Savage Hunt

Chapter 89

Chapter Eighty-Nine: Don’t trust the cobbler

Tillie

Scott sat at the head of the table with mom off to the side of him. He was trying to hold back a grimace as he looked down at the peach cobbler on the plate in front of him. A scoop of ice cream was melting into the desert but he still hadn’t touched it.

“Honey, eat your cobbler before the ice cream melts.” Mom said and I watched him swallow hard before he nodded, picking up his fork.

Jason and Travis had cleared our plates away when my parents had come into the dining room. Mom had brought the cobbler, with Scott walking behind her like he was headed to a funeral with the blue and silver dessert plates held in one arm and the vanilla ice cream in the other.

My mates sat looking at their dessert as well. Travis had a strange expression on his face as he looked between me and Scott, trying to figure out what was going on. He watched Scott take a bit of his before picking up his fork and digging in.

“Oh, hey, this is good.” He said before scooping more of the gooey peach mixture onto his fork and taking another big bite.

I winced, watching him inhale his food before picking up my spoon and taking a small scoop of the ice cream. At least | knew this one was supposed to be mushy. Scott and I shared a look as he slowly chewed the bite that was in his mouth. Mom reached over, swatting his shoulder. “You are going to make Tillie’s mates think that I don’t know how to cook.”

“Think?” He asked and she smacked his arm again.

“It’s delicious, ma’am.” Gideon said, his soft voice rising as he cleared his plate of the cobbler.

Mom beamed over at him before glaring at me and then at

Scott. “See it’s not that bad, you two.”

“I still don’t trust it.”

“You shouldn’t, kiddo.” Scott warned, pushing the plate away. “You shouldn’t.”

“Thank you, sir. For reaching out to Alpha Branson.” Jason said, he had tried a bit of the dessert and promptly put his fork down beside the plate. He took a large gulp of water, washing the food down without trying to taste it. “And dinner was very good, thank you, ma’am.”

“Of course, I don’t know why the pack in the woods still had that practice. I understand the want to hunt and claim your mate, but not with your pack.”

I snorted at his words before looking down at my plate. It felt like I had my own pack now and with these guys I wouldn’t mind them chasing me down and claiming me.

“Tillie?” Mom said and I looked up at her before shaking my head. This wasn’t something that I wanted to share with her.

“Nothing. So, when are you and Scott heading back into the city?” | asked, reaching over and taking Jason’s hand in to mine.

“Trying to get rid of us so soon? I thought we might spend the night.”

“Jewel, I think we should head out soon.” Scott said, looking at my mates and I.

“Nonsense. I want to get to know Tillie’s mates. Make sure they’ Il take care of our daughter.” Mom pressed her lips into a thin line and Scott looked at her, his lips quirking as he tried not to smile at her. It was one of those sweet moments where he was trying to be gentle with mom but she was sticking to her guns with what she wanted to do.

“I promise you that she will always be taken care of. If not by me, then by my beta, my best friend, or our omega. Tillie will always be cherished.” Jason said, his thumb stroking over the back of my knuckles, his words made me shiver. He didn’t know it, but they already made me feel safe and loved. Even if it was to soon for me to fall for these men. I knew it was true.

Scott nodded before looking back at mom. “Jewel, we should get going.”

“Scott.” She grumbled, leaning back in her chair and glaring at him.

“It’s not that I don’t want you here, mom.” I said, looking down at the table. “But-”

“She doesn’t want us here right now, honey.” Scott said, before reaching over and pulling my mom’s hands into his. “Remember our mating when I chased you-”

“I don’t want to know.” I said, looking between my parents. “Ever about that part.” Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

“Til-”

“Ever.” I repeated and Travis let out a bark of laughter. “We do need to talk. I mean, not right now, but when we get home.”

“I think that would be a good idea.” Mom said, looking down at her and Scott’s joined hands. “We’ll take care of the dishes before hitting the road.”

“We can do it.” Travis and Gideon said at the same time.

“I think the kids have got it, honey,” Scott said, moving to stand. Mom frowned up at him, but let him pull her out of her seat.

“Men and if you guys are sure.” She frowned, looking over at me.

“I’ll text you when I get home. Jason has to get back soon and I’ ve got to go back to work.” I said, thinking about what Charity had told me about our boss. How was I ever going to look him in the eyes now that I knew what he was?

Jason’s fingers twitched against mine and I looked over at him. I knew how he felt about me working, even though it was something that I enjoyed. I doubted that with four mates I would be able to keep up with them and my work load.

Mom pulled away from Scott, walking over to stand beside me. I stood up, letting her pull me into a tight hug. The smell of her perfume brought me comfort, as it always did. “Travel safe, mom.”

“You be safe, too. Remember that even though your mates are shifters, your grandmother and I raised you to be strong.” She pulled back to look at me. “Til, you are stronger than you realize. Don’t let them push you around.”|

“I won’t mom. Love you.” I whispered.

“Love you, too baby.” She said, giving me one last squeeze.

My mates and I walked my parents out to their car, seeing them off. Jason and Scott spoke in hushed tones before my parents

got into their car and pulled out of the driveway. I was filled with bittersweet feelings watching them go. There were so many things that mom and I needed to talk about, so many things that I wanted to ask her.

In time, it would get easier. My heart would hurt less with her and Scott lying to me and I hoped that things would return to normal with us.