Page 13 of Lion's Little Scamp

While he finished getting ready, Irish went into her bedroom and straightened the already smooth covers of the bed she had made before getting dressed.

Picking Fluffy up from the pillow, she hugged him tight. She had always been nervous the first few days of school, until she got comfortable with her teachers and classes. This was more important than school and her nerves were jangling like crazy.

“Wish me luck today, Fluffy. I might need it if those two other girls are as mean today as they were yesterday. While I’m gone, you stay right here on the bed and don’t go getting into any trouble.”

Setting the lion stuffie back down, she giggled at the look he gave her, as if he were saying he had no idea where she got the idea he would get in any trouble. For a stuffed animal, he had a very expressive face.

“Ready, scamp?”

Irish slowly turned and nodded. “I’m scared,” she admitted softly. “Those other two girls didn’t seem to like me yesterday.”

She was surprised when Harrigan opened his arms as he stepped close. She wrapped her arms around his middle as he engulfed her in a big hug. “It’s going to be all right, scamp. And if they are mean to you, you tell me tonight and I’ll see that they straighten up tomorrow. Okay?”

“Okay, Sir. Thank you.”

“And if they’re mean to you tomorrow, we’ll let Fluffy eat them. Now come on, it’s time to go to class. Don’t want to be late on your first day.”

Being in Harrigan’s arms felt so good and right that Irish was hesitant to leave it. But the sooner she got the first day out of the way, the sooner the last day would come, and she could start her new post-Bratburg training life.

She just wished she could be certain where she would end up. Just because Harrigan said he was her mate and would keep her did not mean he would feel the same way in thirty days. For now, she would not take anything for granted, not even the strong feelings she was developing for her guardian. A guardian who claimed to be her life mate.

The smile he wore as they walked toward the administrative building hand in hand felt odd. Probably because he could not remember the last time he had something to smile about. But having his Little girl’s hand cradled in his just felt right. His lion was still restless, wanting to lay her out and claim her immediately, if not sooner, but the fact that they were touching kept him from pushing too hard for release.

He would not be able to hold his animal side back for too long, but at least for today he would allow Irish to settle in and get comfortable, not only with him, but with her new situation at Bratburg.

In a day or two he would take her into the woods, away from the other trainees, and show her his lion. Hopefully by then, she would be comfortable enough to accept his claim and become his mate and Little girl.

But that was then. This was now, and the closer they got to her classroom, the more she squeezed his hand. He could feel her trembling, but was not sure what to do about it.

There would be six girls in this class, and he hoped she would make friends with someone. If not, he would introduce her to Talia, Emory and Poppy, the other mated Littles who lived full time at Bratburg. He was certain they would welcome her with open hearts.

Harrigan stopped in the hall just outside the newly enlarged classroom. Pulling her close, he gave her another hug and brushed a kiss on the top of her head. “Be a good girl, no fighting, and I’ll be back to get you at lunchtime.”

“Yes, Sir,” she whispered. She clung to him like kudzu until he pulled her arms from around his middle and stepped back.

She looked at him with fear in her eyes, but he forced himself to remain strong. “Go on inside, scamp, or you’ll be late.”

He watched as she turned and took a deep breath before pulling the classroom door open and walking in. He watched through the half-window as she introduced herself to Diego before taking a seat on the other side of the room. She was the first to arrive, so he was forced to step back and then walk away when the other girls and their guardians arrived.

Descending the stairs, he walked outside and stopped on the raised patio for a moment. What was he supposed to do now?

Kodiak stepped up beside him and patted him on his shoulder. “Let’s go get a cup of coffee and talk.”

“Yeah, okay,” Harrigan agreed with a shrug. “Got nothing better to do until class ends since Lonergan took me off patrol for the month.”

Chapter Nine

By the time Master Diego released the class for lunch, Irish was exhausted and starving. Regular meals had set to life something in her stomach. She was shocked to find that after the big breakfast, she was more than ready to chow down on lunch.

She wished she could sneak back to Harrigan’s apartment and take a nap, but she had to report to the barn for her afternoon chore detail right after lunch.

She followed the other girls out of the classroom and froze for a few seconds when she saw Harrigan standing in the hallway. What was he doing here? Had she screwed up already and he was taking her back to the city?

Locking eyes with the big golden man, she approached cautiously. “Hello,” she said when she stopped just out of arm’s length.

“How was class?”

She shrugged. She hadn’t been in school in four years and though she had decent grades, she hated studying.

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