Not here.
Here dinner was spread out at once over the entire table and everyone passed the food around. And here everyone laughed and talked and actually listened to each other.
It was completely different than what she’d grown up with.
Yet she had never felt more at home.
Everyone was almost finished eating when Barrett’s phone beeped. He left the table as he answered it.
“Damon, what’s the story with Barrett?” Braxton nodded at the pack master’s empty chair.
“What do you mean?” Damon frowned before pulling another piece of chicken on to his overflowing plate.
“I mean no one really knows much about Barrett. Usually Pack Masters inherit the title from their father. But from what I’ve heard, Barrett’s not even from Arkansas. And he’s not been here for that long.”
Damon shrugged, his sunglasses covering his expression. “I don’t know. He doesn’t talk to me about it. Maybe he got the job by killing the old Pack Master who asked too many questions.” He pointed his fork at Braxton.
Haley grinned.
“I was wondering that myself.” Ava looked at Damon. “All the Guardians always speak so highly of him, but no one talks about his family.”
“That’s because his family is from South Carolina, dear.” Granny poured herself some coffee and picked it up.
Everyone turned and stared.
“What?” Granny shrugged.
“How do you know that?” Jayden gave his Granny his full attention.
“I have been living longer than any of you, and when you live as long as I have you make a lot of connections.” She took a sip of coffee.
“So how did he get here?” Braxton leaned forward to see Granny at the end of the table.
“How am I supposed to know?”
“You’re the one with all the connections.” Jayden smirked.
“Maybe, but I’m not a gossip.”
“Come on Granny, tell.” Ava pouted.
“Maybe he killed a Were in South Carolina and his penance was to be expelled from that state.” Braxton cocked his head.
“If he killed someone, the Assassins would have been sent to kill him, dumbass.” Damon gave Braxton a droll look.
Braxton shook his head. “Not if his family had connections and covered it up really well.”
“So why would they let him be Pack Master and put him in charge of a bunch of Weres?” Jayden took a drink.
“Maybe to fool everyone.” Damon shrugged. “The last place you would put a murderer is right in the middle of a pack. It’s like putting an alcoholic in a liquor store.”
Haley glanced around the table at all the serious expressions.
She met Ava’s gaze and the female winked, clearly amused at the males rampant ideas.
Haley spoke up. “Maybe his heart was broken in South Carolina.”
Every eye turned to her.
“I’m sorry, what did you say?” Damon wiped off his sunglasses. His disbelieving blue eyes stared back at her.
“That’s good, Haley.” Ava leaned forward, her eyes shining with anticipation. “Go on. I want to hear more of this theory.”
“Maybe his heart was broken by the one woman he ever loved. Maybe she died in a tragic accident.”
“What kind of accident?” Braxton cocked his head, interested in her story.
“I don’t know.” She pursed her lips as she contemplated an idea. “She died in a tragic paddleboard accident in the ocean when a shark ate her.”
“Then what happened?” Granny set down her coffee and gave Haley her complete attention.
Haley glanced at Jayden who was smirking. He waved for her to continue.
“Maybe he saw the whole thing and went in after her. He managed to wrestle the shark onto the sandy beach and he ripped the shark open, thinking the shark had swallowed her whole and there might be a chance she was still alive.”
Damon frowned and shook his head. “Sharks don’t do that. They bite their victims and chew them up.” He picked up his fork clearly losing his interest in the story.
“Maybe it’s a Were shark.”Everyone looked at her like she’d lost her mind.
“Let’s just pretend they exist.” Haley sighed.
“Go on.” Jayden smiled. He was clearly enjoying her story.
“After her horrible death, he couldn’t stand the torment of being anywhere near the ocean. So he went to the pack master of Arkansas who gave him a job as Guardian and upon his death made Barrett Pack Master.”
“You’ve got a crazy imagination, Haley.” Braxton barked out a laugh.
“She certainly does.” Silence sliced through the room as everyone turned to the doorway where Barrett stood.
CHAPTER TWELVE
“Nice dinner, Granny.” Braxton jumped up from the table and made his escape.
Damon and Ava followed behind Braxton.
Haley held her breath. She hadn’t meant anything by her little story. She was just having fun. Barrett had been the one person to help her when she needed it. She didn’t want him to think she was making fun of him.