Page 31 of Havoc's Fox

Faces Addie didn’t know all turned her way curiously.

“Where did you find Addie? You’ve only been gone fifteen minutes,” Everly said, walking out of the kitchen to extend a greeting to the new girl.

Addie smiled nervously.

“Welcome, Addie. Merry Christmas,” Everly said.

“Thank you, ma’am. Merry Christmas,” Addie replied.

“She helped me get into Christian’s house. She lives next door,” Emmalyn explained. “Addie, this is my mom, Everly. My dad, Bam. My Uncle Bane and Aunt Janie, who are Brandt’s parents. My cousin Daisy, who’s his sister. My cousin Jobe, his wife Maggie and their kids Jenn and Jobie, My Uncle Maverik, my Aunt Valerie, my cousin Havoc and his daughter Harley, and that’s one of them you’re supposed to help distract attention from,” Emmalyn explained.

“The little girl?” Addie asked, turning a confused expression on Everly.

“No! Her idiot father,” Emmalyn quipped as she walked away and walked toward the kitchen, leaving Addie to face all the people there alone.

“Emmalyn!” Everly snapped.

“Merry Christmas, Havoc!” Emmalyn immediately shouted with an exaggerated happiness. Then her voice dropped the exaggeration though she continued to shout from the kitchen. “Funny story, Addie. Aunt Valerie is Christian’s aunt. Like his real blood aunt. Her brother is Christian’s dad.”

Addie’s face went white.

Everyone shared a questioning look.

“So, Addie, right?” Maverik asked from across the room.

Addie’s gaze locked on him, taking in his tattoos, his mohawk, the wild blue eyes of his Wolf. Her Fox took a step back in her mind, warning her that this male was a dangerous predator.

“Yes, sir,” she said, her voice quieter than it had been, her eyes focused on his chest rather than his face.

“You’re one of the family that Brandt invited in,” he said.

Addie nodded.

“Well, damn, girl. You’re supposed to be here. Your whole family ought to be here. What’s their number?” Maverik asked, taking out his phone.

Addie’s gaze jerked up to his. “They’re just relaxing at home today.”

“You don’t think they’d want to come?” Maverik asked, his Wolf informing him that she was afraid of him as it picked up on the scent of her fear. He was not new to people fearing him because of his appearance, but usually they were human, not another shifter.

“No, sir. My sister is very close to her due date so they’re staying close to home.”

“Oh! Another baby! I love me some babies. Ain’t nothing like watching them grow, and they don’t judge you, neither.”

Addie realized with his subtle reminder that she’d been doing exactly what she was afraid would be done to her — judging him. She straightened her spine and blinked a few times as she gathered her courage. “You’re right. It’s a difficult thing to be judged by others who don’t know you.”

Maverik smiled at her, then winked as he watched her pull herself together. “Ain’t nothing but a thing. And not a thing that can’t be overcome. You want one of these broccoli balls? And let me tell you before you go, eww broccoli, they got bacon and they got cheese, and they are so damn good. Everly even makes good broccoli. Tell her, Harley,” he said to a little girl sitting beside him steadily eating from the platter he held.

“They’re good,” Harley said, nodding her head convincingly.

Addie smiled at Harley. “I might have to try one, then.”

“Try two,” Harley said.

“If they have any left,” Havoc added. “Y’all leave some of those for everybody else,” he said, taking the plate away from Harley and Maverik and putting it on an end table to his left.

“Hey!” Maverik exclaimed.

Harley tugged on his sleeve. “Poppy, they got cookies!” she said excitedly.

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