Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22227 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 111(@200wpm)___ 89(@250wpm)___ 74(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22227 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 111(@200wpm)___ 89(@250wpm)___ 74(@300wpm)
He kissed the tip of my nose. “Mm-hmm.”
He helped me into a sweater anyway, tugging it down carefully like I was made of glass. It was ridiculous. I wasn’t fragile. I’d survived things he still didn’t know the full details of.
But I let him do it because being cared for by him was becoming its own kind of healing.
When we stepped outside, the clearing was already alive. Laina’s laugh carried over the crackle of flames. Evette was seated with a blanket over her legs and one of the twins in her arms. Leyton hovered over her with the other strapped to his chest. Marielle stood next to Artemis, peering at where Lilibeth was snuggled against her father’s chest.
Garner’s hand found the small of my back automatically, guiding me toward everyone. The moment we came into view, Laina beamed a smile at me. “There you are.”
Garner let out a low sigh. “Don’t.”
Evette’s gaze was knowing. “We were wondering when you’d stop hiding her.”
“I wasn’t hiding her,” Garner argued, but the tips of his ears were already turning red.
Marielle’s smile softened when she looked at me. “How are you feeling?”
I blinked. “Fine. Why?”
The women exchanged a glance so quick it was almost invisible, and I would’ve missed it if I hadn’t been paying attention lately. If I hadn’t started noticing how their little looks and pauses seemed like a language of their own. One I was starting to learn.
Thora emerged from beside the fire with a wicked grin. “If Garner complains one more time about the roast, I’m putting him on dish duty.”
I bit the inside of my cheek and failed to hide my smile.
Thora’s eyes flicked to my mouth, then my stomach, then up again. The grin she gave me was pure trouble as she handed me a mug. “Ginger tea. Sip it. Sit down. Eat something bland first. Then your stomach will be ready for the main course later.”
I let her boss me, because it was the kind of care I’d never had enough of. And the ginger tea made my mouth water in a good way.
Garner guided me to a chair like I might topple over, then hovered until I rolled my eyes and tugged him down beside me.
“I’m not going to break,” I murmured.
Leyton strode past with a plate stacked high, grinning at Garner. Keane emerged a moment later, calm as ever, his eyes flicking to us with quiet satisfaction. He lifted his hand in greeting, then paused when his phone rang.
Glancing at the screen, he murmured, “I need to take this.”
He walked a few steps away, his voice too low to catch over the crackle of fire and the laughter rising again. When Keane came back, his expression was tense.
“That was Booker. He found his mate.”
“Why don’t you look happy about that?” Garner asked.
“He needs help.”
No one asked questions.
Keane was already moving, issuing quiet instructions. Leyton was on his feet. Artemis’s gaze went sharp. Rome’s smile vanished like it had never existed.
I watched it all unfold, understanding something vital at that moment.
When one of them needed help, they didn’t hesitate.
They moved as one, because that was what family did. And I was a part of theirs.
EPILOGUE
GARNER
Ifrowned when I saw Elodie swipe a hand over her forehead, which was beaded with sweat.
“Sit,” I demanded, guiding her to a bench.
Florida was hot as fuck in July, and I didn’t like seeing her over exerting herself.
“I shouldn’t have agreed to this shit,” I grumbled.
Elodie sighed and shot me a disgruntled scowl, but at least she sat down.
“I’m fine. A little sweating won’t hurt me or the baby.” She set her hands on her swollen belly and peered up at me. “After two kids, I thought maybe you’d ease up on the over protectiveness.”
I snorted, and she rolled her eyes.
“Yeah, I should’ve known better.”
My gaze scanned the crowded streets of the amusement park, my cougar more alert than usual. Neither of us liked our mate and cubs so exposed. But I was a fucking sucker when it came to their hopeful expressions.
When a job had come up in Orlando, Elodie had immediately begged me to accept. It was only a six week job over the summer before our oldest would enter kindergarten, and our traveling would become much more limited lately.
She wanted to take the kids to Disney World and do all the other activities that families do in this purgatory. At six months pregnant, I adamantly refused. But she’d been prepared for my every excuse, even going so far as to have a note from her doctor giving her approval. Then she and the kids had broken out those puppy dog eyes—so to speak.
“Daddy!”
My head swiveled, and I smiled at the blond little girl and slightly younger, dark-haired boy. They were running toward me with bright faces and giant smiles.
Keane’s kids were hot on their tails while their dad walked behind them at a slower pace, his expression looking as tortured as I felt.