She texted him back.
Thank you!
While it was mortifying her mother had called him, at least Gillian knew it wouldn’t be held against her.And now she had backup to help keep her mother off her ass.
Not to mention another generous tip that padded her weekly budget and would more than pay for her gas for the drive to the compound and back that weekend.
Two more semesters.I can do this.
She hoped.
Three
Peyton
Peyton laid on the sofa at Badger’s house with his phone in one hand and Dewi asleep on his chest with her thumb stuck in her mouth.
He didn’t feel guilty about going through emails when she was sound asleep.The two-year-old was already giving them fits.It was surprising she was a Prime Alpha, and that meant he or Badger needed to be there for her until they could instill self-control in her.
The last thing they needed was her sending their aunt out into a snowstorm again.
Or worse.
All because Dewi hadn’t wanted to wear the adorable outfit their aunt tried to put her in.
What are we going to do with you, kiddo?
Sound asleep, in her fleece onesie PJs, and with her brown hair in pigtails, she was the picture of innocence and not the intense weapon she’d likely become when she grew older and her Prime Alpha powers fully developed.
Tonight, Badger needed to run to Spokane to do an unnecessary welfare check and settle an overly anxious omega mother’s mind about her independent beta daughter.Fortunately, Peyton had been able to stay with Dewi tonight.Beck was sound asleep in his bedroom and would take the night watch shift later, after Badger returned, so Peyton could go home and get some sleep.Trent was in Salt Lake City for an overnight trip to handle Enforcer business and would return in the morning.
Peyton loved his little sister and would die for her, but he didn’t feel prepared to run their pack much less raise her.Even two years on he felt like an imposter, that at any minute all the plates currently spinning in the air would crash and he’d let the pack down.
Any free time he had was spent taking care of Dewi.Because he didn’t want to miss any more of her childhood than he had to.
And because he’d sworn to their parents at their funeral that he would.
How did we go from celebration to…this?
Their mom had a horrible time when Peyton was born barely twenty-two years ago.The doctors said she couldn’t have more pups.
Then came miracle Dewi, the little girl he and Trent always knew their Mom wanted, the little sister they’d always dreamed of doting on.
And six months later…
The phone rang in Peyton’s hand, startling him and almost making him drop it on Dewi’s head.He managed to corral and answer it.
Badger.“How’s she, then?”
“Asleep,” Peyton whispered.“Ate a good dinner for me.Everything okay?”
“Aye.As I figured, just a nervous omega mum.On my way home.Beck sleepin’?”
“Yeah.”
“Good.He’s gettin’ a little bare around the edges.If we could set an extra detail to guard the house this week and allow him to take some days off, I’d appreciate it.”
“I’ll tell Trent to arrange it.”
