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Authors: Scarlet Hyacinth
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scanned the gathering of werewolves. Today, Soren had summoned his pack to announce their mating and introduce his pups.
In the past few weeks, Soren’s second beta, Anson, had been in charge of the pack, with Soren traveling there from time to time. At first, it hadn’t been deemed safe for the triplets, Jace, Derek, and Melanie, to travel. The birth went great, but pups were always fragile in the first days after coming to the world. So Brody extended an invitation for them to stay with him and Carson. Daniel had thought things would be tense, but Brody and Soren managed to settle their differences. It had worked out for the best, since Daniel also got to spend some time with Carson. Alas, finally, three weeks after their birth, their little family left Brody’s home and headed toward the pack.
Daniel now admitted he felt terrified of facing the wolves. He hugged Jace tightly, finding comfort in the pup’s familiar warmth. His mate had been right about one thing. The pups loved him. When they weren’t sucking on their mother’s teat, they were hanging around Daniel, nibbling on his hair or simply cuddling to his side. Daniel already loved them as if they were his own flesh and blood.
He didn’t think the pack understood this, though. Several of the people there gave him ugly looks only because he was holding Soren’s son. Or perhaps they’d guessed the reason behind the meeting. It couldn’t be too hard to figure out.
Daniel surreptitiously palmed the pocket of his jacket, feeling for the comforting weight of his gun. It was an old gift from Nicolas. His 58
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hummingbird friend didn’t trust carnivores, and he’d made it his business to always be prepared for the worst. Personally, Daniel disliked guns, more so since the episode with Shiloh’s injury.
However, he’d taken the thing along, both for Nicolas’s peace of mind and, secretly, for his own.
He knew Soren was somewhat uncomfortable with having a gun with silver bullets around, but the wolf had agreed to him having it anyway. Soren, it seemed, didn’t want to take any chances. Daniel felt thankful for it. Oddly, the weight of the gun comforted him now, when facing this gathering of hostile people.
“Thank you for coming, everyone.” Soren’s voice sounded loud and full of authority in the clearing. “I’ve asked you to be here because I’d like you to meet the four most important people in my life—my mate and my children.” Soren gestured Daniel forward.
Carlie stepped up with them, holding Derek and Melanie. In turn, Soren introduced each child, then turned to Daniel. “And this is my mate, Daniel Gardner-Boyd.”
There was a murmur of protest in the pack, and several wolves seemed shocked but not excessively so. It confirmed Daniel’s guess that the reason behind his presence had been grasped. Perhaps Soren intended it to be so from the very beginning.
“Daniel will be living with me, and I expect you to treat him as is his due.”
“But Alpha,” an older wolf said, “he’s prey. How can you ask that of us?”
Soren bared his teeth at the man. “He’s not prey. He’s my mate.
Anyone who has a problem with that can come to me.” It was quite clear the problem in question would be dealt with swiftly and efficiently.
Predictably, the other wolf backed off, but another took his place, this time female. “But what about your children?”
“What about them?” Soren replied coldly. “Are you questioning my ability to raise my pups?”
The Love He Squirreled Away
59
“Err…no, but…your mate is male and well, not a wolf. The pups are bound to have trouble accepting that. And even for your mate, it might be hard to nurture them since they’re not his.”
The words irritated Daniel more than he’d thought possible. His concern turned to pure anger. “I beg to differ,” he said. “These pups are mine through Soren. It might not be a common situation for wolves, but between Soren, Carlie and I,
In the past few weeks, Soren’s second beta, Anson, had been in charge of the pack, with Soren traveling there from time to time. At first, it hadn’t been deemed safe for the triplets, Jace, Derek, and Melanie, to travel. The birth went great, but pups were always fragile in the first days after coming to the world. So Brody extended an invitation for them to stay with him and Carson. Daniel had thought things would be tense, but Brody and Soren managed to settle their differences. It had worked out for the best, since Daniel also got to spend some time with Carson. Alas, finally, three weeks after their birth, their little family left Brody’s home and headed toward the pack.
Daniel now admitted he felt terrified of facing the wolves. He hugged Jace tightly, finding comfort in the pup’s familiar warmth. His mate had been right about one thing. The pups loved him. When they weren’t sucking on their mother’s teat, they were hanging around Daniel, nibbling on his hair or simply cuddling to his side. Daniel already loved them as if they were his own flesh and blood.
He didn’t think the pack understood this, though. Several of the people there gave him ugly looks only because he was holding Soren’s son. Or perhaps they’d guessed the reason behind the meeting. It couldn’t be too hard to figure out.
Daniel surreptitiously palmed the pocket of his jacket, feeling for the comforting weight of his gun. It was an old gift from Nicolas. His 58
Scarlet Hyacinth
hummingbird friend didn’t trust carnivores, and he’d made it his business to always be prepared for the worst. Personally, Daniel disliked guns, more so since the episode with Shiloh’s injury.
However, he’d taken the thing along, both for Nicolas’s peace of mind and, secretly, for his own.
He knew Soren was somewhat uncomfortable with having a gun with silver bullets around, but the wolf had agreed to him having it anyway. Soren, it seemed, didn’t want to take any chances. Daniel felt thankful for it. Oddly, the weight of the gun comforted him now, when facing this gathering of hostile people.
“Thank you for coming, everyone.” Soren’s voice sounded loud and full of authority in the clearing. “I’ve asked you to be here because I’d like you to meet the four most important people in my life—my mate and my children.” Soren gestured Daniel forward.
Carlie stepped up with them, holding Derek and Melanie. In turn, Soren introduced each child, then turned to Daniel. “And this is my mate, Daniel Gardner-Boyd.”
There was a murmur of protest in the pack, and several wolves seemed shocked but not excessively so. It confirmed Daniel’s guess that the reason behind his presence had been grasped. Perhaps Soren intended it to be so from the very beginning.
“Daniel will be living with me, and I expect you to treat him as is his due.”
“But Alpha,” an older wolf said, “he’s prey. How can you ask that of us?”
Soren bared his teeth at the man. “He’s not prey. He’s my mate.
Anyone who has a problem with that can come to me.” It was quite clear the problem in question would be dealt with swiftly and efficiently.
Predictably, the other wolf backed off, but another took his place, this time female. “But what about your children?”
“What about them?” Soren replied coldly. “Are you questioning my ability to raise my pups?”
The Love He Squirreled Away
59
“Err…no, but…your mate is male and well, not a wolf. The pups are bound to have trouble accepting that. And even for your mate, it might be hard to nurture them since they’re not his.”
The words irritated Daniel more than he’d thought possible. His concern turned to pure anger. “I beg to differ,” he said. “These pups are mine through Soren. It might not be a common situation for wolves, but between Soren, Carlie and I,
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