A couple of sleepless nights with Eira convinced us we did need help.
But it wasn’t my folks we were dreading but the couple who were biologically related to my mate. Neither of us could use the term bio parents or anything other than their given names.
Peregrine and Corvin hadn’t stuck around after Eira was born. Shocker, because they were so warm and loving. My wolf was confused by that statement until I explained sarcasm.
We put Eira in her bassinet in the living room. My parents arrived first, and they gave Rawling and me brief kisses and hugs before fussing over our daughter. We’d told them to come early so they’d be here when the other pair arrived.
Peregrine didn’t knock but opened the infirmary door and stuck his head in. I’d been around these people most of my life. How had I never paid attention to how obnoxious they were? I’d mentioned to Rawling that my folks were pleasant to them because they were in the same social circles, and with shiftersociety being so hierarchal, they’d maintained ties so they’d blend in.
But after witnessing their behavior with Rawling and them relating why they gave him up, I was all for cutting them out of our lives. But the final decision wasn’t up to me.
“How’s the little one?” Corvin bent over our sleeping daughter and waved a toy bunny at her.
“Any sign she may be a shifter?” Peregrine glanced at Eira, but like Atticus, I guessed he wasn’t into babies, especially ones who didn’t exhibit shifter tendencies.
“She’s ten days old, Peregrine.” Dad’s tone told me he wasn’t impressed.
I was still puzzling over why Rawling had scented latent at birth, though Dad said it was probably because he’d been with Atticus. I’d gripped my belly and told it to keep my breakfast, because the thought of being trapped in such a small space with Atticus was frankly horrifying.
My folks were also uneasy at us keeping Rawling’s humanity a secret. But I explained that we couldn’t make any more major decisions for the moment, and we had to keep the status quo.
“We have good news.” Corvin grinned.
“Atticus is transferring to another school?” Rawling said under his breath, knowing every shifter in the room could hear him.
I stifled a giggle and tried not to catch Dad’s eye or I’d laugh hysterically.
Peregrine fumed but didn’t respond to my mate. “Corvin and I want to pay for your manny.” He glanced at each one of us as if expecting us to prostrate ourselves at his feet.
“Not happening, Peregrine. Eira is our granddaughter, and our family will take care of any financial needs.” Father was adamant he and Dad would be responsible for us until we left Sombertooth.
Corvin shuffled closer to his mate. “Biologically, she’s our granddaughter too.”
I put a hand on my mate’s shoulder, wishing Atticus’s family would leave. The only thing worse than this would be to have Atticus here chewing us out for some perceived slight.
“Sorry, no, that’s not how this works.” Dad got between Peregrine and Eira’s bassinet. “You gave up your rights when you tossed your son away.” Dad was shouting, and Rawling put a hand on Eira’s sleeping form.
Peregrine opened his mouth, revealing his wolf’s fangs.
“Put those away. What’s next? A dick-measuring contest?”
“Rob, language!” Corvin flapped a hand in the air.
Dad got in Peregrine’s face. “Here’s what’s going to happen.” He beckoned Father forward so they were shoulder to shoulder. “We’re paying for someone reliable to look after Eira, and you two are going to get out of our lives.” Dad folded his arms. “That’s it.”
As a wealthy old-school alpha, Peregrine had no doubt never been spoken to like that. The color drained from his cheeks, and he sputtered and told Father to keep his mate in line.
“Rob speaks for all of us.”
I got up and helped Rawling to his feet. My parents made way for us.
“You’re only interested in Eira if she has a wolf inside her.” My mate took my arm. “But we love her unconditionally, something you can’t imagine because your love has limits. And Atticus is a product of that, sadly.”
“You’re going to regret this when you lose your place in the upper echelons of shifter society.”
Father glowered at Peregrine. “Do your worst, but remember, you and Corvin dumped a newborn because you thought him being latent would damage your reputation.”
My father slung an arm around Dad. “We’re not in the business of spreading gossip, but it would be a shame if that story made its way into the shifter community, and in particular, the wolf shifter council.”
