Delilah flushed behind Blake’s hand and smiled, “Yes, you did little man, and now I know what you were talkin’ about.”
Blake’s voice was annoyed as he announced, “You don’t look at anyone else’s snake from now on, Del.” Blake sniffed closer to his brother, “Congrats on your mating. Please give the cat my love and acceptance.”
Delilah sighed, “The cat?”
“Woman, I’m holding on by a thread here after no sleep and having you see my brother in all his glory. You could be a bit more understanding.”
Delilah smiled up at him even though he was covering her eyes. “There’s no one finer than my mate. Come, let’s go home and practice making little terrors of our own.”
Blake uncovered her eyes, smelling of happiness. She obviously had eyes only for him. “I agree to practice as long as we agree that we’ll never give our kid a Slurpee. Damn, that sound makes me absolutely crazy and it’ll haunt me for years to come.”
“Agreed.”
Justin watched them walk away and smiled, until Carter asked, “Paw Paw, can I have a Slurpee?”
Chapter 8
Justin helped get Carter into the shower after breakfast and took note of the scars the boy had on his back. If Tidus had no idea he was born, then who’d given him the scars? Blake had mentioned that Carter wouldn’t remember, so he went in search of his mate to get answers.
She was taking the dog out to do his morning business which was perfect; far enough away that they could talk without Carter hearing. Approaching her from behind, he pulled her back to his front and buried his nose in her hair. Her scent was intoxicating and arousing. He felt himself harden yet attempted to simmer down so he could talk to her without lust clouding his mind.
She moaned and snuggled into him. “Good morning, stud, hungry again so soon?”
He nipped her ear, “Always for you, kitten.”
She laughed, obviously enjoying his pet name for her. Before he got carried away bantering with her, he wanted to get answers. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure, what’s up? You want to know which side of the closet is yours? Or maybe you want to know who’ll do the cooking and who’s responsible for the cleaning?”
He was warmed by the fact that she was so inviting after last night’s mating. They’d certainly enjoyed themselves all night and into the wee hours of the morning. “No, it’s about Carter.”
She stiffened in his arms. “Oh?”
He began to sway with her in his arms, offering comfort. “How did he get the scars?”
The breath she’d been holding released and she began to breathe rapidly, probably remembering what happened. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to, but I’d hope you’d trust me enough.”
Without pausing to consider his words, trusting him without question, she began. “I sent Carter to my parents immediately, knowing he wasn’t safe here. He was doing great, but I missed him so much. When he was a year and a half old I went to visit. He appeared happy and healthy. He was getting so big. I stayed for a week. I would have stayed longer but a member of their pack took an interest in me. I wasn’t interested in starting a relationship and made it known. One night he snuck into my parents’ house while I was sleeping on the couch and pressed his interest. Our fighting woke Carter up and he came out to protect me. He was upset and shifted, growling at the man. Carter lunged and bit the man’s leg.”
Dee shivered in his arms and he rubbed the goose bumps on her arms. “It’s okay, you don’t have to continue.”
She nodded. “You’re going to be helping me raise him, so it’s only fair you know.” She took a deep breath to continue. “Carter was beaten. I was knocked unconscious and the jerk was hit Carter with a hot poker while he was still in wolf form. When Carter shifted back he had those marks on his back and a skull fracture. The cat was caught by my father and his life was taken as a lesson by the lynx protector. Lynx, aren’t really pack creatures, but we do have protectors who uphold the laws because humans can’t control us.”
He was silently rubbing her back in comfort, so proud of the wolf that he would raise as his son. Wolves protect their own. For a small child to step in front of a fully grown shifter before the age of two was amazing.
“I never went back. I didn’t want my son to be hurt even more because of me. When Blake announced Tidus was dead and I completed the bond with him, I knew I’d get my son back. Your brother allowed me to bring my son home, I’ve never been more thankful to anyone.”