Page 29 of Purrfectly Naughty

Chapter 16

Getting Paulie washed and into his favorite teddy bear footie pajamas was easy before they drove him over to the Pride House. He loved spending time with the twins and other cubs, and he loved hanging out with his Neta and Nari.

“Hello,” Hunter Maverick answered the door and immediately earned himself a high-five from little Paulie.

“Hi Neta, I’m back. Where’s Milly and Celia?”

“They are waiting for you in the living room with some of the other cubs and our Nari is bringing out the ornaments and paint in a few minutes. Go on now,” he instructed and Paulie hooted excitedly.

He waved goodbye to his mother and Javi without even looking back. Pamela held Javier’s hand and sighed as she watched his little teddy bear covered butt round the corner.

“Thank you so much, Neta,” Pamela said to the Pride leader and he smiled and nodded at her.

“You know Paulie is welcome here anytime, but if you don’t mind waiting, I’d like a word with Javier,” he inclined his head and Javi nodded and followed the man easily.

“Is everything okay?” Pamela asked.

“It will be fine,” Javier said and kissed her on the forehead before going into Hunter’s office.

Pamela bit her lip and watched after the two men worriedly, but she was soon called away by Elissa and to her surprise, Gerri Wilder, who was in the kitchen with the Nari.

“Gerri, thank you for your gingerbread recipe. You know I am something of a cook, but I hate following recipes exactly and I am afraid with baking you have to,” Elissa sighed and looked at the perfect little boy and girl shaped cookies.

“Yes, baking is more science than cooking which is probably why I like it,” laughed the wickedly ingenious Wolf Shifter.

“Pa-mela, so glad you could make it,” Elissa waggled her eyebrows and she groaned in response.

“What is wrong with her?” Gerri asked Pamela.

“She thinks she is doing Javier’s accent,” Pamela explained and rolled her eyes while Gerri barked out a short laugh.

“No, dear, it will take more work than that to mimic his sexy South American vibrato,” Gerri told the Nari, “I see you look healthy and happy, Pamela, so tell me, how are things with little osito going?”

“There is nothing little about that man,” Elissa chimed in and Pamela growled.

“Ooops,” she apologized to the Nari and covered her mouth to get her jealous kitty under control, “Sorry, um, well, things are good actually. He seems very fond of Paulie.”

“And you? How does he feel about you?”

“He said he loves me,” she blurted, “um that is, he said it out loud at the store yesterday, but he hasn’t repeated it again.”

“And have you said those words to him?” Gerri asked.

“No, but I think I do. I mean I do, I love him,” she swallowed, “Gerri, can I ask you something?”

“Sure, anything,” she shrugged.

“Do you think I deserve him? Do you think after everything I have done, I deserve happiness?”

Elissa’s lip trembled and she went to Pamela’s side and wrapped her arms around her in a hug. Before she knew it Gerri was doing the same and Pamela’s face was wet with tears she hadn’t been aware she was crying.

“Now, you listen to me, little girl. I’m his honorary aunt, and since he is your mate that makes me your aunt too. You are more than deserving of every bit of happiness, light, and joy you can get out of this life, you hear?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Ah-”

“Yes, Aunt Gerri,” Pamela sniffed and wiped her face with the napkin Gerri handed her.

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