Page 59 of Bound to the Orc Hunter

His deep laugh makes my tummy flutter, my whole body lighting up with the thought: “Here be Dad material.”

Branikk meets my eyes over the head of a tiny pup. He smiles at me with a look of pure joy that makes his face more gorgeous than ever.

It takes my breath away.

Oh, no. Oh, no. Oh, no.

I know why I freaked out so badly earlier. It wasn’t worry that I might fall for him and get hurt.

It’s because it’s too late to keep my heart safe. I’m already falling.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

Branikk

The next two days are a bizarre mix of strategy meetings discussing how to handle the next sluagh attack and playtime with the pups. Grace remains fairly quiet whenever all the warriors gather to plan, though she did make a second net gun and numerous cartridges. All agree her human weapons will help us win the day, yet no one has an easy answer for the fact that only she and I have the hands required to use them.

Perhaps it’s no wonder, then, that she only comes alive when we’re with the pups. With extra warriors here, Riselda, Rune’s sister and the pack’s current leader, now allows the little ones playtime in the open area in front of the dens. After being cooped up for weeks, they have an excess of energy to burn off, and a new favorite person to do so with.

They leap around Grace now, in the mellowing light of evening. “Bubbles!” “Make the cat blow bubbles!” “Play with me!”

My bride laughs—truly laughs, the sound echoing through my soul—and her wide mouth stretches into the most glorious smile. Even as I gladden to see it, I want to make her smile in such a way myself.

She spins in a slow circle, waving the pink cat in the air, bubbles pouring from its mouth.

The pups have created a new game, each trying to pop the most bubbles and counting their “kills.” They leap, slashing with clawed paws and snapping with tiny fanged mouths, echoes of the warriors they will grow into. Yet somehow, that potential future deadliness only makes the younglings cuter.

My moon bound has a way with them, breaking up tussles using distraction instead of harsh words. When I praised her for it earlier, she shrugged. “I’ve worked around kids a lot. Kids are simple. Most can’t hide what they’re really thinking, so you know what you’re dealing with.”

Her words only confirm what I already know. She will be the most amazing mother. I can already picture her playing exactly so with our child.

My bride breaks up a squabble now, Astrid and Agnar arguing over their tie for first place when both reached the final bubble at the same moment.

“I know what we’ll do!” Grace says, loudly enough to be heard over their yips and snarls. “We’ll have a bubble off!”

“A what?” Agnar stops pawing at his twin sister.

“One last round, just the two of you. Winner wins the whole game.”

“Bubble off! Bubble off! Bubble off!” the pups chant, little faces looking up at her in adoration.

She laughs, head tipped back, mouth wide, and the sound pierces me like an arrow to the heart. By the goddess, I love my bride’s laugh.

Grace places the two competitors in front of her and starts the device, the wide mouth of the cat spitting bubbles straight ahead. The twins leap and dive, cheered on by their friends.

They end up in another tie until Astrid makes a spectacular leap, snapping a bubble out of the air with her teeth.

Grace calls out, “We have a winner!”

The pups all cheer as the twins fall into little panting heaps, tongues lolling.

When she catches her breath, Astrid says, “The only thing that would make it better is if the bubbles came out the cat’s butt.”

“Butt bubbles!” Agnar yells, rolling with delight, his little legs kicking up at the air.

Yips of laughter fill the air as Grace meets my eyes and offers me her beautiful smile.

“Where are you taking me?” Grace asks that evening as I lead her away from the dens.

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