Page 8 of Kodiak's Heart

Ruby nodded. “Yike Mama.”

“Yes,” Emersyn agreed. “But we were wrong. Daddy didn’t lose everyone. This is your dad’s sister, Sidia.”

Ruby glanced at the other woman and bared her teeth again. “I don’t yike her. She make Mama cry. Make Wuby mad.” She growled again, and Emersyn wrapped the tiny girl close, lifting and cuddling her.

Ruby rubbed against Emersyn’s neck, her thumb going into her mouth. She was tired. It had been a long road trip for both of them. Traveling cross country with a four-year-old filled with boundless energy wasn’t easy. Especially when all that energy was corralled into a moving vehicle for most of the journey.

Sidia gave a soft sob, and her mate growled. Emersyn felt her bear rise to the surface, ready to jump out and defend the cub they’d accepted as theirs. Before she could do anything though, a large palm cupped her hip as Laramie joined them.

“What’s going on?” he demanded, running a hand down Ruby’s hair.

“I don’t yike them,” Ruby declared, the words mumbled against Emersyn’s throat.

“What the hell did you do, Koby?” Laramie demanded, and Emersyn realized Sidia had mated with the brother Malachi said was the alpha’s right hand.

“Me?” the other man snapped, his chin up as if Laramie had hit him with more than a verbal spar. “You seriously think I’d do anything to harm a little girl.”

“Malachi’s daughter,” Sidia inserted, and Emersyn nodded though it hadn’t been a question.

“I don’t yike ‘em,” Ruby yelled, lifting her head and bellowing for everyone to hear.

“Shh, baby bear,” Emersyn said and bounced the little girl on her hip. A complete meltdown was imminent if she didn’t get Ruby inside and settled. She kept mumbling her dislike while Emersyn smoothed her palm up and down Ruby’s back.

“Maybe, we could table this until later,” Emersyn suggested. “I’d like to get Ruby settled. Quickly,” she added as the mumbling became interspersed with hiccups, a sure sign tears were coming soon.

“I’ll show you to a room upstairs,” Sidia said, stepping closer.

Ruby’s little head lifted, and she growled again, lifting a hand with fingers curled as if to strike.

“Ruby!” Emersyn admonished, pressing the hand against her chest. While tantrums were common, aggressive behavior was not.

“Come here, little bear,” Laramie said, and Emersyn was taken by surprise when Ruby lifted her arms and went willingly to him.

“You ‘tect Ruby. Ruby ‘tect Mama,” she said and gave another growl.

“She’s not usually like this,” Emersyn felt compelled to share. But then Ruby had never been completely uprooted from her home and sent away from her father. Ruby might be four, but there was no hiding the seriousness of the matter from her. She completely understood her father might not come back to her. Emersyn hated Ruby’s fear, even as she felt it herself. The only thing keeping her from going after Malachi was Ruby, and the damn man knew it.

“She’s fine,” Laramie said. “Tired and hungry. I’ll take you both to a room where you can rest then bring you food as soon as it’s ready.” He glanced at Sidia. “Be patient, little sister. Give her time.”

Sidia nodded, leaning into her mate.

“Em.” Laramie’s hand pressed against her hip, urging her to walk with him as he headed toward the door. She took in everything as she walked inside. A young woman hovered at a desk across the way. She stood to attention as soon as Laramie entered.

“Who’s this?” the woman demanded, glaring at Emersyn then Ruby.

“Not now, Jemma,” Laramie snapped, and Emersyn was happy to see the girl pause, though her glare grew stronger.

“This way.” He motioned Emersyn toward a staircase that led down.

“Why is she—”

Jemma’s question was cut off abruptly when Laramie turned and growled at the younger woman. Ruby, not to be outdone, lifted her head and growled with him.

“I don’t yike you,” Ruby yelled.

Emersyn was pretty sure she heard Laramie mutter his agreement, but the wail her baby bear let loose made it hard to be sure.

“Em.”

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