Page 30 of Daddy's Mail Order Mate

“Fine.”

Quinn glances deftly between us before she leans in to murmur to the other Luna. I’m close enough to catch her voice.

“I’m still worried about that guy.”

Paige smiles tightly before she whispers back.

“I trust your visions more than anything, but he hasn’t done anything wrong that I’ve been able to find out. Well, nothing wrong since Liam took over the pack. We’re all doing out best to figure out rehabilitating everyone in Portsmill, and… I don’t exactly like him either, but Liam’s pretty set on making sure that people have a chance to reform. There were people who were forced or didn’t know any better, and… I know he feels guilty for the part he had to play in all that and wants to give people the opportunity to change. And James has been getting along reasonably and being a constructive member of the pack. My hands are tied, Quinn.”

I do my best to not make it obvious I’m eavesdropping; I’ve got plenty of practice receding into the background, so it’snot too difficult. But I’m more glad than ever that I’ve resolved to never be a part of another pack again. I never want to have to deal with the politicking and hierarchy of it all ever again.

“Gwen.”

All the anxiety in my body sharpens into one unified frequency that almost feels like calm.

I look up and see Thorn beside me. The look on his face is so focused and quietly intense—he keeps staring at me like that and I don’t know what to do. It sets my heart hammering and I don’t know if it’s in fear or hope.

“Good talk?”

He grunts affirmatively.

“Oh, hey big bro!”

Thorn nods in greeting to his sister; the drastic difference in their demeanor is pretty striking. I figure people probably feel the same about me and Lucas, when they can get us in the same room.

“I’ve been taking thebestcare of your—of Gwen!”

“I can see that.”

A laugh almost barks out of me at that. God, I really did miss him grumpily grousing at people. And now that he’s a fully grown man, the maturity definitely settled in nicely to make it—

Attractive.

I purse my lips together, clear my throat, and wrench my thoughts back into focus. I cradle my free hand on Rowan’s back and catch Thorn’s attention.

“Want him?”

Thorn nods, and I pull my arm away from Paige to start negotiating the harness off and giving him his baby back. In the midst of the transfer, our gazes meet, and there’s a strangely softened quality to the edges of his eyes that takes my breath away.

“... Thank you.”

“For what?”

“Looking after him.”

“Of course.”

There’s a quiet look from him that I know has a question in it, but it’s not one he wants to ask, nor is it one I want to answer.

So instead, we both just file in and do our best to make our own little quiet unit among the mingling packs. It doesn’t take too long for the revelry to kick off as food and drinks are laid out, music is played, and people chatter away around the beginning blaze of the bonfire. We have the clear excuse to keep ourselves away from the worst of the crowds thanks to Rowan; Thorn is endearingly mindful of everything to do with his son, so of course he doesn’t want him too close to the smoke.

Since we aren’t members of either of the packs proper, it’s not too difficult for us to just be part of the backdrop for most of the party’s participants. And I don’t know if it’s Thorn’s presence, my own resolve, or the bottle of beer I’ve been nursing, but…

As the dusk starts to blur into the dark, I feel more of myself start to untangle. Thorn and I even share a few idle comments about things going on around us, check in on each other, and start to talk about his son’s budding personality and preferences for a bit.

“—and I think he’ll probably continue to do well on his developmental milestones at this rate.”

A chuckle leaves me, and Thorn raises a brow.

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