Page 33 of Out of Peril

“Hmm, I don't really know how to explain it. They have a great mom and dad, but if anything were to happen to both of them, then the kids would come to live with me. Mostly, I'm just like a favorite uncle. I spend as much time with them as possible.”

“That's why you're so good with Maya and Dante,” Lindsey said softly.

I shrugged. “I've always been good with children.”

“So what's their names?” Maya asked, suddenly very interested to hear more.

“Zachary, Nathan, and Mary Alice.”

“Are they wolves too?”

I shrugged. “I don't really know.”

“How do you not know something like that?” Lindsey asked.

“They were adopted.” I didn't go into details. I didn't want to freak her out. Lindsey knew better than anyone the trials the triplets could someday face.

“Are they actual triplets then?” Dante asked. “Because Lindsey calls me and Maya twins all the time.”

I smiled. “Yes, they are actual triplets.”

They continued to pepper me with questions about the kids as I cooked us all dinner. We even sat down at the large dining room table and ate as we continued to talk.

It was a great, perfectly normal evening.

As I looked around the room, I couldn't help but feel like I was exactly where I was meant to be and this was the start of a new family. It didn't mean I would lose my other family groups, just that I was adding to it and creating a family of my own.

After the food was eaten and the dishes washed, Lindsey shooed the kids off to bed. It was late, and we were all tired from a hard day of work, but the bulk of the house was clean and livable now, at least.

We said goodnight to Maya and Dante and found ourselves entirely alone.

I considered myself a smooth talker, but in that moment, my tongue was completely tied.

The moonlight was streaming in through the window and shining on my mate. Her blonde hair looked like a glowing halo framing her beautiful face.

I had to kiss her. It felt like the most important thing in the world that had to be done.

I was transfixed as I slowly stepped towards her.

Her large blue eyes stared up at me in wonder, but as I reached out to pull her to me, she froze.

The sudden transformation from wanting to anger happened so quickly, but somehow I understood she was just scared.

“You aren't supposed to leave the third floor,” she snapped. “It's late. Get back to your room.”

Before I could argue, she turned and ran from the room so fast she looked like a blur in motion.

I sighed.

Patience, Walker. Patience.

Lindsey

Chapter 10

I hadn't meant to snap at him, but it felt a lot like he was about to kiss me. I'd never been kissed before, and what if he expected something more than that? My heart raced at the thought. I wasn't ready for all of this. I couldn't handle all the feelings that arose just being near him.

I prided myself on being brave and fierce, but just maybe they had injected me with a bit of chicken too. It certainly felt that way when it came to Walker.

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