Bailey Bradford - Southwestern Shifters 07 - Revolution by Bailey Bradford Page B

brow. Stop it, he scolded himself, but as if it—she—whatever—read his mind, Mem’s eyebrow did something damn close to the ‘Wave’.
    “I think she’s doing it on purpose,” Luuk thought as they stopped in front of the large woman. Mem released Father Norbert, who gasped and stumbled. Likely he’d have fallen had Mem not caught a hold of his shoulder with one big hand.
    “Steady,” she said in a thickly accented voice that was, surprisingly melodic. “I would not have you hurt yourself.”
Father Norbert snorted and rubbed at his ribs. “Saving that part for yourself, Mem?”
“Humans.” Mem huffed and crossed her arms over her ample chest. Then she looked, really looked at Luuk, and she paled even as twin spots of red popped to her cheeks. “Oh. Oh, it is you! Alpha Anax…” Mem canted her head and dropped to her knees. “I was afraid to believe.”
Jameson fought with the awkward feeling someone kneeling at his man’s feet caused him. It was just, well, weird. But, he could feel the low hum of power coming from Luuk, saw the way Mem’s skin prickled.
“Mem, please stand. My mate isn’t familiar with many of our ways.” Luuk touched Mem’s nape and she whimpered, but rose to her feet. “This is my mate, Jameson.”
Jameson was terrified the woman would kneel or squat or some other sign of respect he wouldn’t know how to handle, so he thrust his hand out briskly. “Pleased to meet you.”
Mem’s expression showed some nervousness, but more hope and joy than anything else as she looked at Jameson and shook his hand. “It is my pleasure to meet you, Jameson. The Alpha Anax has been blessed with a very handsome mate, yes, Norbert?”
“Er…” Father Norbert cleared his throat as Jameson’s cheeks burned. “Yes?”
Mem grinned. “I live to make my cousin squirm.”
That startled a snicker out of Jameson and he could feel Luuk’s amusement as well. Mem glowed, obviously aware of pleasing her Alpha Anax. Luuk’s ability to pour out the power he had in his core was something Jameson had witnessed only rarely, but he suspected it’d be much more of a common occurrence when he had his rightful packs and position back. Although, to Jameson and those who loved Luuk, he had never stopped being the AA.
“Come, come inside. I have been cooking in case”—Mem glanced at Luuk and blushed again—“in case it truly was the Alpha Anax and his mate. I am not the finest chef, but I hope you will be pleased.”
She opened a door and the scents rolling out of the house made Jameson’s mouth water.
“Oh, Mem, you made your bread and the roast!” Father Norbert bounced, actually bounced, in place. “You have always been my favourite cousin!” The priest winked at her and bustled past Mem.
Mem started to reach for him but Luuk stopped her. “No, Mem. He isn’t one of us, and he has been a good friend to Jamie and I. I take no offence in Father Norbert entering your home before me or my mate.”
“I did something wrong?” Father Norbert asked, concern pinching the corners of his eyes. “I did not mean to offend.”
“You did nothing wrong nor did you offend,” Luuk assured him. “I would have insisted on you going first.”
Jameson nodded when Norbert checked with him. “Really, it’s fine. Please don’t treat us any differently than you have been—like friends.” That meant so much to him, because the whole shifters dropping to kneel at Luuk’s feet was weird, and made Jameson fear he’d never have any friends other than Luuk. Be hard to, if everyone was all but sitting on the ground.
“It’s not like that, and I’m not like that, and the shifters, our people, aren’t like that,” Luuk told him, amusement in his mental voice. “That would drive me insane in no time. Mem did the appropriate thing, though, as it is our first meeting, and she wanted to show her loyalty. She won’t be doing it every time she sees us again.”
“God, I hope not,” Jamie thought back. At least