The boys, as children do, human or wolf, immediately remembered their presents. Their faces lit and Jake (or Jed), shouted, “They’re awesome!”
Then both boys ran forward and gave her awkward yet genuine hugs which forced Callum to release her.
This he didn’t mind. Children were no threat.
Further, he liked watching Sonia’s relaxed, innate affection for the boys. Something which he hoped, very soon, he’d be witnessing between her and their own children.
“I’m hungry,” Jay announced and then made another try at friendly discourse with Callum. “Sonia always puts on the best spread.”
This, to Callum’s way of thinking, wasn’t true. Although there was a good deal of food and every bite-sized item he had tasted was appetizing, there wasn’t enough meat, there wasn’t enough cheese and there wasn’t a single thing that required a knife and fork. Most people took a small, white, china plate and a napkin and saw them through.
The minute Callum had seen the caterers laying out the fare, he’d been alarmed. Although no one but the other wolves in attendance had his reaction.
Wolves did not do finger food.
“You’ll undoubtedly not be disappointed this year,” Callum told Jay with truthfulness.
“Go in, help yourselves.” Sonia invited, giving Jed (or Jake) a playful cuff on the head and Jake (or Jed) a teasing shove on the shoulder as they walked toward the dining room table.
Then she seemed to be moving away from him, which Callum didn’t like so he hooked an arm around her waist and curled her front to front. Her eyes lifted to his and he knew she was pissed.
He grinned.
Callum even liked it when she was angry. He was pleased his queen had spirit and fire. Immensely pleased.
Her gaze narrowed on his grin and when her eyes came back to his she irately commanded, “Would you stop telling that story?”
“No,” he calmly replied.
She growled low in her throat.
Callum chuckled low in his.
Then she suddenly asked, “Who’s Calvin?”
He felt the pain slash through his gut, his arm tightened convulsively around her and his grin died.
“My brother,” he replied tersely.
At his instantaneous reaction, sweet Sonia’s eyes were no longer narrowed but searching.
Then, her voice much softer, she enquired, “Brother?”
“Died. In battle. Years ago.” His words were short and curt and he didn’t try to gentle them because this effort would be impossible.
Her body jerked lightly in his arm then it, too, went soft and settled against his.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
He was too, more than he could say.
Callum didn’t reply.
“I shouldn’t have asked but I was surprised. You’d never mentioned him,” she told him.
“He was the youngest of us, we didn’t protect him. It’s not a subject we discuss.”
He felt her heave a fluttering, little sigh and she lifted a hand and curled her fingers around his neck, murmuring, “Callum.”
He wished he’d had her years ago when Calvin fell. That sweet sigh, the touch at his neck, the feel of her yielding body pressed to his, the murmur of his name would have gone far in soothing the grief. He knew this because it was something it did now.
He gave her waist a squeeze and informed her, “It was years ago.”
“It’s still fresh,” she said softly.
“It’ll always be fresh,” Callum replied, his voice no longer clipped but quiet. “He was my brother.”
She slowly closed her eyes.
Then she wrapped her arms around him, pressed her cheek to his chest and held him close.
He closed his eyes and marked the crown of her head with his temple, pulling her even closer.
His sweet, sweet Sonia.
He opened his eyes and saw they had a mixed human and wolf audience, all of whom were watching either avidly (the wolves) or covertly (the humans) and the fact made him exceedingly pleased.
One of her shop girls, he was thinking Kerry (or Mabel, he was too focused on Sonia calling him husband for the first time to pay much attention when they were introduced) approached.
“Um…” she began tentatively. “Sonny? The caterer wants to talk to you. Something about salmon in puff pastry? She sounded like it was urgent.” The girl’s mischievous eyes went to Callum and Sonia turned in his arms to face the newcomer as she remarked, “Though, urgent and puff pastry to me don’t go together.”
He couldn’t agree more with her statement and Callum decided he liked this girl. You could see it in the light of her eyes, the fullness of her smile, the depth of her laughter and the loving way she gazed at Sonia – she fed on life, like a wolf.