Chapter 152: Chapter 152 Nothing’s Going On
Author
Wolfe Pack House
Alpha Hunter was unusually awake, waiting for his son and grandson to return home.
He’d been pacing the main living room for the better part of an hour, checking his watch every few minutes.
It wasn’t until ten o’clock that Yardley finally walked through the door, carrying a sleeping Orion in his arms.
"Dad, you’re still up?" Yardley’s tone was mild.
Alpha Hunter looked at his eldest son, taking in the slightly rumpled appearance, the faint smile that Yardley probably didn’t even realize he was wearing.
Alpha Hunter let out a dismissive huff. "My eldest son finally shows interest in someone. Of course I’m staying up."
Yardley’s step faltered slightly. His lips twitched. "I’m taking Orion upstairs."
It was nearly half an hour before he came back down.
Alpha Hunter had made himself comfortable in his favorite armchair, clearly prepared for an interrogation.
"So," Alpha Hunter said without preamble, "what’s going on with you and Elara’s colleague?"
"Nothing’s going on."
"My ass!" Alpha Hunter’s eyes widened. "Your eyes were practically glued to her all night! And you’re telling me there’s nothing going on?"
Yardley remained calm, his tone maddeningly even. "Dad, maybe you should stick to the pack reports and leave the matchmaking alone. You’re imagining things."
"I’m going upstairs. You should get some rest."
--
Nancy didn’t feel relieved after returning home that night.
Because before saying goodbye, Yardley had added, "Thank you for your hospitality today. Next time, let me return the favor."
There was something in the way he’d said it. Not casual politeness, but a promise with real intention behind it.
Nancy couldn’t read this man. She didn’t want to read him. Every instinct told her to keep her distance.
[Getting closer to him felt like poking a sleeping bear. Nothing good could come from it.]
She’d barely been home twenty minutes when her father called. "Your mother had a panic attack. Get to the hospital now!"
Nancy’s heart dropped. She grabbed her keys and drove straight there, breaking every speed limit.
The moment she walked into the hospital room, her father started in on her. "Nancy, we raised you, supported you through college, and this is how you repay us? Moving across town, barely calling. If your mother hadn’t had this episode today and I hadn’t called you, were you planning to never come back?"
Nancy pressed her lips together. She had no idea where this was coming from.
She took a deep breath and decided not to escalate things. "Mom, how are you feeling?"
Carol looked exhausted but determined. "Nancy, don’t blame your father for worrying. But honey, we just want to see you happy and settled down. You broke off that engagement, and now you say you don’t want to date anyone at all. We’re concerned about you."
Nancy was confused.Her parents had always been pretty supportive about her choices before. When had they become so focused on her love life?
[It was like they’d suddenly joined some suburban mom committee obsessed with grandchildren.]
"It’s not that I don’t want to marry. I just haven’t met the right person yet."
"But you’re not putting yourself out there! You refuse to join dating apps, you won’t let us introduce you to anyone. That’s the same as refusing to marry, isn’t it?"
Nancy watched the heart monitor spike. She quickly softened her voice. "Mom, don’t get upset. Just talk to me calmly."
"Your mother’s anxiety is all because of your stubbornness!" Robert jumped in.
Classic good cop, bad cop. Carol grabbed her daughter’s hand. "I met this lovely doctor at my book club. Dr. Bennett teaches at the university. He’s just as accomplished as your ex was. Just do me this one favor and meet him. Don’t think of it as a blind date. Just dinner between friends. Can you do that for me?"
When your mother is lying in a hospital bed holding your hand and asking for something, it’s almost impossible to say no.
Nancy felt trapped.
"Fine. I’ll meet him."
Just like that, the next day her mother had given him Nancy’s number.
[Bennett: Hello Nancy. I know a great French bistro downtown. I’ll pick you up after work today. Sound good?]
The moment she got the message, Nancy frowned. She quickly typed back: [Okay.]
Then added: [Actually, I’ll drive myself. Just send me the address.]
He took thirty minutes to respond with a short agreement.
Nancy had learned never to let blind dates pick her up. It made escape routes complicated.
