Page 93 of Brandt's Rule

Brandt could feel the unease wafting off Kiernan as the mention of Christmas. “Or not, if you don’t celebrate, that’s fine, too.”

“We would if we had the means. Maybe next year,” Kiernan said.

“Santa always makes sure every little child has a pretty package to open on Christmas morning,” Barron said. “Even when I didn’t deserve it I got something.”

Kiernan looked over at Barron and opened his mouth to object but Barron shut him down. “Just so you know, we don’t hand out charity. Everything here is deserved and earned. Work isn’t the only way. Loyalty, being a decent person, kindness. All kinds of ways to earn your place around here.”

Kiernan pressed his lips together and nodded.

“Let’s get you all home so you can get your woman and your son warm and fed,” Brandt said.

“What about Shaun?” Kiernan asked.

“He should be waking up right about now,” Tempest said.

Sure enough Shaun started moaning and tried to pick himself up off the ground.

Brandt walked over and squatted down beside him. “You come at me or mine again, I’ll drop you where you stand — permanently. You understand?”

“Shaun, this Alpha has given us a place to shelter, giving us food. You go at him again and I’ll drop you. He won’t have to,” Kiernan said. “You hear me?!” Kiernan demanded when Shaun did nothing but groan.

“I hear you,” Shaun said. “Hear both of you.”

“You able to walk?” Brandt asked.

Shaun flipped over and stared at the night sky. “Yeah. Just need a minute.”

“Hurts when you get your ass handed to you by a Bear don’t it?” Barron teased.

“Like a bitch,” Shaun said.

~~~

Brandt and Tempest led the way with Barron bringing up the rear and all of them carrying meat, keeping an eye on Shaun in case he needed help. But true to shifter strengths, though he was obviously hurting, he was healing very quickly, too. Brandt intentionally kept to the roads rather than the paths through their land so they’d easily find their way to and from as needed. As they were walking up the road away from the river, Brandt jammed his thumb toward the river. “My place is that way if you need me.” They kept walking and eventually he pointed in the opposite direction from the river. “Straight up ahead, if you stay on this road, you’ll hit the highway. There are a couple of turnoffs between here and there like this one and down each one are homes or cleared spots for homes or both. Yours is here to the left.”

As they passed the first home, Brandt pointed to it. “Your neighbor. Remi. He’s a Dragon shifter.”

They walked a few hundred yards and Brandt spoke again. “This is you. It’s a three bedroom home. I think y’all will be comfortable here. If you continue on to the next house, you’ll find your other neighbor. Christian. He’s a Lion shifter. Both of your neighbors are good males, and members of my clan. If you need anything at all and I’m not around, do not hesitate to go to either of them. Christian might be a little harder to find, though. He comes and goes a lot.”

Tempest had been helping with KJ while they walked, and doing her best to make some kind of connection with the females. When she turned to hand KJ back to Abby, she found Abby almost in tears as she stood looking at the house. It was a typical single family home, with a small front porch with just a step or two to walk up to get to the porch level. It had nice big windows in the front of the house looking out over the yard in the front and a stone walkway from the road through the yard then to the porch. There was a chimney which indicated a fireplace inside and what looked to be working shutters on either side of each of the windows. “You alright?” Tempest asked, handing the woman her son.

She nodded quickly, trying to keep the tears at bay as she offered a weak smile to Tempest.

“Let’s go in and show you around,” Tempest said, when Brandt started up the walk to the house.

“Okay,” Abby whispered, the first thing she’d tried to actually say.

Tempest reached out and placed her hand on Abby’s shoulder, soothing the woman just as she had KJ. “It’s going to be fine. No reason to fear or be anxious. Best mistake your mate could have made is coming here to our land.”

Abby nodded and slowly breathed out a breath she’d been holding. “Thank you, Ms. Tempest.”

“Just Tempest, not Ms. I’m just somebody trying to get through each day, just like you do.”

“Tempest,” Abby said.

“Addie, you ready to take a look inside?” Abby asked.

“So ready,” Addie said. “Haven’t ever lived in a place like this before.”

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