Page 14 of The Safest Place She Knows

Iris blinked.“Oh. Oh, boy.” She pulled her hands away from the dogs and foldedthem on her lap. “That’s... complicated.”

Brexel smiled.“Diligent alphas have large families all the time. Packs make iteasier.”

“It’s still apack if it’s elves?”

Oren nodded.“Pack or troupe.”

Iris nodded.“Okay. Right.”

Brexel sighed.“What are we going to do about her father?”

Iris paused.“Oh, right. I forgot about him.”

Oren stared.“How can you forget about your father?”

“Because I havenever heard of him, seen him, or met him. I don’t even know hisname because my mom didn’t know his name.” She shrugged. “But Ihave a dad. He married my mom when I was six and adopted me. So,now I am a Killington.”

Ymer cocked hishead. “Can you stay with them?”

“No. They areback in the islands right now. My brother is getting a degree inmarine biology and sitting his final exams. Mom and Dad are outthere waiting for his results. If he passes, I am supposed to headout for a visit.”

She smiled. “Wehave a family house there, but I don’t think you three wouldfit.”

Brexel frowned.“You don’t think they will accept us?”

“No, I mean youphysically won’t fit. I have a bedroom there, and putting you allin it, plus the boys, would be physically impossible.” Sheshrugged. “If I am happy, you will be family. And it is one verybig family.”

The three menlooked at each other and grinned.

Iris asked,“What?”

Ymer smirked.“You have declared that you will allow us to make you happy. Thatis acquiescence to our offer.”

She waved thatoff with her hand. “There is a weird urgency in me right now. Idon’t know what that means.” She looked at Brexel. “But if the boysdon’t want me back in their lives after I left, that’s it. I amdone. I don’t know what would happen, but this would be over.” Shegestured to all of them.

Brexel smiled.“I believe they will be fine with you as an actual parent.”

“How are theydoing? Their birthday is coming up. Are you doing a party or anevent at the trampoline and climbing park?”

Brexel smiled.“I am leaving it up to them. They have yet to decide.”

Iris blinked.“You are kidding, right? Gimmee your phone.”

A bemusedBrexel slid his phone over. She unlocked it and heard Ymer chuckle.In three minutes, she had the reservation for the private room onthe Saturday after next, using his credit card number.

He stared athis phone like she had violated it. “What did you do?”

“I put thereservation down for the party room at the adventure park. You cancancel it up to forty-eight hours before the party, but if you needit, you have it.” She shrugged. “I will put a note in my phone tocancel it if they aren’t interested.”

He looked ather. “You remember my credit card information?”

She looked atthe other two and their astonished faces. “Uh, yes, but I havenever used it.”

He nodded.“Fair enough.”

She felt hercheeks get warm. “Sorry. Other options depend on you or on them andhow many kids they want to invite.” She paused. “Do they havefriends?”

“Some. Yes. Notas many as they did when you were around, but yes.”

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