“Don’t even go there, Emelise.”
“Don’t go where?” Lily sat down next to her friend and arched a brow at Kylie.
“Kylie here thinks it’s more fun talking to me than having a hottie like Remy paying attention to her.”
“That’s not what I said. I’m serious, Emelise, you look tired.”
“She has a point; you do look a little worn out,” Lily agreed.
Emelise groaned. “ I swear, if it’s not Caine, it’s one of you. By the time these babies get here, I’m going to be half crazy from all the coddling.”
Lily poked her side. “We’re not coddling you. We’re your family and we care about your well-being.”
“I know, Lil. I am a little tired, ” Emelise finally admitted, “but as long as I just sit here and relax, I’ll be fine.”
“Why don’t I take Hailey for a bit? I’ll get all the kids together and organize a game so they’re not under foot,” Kylie offered.
“You want to organize a game for all these kids? Kylie, are you nuts?” Emelise gave her a look that said she clearly though Kylie had lost it.
“No, I’m not nuts. It’ll give me something to do and it’ll entertain the kids.”
“Who am I to stop you? If you want to try to handle this unruly bunch, more power to you, girl,” Eme said with a soft laugh.
Kylie didn’t think the kids were that unruly. They just had a lot of energy. “Alright, listen up. I need all the kids to go over to the open field there.” She pointed to where she wanted them to go. “ We’re going to play a game so you can burn off some of that pent-up energy you all have.”
All of the kids cheered and took off to where she’d told them to gather. Soon enough she had them separated into two teams. “We’re going to play Capture the Flag. Have any of you ever played it?” Only a couple of the older kids raised their hands. “Good, I’m glad some of you have. So, here’s how the game is played. Each team will have a base, on opposite ends of the field. You will have a flag at your base and the object of the game is to try and capture the other team’s flag. If you are in the other team’s territory and you get tagged, you go to jail until another one of your own team members is able to run to you and tag you to let you out. It’s kind of like a game of tag only with the addition of a flag.”
“Where are we gonna get flags?” one of the older boys asked.
Before Kylie could respond Remy spoke. “Dese should work.” He’d tied two different-colored bandannas to long sticks.
“Thank you. I was going*5 to go with something a little less conventional but this is perfect.”
“Oh? What were you goin’ to use, Kitten?” he growled near her ear.
“Not what you’re clearly thinking,” she shot back. “I was going to use a pair of socks.”
He chuckled. “Dis is better. It looks more like a flag.” He winked at her and helped get the flags set up. Then he settled back to watch how she managed to keep them all playing without anyone getting hurt.
“Wow, she is out cold.” Emelise watched Caine carry Hailey down the hall to her bedroom. All of the kids had worn themselves out with their game of Capture the Flag. “That was an excellent idea you had, Kylie. You’re really good with kids.”
Kylie blushed a little. “I used to help keep the younger members of the Pard entertained when the adults had meetings. My father was one of the lieutenants so we went to a lot of meetings. Once upon a time, I thought I might want to be a teacher. I even started classes for it.”
“What stopped you from continuing?”
“Ezra.” She’d been putting herself through school by working at the bar until he’d made her quit everything.
Emelise growled. “I swear to fucking gods, if I ever meet that bastard I am likely to hurt him.”
“What bastard are we hurtin’, Angel, and why?” Caine had obviously overheard her.
Eme cursed silently. She looked at Kylie because it wasn’t her secret to tell.
Kylie sighed. “My ex, Ezra. He…” She realized she was ashamed to admit it to her new Alpha. “He was very…abusive…after my father died. He made me quit college—I was studying to be a teacher, and my job at the bar I was working at.”
Caine’s reaction was instant. “If he ever contacts you here, I want to know. He isn’t welcome in Black Water Pard territory and I know da Ghostpoint Pack will feel da same way.” There was barely contained anger in his voice.
Kylie was stunned by the anger and lowered her head. “Yes, Alpha.”
“Around here, cher, I’m just Caine.” He winked at her to show her he wasn’t angry with her. He was angry on her behalf.
“Thank you for being so concerned. I’ll tell you if I ever hear from him.” She yawned and rubbed her eyes a moment. “I’m beat, I think I’m going to hit the sack.”
“Hey, Kylie?” Emelise said before she got to the door leading to the guest cottage. “I really think you should think about going back to school, if that’s what you really want to do. You don’t have to make a decision right now, of course. Just think on it. Anyway, goodnight,” Emelise added and waved at her from the living room.
Kylie paused to turn to the woman who was quickly becoming a close friend.“Maybe. I’ll think about it,” she promised. “Good-night.” By the time she got a quick shower and was curled up in bed, the idea had a firm hold on her mind. Maybe she would go back to school. But if she did that, would it make it easier for Ezra to find her? She wished she knew the answer to that question. By the time her thoughts settled enough for her to drift off to sleep, she found herself dreaming, not of Ezra, as she had so often since leaving him, but of Remy. The erotic nature of her dreams left her with an ache the next morning that she doubted would ever go away.
