Page 5 of Her Courage

"Breathe," I whispered into her ear, and she stopped speaking to take a few inhales.

"If that woman is what you grew up with, then I'd say you're even more incredible."

Kaleb's head snapped up and he looked at Lottie as if she'd grown two heads. "Why would you say that? She's a monster."

"No!" Lottie shook her head, her pigtail braids swinging back and forth. "I meant cause you survived being raised by her." She shook her head. "Although I'm pretty sure that woman probably didn't have much to do with your raising. But anyway, you're incredible because you're still such a caring and kind person, despite her ugliness."

Her words warmed me from the inside out. Our girl was one of the most incredible people on this planet. Her capacity for love was exponential. I continued to be in awe of her every day that we got to spend with her.

"I don't deserve you." Kaleb grasped her hand and squeezed.

"Remember those conversations about not saying shit like that?" Lottie laughed, but it was strained. Tears slid from the corners of her eyes and down her cheeks. "You accepted me for my faults. Didn't look at me any different after knowing about my ex, and my parents, and everything else I've laid at your feet. Why would I judge you for having a piece of shit for a mom?"

Kaleb blew out a tired breath before turning toward Lottie and framing her face in his hands. "She is a piece of shit. But I never wanted any of her venom to fall on you."

Chapter Four

KALEB

Iwas freezing and burning up at the same time. Anger and sorrow warred within my body.

But in five seconds, Lottie had my pulse slowing, and my emotions returning to an even keel.

She was our everything. I watched her when Viktor came back into Andrei's life, and how she never shied away from his past. Even the blood on his hands.

I don't know why I thought it would be different with me. That maybe somehow because my mom was still alive, she wouldn't be able to see past it.

Because you can never see past it, and will always think the worst of yourself, Wulf.

With my eyes closed, I pressed my forehead to Lottie's and slid my hands back to cup her head. One hand dipped lower, spanning over her delicate throat so I could feel her pulse against my hand. "I fucking love you, baby girl. I'll spend the rest of my life proving that to you."

She drew back, just a hint of a smile tilting the corners of her lips. "I'll happily take the love for the rest of our lives, but you don't have to prove anything to me." Her hands wrapped around the back of my neck, and I savored her touch.

"Then I'll just keep doing what I'm already doing."

Her smile widened, and just as she opened her mouth to reply, her stomach let out a frustrated gurgle.

A deep flush spread over her cheeks as she splayed her hand out. "Oh my god. Just kill me now." She shook her head and kept her gaze down toward the couch. "Why does this always happen? And so loud. Really tummy, I ate today, it's not like I forgot again like the other day and I got all dizzy."

"Woah, wait a second," I said in my 'Daddy' voice.

At the same time, Andrei snapped. "Kroshka, did we just hear you say you didn't eat the other day and almost passed out?"

Andrei was the sternest one of us for a reason. And it wasn't just because of his deep booming voice, or that Russian accent.

He just had the look.

The look that made Littles quiver and come to attention.

Although we only cared about one specific Little.

Lottie looked contrite as she twisted her fingers together. "I was working on a project and lost track of time. Next thing I knew, it was after three and I skipped lunch."

"And let me guess," I added. "You didn't have breakfast." I held a hand up when she tried to protest. "Coffee does not count as food.”

She opened and closed her mouth a couple times before letting out a deep sigh. “What’s for dinner?”

“That’s a very good question because we were supposed to pick something up on the way home.” I rubbed the back of my head and once again cursed my mother disturbing my plans.