Page 47 of Bad Blood Panther

“What?” she said. Then she noticed the suitcase and the backpack at the edge of the clearing. “I guess. But…I don’t know where to take it. I don’t know if Xander will want us in the trailer when he comes back.”

If he comes back.

Sloan just snorted, like she was being an idiot. He picked up Brandon’s things and headed for the trailer.

Inside, she put Brandon down and let him run around. Luckily, there was a juice box in the backpack, so she was saved a tantrum over juice.

Brandon threw himself on the couch and buried his face in the cushions. “Like this place. Smell nice.”

He was picking up Xander’s scent, she realized. And it made him feel welcome.

Sloan watched him, a bemused expression on his face. “Xander’s got a kid.” He shook his head. “I can’t believe it.” He turned to Jenny. “Why didn’t you tell him?”

She shrugged helplessly. “I didn’t know if he’d want us. I didn’t know if he’d be capable of helping us. I didn’t know if Brandon would be safe here.”

“What are you talking about? Of course he is.”

Jenny dropped her gaze. “Don’t get mad at me, but…the way Xander goes crazy, and the way the rest of you brawl, just whenever and wherever…I worry he’ll get hurt.”

“Jenny, he’s a kid. Whatever else we have going on, none of us would ever hurt a kid.”

“I know you wouldn’t want to,” she said.

Sloan chewed on his lower lip. “Look, I guess I can understand how you feel. That’s your kid, and you can’t take a chance. But most of us are way more settled than we used to be. Having mates has changed us. Xander was the worst, but…I’m hoping having a mate will do the same for him.” He added quietly, “He really does love you.”

Jenny looked away. Brandon was running in circles around and around the couch, making airplane noises.

“I don’t know,” she said. “I don’t settle him. I just seem to make him crazier. Do you think he’s okay? That look on his face…like I betrayed him…”

Sloan blew out a noisy sigh. “I don’t know. Flynn has a tracker on his truck, though, so he’ll go after him, or Tank will. Somebody strong enough and dominant enough to drag him back.”

Jenny knew Flynn well enough already not to be surprised about the tracker. But just because Xander could be found didn’t mean he wanted to be.

She said in a small voice, “What if he doesn’t want to come back?”

Sloan touched her gently on the arm. “Give him a chance,” he said.

Brandon ran over and pointed to his bottom. “Mama,” he said imperiously. “Poop. Fix.”

“Oh, geez,” she said. “I don’t have diapers. Or a changing table. Or a crib. He’s really too little for a bed, and…” She sank down on the couch, overwhelmed. “I’m sorry.”

“We’ll figure it out,” Sloan said. “Caitlyn and I can run out to the store right now and get a portable crib, anyway. And some diapers. Whatever else you need. Make me a list.”

Tears filled her eyes. “I can’t let you do that. It’s too much trouble.”

Sloan waved that away. “You’re Xander’s mate,” he said. “That makes you family.” Hesitantly, he bent and rubbed his cheek gently against hers in a cat-gesture of comfort. Like she was a sister, or a close friend.

That almost did her in.

“I really do love Xander,” she said. “I was just trying to do the right thing.”

Sloan nodded. “He’ll figure that out,” he said. “Just give him time.”