Page 8 of Bear Your Fate

“Yes,” I muttered. It was the logical choice since it would allow me to help Selene with the babies and Carrick would be available to help me acclimate to my new role on the council.

He closed the small gap between us and lowered his voice. “At my house?”

“Oh my Goddess...no,” I gasped, earning me an amused chuckle that had my back straightening in indignation. “Not that I couldn’t handle sharing your space, mind you.”

“Then prove it and stay with me,” he rasped.

Looking into his dark eyes, so full of heat, I knew which bed he hoped I’d sleep in if I said yes. “I’ll be of more help if I stay with Selene and Camden. They’ll have their hands full with the babies.”

“Maybe for the first couple of weeks,” he conceded. “But once they get the hang of things, it’ll be good for them to have their space so they can settle into their new roles as parents.”

“When—and if—the time comes that it would do more harm than good for me to stay with my daughter, I’ll find somewhere else to stay.”

“Like my house,” he prodded.

“Or a place of my own, you insufferable bear.” He stroked a finger down my arm, making me shiver. “Stop.”

“Just checking to make sure you haven’t grown any feathers.”

“Feathers?” I echoed.

He squawked like a chicken, driving his opinion home. There wasn’t anything I could say to change his mind—not when we both knew he was right—so I stomped away in frustration.

5

Carrick

Part of me wanted to hunt Damien down and force him to tell me the whole story behind his request. It’d be one hell of a fight, but it would be worth it. And it wasn’t even because I didn’t believe the explanation he’d given. But I damn well knew he’d held something back. Just like he and Seth, the head of the council, had done back when Camden had mated with Selene. I respected both men, but my trust only went so far when it came to my family’s wellbeing—and Audra’s.

Regardless of my concerns about whatever it was that Damien was hiding, I wasn’t about to reject the opportunity he’d given me. Stalking after Audra, I kept my eyes on her tight ass for as long as I could until it would be obvious to everyone in Selene’s hospital room that I was panting after her mom. Once I’d maneuvered her back into my bed and figured out what the hell was happening between the two of us, I’d be ready for them to know. But not a moment earlier, or else I’d run the risk of scaring her off again.

“Cool it with the scary face, grandpa,” Alasdair chided. “Or else you’ll frighten my niece and nephew.”

“My grandbabies never need to be afraid of me,” I growled at my oldest son.

“It wasn’t even his scary face. The three of us have seen that one often enough that I’d recognize it in my sleep,” Braden chimed in. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen that look from him before. What the f—” he trailed off when Tahlia slapped him upside the head.

“Language,” she hissed, jerking her chin at the babies as they slept in the bassinettes that must have been rolled from the nursery to Selene’s room while Audra and I talked to Damien.

Braden flashed his mate an apologetic smile before he turned his attention back to me. “Why do I have the feeling that whatever put that odd look on your face was something bad?”

I stifled my chuckle since it would raise too many questions. It wasn’t as though I could explain how humorous I found it that my sons didn’t recognize the desire I’d tried to wipe from my expression because then they’d want to know who had inspired the feeling in me. Instead, I allowed myself a slight smirk as I watched Tahlia stroke Braden’s back, providing comfort with the same hand she’d just used to knock some sense into him. I’d always liked the lioness shifter who’d served the council, but I absolutely loved her as my middle son’s mate.

“Probably because Damien was involved. It didn’t escape my notice that he seems to have disappeared as he tends to do at times,” Tahlia murmured.

“Oh for the Goddess’s sake,” Audra sighed, glaring at me before she offered my family a reassuring smile. “Nothing horrible happened.” She moved to Selene’s side and wrapped her hand around her daughter’s. “Damien asked me to take your spot on the council until you’re ready to come back.”

The witch I’d come to love as my own daughter searched her mother’s face. “And your answer was?”

“Yes, of course.”

The “of course” was said in unison as something passed unspoken between mother and daughter. The bond between the two witches was impossible to miss, even though they had been apart for so many months. Looking at them together, nobody could doubt their connection—or the unconditional love they felt for each other. Considering how horribly I’d picked with the mothers of my children, it only made Audra more attractive to me. It was only one of the many reasons why she was an incredible woman.

“I’ll be staying in town for the foreseeable future, as well,” Audra added.

Selene gave a satisfied nod. “As you should. My darling babies need their grandmamma near.”

“Very near since I plan to stay with you and Camden, at least until you’ve recovered and gotten a handle on nighttime feedings with not one, but two babies.”

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