Slade took a second to consider my question. “Touch used to bring internal chaos and pain, but when you or my twin touch me, all I feel is harmony. It’s calming to the dragon and soothing to the alpha.” He leaned down until our lips were mere inches apart. “With you, it’seven more than that. Your warmth sparks against the flames of my beast, and it feels so good. You never have to ask for permission to touch me.”
Through the bond, I felt how much he meant that statement, which propelled me to slide my hands up his sides until I reached the stubble on his cheeks. As I scraped my fingertips across his face, Slade sighed, the sound filled with relief.
I dropped my hands soon after, and he linked our fingers together, as if he couldn’t standnotto be touching me now. “Come on,” he said. “Kellan’s family is upstairs, waiting for us.”
That reminder jolted me into a slightly panicked state, and with one more attempt to straighten my hair and dress, I walked with him out of the garage.
In the living room, Slade let me go first, and I took in the cozy scene. Kellan was squished between two shifters who looked so much like him there was no way to mistake them as anyone other than his parents. His brothers were there too, and on Julien’s lap was the cute blond baby I’d seen twice now—once at hockey and another time in the street when we were under attack. He’d always reminded me of Kellan, which made perfect sense since he had to be his nephew.
“Shortcake,” Kellan said, jumping to his feet and racing over to sweep me up into his arms, like it had been days since we were parted. “We’ve been waiting for you.”
Despite our audience, he pressed a kiss to my lips, his fingers threading into my ratty hair as he pulled me closer. Finley joined us too, wrapping me in a bear hug, and I was calmed once more by their scents and presence.
“I’ll grab more drinks,” Finley offered as he pulled away, allowing Kellan to lead me to the couch.
His mom, who stared at me with the sort of intensity usually reserved for my alphas, was standing and waiting for us. I took her in, noting that she was very pretty, with blond hair and blue eyes like her sons. She also wore a warm smile that made me feel instantly at ease.
“Oh, our beautiful Emme,” she crooned, and to my shock she reached right out and hugged me like this wasn’t the first time we’d met.
I’d received many hugs since coming into this pack, and almost all of them affected me in different ways. But a mom hug. I’d never had one of those before.
I fought down my emotions, noticing that Danielle Jackson smelled like the lightest spray of violets. She was quite a few inches shorter than me, but I felt small and protected in her firm embrace as her beta energy soothed my omega.
When she sniffled, my eyes burned until I squeezed them closed. “I’ve waited so long to meet you, gorgeous girl,” she whispered against my shoulder. “You are such a precious gift to our family. To our Kellan.”
My wolf howled, and I barely held it together.Gift. I hadn’t been a gift to my own family. It was astonishing to have a virtual stranger make such a heartfelt statement.
“She’s the fucking best thing that ever walked into my life,” Kellan murmured, brushing his arm over my shoulder. “Can I have her back now, please?”
I couldn’t see him, but I heard a low snicker from one of his brothers. Even his dad released a deep chuckle. “You’re going to have to learn to share her son, just as your brothers did with their mates.”
Kellan’s mom sniffled again as she pulled away to look me over. “I’m Danielle,” she told me, though I already knew their names from Kellan. “But I’d love if you might consider calling me Mom. Or whatever you’re comfortable with.”
I wasn’t sure how I felt about her offer, but it was lovely of her to make it in the first place. “Thank you, and it’s so nice to meet you. Kellan told me how amazing his childhood was, and I wanted to say just how proud you should be of the boys you’ve raised.”
Her eyes were shiny as she squeezed my hands. “Goddess, you really are the sweetest. I’ve always wanted a daughter… I might take you home with me.”
Kellan groaned, and looked pleadingly at his father, who took pity on him and wrapped his mate up in his arms. Danielle sank back against the burly alpha, her expression filled with joy.
“I’m Conrad,” he said, his wolf dominant though it had no effect on me. “We’re sorry to just drop by unannounced, but Danni couldn’t wait one more minute to meet you. Along with ensuring her baby had fully recovered from the magical attack.”
I found myself genuinely smiling at them both. “You’re always welcome here. I’m guessing the guys have filled you in on what we’ve been facing lately. The only reason I haven’t insisted on meeting you sooner is I’d hate for you to be in any danger because of me.”
Julien, who’d just jumped to his feet to keep a wobbly baby from crashing headfirst into the coffee table, said, “I’m sending my pack and Lochie back with Mom and Dad. I know they’re no safer there from the curse, but I feel like Golden Claw could end up front and center of a war.” He shifted Lachlan closer to the couch.
“You should go too,” Kellan said, guiding me down to sit beside him on the couch, his palm wrapped around my thigh. I got the sense he was barely stopping himself from pulling me completely into his lap. “I want all of you out of the danger zone.”
Julien snorted, as if that was the dumbest thing he’d ever heard. “Rocket, you’re crazy if you think I’m leaving my baby brother alone. I’ll be here if you need me.”
“Me too,” Tyson said. “My mate is staying too, but we don’t have any babies to consider. Golden Claw is our home, and we will fight for it.”
I appreciated everyone taking this seriously, but I hated the thought of anyone else we cared about going into battle. We’d already lost Marcus, and that was one good shifter too many.
How many more would we lose before this was over?
Needing a subject change, I said, “As much as we should discuss the witch, there’s one thing I have to know first.” Kellan raised an eyebrow at me, the slightest hint of a smile on his lips.
“How did you get the nickname Rocket?”
