Free Mating the Red Wolf: (Book 10, Grey Wolf Pack Romance Novellas) by E A Price Page A

Although, calling any of them 'adult' was being generous.
    The electricity was waving off and on, so numerous candles had been lit.  The majority of the assembled party, in frustration at not being able to watch TV and at getting very poor phone reception, had taken to sniping at one another.  Plus, the freely flowing alcohol wasn’t helping.
    Ed squeezed her and held her to him tightly.  She suspected that he was worrying that she would be put off marrying him by his family’s behavior.  He needn’t fear anything; there was no way he was getting rid of her.  He’d have to change his name and move to a different country before he could shake her, and even then that was no guarantee.  Her wolf yowled in happy agreement.
    At that moment, Harold Jr. was snapping at Jonathan, and Jonathan was easily goading him on.  Kim had missed the start of the argument, but soon it had devolved into Jonathan calling Harold an uptight asshole, and Harold calling Jonathan a lazy wastrel.
    Jonathan poured himself another scotch.  “Why don’t you just take that stick out of your ass?”
    “How dare you!” roared Harold Jr., “I am your Alpha, how dare you speak to me that way?”
    Jonathan snorted and downed his drink in one before refilling his glass.
    “Don’t you think you’ve had enough, dear?” asked his grandmother in annoyance.
    He smiled at her before downing his next drink.
    Christine was trying to sooth her husband.  “Calm down, darling, there’s no need to get angry.”
    “Don’t patronize me, woman,” he roared.
    “Don’t talk to your mate that way!” cried Olivia hotly.
    “He’s the Alpha, he can do as he chooses,” said Marguerite primly.
    Olivia folded her arms.  “That doesn’t give him the right to treat her that way.”
    “It’s fine,” muttered Christine.
    “He can do as he chooses with his mate,” declared Harold Sr., flashing Olivia a reproving glance.
    “Father, please,” began Will.
    “Quiet, William.”
    Arthur jumped up and got his own drink.  “For heaven’s sake, I don’t know why the hell I agreed to come here.”
    Jennifer snorted.  “Yes, you could have been miserable and drunk at home.”
    Kurt sighed.  “Maybe everyone should just calm down.”
    “You’re not family, it’s nothing to do with you,” sneered Harold Jr.
    “Not yet,” murmured Helena.
    Olivia flushed in embarrassment and Will’s eyes bulged.
    It was about as much as Kim could stand.  “Everyone, please, maybe it’s time we all went to bed.”
    “And you’re not part of our family either,” snapped Harold Jr.
    “Kim and I are getting married!” yelled Ed.
    Everyone was silenced; the only sound was the clickety-clack of Judy’s knitting needles.
    A mixture of angry and surprised eyes flashed in Kim’s direction.  Terrific .
    “Is this a joke?” asked Ed’s father.  His voice was filled with quiet anger.
    Kim became nervous.  Suddenly, his family’s opinion did matter.  It was important if they were opposed to their relationship. 
    Lord, it had been a long time since she was this nervous.  The last time was when she and Ed were first together…
    *
    1 st October
    “Hey, what else can I do?”
    Kim looked up to find Ed with his sleeves rolled up.  It was the end of a long shift at Bar Luna and Kim was cashing up while Ed tidied the bar.  Ordinarily she’d have kept the other bartender behind to do the job, but Andy had been a bear with a sore head recently.  Besides, it was any excuse to prolong her time with Ed.  “Stack the chairs on top of the tables and give the floor a sweep.  The cleaners will be in tomorrow, so we don’t need to do too much.”
    Ed treated her to a dazzling smile.  “You got it.”
    “Thanks, babe.”
    He chuckled.  “Did you call me babe?”
    She fluttered her eyelids.  “Umm hmm.”
    He winked.  “I love it.”
    Kim smiled and finished her task.  She grabbed the cash and took it back to her office to stash it in the safe.  She stood