Red Moon Rising(81)

“Leta!” Dani entered the room and she frowned at the young Lycan. “Stop it! Right now!”

Leta turned and snarled at her, and Dani took her arm and squeezed lightly. “Stop it, I said. You’re ten years old and you’re shifting like you’re a little pup. What would your mother say?”

The young girl seemed to deflate in front of his eyes and she looked back at him. He was surprised to see tears in her eyes as she sniffed and leaned against her cousin. “Don’t let him take her away from us Dani.”

“Hush now.” Dani stroked her long dark hair soothingly. “No one’s going anywhere. Why don’t you take Tia to your room for a while?”

“I want mama.” Leta sniffed.

“Your mother is with Sophia. You know that honey.” Dani said gently. “You can see her in the morning.”

Leta sighed sadly and Dani kissed her lightly on the forehead. “I’ll send your dad to your room, okay?”

“Okay.” The little girl wiped the tears from her cheeks and moved cautiously towards Kaden. She held her hands out and he deposited the dog into her arms. She petted Tia’s head as she stared at him with a tear-streaked face.

“Please don’t take Bree away from us.” She whispered.

He didn’t reply, and she kissed the top of the dog’s head before leaving the room. Dani smiled hesitantly at him.

“Hello Kaden.”

“Hello Dani.”

She licked her lips nervously as she eyed his bare torso with more than a passing interest. “You seem to have misplaced your shirt.”

“I gave it to Sophia to wear.”

“Oh. Well, why don’t you come with me? I’ll find you another shirt, and you must be hungry.”

“I’m fine.”

She rolled her eyes a little. “If you’re anything like Aunt Avery said Bree was – I know you’re starving. We have plenty of food and I was about to fix myself a snack. Come join me.”

He sighed. “I would like to see my sister.”

“She’s with James. I imagine she’ll be with him until at least the morning. They’ve been separated and they – “

“Yeah, yeah.” He held his hand up. “I get the picture.”

She blushed and held her hand out to him. “Come with me to get a bite to eat, and then I’ll show you to your room. You can speak with your sister in the morning.”

He took her hand and allowed her to lead him out of the room.





Chapter 25




“James, I’m fine – really.” Bree smiled at the Lycan as he wrapped the blanket tighter around her small body. He had carried her to the bathroom and drawn her a bath. They had actually bathed together, his large body squeezed in behind her small one, but he had stopped her when she had tried to touch and stroke his large body.

“No, little one. You need rest.” He had said firmly.

She had sighed and rolled her eyes, and he had given her a solemn look. “Bree, you could have died. If you had I – “

“I didn’t.” She had interrupted him as he rinsed first her body clean, and then his own. “I’m not hurt, and I’m back with you where I belong.”

“Aye, where you belong.” He had whispered as he carried her from the bathroom and to his bedroom.

While they were in the tub, someone had left a tray of food in their room and although she had hinted that she wanted him to take her to his bed, he had insisted she eat first. He had hardly eaten anything and she had to urge him to eat some of the meat and bread.

Now, she tried to hide her frustration as he tucked the blanket between her body and the chair she was sitting on, and then added more wood to the fire. He was hovering over her like an old woman when what she really wanted was to be riding him in his bed.

She stood and let the blanket fall to the floor, leaving her standing naked in his bedroom. He frowned at her. “Bree, what are you doing?”

“I’m going to bed. You said I needed rest remember?” She said innocently.

“Aye, you do.” She felt a ripple of satisfaction when his gaze lingered on the blonde curls between her thighs.

“You should probably carry me to the bed. I’m feeling a little weak.”

His brow knitted with worry, and he was standing beside her and lifting her into his arms before she could say anything else. He carried her to the bed and slipped her under the covers before sitting beside her. He brushed her hair back from her face.

“Maybe you are hurt internally again.” He spoke distractedly as his fingers traced her head and shoulders.

“Perhaps.” She replied. “It is sore.”

“Where is it sore?” He asked anxiously.