Page 5 of Caught By Her Guardian
After stomping the snow from their boots, they left their gear on the covered back porch and walked inside.
“Boys?”their mom called.
“Yeah, Ma,” Winter said.
“Come on back and say hi.We’re all in the kitchen!”
The living room was packed with family, all gathered around the newest member.Storm and Seren were on the couch, little Hale wrapped in blue blankets and snoozing in her arms.
Damn, he wanted that.
Winter handed the gift to Storm.Storm stood and hugged them both and then rejoined his mate.Hunter squatted down and patted Seren’s knee.“Congratulations, you two.He’s gorgeous.”
“Have a seat and hold him,” she said.“I’m ready to stretch my legs and get a refill of that awesome cider.”
“I’ll help you, babe,” Storm said.
Hunter sat and took Hale in his arms while his brother and sister-in-law went off into the kitchen.When they returned, they opened the gift—a quilt made by the elves depicting polar bears romping under the Northern Lights and a soft, squishy polar bear stuffed animal.
“Oh, you guys,” Seren said.“Thank you so much.”
“You look amazing.How are you feeling?”he asked.
“Good.Tired.But the clan healer gave me some amazing tea that was infused with fairy magic, and oh my gosh, I feel incredible considering I had him two days ago.I’m so glad that you could come to the celebration tonight.”
“I’m glad we could too.Orin sends his congrats.I’m sure he’ll visit after the holidays.”
He gave the baby back to Seren a little while later and helped his mom in the kitchen with dinner.After the big meal, they walked as a group to Alpha Klaus’s home, where he welcomed the baby to the clan.The clan gave gifts to the couple for the new baby, and then everyone stayed to hang out except for Storm and Seren, who headed home to rest with their little one.
After it was well past midnight and he’d immensely enjoyed hanging out with the clan, he stepped outside into the cold night air, resting his hands on the rails of the back porch.It was snowing heavily now, and the moonlight made the falling snow look like stars.
He’d been feeling strange for the last hour or so, and couldn’t figure out what was going on with him.He wondered if his polar bear was just ready to find his truemate, especially after seeing his brother so happy.But how the heck was he going to meet his truemate if he didn’t leave Northernmost that often?
He took a deep breath, and his heart clenched, a prickle of unease gripping his neck.
Something wasn’t right.
Frowning, he scanned the area but didn’t see anything at first.
He walked back into the house and grabbed his coat, telling his parents he was going for a walk.He wasn’t sure there was anything wrong, but his years as a Guardian urged him to investigate.
Hopefully it was nothing.
But if it was something, he’d be ready.
* * *
He followed his polar bear’s lead, looking around as he moved through the area.Movement caught his attention near the edge of the territory.Someone was leaning out of a window.
His instincts kicked in.A burglar?Here?
Only an idiot would try to steal from someone in the clan, but he couldn’t dismiss what he was seeing.Someone, who he couldn’t quite make out because of the shadows, was exiting the second-floor window of the home.
Moving on instinct, he crossed the snow in quick, silent strides and reached the house just as the person let out a startled yelp and plummeted toward him.He surged forward, arms outstretched, and caught the falling figure.
A feminineoofas she landed in his arms told him it was a female he’d caught.She smelled like flowers and starlight and his heart pounded as he made eye contact with her.
A beautiful female with pale hair gazed at him in surprise, and the tops of her wings, trapped against his arm, shimmered in the moonlight.
