Stevens-Journey [Brac Pack 20] Read Online Free Page B

close behind him.
    “Where’s Riley?” Roman asked as they started to pass the food around.
    His pa grabbed the delicious-looking biscuits. “He’ll be in shortly.
    Bella’s close to foaling.”
    “What’s foaling?” Steven asked as he scooped up a forkful of potatoes to eat. There wasn’t enough food on his mate’s plate. Roman grabbed the bowl of garlic mashed potatoes and placed a heapful onto Steven’s plate.
    “It’s when a horse is about to give birth,” his pa answered as Steven stared wide-eyed at his plate. Roman added two more biscuits and smiled at Steven, proud that he was helping his mate put some weight on his thin frame.
    “Hot damn, Steven.” Chauncey smacked the table with his hand.
    “This is good as hell.” He pointed to his roast with his fork. “You’re hired.”

    Steven’s Journey
    25
    All his brothers chimed in their agreement, making Steven sit up straight and smile proudly. Roman was love-struck by his mate’s sparkling green eyes. He nudged Steven’s leg with his under the table, winking at the little imp.

    * * * *
    Roman crept out of his room after everyone had gone to sleep. He walked down to Steven’s door, listening for a moment. When he didn’t hear any movement, he shifted and curled up on the floor outside of Steven’s door.
    This was not only Roman’s mate, but his first time being in love, and he wasn’t sure how to handle it. He sniffed at the few inches under Steven’s door, inhaling his mate’s sweet scent.
    “He’ll be all right,” his pa said as he walked from his bedroom.
    Roman was embarrassed that he was busted. He father walked down the hall, kneeling at Roman’s side. He ran his hand over Roman’s head, giving him the grounding he needed with his emotions so out of control.
    “He’ll accept you. Just go slow. I’m proud of you, son. You got yourself a fine-looking mate.” His father scratched his head as he stood. “Just don’t scare the hell out of him in the morning. Shift before he wakes up.”
    Roman snorted as he laid his head on his paws. He whined at his father.
    “There’s no easy answer, Roman. Just remember that you have your family here for you. If anyone tries to hurt him, they’ll have eight angry bears to deal with.”
    Roman grunted his approval as his father walked back to his room. He may be the youngest, but he was a full-grown bear. If anyone tried to get near his mate, he would eat them.
    Roman sniffed at his mate’s scent again, filling his lungs with Steven as he dozed off to sleep.

    26
    Lynn Hagen

    * * * *
    Roman woke to someone screaming and a door slamming. He blinked his eyes open and realized he was still in his bear form. Shit.
    That scream came from Steven. Doors swung open as his brothers ran into the hallway and toward Steven’s room.
    “You dumbass. If you wanted to give him a heart attack, why didn’t you just stand on your hind legs and roar at him,” Chance said as he shook his head.
    Roman shifted, brushing past them as he walked into his bedroom and grabbed a pair of jeans and pulled them on. He zipped them and then walked back down to Steven’s room. Everyone was still in the hall as he knocked on Steven’s door. “Tiger, it’s Roman.”
    “Tiger?” Gavin asked with a look of amusement on his face. “I like that.”
    Roman grunted at his brother as he waited for Steven to answer the door. It slowly opened as Steven peeked out and into the hall.
    “There was a bear in front of my door.” He frowned, his eyes searching the hall with drawn brows.
    “Can we talk?” Roman asked as Steven backed up, opening the door to allow him entrance.
    Roman puckered his lips as he frowned at his brothers, who were moving closer to Steven’s door. “Go away,” he whispered irritably.
    They shrugged but didn’t move. Roman closed the door in their faces as he turned to his mate. “I can explain.”
    “Either you have extremely large pets or you’re a shifter,” Steven stated matter-of-factly