Vega Brothers: Hannibal: BBW Paranormal Romance Pretend Engagement (The Bear Shifters of Vega Ranch Book 4) (12 page)

“There goes the neighborhood,” Julius said as two Jeeps drove down the dirt road towards the main house.

Hannibal was laying on the patio couch with Mikki’s head on his stomach. Everyone was lounging on the balcony, enjoying the lazy summer day. They all jumped up and stood at the railing watching the Jeeps as they slowed to a stop.

“I have a feeling that this isn’t going to end well,” Khan said, exhaling hard.

The six members of the Clawed Squad stepped out of the cars and looked up at them. Hannibal felt an empty feeling in the pit of his stomach.
This is going to go fine
. He had been telling himself that all week but he still wasn’t fully believing it.

“Which one is the one that you beat to a pulp?” Elena asked Alexander.

Julius snorted a laugh. Alexander shot him a warning look and Julius cleared his throat, turning his amused face into a serious one.

“There’s no house on the north side of the ranch,” Royal complained from beside the Jeep.

“No shit,” Khan yelled back. “Why do you think we gave you that side?”

“Where do you expect us to live?” Royal asked with his hands out.

Khan pointed to the forest in the distance. “There’s some trees. Start chopping.”

Hannibal met Thorn at the bottom of the stairs and they shook hands. “Don’t worry,” Thorn said. “I’ll keep them on a short leash.”

The alpha of the Clawed Squad pulled out a stack of letters from his back pocket. “I picked up your mail on the way in. Isn’t that what friendly neighbors do?”

Hannibal laughed as he took the stack of letters. “Thanks again for the other night,” he said with a nod. “You really saved our asses.”

Thorn smiled. “Don’t mention it.”

Hannibal knew that his brothers would kill him but he had to ask. It was the right thing to do. “Do you guys want to stay in the guest houses until you get a house built?”

“Nah,” Thorn said, “but thanks. We lived in the world’s shittiest places for the last few years. We can live in the forest for a few days.”

“A few days?” Hannibal asked, wondering how they were going to build a house in a few days.

“I ordered some trailers to stay in while we figure things out.”

“Alright,” Hannibal said with a nod. “Let us know if you need anything. We’ll be right over that hill.”

They shook hands again and Thorn walked back to his squad while Hannibal hurried back up the steps. Alexander and Stetson were staring each other down with ferocious eyes.

Hannibal started cycling through the letters as the two Jeeps pulled away in a cloud of dust and drove back onto the main road, heading around to the north side of the ranch.

The deed
. Hannibal ripped the envelope open and yanked out the paper inside. He had filled out all of the necessary paperwork with the lawyer and set up the transfer of the north side of the ranch to the six members of the Clawed Squad. Nausea crept up his throat and he felt dizzy and lightheaded as he read it. He grabbed onto the railing as his knees buckled.

“What’s wrong?” Julius asked, grabbing his arm and holding him up.

“Everything,” he whispered.

Khan snatched the paper out of his hand and frowned as he read it. “What does all of this legal mumbo-jumbo mean?”

Hannibal gulped as he sat down in the chair that Alexander handed him. “I transferred the ownership of four thousand acres to Thorn and the other guys.”

“So?” Julius asked, looking confused. “We had planned that.”

“Right,” Hannibal said, bracing himself for his brother’s reactions. “But we didn’t plan for the consequences.”

“What does that mean?” Bailey asked.

“Just tell us what’s wrong,” Alexander snapped.

Hannibal sighed. “Dad’s will said that all potential owners of the ranch have to get married within a year or the deed gets transferred over to the state.”

“Right,” Elena said, “and you all did. So what’s the problem?”

Hannibal’s words were caught in his throat. His mouth was so dry. “The Clawed Squad are listed as potential owners now.”

“So?” Khan said, scratching his big head.

“They have to get married and take on mates as well,” Hannibal said, feeling like he was going to puke as he said the words. “Or we all lose the ranch.”

Julius dropped his head in defeat. “Shit.”

“Who’s going to marry those assholes?” Alexander yelled.

“You said asshole,” Liam parroted from the corner of the balcony where he was coloring.

Bailey snatched the paper out of Khan’s hands and looked it over. “You’re saying that your father’s will applies to them as well?”

Hannibal sighed. “It applies to all potential owners and those six shifters are now listed as potential owners. The same rules apply to them.”

“Wow,” Julius said, shaking his head. “Talk about an ultimate fuck up.”

“Yup,” Hannibal said with a nod.

“Should we get the matches?” Julius asked.

Hannibal dropped his head into his hands. “For what?”

“Someone has to go tell Thorn the good news.”

“We’re not going to be telling Thorn,” Khan said. “He’s going to be the Thornado when he hears this.”

“I’ll go,” Elena said, stepping forward.

Alexander grabbed her wrist. “No way. You’re not stepping foot over there.”

“I know,” Hannibal said. “We’ll send the lawyer. Let him deal with it.”

“Fine with me,” Julius said.

“Me too,” Alexander and Khan both said at the same time.

Hannibal grimaced. “So much for our friendly neighbors.”

“Yup,” Khan said. “They’re going to be pissed.”

the end

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