The Pack's Hacker (by Cooper) novel Chapter 31

Jude

I’m excited to introduce Wendy to my family. I just know she’s going to fit in like she’s always been there.

Because my mother is so excited about me bringing someone home, she and dad bought us first-class plane tickets. That turned out to be great, since neither of us had a lot of sleep last night. We were able to board the plane early and once we got on the plane, and I was able watch Wendy’s excitement, then calm her nerves. Not long after takeoff, I pulled her against me and we both went back to sleep.

It was a direct flight, but still five hours long, so when they brought food around, we woke up and ate. I had Wendy sit by the window so she could watch as the world went by.

When the pilot announced that we were coming in for a landing, I could feel Wendy’s nervousness increasing.

“Are you nervous about landing or about meeting my family?” I ask her.

“Yes,” she says, giving me her beautiful Wendy grin.

“You have nothing to worry about. Although, the Los Angeles airport is huge. So, don’t be overwhelmed and don’t be surprised.”

“How big is huge?” she asks.

“At least twice the size of our airport.”

Her eyes get wide.

“Just stay with me. We have to pick up our bags in baggage claim anyway.”

Normally, I would just do a carry-on for a week at my family’s, but Wendy was worried that she wouldn’t have the right clothes so I’m pretty sure she packed a little bit of everything.

“When we get off the plane, can we find a bathroom? I want to make sure I don’t look like a mess when I meet your family.” “They’re not going to judge you, Wendy. They’re just excited that I’m bringing someone home.”

“Who’s meeting us at the airport?” she asks, obviously distracted.

“If you were bringing me home to visit your family for the first time, who would be waiting for us?” I ask her.

She grins. “Everyone.”

I nod. “I expect everyone will be here for me too.”

“Your brother, the Alpha, met his mate, right?” she asks, as if memorizing who is who.

“Yes, Riley met Courtney about six months after he turned eighteen, a few days after her birthday. They have two pups now, a boy and a girl.”

“And your sisters are all underage?”

“Yes, Isobel is seventeen, Caitlin is sixteen, and Kira is fifteen.”

“And your youngest brother? He’s Wade and Yvonne’s age?” 1

“Yep, Dane just turned fourteen. You can let me know once you meet them, but I think my family would get along great with yours, especially since they’re all around the same age.”

“Your mom and dad are a little younger than mine, though, right?” she asks, looking outside just as the wheels touch the ground, jerking us both in our seats.

“Yes, we didn’t have the pack wars out here that you had back east. At least, not to the same degree that you had them. Packs will always fight for dominance and control, or some will. Look at Arden, Christer, and Stellan. They were all vying for money and control. And, of course, we now have those Alphas running a human trafficking ring. That’s also about money, power, and control.”

“As soon as I can, I need to call my mom and see how Raptor is doing,” she says. “I want to check on Tracker too, and Vivienne.”

“We have time. As a matter of fact, you can call now while we’re taxiing to the terminal if you want,” I tell her, knowing that she’ll be distracted once we’re off the plane, then mad at herself for not checking on the people she cares about.

I watch while she calls her mom.

“Wendy, did you arrive safely? Your father has been so worried about you,” Luna Yara answers.

“We just landed mom. We’re not even off the airplane yet,” she says. I keep one ear on their conversation while texting Hijack to get his impressions of how everyone is doing.

Me: We just landed. Anything I need to know about?

Hijack: You mean besides the tracker I found on your car?

What the fuck?

Me: What tracker?

Hijack: You know I keep tabs on all our vehicles, right?

Me: Yes.

Tracker and I agreed that it’s safer this way considering the work that we do. The Council has Hijack monitoring vehicles for all of the elite squad members, so we agreed to be included in that monitoring. I wouldn’t be surprised if Wendy’s car is now being monitored too.

Hijack: After last night’s attack, I ran a scan on all our vehicles. You have a tracker on yours.

Me: What about Wendy?

Hijack: No, just you.

That confirms my suspicion that he’s monitoring her now, too. I’m glad, knowing that Stellan was targeting her. I make a mental note to tell her that her vehicle is monitored by Hijack so she doesn’t find out from someone else. 2

Me: Do you know who it is?

Hijack: I’m working on that now. Between Tracker, watching prison tapes, and now hunting this asshole, it’s been a busy day. Me: How is Tracker doing?

Hijack: Better now that Raptor is awake. I understand he’s not very alert, but he’s opened his eyes and sipped some water. I look at Wendy.

“That’s great, Mom. I’m so glad to hear it. So, she and the baby are doing well?” she asks.

“Now that her mate is stable, she is doing much better,” I hear Luna Yara say.

I hand Wendy her bag and go use the bathroom, then stand in the walkway beside the women’s bathroom and wait for her. And wait. And wait.

I finally pull out my phone to text her just as she reappears. I raise my eyebrow at her. She’s completely changed. She’s put on

a clean dress, her hair looks like she’s just blown it dry, and I swear I smell a hint of soap on her.

“Do they have showers in there?” I ask her.

“I refuse to meet your family smelling like I’ve been sitting on an airplane all day. You only get one chance to make a first impression, Jude,” she says seriously.

I shake my head, grab her bag, and take her hand.

“Come on, they’re waiting for us in baggage claim.”

Even with all the noise of a large, busy airport, I can hear Wendy’s heart rate getting faster the closer we get.

We get on a tram to take us to the main terminal, and I take the opportunity to wrap an arm around her waist to hold her steady.

“Everything is going to be fine, Wendy. Breathe,” I say in her ear.

She nods, but I can feel her pulse and I swear her palms are sweaty.

I take her hand again as we step out of the tram and make our way past the security check-point where we can’t turn back.

I see them immediately, all standing together waiting for us.

My sister, Kira, squeals and races toward me. She’s a lot like Yana, full of energy and excitement. I pull away from Wendy just in time to catch my sister as she leaps into my arms.

“JUDE!”

“Hey, buttercup!” I say, holding her off the ground in a bear hug.

“You must be Wendy. I’m Luna Abigail,” my mother says.

I put Kira down and step up to Wendy again.

“Everyone, this is Wendy. Wendy, this is my family,” I say, but my mother has already taken Wendy’s hands in hers.

“Jude, she’s as beautiful as you said she is,” my mother coos, making Wendy blush.

“Thank you, Luna.”

“Oh foo! We’re practically family. Please, call me Abigail,” she says, before pulling Wendy into a hug.