Badger smiled. “Ye can thank Charlie Bleacke fer that idea. Wasn’t as easy to do long ago, so we’ve evolved over time as technology changed. After we crossed and Duncan started the Targhee Pack, we knew we’d need a way to try to keep tabs on people. Especially since Duncan insisted we’d not be a blood pack of exclusion, like most were. Ye didn’t have to be wed or born into the Targhee Pack to become Targhee. Ye only had to take a knee, show yer throat, swear allegiance, and then live that allegiance. But we needed to keep tabs on the clueless humans.”
“I wish I could have met him,” Ken said.
“Me too,” Dewi said, then realized she’d spoken it out loud.
Ken glanced back over the seat. “I’m sorry, sweetheart.”
“No, I didn’t mean it like that. Sorry.” She leaned forward as much as her seatbelt allowed and laid a hand on his shoulder, gently squeezing. “I know he was my dad, but when other people talk about him sometimes it’s hard for me to piece that together, you know? Because he is a stranger to me. So’s Mom. I know Peyton and Trent and Badger’s public personas, and I know them personally. I don’t have to rely on what people tell me about them because Iknowthem. But Mom and Dad…I don’tknowthem. I only know what people knew about them and the filter of their perception.”
Ken patted her hand. “I know what you mean. At least I’m lucky enough I have a few memories of Dad before he died.
She gave his shoulder one last squeeze before sitting back. “And I wish I could have met both of your parents.”
When they reached the house, Dewi hurried upstairs to take her shower while Badger showed Ken what to do with the testers and how to pack and ship them overnight to the lab.
At least her clumsiness had eased up over the past few weeks, as the doctor had predicted it likely would. But as she stood under the hot spray and tried to clear her mind, she couldn’t help but dread what surprises Badger’s search might uncover.
Because it’s not like I need another damned thing to worry about right now.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-TWO
DEWI
Instead of riding backwith Ken, Dewi opted to drive herself so she could stay over all night, if need be.
And it looked like she’d be needed.
She also brought clothes, shower stuff, and her own pillows. In addition to her laptop and chargers.
Dewi never had sleepovers with other kids when she was a kid.
Malyah wryly assured her this wasnothinglike what that would feel like.
All afternoon and evening, the toddler ran around shifted, playing, having fun, barking—all while taking to Dewi and Duncan—and the only hiccups were when the potty-trained little girl needed to use the bathroom.
Dewi had hoped she’d shift back for that, if for nothing else, but clever Bebe managed to sit her little puppy self on the toddler potty she used in the hallway bathroom and go just fine.
After dinner Bebe had taken another nap and conked out, and everyone sat there, barely talking, watching her sleep and hoping she’d shift back.
Nope.
She’d bounced up after her nap ready to play some more. Bebe’s initial fear that she couldn’t shift back had given way to her loving her new fun games and four-legged perspective.
Beck had taken one look at Nami upon his arrival and convinced her she needed to go home for the night because it was late and she—and the baby—needed rest.
That she was so exhausted physically and emotionally she didn’t even try to point out that Dewi was almost as pregnant as her—without needing to be Primed into going—wasn’t lost on anyone.
Tamsin, and Brianna and Da’von, had tried to get Dewi to take their beds—as had Carl and Mateo—but Dewi opted for the sofa.
Because she wanted to stay out there with Bebe.
Finally, close to eleven, Dewi declared it bedtime and she sent Ken, Duncan, Malyah, and Joaquin home, bedded down on the sofa with Bebe tucked against her side and withThe Flintstonesplaying on TV, and settled in for the night.
“Where’d Gampa Bada go?”
Dewi opted to respond aloud instead of with her Prime, thinking it might coax the girl into shifting back. “He had to go visit someone. He’ll be back by tomorrow evening.”
I hope.
