Desired by Wolves [Call of the Wolf 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) by Diane Leyne Page A

were at risk, you fucking asshole!”
    Penelope wiped her tears away and punched him again in the arm again before leaning over and giving him a kiss on the cheek.
    “Don’t ever do that to us again.”
    “No, ma’am.” Alex’s words were meek, but his tone was amused, and the expression on his face showed how much he was touched by her words. “I don’t plan on ever leaving Harmony again, not unless my being here would cause problems for people.”
    “Why the hell would your being here cause…” Penelope’s voice trailed off as she intercepted Alex’s quick look up at Lena. Damn. Pen was far too perceptive. Lena decided that a change of subject was in order but couldn’t figure out how to do it.
    “Lena. Tell this lunkhead here that you are fine with him being back.”
    “I’m fine with the lunkhead being back.”
    “Ha-ha.” Penelope looked down at Lena’s now-empty plate. “That’s all you are having, toast and fruit? At least let me bring you some eggs.”
    “Not this time, hon. I’ve got my first patient coming soon, and I have to go get ready.” Lena looked over at Alex. “Lunkhead here, on the other hand, needs to put on some weight. Maybe you can convince him to stay for seconds?”
     
    * * * *
     
    Alex watched Lena hurry away, wishing he was going with her instead of sitting on the patio with Penelope and wondering how long he had to stay before it would be polite to leave. It started with a trickle once Lena left his table, and grew to an almost constant stream. Penelope vacated her seat and started serving coffee to the people waiting to talk to him. Most of them were just happy to see him, and more than a few had offered to buy him a drink a Lupo’s.
    After half an hour, he was finally alone again when Penelope delivered him a fresh cup of coffee.
    “How the hell did all those people know I was here? I feel like everyone I ever knew in Harmony came by.”
    “Oh, it’s easy. I made a few calls after you arrived.” Penelope looked smug and then burst into laughter. Reluctantly, Alex found himself chuckling along, first to be polite, and then he was surprised to find it morphing into a genuine laugh.
    “I guess I deserved that.”
    “Yes you did. People have missed you, worried about you, been mad at you, but mostly just wanted to see you back home safe and sound.”
    “Well, I’m safe, but not entirely sound.” Alex rubbed his thigh, looking down at his hand to avoid looking at Penelope. He was afraid that he’d start crying again. Big bad Alpha crybaby, that was what he’d become.
    He braced himself and looked up, placing one hand on hers.
    “Thank you.”
    Penelope looked like she was tearing up herself, but quickly pulled herself together as she looked over his shoulder. Alex pasted a smile to his face and turned to greet the newcomers.
    “Hey, brother.” Will walked up to the patio with Joe following behind him. They each gave Penelope a quick peck on the cheek and sat down at Alex’s table. “Thanks for the call, Pen.”
    “Ditto,” concurred Joe, and then they both ordered the Big Breakfast, which was basically one of everything. Alex looked down at his plate and realized he’d finished his eggs but was surprised to find that he was still hungry. He’d had no appetite for so long.
    “I’ll have the same, Pen. And some more coffee please?”
    She grinned at him. “Whatever you boys want. I’ll go put your order in. And I should be getting back to work, now that he has someone else here to defend him from the hordes who’ve been dropping by to greet the prodigal son.”
    Alex felt a band constrict around his heart. He realized that she’d stayed with him through all the greetings, not to be nosy but to make sure that things went smoothly. She’d hurried people along and made sure no one spent too much time with him, tiring him out, and she’d made sure the conversation had flowed and been kept light, steering around any conversational land mines. It had