“Yes,” one tiny boy agrees. “One day, I came home, and mom looked unkempt. She said mate stopped her from brushing her hair.”
“Oh, cool,” another girl beams. “I want a mate too. I hate brushing my hair.”
I chuckle slightly, sitting down. “I’m Annie.”
I note one of the girls tugging at my sleeves. She is smaller, and shyer than the others. “Do you want to sit with me, honey?” I ask.
She nods eagerly, and I help her settle down on my lap. “What’s your name, sweetie?”
The girl chews on her thumb, hiding in my arms. “Emily,” she whispers.
Her parents died a few months ago.Liam mind-links me.They had a car accident, and a fire broke out.
Oh, goddess.My heart aches.Poor Emily!I can’t leave her alone immediately.Mind if we stay a bit longer?
Not at all.I can almost hear the smile in his voice. When I shift my gaze a bit, I can see him look at me full of love.
“I have an idea,” I whisper to the kids. “How about we get my mate to sit with us too?”
“You think so?” one of the boys whispers back. “He looks scary.”
“No, he is just scared you won’t like him,” I murmur secretively. “He is a bit shy. Let’s call him together.”
“Okay!” the boy nods.
“Alpha Liam,” I smile at him. “Join us.”
“Yes, Alpha Liam.”
“Alpha, you can sit next to me. I will protect you!”
Liam seems amused as he approaches us tentatively, still looking skeptical, but eventually sits down between two of the boys.
We spend around an hour with the kids and leave before their afternoon snack. Afterwards, Liam leads me to the training grounds. I instantly make out Aurelia and a bunch of younger wolves.
She waves at me excitedly, approaches us, and introduces her friends to me. My head spins a bit afterwards. There is no way I will remember all these names immediately. But her friends seem like a mischievous bunch.
I also notice her doing well during her training. “Aurelia is good,” I point out.
Liam nods. “She and Nox are the strongest. She lacks focus, but she shows a lot of potential. Father and I have high hopes for her.”
“Nox is one of her friends, right?” I inquire. “The one with the scar.”
“Yes,” Liam nods.
“He is really quiet,” I muse. “Almost like he doesn’t dare to talk too much. He seemed a bit uncomfortable with us.”
“You noticed?” Liam asks. “Nox is a good kid, but he owes his life to my father. He grew up as the son of a psychopath rogue leader. They beat and abused him and trained him to become an assassin.”
“How did he end up here then?”
Liam shows me a crooked smile. “He was sent to kill my father. He was only a kid. Obviously, he faced no chance. Father refused to kill a child though and instead gave him the chance to become a part of this pack.”
I stare at Liam in disbelief. “You are kidding me, right!?”
“Not at all.”
“Your father is incredible, Liam,” I say breathlessly.