filling with unshed tears. Rusty. Her older brother was full of surprises. After the way he’d helped her father in his attempt to trade her to a mutant prince in exchange for an army, she never thought she would see Rusty again, but right now, she was happy as hell he had come. Rusty’s arrival left her with many questions, yet she was too tired to speak. Rion stepped out of the doctor’s way.
“Hello, Jewel. You have some fierce males here. They love you. I’m amazed you survived home birthing shifter twins. This is a brutal world, and I’ve seen a lot, but this is one for the record books. You have some beautiful children, and they will be fine. With the right treatment, you will too. Your brother has told me to spare no expense, so I have the good stuff here in my bag. This is the best medicine money can buy. I’m going to have you on your feet in a few days. Does that sound all right to you?”
Tears shimmered on Jewel’s lashes and obscured her vision. The telltale sign of her joy overflowed to roll down her cheeks. She took a deep gulping breath and nodded fiercely. She was too weak to tell him how grateful she was. Her children would live, and she’d be around to mother them. Nothing could make her happier.
* * * *
“How do you think they are?” Sol asked.
“I’m not sure, but I feel as if we betrayed the pack,” Isser whispered.
Sol glanced back at their sleeping woman. Her exhaustion after her first shift was normal, and after saving both their asses, she deserved some rest. “I just hope we still have time.”
“I know. Me too. We’re in range. Should I make a call home?” Sol asked.
“Be my guest. Warning them about Ruby is a good idea. They have the right to know we’ve added to the pack,” Isser replied prudently.
Sol grabbed the comm. His fingers skidded across the flat glass panel. There were a few minutes of lag as they hailed the comm unit they kept at home to stay in touch with Jewel when they were out hunting.
“Hello,” Jewel said.
“Jewel?” Sol asked. His surprise was evident in the way his voice rose.
“How are you both? Did the hunt go well?” Jewel spoke in a strong voice. She sounded healthy.
The wolves turned sharply to make eye contact with each other. Isser’s lips parted, and his eyes went wide. Sol grinned.
“The more important question is how you and the pups are feeling,” Sol said.
“My brother pulled through with credits. He brought a doctor. Everyone is recovering under the doc’s excellent care. How did your first hunt without Rion and Makis go? My boys are itching to get back to work. I hope you didn’t make too much money. I need a reason to get the men out of my hair. I love them, but they need a challenge greater than chasing Boon around the house and caring for infants. They’ve been amazing. I’m a lucky girl.” Even through the comm, Sol heard the emotion in Jewel’s voice, and it caused his heart to swell.
“We have some news. We didn’t collect the bounty, but we did find something even more valuable. Isser and I are bringing our mate home. Her name is Ruby.”
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the comm. Sol’s heart sank. If Jewel didn’t like their woman, it would be bad. She was the alpha female. They needed her to accept Ruby as she had them.
A loud joyous cheer erupted, and Isser grabbed the comm out of his hand.
“I assume that means you’re glad we’ve added to the pack?” Isser asked. Sol could hear the underlying worry in his voice.
“Yes! A million times, yes! This is better than money! I’m so excited. Does she like children? I can’t wait to meet her.” Jewel spoke in a quick, excited voice. It sounded as if she might be jumping up and down. “Is she a shifter or human?”
Sol and Isser exchanged a glance.
“She’s a tiger.”
Then they waited. Jewel didn’t gasp or yell.
“I didn’t know there were tiger shifters. You haven’t told me if she likes children. It will be so
“Hello, Jewel. You have some fierce males here. They love you. I’m amazed you survived home birthing shifter twins. This is a brutal world, and I’ve seen a lot, but this is one for the record books. You have some beautiful children, and they will be fine. With the right treatment, you will too. Your brother has told me to spare no expense, so I have the good stuff here in my bag. This is the best medicine money can buy. I’m going to have you on your feet in a few days. Does that sound all right to you?”
Tears shimmered on Jewel’s lashes and obscured her vision. The telltale sign of her joy overflowed to roll down her cheeks. She took a deep gulping breath and nodded fiercely. She was too weak to tell him how grateful she was. Her children would live, and she’d be around to mother them. Nothing could make her happier.
* * * *
“How do you think they are?” Sol asked.
“I’m not sure, but I feel as if we betrayed the pack,” Isser whispered.
Sol glanced back at their sleeping woman. Her exhaustion after her first shift was normal, and after saving both their asses, she deserved some rest. “I just hope we still have time.”
“I know. Me too. We’re in range. Should I make a call home?” Sol asked.
“Be my guest. Warning them about Ruby is a good idea. They have the right to know we’ve added to the pack,” Isser replied prudently.
Sol grabbed the comm. His fingers skidded across the flat glass panel. There were a few minutes of lag as they hailed the comm unit they kept at home to stay in touch with Jewel when they were out hunting.
“Hello,” Jewel said.
“Jewel?” Sol asked. His surprise was evident in the way his voice rose.
“How are you both? Did the hunt go well?” Jewel spoke in a strong voice. She sounded healthy.
The wolves turned sharply to make eye contact with each other. Isser’s lips parted, and his eyes went wide. Sol grinned.
“The more important question is how you and the pups are feeling,” Sol said.
“My brother pulled through with credits. He brought a doctor. Everyone is recovering under the doc’s excellent care. How did your first hunt without Rion and Makis go? My boys are itching to get back to work. I hope you didn’t make too much money. I need a reason to get the men out of my hair. I love them, but they need a challenge greater than chasing Boon around the house and caring for infants. They’ve been amazing. I’m a lucky girl.” Even through the comm, Sol heard the emotion in Jewel’s voice, and it caused his heart to swell.
“We have some news. We didn’t collect the bounty, but we did find something even more valuable. Isser and I are bringing our mate home. Her name is Ruby.”
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the comm. Sol’s heart sank. If Jewel didn’t like their woman, it would be bad. She was the alpha female. They needed her to accept Ruby as she had them.
A loud joyous cheer erupted, and Isser grabbed the comm out of his hand.
“I assume that means you’re glad we’ve added to the pack?” Isser asked. Sol could hear the underlying worry in his voice.
“Yes! A million times, yes! This is better than money! I’m so excited. Does she like children? I can’t wait to meet her.” Jewel spoke in a quick, excited voice. It sounded as if she might be jumping up and down. “Is she a shifter or human?”
Sol and Isser exchanged a glance.
“She’s a tiger.”
Then they waited. Jewel didn’t gasp or yell.
“I didn’t know there were tiger shifters. You haven’t told me if she likes children. It will be so
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