Page 36 of Dark Dragon’s Wolf

“Hate rules,” Brandon said. “Wanna throw knives.”

Xander just grinned.

Chapter 16

The barbecue food was amazing. Brody and Jasmin—professional chefs, both of them—had done most of the cooking. Mayah ate until she was stuffed, and then perched on the retaining wall while Tristan sat behind her, legs straddled on either side of her, his arms around her waist.

“Having fun?” she asked.

“You need to ask?” But she sensed that even though part of him was happy, part of him wasn’t. He was still brooding over something.

They were teasing Xander about his self-professed dream to start an online business selling fake glitter poop and novelty condoms, when one of Caitlyn and Sloan’s babies made a break for the wall—and the three-foot drop onto the flagstones below.

Tristan scooped him up with one arm. “Hey, buddy,” he said. “Bad idea.”

“Dammit,” Caitlyn said. “I turn my back for a nanosecond, and Colton…” She frowned. “No, wait, that’s Remy.”

Xander said, “You can’t even tell your own kids apart? I always said you didn’t deserve to get two at once. You don’t appreciate them.”

Caitlyn gave him the finger. “Anyone can make a mistake. They’re identical twins, for fuck’s sake.”

“Remy?” Mayah said. “That’s an unusual name.”

“Don’t get me started.” Caitlyn threw a balled-up paper napkin at Sloan, who grinned back at her.

Brody said, “It’s short for Remington.”

Tristan was laughing now. “I still can’t believe you named your kids Colt and Remington.” At Mayah’s questioning look, he explained, “Colt and Remington are two of the most famous gun manufacturers in America.”

“They’re badass names,” Sloan protested. “I like them.” He turned to Caitlyn. “And I ran them by you first.”

“Yeah, when I was lying in bed with my labor pains coming like one minute apart. You took advantage of my weakened state.”

He leaned over and planted a kiss on her lips. “That’s what you get for not deciding on names until your kids were halfway out of your uterus.”

She kissed him back. “Uh huh. I put you ahead of Xander in the baby stakes in one fell swoop, and this is the thanks I get.” Sloan kissed her again.

“It’s not fair,” Xander grumbled, his hand on Jenny’s stomach. “Even with this panther munchkin, we’ll only be even.”

He glared around the firepit. “In fact, everybody needs to step it up with the procreation. We’re behind on my plan for Little League domination, sponsored by Bearcat Construction. I’m coach.”

That cracked everybody up. Sloan said, “I can just see us playing the Nashville wolf pack. All teeth and fur, and itty bitty brawls fucking everywhere.”

Brandon nodded solemnly. “Claw the udder team’s eyes out if they cheats.”

He put his claws out, and Xander low-fived him. “That’s my boy.”

He turned to the others. “Kira? Jaz? It’s baby-making time. You’re not going to let the team down, are you?”

Jaz said to Xander, “I told you, I’m not having babies. And I’m sure as fuck not doing it for you, asshole.”

“What about for me?” Brody toyed with a strand of her hair. “You want to see me as Assistant Coach Monster Wolf. I know you do.”

Jasmin gave him the side-eye. “Hmph.”

“That means she’s thinking about it.” Brody’s tone was light, but Mayah could see he wanted a baby. Although Jasmin clearly wasn’t the maternal type. More like the type to bite people’s heads off and eat them for breakfast.

Flynn said, “There is no way I’m letting these miniature terrors play baseball out here. Brandon still owes me his allowance for the window he broke last week.” He poked Brandon playfully in the ribs.