The Dark Thrall Mating Olivia

Chapter

Six

Sid pulled up into the driveway of the two-story brick house beside the primer gray Camaro that sat in my parent's driveway. The hood was popped up, and as we drew closer, a head popped up, and dark eyes widened as Sid parked his bike.

My younger brother, Cade, was the spitting image of daddy. His dark hair was pulled back into a messy bun, and grease stains streaked his angular cheeks. He was the oldest of my younger brothers, and we had always been close. Just seeing him made me happy.

Even though he couldn't see my face beneath the helmet, I was smiling. It had been too long since I'd seen my family. When I got back to school, I was going to do better about keeping up with him and the others.

Sid killed the engine and pulled off his helmet, hooking it on to the handlebars. I did the same, handing my helmet to him before hopping off the back of the bike and running over to Cade. "Ev." Cade said, wrapping me in his arms and lifting me off the ground before spinning me around. He was sweaty and gross, but he was family, and his hug felt so good.

"Hey, bro." I said, hugging him back. "I missed you."

"I missed you too, Ev." Cade pulled back.

I loosened my hold on him. Looking up into his dark brown eyes, I scrunched up my nose as I took him in. "You need a bath and you smell funny."

"It's his girlfriend." Sid said as he came over to stand with us.

I leaned in, smelling my brother. He smelled the same as he always did, but there was another

scent there. Clinging to his skin and his hair beneath the smell of motor oil. "A cat?"

Sid busted out laughing, and Cade scowled at him. "She's not a cat. Lily is a panther." "Lily?" I asked, grinning at him. "Is it serious?"

Cade shrugged, pulling away from me. He turned back to the car's engine and picked up a wrench. "I like her."

He was so secretive about the girls he dated, but I knew that Cade was a lot like me. He was looking for his mates, only he was a dragon. There wouldn't be just one for him, and I hoped that he would find his mates soon. Then again, he was only nineteen and had plenty of time for the fun stuff before he found them.

"That's good; you should be having fun." I said, watching Cade tinker with the engine.

"Like you and Sid?" Cade grinned over at me. "He was telling me about your roommate."

My cheeks flushed at the mention of Cami and I shrugged my shoulders. "I like her, but she's human."

"She might surprise you or are you worried about her finding about what you and Sid are?" "Yeah." I frowned and he nodded.

"I get that. You should go let mom know you're here."

Nodding, I walked over to Sid's bike and grabbed my bag from the leather saddlebag on the side of the motorcycle. I started to heft it over my shoulder, but Sid stopped me, taking the bag from me and tucking it onto his shoulder.

"I've got it, Evy. Go say hey to your parents."

I sucked in a breath, looking towards the neat garage. Tools hung along the far wall on a

pegboard, and a long wooden table sat in front of it. The other side of the garage was taken over

by my fathers' motorcycles. They gleamed in the afternoon sunlight. My dad's had the bikes since they met mom and would still occasionally take her out on rides.

I'd been on the back of their bikes plenty of times, and I loved the feeling. The way the wind blew through my hair, how everything seemed to move so fast. It was like shifting, and I knew it was the closest that they could get to the feeling of flying without actually flying through the sky. Though they could now. Micheal had no problems with my dragon fathers shifting during pack runs. Even though dragons usually didn't stay in packs the way that shifters did, my parents were welcomed because mom and papa were pack.

Sid had been welcomed in as well. There wasn't as much struggle in the pack because, well, Micheal wasn't just a wolf shifter. His demonic side allowed him more control over stronger beasts than him. It was why he was so trusted to protect our pack, and why no one put up a fight when my fathers became part of it.

Straightening my shoulders, I walked into the garage. I made my way to the door at the back of the room. I could hear the noise of my family, the low music playing in the background that Mom liked to listen to when she was cooking. My brothers, Noah and Theo, gaming in the living room, arguing with each other. Though the sounds were muffled, I knew what they would be doing.

I should have made more time to come home and be with them. My wolf was excited to be with family, to be with her pack.

Opening the door, I stepped inside the house that I had grown up in. The garage led into the kitchen, and just as I had predicted, mom was closing the oven door, busy cooking for the family. She had on a pair of bright pink oven mitts and was holding two pizza stones. The smell of the cheese, tomato sauce, and various meats made my stomach growl and my mouth water. Mom looked the same as she always did, beautiful with her long, dark hair pulled into a loose ponytail. She had on fitted jeans and a dark gray figure-hugging T-shirt. Her feet were bare and her toenails sparkled with glittery red nail polish.

She turned around and her lips spread into a grin, her face lighting up. "Everly, you're home. I made pizza for dinner." She lifted up one of the pizza stones, "This one is sausage and olives, just like you and papa like."

"Hi, mom. It sounds good. Do you need any help with dinner?" I asked, letting the door close behind me.

"Sure, why don't you set the table, baby?"

I nodded, moving into the kitchen as she took the pizzas over to the counter and sat them down.

It was good to be home and the rhythm we fell into made me relax.