true.”
“Is it not? Name one other person, besides Bree, that you have trusted.”
Kaden opened his mouth and hesitated as Ian gave him a knowing look.
“Your life has not been easy, Kaden. I don’t blame you for not trusting, but I promise you that these people, these Lycans that Bree has learned to love and respect and trust, are worth getting to know. You have a wall around yourself and I understand why you do, but you’re hurting no one but yourself by building it higher.”
Ian sighed. “Bree has found her mate. She loves him and she trusts him with her life, and it upsets you. Your entire purpose since you were a small boy, was keeping her alive. Not having to do that anymore has left you floundering and unsure of yourself. You’re allowing your distrust for Lycans, for people in general, to keep you from seeing the truth. Sophia and the others are worth getting to know. You promised Bree that you would try.”
“I am trying.” Kaden replied.
“Try harder.” Ian clapped him lightly on the back and left him to his supper.
* * *
“Please mama. Please, please, please.” Leta gave her mother a pleading look and Avery smiled gently at her.
“They’re going overnight, Leta. You’ve never been away from your father and I overnight before.”
“I’m ten now, mama. It’s old enough.”
“Aye, I know my love.” She kissed Leta’s forehead as the little girl stared anxiously at her. Avery glanced at Tristan who gave her a small nod.
Avery smiled at Leta. “You’ll have to ask your brothers. If they – “
“I already asked Nicky and he said it was fine with him. Please mama, I want to pick out my own dress for the wedding.”
“Leta, you’re Bree’s flower girl. I imagine she’ll have a specific dress she’ll want you to wear.”
“She already told me I could wear whatever I wanted as long as it had blue in it. Oh please mama – I haven’t been to town in forever.” The little girl sighed dramatically.
“Alright, but you need to listen to your brothers and your sister and obey them without question. Do you understand me?”
Leta nodded eagerly as Avery stroked her hair back from her face. “And you cannot wander away at all. You must have your brothers or your sister with you at all times.”
The little girl nodded again and Avery held her chin firmly in her hand. “I’m serious, Leta. If you disobey them or wander away, it will be a very long time before you’re allowed to leave my sight again.”
“I understand, mama.” Leta said solemnly.
“Good. Now, go quickly to your room and pack a bag. They’re leaving soon.”
“It’s already packed!” Leta said brightly. “I packed last night!”
“Of course you did.” Tristan laughed and swung the little girl into his arms. “Run and get your bag, my sweet.” He kissed her soundly on the cheek before rubbing his scruff against face.
She giggled and pushed him away. “Stop it, papa!”
He set her down gently and she skipped out of the room as Avery sighed. Tristan put his arm around her and kissed her on the mouth. “She’ll be just fine.”
“I know.” Avery ran her fingers over his mouth. “You’re looking very handsome today, my lord.”
He grinned and kissed her again. This time he probed at her lips with his tongue and she opened her mouth so he could explore it lightly.
“I’m not on watch until this afternoon.” He whispered against her mouth.
“Is that right, m’lord?” She slid her hand down his back and squeezed his ass. “What did you have in mind?”
“You know exactly what I have in mind, girl.” He growled playfully.
She smiled and ran her hand through the grey that was just starting to show in the hair at his temples. “Again, my lord? You had me up half the night.”
“Aye, I remember. Are you tired?”
She kissed him firmly on the mouth in reply, and he pulled her
“Is it not? Name one other person, besides Bree, that you have trusted.”
Kaden opened his mouth and hesitated as Ian gave him a knowing look.
“Your life has not been easy, Kaden. I don’t blame you for not trusting, but I promise you that these people, these Lycans that Bree has learned to love and respect and trust, are worth getting to know. You have a wall around yourself and I understand why you do, but you’re hurting no one but yourself by building it higher.”
Ian sighed. “Bree has found her mate. She loves him and she trusts him with her life, and it upsets you. Your entire purpose since you were a small boy, was keeping her alive. Not having to do that anymore has left you floundering and unsure of yourself. You’re allowing your distrust for Lycans, for people in general, to keep you from seeing the truth. Sophia and the others are worth getting to know. You promised Bree that you would try.”
“I am trying.” Kaden replied.
“Try harder.” Ian clapped him lightly on the back and left him to his supper.
* * *
“Please mama. Please, please, please.” Leta gave her mother a pleading look and Avery smiled gently at her.
“They’re going overnight, Leta. You’ve never been away from your father and I overnight before.”
“I’m ten now, mama. It’s old enough.”
“Aye, I know my love.” She kissed Leta’s forehead as the little girl stared anxiously at her. Avery glanced at Tristan who gave her a small nod.
Avery smiled at Leta. “You’ll have to ask your brothers. If they – “
“I already asked Nicky and he said it was fine with him. Please mama, I want to pick out my own dress for the wedding.”
“Leta, you’re Bree’s flower girl. I imagine she’ll have a specific dress she’ll want you to wear.”
“She already told me I could wear whatever I wanted as long as it had blue in it. Oh please mama – I haven’t been to town in forever.” The little girl sighed dramatically.
“Alright, but you need to listen to your brothers and your sister and obey them without question. Do you understand me?”
Leta nodded eagerly as Avery stroked her hair back from her face. “And you cannot wander away at all. You must have your brothers or your sister with you at all times.”
The little girl nodded again and Avery held her chin firmly in her hand. “I’m serious, Leta. If you disobey them or wander away, it will be a very long time before you’re allowed to leave my sight again.”
“I understand, mama.” Leta said solemnly.
“Good. Now, go quickly to your room and pack a bag. They’re leaving soon.”
“It’s already packed!” Leta said brightly. “I packed last night!”
“Of course you did.” Tristan laughed and swung the little girl into his arms. “Run and get your bag, my sweet.” He kissed her soundly on the cheek before rubbing his scruff against face.
She giggled and pushed him away. “Stop it, papa!”
He set her down gently and she skipped out of the room as Avery sighed. Tristan put his arm around her and kissed her on the mouth. “She’ll be just fine.”
“I know.” Avery ran her fingers over his mouth. “You’re looking very handsome today, my lord.”
He grinned and kissed her again. This time he probed at her lips with his tongue and she opened her mouth so he could explore it lightly.
“I’m not on watch until this afternoon.” He whispered against her mouth.
“Is that right, m’lord?” She slid her hand down his back and squeezed his ass. “What did you have in mind?”
“You know exactly what I have in mind, girl.” He growled playfully.
She smiled and ran her hand through the grey that was just starting to show in the hair at his temples. “Again, my lord? You had me up half the night.”
“Aye, I remember. Are you tired?”
She kissed him firmly on the mouth in reply, and he pulled her
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