Except that it wasn't. Wolf-shifters were always born male. If a female child was born, she was human, never shifter. In all of Grayson's years, he had never heard of something like this happening. He had never even heard of it in rumor or myth.
Iben cleared his throat. "Are you sure Molly is a girl?"
Grayson couldn't take his eyes off the pup even as he nodded. "I've changed her diapers. I'm positive she's a girl."
"Then we have a bigger problem than I thought." Iben walked over to sit down on the sofa next to Apollo, reaching out to rub his hand over the pup's fur. "This has got to be why Elder Fielding was so freaked out about registering you and your pack members. The council must already know about this."
Grayson was pretty sure he knew what Iben was doing when the alpha grabbed the blanket off the back of the couch and used it to cover the pup up. Clothes didn't shift with the wolf. They shredded. When Molly shifted back, she would be naked.
"We'll need a diaper as well," Grayson said. "She's getting better about it, but she's not totally potty trained yet."
"We'll see that you have what you need," Iben said, his eyes filled with sorrow as he stared down at the small pup. "I suspect she will regress a bit while she deals with the trauma of losing her parents and the others in your pack plus the upheaval of moving away from everything she's ever known. It will take a while before she feels safe again."
"Have Simon spend some time with her," Apollo suggested.
"Simon?" Grayson knew that name. "Wasn't the celebration for him and your brother?"
Apollo nodded. "Simon is special. He has a connection to the younger members of the pack that very few do. If anyone can make her feel better, it's Simon."
"I would appreciate that. CJ, too." For just a moment, the agony of losing his family took Grayson's breath away. He'd never experienced anything that devastating and prayed to the fates that he never did again. "I have no idea what I'm doing," he commented under his breath. "I was supposed to be the doting uncle. I wasn't supposed to raise kids on my own."
"You're not on your own, Grayson," Apollo reassured him. "You have an entire pack willing to help, and you have me." Apollo's tender smile brightened Grayson's spirits a little. "You'll never be alone, mate. I'll always be at your side."
Grayson went to say something equally as sappy but was saved when Molly suddenly shifted back to her human form and woke up. Her little blue eyes watered as she worked herself into a monster of a snit.
Grayson jumped to his feet and jumped over to pick her up, hoping to ward off the inevitable storm that was brewing. Once Molly got going, it was pretty damn hard to get her to stop. Megan was usually the only one that could calm her down.
"Ssshhh," Grayson murmured as he cradled Molly and her blanket to his chest. He rubbed circles over her back as he gently bounced her, mentally crossing his fingers that the young child would fall back to sleep.
He wasn't sure he liked the grin on his mate's face. Apollo seemed to be enjoying Grayson's predicament just a little too much. "What?" he asked softly.
Apollo's white teeth flashed as his grin grew wider. "You're going to make a good dad."
Grayson could have kicked Apollo when he felt his face flush. The room had mostly cleared out, the other members of his old pack being shown to guest rooms. But the alpha and his mate still sat there-watching everything.
"One of our pack brought this for Molly," Zack said as he pulled a fold-down playpen from beside the front door. "We'll get her set up with a crib and stuff as soon as possible, but this should keep her contained until then."
Grayson almost laughed because nothing kept the lively little three-year-old contained. But he didn't because that would have been rude, especially after everything the people of Aberdeen Pack had done for them since they arrived.
"For tonight," Iben said, "I'd like it if you and the kids stayed here in the alpha house. Until we know what is going on, I would feel more comfortable with the added security the alpha house affords us."
Grayson grimaced, a heavy weight settling in his chest. "I can't say I disagree with you, Alpha Iben. I've been doing my best to keep everyone safe since the attack, but it's just not that easy. The added help is welcome."
"You've done the best you could, Grayson," Iben said, "far more than anyone could expect from someone not trained to protect the pack. Your alpha and your sister would be proud. You are an admirable fighter."
"I never wanted to be a fighter," Grayson whispered.
He blinked as tears came to his eyes. He turned to stare out the large windows framing the floor-to-ceiling rock fireplace. He held Molly just a little tighter as emotions overwhelmed him, sadness at his loss and anger at the people who had caused it fighting for dominance.
"Hey." The words were whispered across the nape of his neck, a warm, muscular body pressing up against his back. Strong arms wrapped around him. "I know you feel guilty because you weren't there to protect your pack, but you saved the children."
Grayson's throat thickened with guilt. "Not all of them."
"I have been an elite enforcer for more years than I can count, Grayson. I have fought for packs all over the world. The one thing I learned is that you can't save everyone. It just isn't possible. So, you save the ones you can and grieve for the ones you can't, and then you move on, building a better world for the ones still alive."
Grayson rested his head back against Apollo's. His chest was heavy as if the weight of the world sat on it, but there was a growing lightness with each word Apollo spoke. "I guess it's up to us to build that world then."
"Aberdeen Valley is a good place to start." He saw Apollo's reflection smile in the window. "I have a pretty big family here, mate. We'll have lots of help."
"Well," Grayson said as he juggled Molly up a little further in his arms when she fell back asleep and her little body slumped. "I suggest our first step be a good night's sleep. I feel like I haven't closed my eyes in days."
Grayson turned to see what Apollo was looking at when he glanced over his shoulder. Zack, the alpha's mate, had stood. He held the playpen in one hand and Grayson's sleeping nephew in the other.
"You mind sharing a room with the kids?" Zack asked. "Your room is still available, but most of the others have been taken up."
Grayson smiled as he turned. "I wouldn't feel okay with them being anywhere else."
"I hope you don't always feel that way," Apollo said. "I was kind of hoping to have some alone time with you."
Grayson winked at his mate as a soothing warmth began to unwind in his chest. "Shower."
Grayson underestimated how much Apollo wanted to spend time alone with him. In a matter of moments, he was ushered upstairs to Apollo's old room. CJ was tucked into blankets on the loveseat, Molly settled in the playpen.
Grayson was hustled into the bathroom, his clothes making a trail behind him and Apollo as they were stripped from his body. Grayson doubted a whole ten minutes had gone by before he was pushed naked into the shower stall, Apollo stepping in behind him.
"You in a hurry, mi amor?"
"You have no idea." Apollo grinned as he crowded closer, his hands gripping Grayson's hips. "I feel like I haven't had you in my arms in days."
"A few hours at most."
"See?" Apollo's eyes twinkled mischievously. "Forever."
Grayson laughed because he couldn't not give in to the amusement draining away his sorrow. Apollo simply made him happy. His life might be spiraling out of control, but his mate anchored him and gave him something to hold onto. And for that, Grayson gratefully gave his entire soul to the man.
"Eres mi todo," he whispered as he looked deep into Apollo's dark eyes. He brushed his thumb over the high ridge of his cheekbone. "You are my everything."
Apollo blinked rapidly for a moment before a wide grin spread across his lips. "I can live with that."
Apollo cupped and stroked Grayson's face, and then traced the line of his outer ears. A slight pressure skimmed all the way down his back, cupping his right butt cheek. Callused fingers molded into his skin, trailing over his backside, and then over his left hip.
Grayson shuddered with need.
Spreading his legs further apart, Grayson arched his back, pressing his ass into Apollo's hand. Apollo consumed him with one kiss that seemed to go on forever. Grayson didn't want it to stop, Apollo moved against his skin, sharing in his pleasure.
Apollo's hands were everywhere, touching, exploring. Grayson closed his eyes as Apollo's fingers slid between his ass cheeks, slid over his aching hole.
He'd never felt such need and want in his life.
Grayson gasped as Apollo's hands continued to brush over his skin. His cock was as hard as granite, straining as the water beat down his back and hands explored his aching body.