No going back. You’re right.”

She took yet another deep breath and released it slowly. Maybe she would finally calm down. They were at the restaurant and their reserved table—

Jane whirled to face him, one hand clutching his bicep. “But you know how he can be. He’s a biter. What if he shifts and bites the healer?”

“Jane.” He cupped her face and stared into her eyes. “We both know you’re not worried about Connor.”

“I am, though. I—“

“Jane. Everything—and I do mean everything—is going to be fine. Trust me.”

She closed her eyes and nuzzled his hand, drawing his scent into her lungs. “I’m fine. This will be fine. It’s just that there’s all this history and anger and… It’s a lot to handle.”

Reese nodded and released her, snaring her hand before leading her through the restaurant. He spotted Jane’s parents easily, their table in the very center, giving them a perfect ocean view. The moon already glittered on the water beyond.

They approached the couple, and both Lance and Ginger rose. Reese reached for Lance, shaking the older man’s hand, but making sure he kept his squeeze gentle. It’d been a shock to see Lance as a shell of his former self. Before the trip, Reese’s wolf had been prepared to rip Lance to shreds if he even looked at Jane wrong. Now his inner beast wanted to protect the older man.

Ginger pulled Jane into a hug, giving her a kiss on the cheek and then refusing to let go. As if she was afraid Jane would disappear the moment her hands left Reese’s mate.

“Thanks for coming,” Lance murmured, lips twitching and light in his eyes as he watched Jane and Ginger embrace.

“Of course,” Reese grinned. “We’re happy to see you both and get a little adult time.”

The she-wolf finally released Jane, giving her one last kiss on the cheek and squeeze of her hand before finding her seat. Reese and Lance followed, taking their places beside their mates.

“I remember when Jane was that age. Attached to my hip, shifting every ten seconds, and trying to eat butterflies whenever I wasn’t looking.”

Reese chuckled and nudged Jane. “See? Connor takes after you, not me.”

Lance chuckled and Ginger’s tinkling laugh followed. “What I meant to say was thank you for coming all the way to Ft. Lauderdale. I know it’s quite a journey from Wilde Ridge lands, and considering everything that’s happened…” Ginger reached for her glass and sipped her water. A nervous tick that Jane sometimes copied. “My point is that you didn’t have to come all this way.”

“We’re happy to be here, Mom.” Jane stuttered through the words. Reese reached out, snaring her hand and twining their fingers together. He was her strength, her rock, and he’d always step up for her. Even if all she needed was to have her hand held. “Really. We’ll be happy to have you both home with us, too.”

Reese glanced at Lance from the corner of his eye. The older wolf’s silence hadn’t gone unnoticed and now both he and Jane waited for him to weigh in.

“Well,” her mother said, clearing her throat. “We wanted to discuss that, actually.”

Lance sat a little straighter in his chair, but just before he spoke, a pint-sized waitress appeared to take their order—four rare steaks and a margarita on the rocks. A double.

Reese was ready to get back to the topic, but the moment the waitress scuttled away, Jane’s mother started talking just a little too fast.

“Connor seems like such a happy baby. Doesn’t he seem like a happy baby, Lance?” Ginger kept speaking as if she hadn’t asked her mate a question. “Does he get enough exercise? I know the pack is unsettled so it’s hard to take him outside sometimes, but I wondered—“

“Connor is perfect and his exercise is fine.” Reese didn’t give a damn if he sounded rude. He wasn’t going to get bulldozed. “I think you were going to tell us about your plans to return to the pack.”

“Right.” Ginger’s face folded into a soft frown, but she was saved from speaking when her mate cleared his throat.

“We’re not going back,” Lance spoke to Jane. “I know it would mean the world to you to have us close while you’re raising your family but we’re needed here at the healing center.”

Ginger nodded. “The National Circle wolves are good boys. They looked after your father and me and made sure we had everything we needed. You remember the one with dark hair? That’s Roman. Sweetest wolf you ever did meet. I’ve been trying to find him a nice little she-wolf.”

Jane groaned. “I’m sure he appreciates that, but I don’t understand. Your pack needs you. I need you.”

“You don’t,” her mother spoke softly, her eyes flashing with bittersweet understanding. “You haven’t needed us for a long, long time. Here, we can help people who do.”

“We hope you can understand,” Lance’s gruff voice joined in. “We’ll always have a place for you in our home. If you don’t want to stay with us, the National Circle has said you’re always welcome there.”

“But…” Jane shook her head and Reese wrapped an arm around her shoulders, gently rubbing her bicep. “Are you sure?”

Ginger offered a sad smile. “Janie, we’re so happy here. We don’t have the pressure of running a pack. The weather is beautiful. We’re really free for the first time. All we need is your blessing.”

“My blessing?” Jane’s eyebrows rose and then furrowed.

Lance nodded. “We won’t do anything that makes you unhappy. I know I’ve done quite enough of that already.”

She shook her head and trembled beneath Reese’s arm. He gave her a soft squeeze, more than ready to hold her up when her emotions told her to crumple.

“You’ll always have my blessing, but I’ll miss you.” Jane sniffled. “I…I love you.” She looked to her father. “Both of you.”

“We love you too, angel.” Lance reached across the table and Jane leaned forward to clutch his hand. “We love you, too.”