Page 25 of The Wolf King's Demand

Tyler had won them over in the end by telling them a story until they had fallen asleep one by one. He was so natural with them, the perfect dad.

She smiled again when she recalled the children playing with Tyler around the great hall. He had been so patient outside earlier as well when the kids practiced their shifting.

He might be a big, tough wolf when it came to running the kingdom, but underneath, he was a big softie. She wished she could have her own children with him, but she would be mortified if they couldn’t shift. She wouldn’t bring a child into this world that was doomed to the sort of ridicule she had received while growing up.

Maybe adoption was the answer. She was certain she wanted to adopt Cassia. The child was adorable. It had been interesting to note that the crescent-shaped birthmark remained when she shifted. It turned into a beautiful white crescent moon in the fur on the side of her face. Addison thought it made her look magical rather than a freak.

I wonder if Tyler would consider adopting all four of them. We could start life with a ready-made family, she thought idly as she shut down the computer program she’d been working on. He certainly seems to enjoy having them around.

She was in the office doing more work on the digital security system. She’d been at it for a couple of hours, and she believed she had finally blocked the system from being hacked again. She’d also identified several blind spots around the castle and grounds where they needed extra cameras.

She became aware of a shadowy figure in the doorway and felt her heart leap in fright. She turned, ready to defend herself, but it was only one of the women they had rescued from the camp. She stood hovering in the doorway like she didn’t know if she would be welcomed.

“Hi. It’s Letitia, isn’t it?” Addison asked. “You gave me a start.”

“Yes, that’s right.” She looked nervous. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb you. I should go,” she said and made as if to leave.

“No,” said Addison hurriedly. “Don’t go. Come on in, what is it you need?”

The shifter woman entered the office sheepishly, looking around with big eyes. These women have been so badly abused, Addison thought with sadness.

“Come, sit down,” Addison said, trying to make her feel at home. “Would you like coffee?”

“No, no coffee, thank you,” Letitia said, smiling wanly. She took the chair opposite Addison, perching upright on the edge. Addison thought she looked like a bird prepared to fly away at the slightest provocation.

“It’s a nice office,” she said, looking around with her eyes wide.

“Thank you,” said Addison, not sure where this was going but not wanting to scare the poor thing away.

“Tyler isn’t here?” Letitia asked, peering around.

“No, he normally works here, but he’s off meeting with his enforcers. Do you want to speak with him?”

“No, not really,” the strange woman said. She sat with her hands clasped together in her lap, looking at the desk in front of her.

Addison wasn’t sure what to make of this. “How are you finding things here?” she asked when the silence became uncomfortable. “Is everything to your liking?”

“Oh, yes, it’s wonderful. You and Tyler have been very kind. All the women are very happy to have been rescued.”

Silence again.

“Is there something you wanted?” Addison asked, starting to feel a little vexed.

“Well, maybe,” Letitia said vaguely. “I heard you were going to adopt Cassia.”

“That’s correct, yes.” Addison wasn’t sure she liked where the conversation was going. She wished the woman would just get to the point.

“I’m sorry, I’m not making a good impression, am I? It’s been so long since I’ve been treated with respect, I’ve forgotten how to act,” admitted Letitia. “I wondered if you needed a nanny. Someone who knows the children. I’d like to be useful if you’d let me.”

Addison was relieved she had finally come out with it and felt bad that she had seemed so nervous about asking. She and Tyler had talked about keeping Cassia, but if it was up to her, she’d really like to keep all the orphans from the raid. If they did that, however, they were certainly going to need some help. She just wasn’t sure about putting that much trust in a total stranger.

“So you knew all the children at the camp?” asked Addison.

“Yes, of course. We were left to fend for ourselves most of the time, so the women would stick together to look after the children and each other. There was never much food to go around, so what we had, we shared.”

Both the women and the children were all emaciated. Addison had no problem believing they had been half-starved by the rogue bastards who had kept them in such appalling conditions.

“The free women weren’t treated much better than the slaves, to be honest,” Letitia went on. “Whatever we had, we would share with the slave women and children. It only seemed natural. I’m sure it’s what you would do, too.” She fixed Addison with a strange look that made her feel uncomfortable.

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