“I don’t trust him…” I took Morgan’s hands in mine. “But I trust you. If you’re this worked up over it, then… I’ll give him a chance. A small one.”
Morgan smiled. “Thank you, Dax. You’re being mature about this.”
“But I don’t know if Hugo will agree,” I warned him. “And if he says no, then I don’t think the pack will accept Red.”
He shrugged. “Then at least I can tell Red I tried.”
I shook my head in affectionate disbelief. “You’re something, Morgan. This is a lot of compassion and effort for a fox who eats shifters.”
“About that,” Morgan murmured thoughtfully. “I don’t actually think he does. I know what happened to Len, but isn’t there a chance he was just toying with him?”
I growled. “If so, that’s one hell of a sick joke.”
“I’m not saying it was appropriate,” Morgan agreed. “But he did sound a bit remorseful when I talked to him. He’s quite young, too, isn’t he? Maybe it was a mistake he won’t repeat.”
I snorted. “Being young gives him a pass to act like an asshole?”
The smile Morgan shot me was dryer than the desert. “Come on, Dax. Like you and I never made mistakes in our early twenties.”
“Hey, stop acting like we’re grandpas.”
He chuckled. Unfortunately, he was winning me over with his charm and logic. Stupid sexy Morgan.
We found Hugo babysitting the pile of sleeping kids. They must have played extra hard since they were all out like a light. For some reason I seemed more wary approaching Hugo than Morgan did. My mate simply waltzed right up to him like the most confident man in the world while I lagged behind, thinking his reaction wouldn’t be an agreeable one.
He’smylittle brother, for gods’ sake,I thought.I need to be a man and step up like Morgan.
I stood beside my mate so it seemed like I was supporting him rather than waiting for this debacle to be over. He shot me a small, appreciative smile.
Hugo must have sensed that we wanted to speak. He blinked at us, then got up. He spoke in a quiet voice as to not wake the kids.
“Hey, you two,” he said. “Is something wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong,” Morgan replied. “I just have a favor to ask.”
Hugo nodded. “Sure.”
Without wavering or missing a beat, Morgan said, “I’d like Red the fox to join our pack.”
The flash of shock flitting across Hugo’s face dissolved into mild irritation. My brother didn’t get angry easily, but the idea of harm coming to his family was a quick way to upset him.
“What?” he asked, a little loudly. In the grass, Ashe mumbled in his sleep and turned over. Hugo winced, realizing he’d been too noisy. In a hushed whisper, he demanded, “Morgan, where did this idea come from?”
“I spoke to him earlier. He’s only acting out because he’s a lonely shifter with no social group. I think he could be a useful member of our pack.”
Morgan’s argument was so calm and rational that even I was swaying in that damn fox’s favor. Maybe if we lived in human society, Morgan could get a job as a lawyer. Unfortunately, Hugo wasn’t in the mood to go to trial over Red. Though I could tell he was trying to reel in his temper, he bristled and shook his head.
“It’s not going to happen,” Hugo stated. “Not after what he did to Len.”
“Len forgave him for that,” Morgan pointed out.
“I haven’t.”
Morgan blinked slowly. “I was given a chance in this pack. Without it, I’d be completely lost in the world. All I’m saying is, maybe Red would blossom given a proper chance, too. That’s all.”
As Morgan finished speaking, our son’s tiny grunts drew his gaze. The twins were still knocked out, but Ashe had woken. Morgan smiled and kneeled down to pet Ashe’s hair. With human arms, Ashe reached up for his daddy with a mumble that demanded attention.
“Think about it,” Morgan said to Hugo after scooping up our son. “That’s all I ask.”
