Page 66 of Shattered

“I like it!” Mikey whooped and jumped. “I’m a little tiger-wolf. Abby!” He ran for the sliding glass door. “Abby! Did you hear? I’m a tiger-wolf!”

Jochi chuckled and so did Aurora.

“Daddy?” The confusion in Charisma’s voice tugged at Aurora.

“It’s okay,” Jefferson said. “You have questions. I can see it in your eyes. I will answer all of them.”

Royce came up behind Charisma and wrapped his arm around her, kissing the crown of her head. “Congratulations, Senator.” He nodded to Jochi. “I should have figured it out. But I thought the reason your scents were so strong was due to your working relationship.”

“Well,” Jochi said. “We do work together, and I only claimed him the night of the raid.”

“Full moon,” Bell murmured, placing her hand to her small, protruding belly. “The strongest pull for canines for sure, but it can always twist the insides of a feline exposed to their mate, too.”

Jochi tapped the end of his nose. “I’d suffered many years in silence, taking every job Jefferson gave me just to be away from the intoxicating pull I felt whenever I was around him. After that night at the zoo, I couldn’t wait any longer.”

“You really were willing to walk away?” Jefferson muttered.

“I would have.” Jochi wouldn’t look at him. “It would have killed me, but I’d do anything for you.”

“You okay, oasis?” Royce asked.

She wiped away her tears as her chin trembled. “I’m a mess.”

“You’re perfect,” Royce said, pressing a kiss to her temple.

“Are you really happy, Daddy?”

“I am, sweetheart. I’m very happy. I loved your mother so much, I felt as if I’d crawled into her coffin and died with her.”

She gasped. “Oh, Daddy, no.”

“It’s true. I did. Then, Jochi helped me. The world has color again. I can breathe a little bit more. I can see the sun—feel its heat. I’m free.” Jochi’s arms tightened around him. “I know the juxtaposition of this relationship is jarring, though. I can’t honestly say I’d ever expected a male partner—mate or otherwise.”

“I have to admit; you threw me for a loop.” Charisma gave him a watery smile. “But if you’re truly happy, it’s all I want for you. It doesn’t matter who or why.” She glanced over at Jochi. “Welcome to our family, Father.”

“Now that we got the weepy bull—” Kalkin snarled. “Crap, out of the way, I feel like there is more you need to tell them.”

Jochi laughed. “He does.”

“I’m retiring,” Jefferson said. “We’re staying here. I will only return to D.C. to make final arrangements and make sure PBH can’t hurt anyone else.”

“This all so much. I need to sit down,” Charisma said, taking the first available chair. “Are you serious?”

“Yes. It’s time. I want to be here for you two and my—our—grandbabies. I want to slow down with my life. I missed so much. I don’t want to miss anymore. However, before I do that, I have to finish my work.”

“Which reminds me,” Kalkin said. “No talking about business when we’re all together. Family rule.”

“Well, then, we’ll discuss it later,” Jefferson said. “For now, I would like to enjoy my time with all of you, relaxing and getting to know my grandchildren better.”

“Sound wonderful, bèndàn. I, too, would like to get to know everyone now that the snow leopard is out of the bag.” Jochi winked at him then laughed as his horrible joke.

“Oh, God,” Kalkin grunted. “You’re like the others, sickeningly sweet. Gag.”

Jefferson laughed. “S’pose we are.”

The intimacy of the moment was almost too much for Aurora. The whole family laid their business on the table and allowed everyone to examine it without worry or compunction. It made her a bit uncomfortable. It also made her a bit jealous.

“This is how we do things,” Mackenzie said. “It’s normal for us. To share good news and new events.”

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