Page 31 of The Mating Quest
Everyone looked at her, the way Ethan had. She gave Tate a reassuring smile. “Tate was wondering if he could stay in my room tonight. He’s scared to stayhere.”
“You discerned all that from sign language?” he asked dryly. “Without moving yourhands.”
Aw damn. Communicating telepathically with the boy had come so easily, and how the hell was she going to explainthis?
Ilana looked at Aiden. “Is it all right if Tate stays in myroom?”
Aiden rubbed his bearded chin. “As long as you promise not to cook and eat him in the middle of thenight.”
For a wild moment she thought the alpha was serious. Then she saw the amusement on Nia’s face and the slight smile on hertwins.
“No. I only do that to bratty teenagers. Though they do give me badindigestion.”
His mouth twitched, along with Ethan’s. “Yeah, it’s okay. I’ll clear it with thefairies.”
Nia pointed to the window. “It’s gettinglate.”
Tristan reached down, plucked both his twins up, one in each arm and kissed them. Nikita did thesame.
“Can we run with you, Papa?” Keeganasked.
Tristan shook his head. “You’re too young, Keegan. Tomorrow we’ll play tag and you can runthen.”
“I wanna run, too!” Peytondeclared.
Aiden swung his daughter into his arms. “In a few years,monkey.”
He tipped her upside down and she giggled. Aiden glanced at Ethan. “Are you running, Powers? Never answeredme.”
Ethan looked at her, really looked at her. “You going to be okay alone? Everyone but the kids and the fairies will be gone. I don’t like leaving you likethis.”
One of the fairies came and hustled all the children but Tate away. The adults stood, studying Tate. It was as if they didn’t want to leave the childalone.
Maybe Aiden was having second thoughts. Or maybe they considered she was the type to hurt kids. Then Nikita took Tristan’s hand. “I haven’t run with the pack in a while. Nia, I’ll see you and Aidenoutside.”
Tristan smiled, showing sharp canine teeth. “Running always heats herblood.”
Ethan looked at her one more time. “I’m coming with you, Mitchell. Let me walk Ilana and Tate back to her roomfirst.”
It took a few minutes to gather Tate’s things into a small overnight bag, then they walked the short distance to the main lodge. Night had fallen, the stars peppered the skies and the moon hung low in the sky, a silver nickel filled with promise. Several wolves milled about near the lodge. They watched her as she gripped Tate’s hand. Never had she seen so many wolves together. A group gathered, blocking the way to thestairs.
So many wolves that looked as if they could tear her apart and rip out herthroat.
Got news for you guys. I can’t be killed. You may think I’m dead, but I’ll merely vanish to some crazy quiet spot and fall asleep for one hundred years, and then wake up fullyregenerated.
Ethan couldn’t read her thoughts, but he was smart and intuitive and bared his teeth at the others, showing sharp canines. They wandered off, clearing a path forthem.
Upstairs, Ethan helped her put a mattress on the floor for Tate, found sheets and a pillow. He put a hand on the boy’sshoulder.
“I’ll supervise the teeth brushing and get him into PJs for bed. Why don’t you go downstairs and find a book to read to him? Aiden has a few children’s books in the livingroom.”
She gave Ethan a questioning look, but Ethan signed to Tate exactly what he’d told Ilana. A little reassured, she went downstairs, found a worn, obviously loved copy of Good Night Moon, and brought it back to herroom.
Tate sat up on the mattress and she joined him. Ethan paced, looking with longing out the window. She sensed the moon pulled at him, and the restlessness all Lupines felt with the fullmoon.
He wanted to run with thepack.
Opening the book, she didn’t look at Ethan. “Go. Run with the pack. It’s obvious the full moon is pulling at you. We’ll befine.”
