Page 8 of Kitty Cat

“Did you by any chance lose my number? You know, the one I had you memorize at nine years old?”

Daunte never played fair; he pouted and his big amber eyes went all pleading and cute.

“I can’t do that expression over the phone. You would totally have told me to take a hike.”

The man had a point. Dammit.

She sighed and climbed on top of a shelf, asking, “Okay what’s the deal?”

It really wasn’t her problem; they even had an agreement - whenever they’d met up over the years, they never spoke of the issues they encountered in their lives. Being siblings didn’t give them the right to be in each other’s business.

But he’d changed the rules of the game by turning up; she needed to know what sort of mess he’d brought to her doorstep.

“We don’t know. Our pride was always in danger - from felines who think one of our enforcers is a criminal, although he was acquitted, and from shifters around us, because we’re small and they assume it makes us easy pickings. But that pack… they’ve been on our case for about two, three years, wherever we go. We stayed where we were, and fought them whenever they came to our door, at first, but then, they went after one of our kids - a sixteen year old, while he was at school. He didn’t make it.”

Daunte’s eyes were cold, and for a minute he reminded her of their father.

“We’re strong, Ace. All of us. But we’re ten adults, and there’s seven kids. We have no clue who they are, honestly, but every time they attack us, they completely outnumber us. There’re at least sixty fighters in their packs - I’m sure they have kids who would make them vulnerable too, but we’d never target them anyway.”

She nodded, understanding. But that didn’t change a fact.

“I’m happy here, Daunte. No one bothers me. You know I’ve never turned away any loner who needed to lie low, but an entire pride? Thatwillbring some attention to my territory.”

And it was just that: hers. She’d stuck to the location after killing the Alpha for one simple reason: she had been able to buy the entire forest, its lake, its mountains, and the twelve houses built on it. The pack of wolves who’d lived there before her had just rented; the territory had belonged to an old family who’d been more than happy to sell out to her, because they’d known she wouldn’t pull any shit on them.

Having a pride settled in town might damage the little piece of home she’d managed to carve for herself.

“I know,” Daunte replied, nodding. “But the pride is family, and I do whatever I can to protect my family. If it means begging my big sister for help? So be it.”

She rolled her eyes, but her expression was still guarded.

“What?”

Ace took a few seconds, deciding whether she really wanted to bring up the subject. Then, she gave into what her cat what demanding - what she herself really wanted to know.

“Your Alpha. I need you to tell me about your Alpha.”

Needwas a strong word; she needed water, fresh air and cupcakes. Information about a complete stranger shouldn’t have seemed as essential to her - but it was.

The man had madequitethe impression on her, and she would feel off balance until she could pinpoint why.

Clueless

They were settledby dusk - Daunte had taken a trip to a nearby store to stock up on supplies they might need, Ian and Jas got the three rooms set up, and most of the others unpacked while Christine took care of the kids.

Kim painted her nails. Then, she watched them dry.

As well as the expected essentials, Daunte came back with a heavy tray containing doughnuts, cupcakes, chocolate cakes and mini pies. Rygan narrowed his eyes, catching something else over the scent of sugar, butter and vanilla. Something woodsy and spicy.

“Your friend Aisling made these?” he guessed, grabbing a miniature apple pie.

Daunte nodded, sharing the goodies around.

Hell. This was agoodpie.He peeked into the box his Beta had left on the dining room table, and found a cupcake left in there. Rygan had just grabbed it when he sensed someone looking at him; he turned to find Hsu staring at him with watery eyes, like he’d just kicked his way through an entire litter of puppies.

He sighed and regretfully put the cupcake in her little hands, ruffling her hair, although the kid was nothing short of a damn manipulative cupcake thief.

“Try that in ten years,” he said, his tone warning her.

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