“Well, then we need some,” Maverik said, following the girl across the room to pick out some cookies.
“Addie, come on in and have a seat,” Havoc said.
“Uhm, okay. Thank you,” she said, walking slowly further into the living room, taking a seat beside Havoc on the sofa.
“You manage to get any rest at all last night?” Havoc asked.
She knew then that Havoc was the Wolf that had kept watch over Christian and the woman that had spent the night with him. “Not really, no.”
“Me, neither,” he admitted.
“Addie, I’m guessing you know Christian since Emmalyn made it a point to say he’s my nephew,” Valerie said.
Addie looked like a deer in the headlights suddenly.
“I think I remember Brandt saying y’all moved in next door to him, right?” Havoc offered, throwing her a line.
“Yes. Yes, we did. I only met him briefly, but until Emmalyn, I hadn’t met anyone else but Alpha Brandt and Tempest and Barron.”
“Oh, okay. I understand,” Valerie said. “Well, Havoc there, is my son, so that makes him and Christian first cousins. All kinds of connections here.”
“Is everybody in the clan related?” Addie asked.
Bane shook his head. “Blood does not a family make,” he said. “You’ll never find one closer than ours. Our family is family by choice.”
“It’s an excellent family to be a part of,” Jobe said.
“Isn’t it, though?” Valerie asked.
“Are you hungry, dear? Can I get you something to drink or nibble on until dinner is ready?” Janie asked.
“Oh, no, ma’am. I’m fine, but thank you so much.”
“My name is Janie, just in case you didn’t catch everything that Emmalyn tossed your way when you first walked in. Daisy and Brandt are my kids.”
“It might be a little while before I can remember all the connections and names.”
“Gotta start somewhere, right?” Bane asked.
“Yes, sir,” Addie agreed.
Havoc sat back and watched as Addie relaxed a little while everybody made conversation with her. He had to wonder, though, what was behind her really being here. Emmalyn said she was supposed to distract him. He leaned over to where she sat beside him. “So, what are you supposed to distract me from?” he asked quietly.
When she looked up at him, he smirked a little.
“I’m not exactly sure. There was a lot of information at once. But she said someone new would keep everyone from focusing on Alpha Brandt’s new mate, on her and Barron, and you and, I’m sorry, I don’t remember the other name.”
“Analise,” he supplied.
“Yes! That’s it.”
“And you came after all that?”
“Well, I met her while I was protecting Christian’s house.”
“Still at it this morning?” he asked sarcastically.
She just rolled her eyes at him and answered despite his teasing her. “She was breaking in. And after she explained that she was his cousin, and that he wouldn’t mind, but continued to break in, I thought it might be best if I just went along with her to make sure that her being there was okay. She said he’d be here, so, I’m here.”