Page 97 of King of Inferno

“Miss Taylor, will you play cards with me?”

I look down to see the little, gray-eyed girl looking up at me with her head tilted to the side. She reminds me so much of myself when I lived in foster care. She gives me a shy smile and I know I can’t tell her no.

I put down the blankets I had been helping Luna Celine fold and put away and I hold out my hand. Then I walk with her to a little table once her palm is in mine. I smile down at her as she looks up at me with big, bright eyes.

We’ve been on the hunt for Seraphina for weeks. I want this shit over with so I can move on with my life. I could be doing so much here with the pack at the orphanage.

For the last few days, we’ve been on the pack grounds as more wolves have joined us for the hunt. Like I suggested, we haven’t made it as obvious that we’re still on the hunt. However, we have teams that spend the days hunting for Seraphina, while at night Bradan and I rest in the original pack house with Alpha Dyson and Luna Celine.

However, today, instead of going out to hunt for her, I’ve spent my day here at the orphanage. My heart goes out to the little wolves who have lost their parents. Some have lost both parents through attacks while off the pack grounds. Others were abandoned like me.

So many different stories have led them here. I want to wrap them all in hugs and take them home with me. They are so adorable. I find it interesting how much they behave like wolves even though they don’t have theirs yet.

“What are we going to play, Frost?” I say to the tiny she-wolf.

“Want to play Pitty Pat?”

“What do you know about Pitty Pat?” I say with a smile.

Her eyes light up. “Alpha Ace taught me. I want to live in the Crescent Moon pack when I get big and have to choose. I want to be one of the warriors for Alpha Ace.”

“I guess you better eat all your vegetables so you can get nice and strong,” I say.

She flexes her arm muscle and smiles. “I’m going to work hard and get nice and strong. I’m going to have a strong wolf too. I can feel it.

“Maybe when you have your own pups, I can be assigned to be their companion by Alpha Ace. That would be such an honor. Alpha Ace will be so proud of me when I’m strong and fierce, I know I’ll get to serve our future luna or the royal family,” she says excitedly.

“How old are you, Frost?”

“I’m seven. Plenty of time to train and get stronger. I won’t be this little forever.”

She’s such a tiny thing for her age, but I believe every single word. She will be strong, and I would love to have her protect my little ones. Speaking of little ones.

Spending the day here with all these children has left me to think about Bradan’s words. When I’m ready, all I have to do is ask. I want to ask. I want desperately to ask.

I sigh at my thoughts. We’re in the middle of what feels like a war. Today has allowed me to forget that. It was nice to take a break from all the stress and monotony of hunting that psycho down.

“Oh, look, it’s the VP, King Bradan,” Frost says as if in awe.

“Have you ever met him?” I ask as she looks nervous but hopeful.

“No,” she whispers.

Bradan comes over and places his palm beneath my chin to tilt my head back. He kisses my forehead and then my nose. I give him a big smile.

“I want you to meet someone,” I say to him.

He lifts his gaze to the little girl sitting across from me. A warm smile comes to his lips. I’m amused as he moves to sit in one of the little chairs.

“Hello, little pup. What’s your name?”

Frost puffs her chest out and straightens in her seat. “I’m Frost, King Bradan.”

“You can just call me Bradan. That’s what all my friends call me.”

“I’m one of your friends?” Frost gasps.

“You are now. What are we playing? Is it too late to deal me in?”

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