“So cool,” Quinn said. “Now listen, no crashing into Aaron today, got it? He hurt his leg, so you be careful.”
Quinn set him on his feet, and Zane approached, looking from one of Aaron’s legs to the other. “You got hurt?”
“A little,” Aaron said.
“Which?” He pointed at Aaron’s legs.
Aaron set his hand on his right thigh. “This one.”
“Was it a can lid in the trash?”
“No, it was something else.”
“I won’t crash into you while you’re hurt. Because you saved me.”
“I appreciate that, buddy.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Let’s take a look at your hand. You been keeping it dry for me?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Great.” He offered his hand, and Zane took it, and they headed toward the hall connecting to the foyer.
“I’ll get the full story out of Quinn and Ember,” Lucy said.
“Fine by me.” He continued with Zane down the hall.
Lucy motioned to Ember and Quinn. “Come into the living room where I can keep an eye on the girls.”
Three girls younger than Zane, one brunette and two redheads, played on a foam slide with attached foam steps. They appeared to be taking turns in orderly fashion, and they didn’t tire of the repetition—climb up, slide down, climb up, slide down. Spread over the floor was a play mat that included houses, roads, and train tracks. The play area was set up in a far corner from the main furnishings of the room, and the youngest two, apparently twins, were mostly quiet while the older one carefully directed whose turn on the slide came next, the queen to the princesses.
Quinn flopped into an oversized stuffed chair with the casual posture of being at home, and Ember joined Lucy on the pillow-back couch.
“Callie,” Lucy said, pointing to her oldest daughter, who turned long enough to wave at Ember and Quinn. Lucy pointed to the redheaded twins. “Victoria and Georgiana, better known as Tori and Gigi.”
“Ooh, how very vintage,” Ember said.
“Well, the last two, yes.” Lucy grinned. “Jeremy vetoed my favorite choices for our first two. When we found out I was having twins, I told him his veto power had been rescinded.”
Ember laughed. “Priceless. I can’t believe it worked.”
“He complained for a minute but gave in when he saw I was serious.” Lucy sat forward, hands on her knees. “I didn’t get a chance to say this at the cookout, but it’s really something, you coming all the way here to check on Quinn. Not many people would be bothered.”
“He’s family.”
Lucy nodded. “I hope the pack will feel less like strangers by the time you leave.”
Huh. “You don’t feel the need to clarify my statement.”
“Clarify what?”
“Well…that he’s my familyandnow he’s part of your pack. Aaron and the alpha both made that point pretty strongly.”
She waved a hand. “Wolves being wolves. When Zane was born, I had to cajole Jeremy into letting my mother hold him.”
Wait a minute… “Lucy, aren’t you…? I mean, aren’t wolves generally…partnered to other wolves?”
