Page 17 of Cherished By Her Guardian

“Oh, hi, Dad.”

“I hit that branch on purpose,” he said as he strode into view with an axe slung casually over one shoulder. “I heard the portal but didn’t see you two walking toward the house, so I thought I’d come and make sure you were okay.”

“We’re fine,” she said as she stepped around Declan and moved to her dad, giving him a hug. “Are you chopping wood or trying to look extra strength intimidating?”

“A little of both,” he said with a grin. “I’m Cole Brooks, Winterlyn’s dad.”

Declan joined them, shaking his hand. “Declan Knight, nice to meet you.”

“Let’s get back to the house. I’ve got a meeting with the high ranked males in an hour and we’re still in the middle of preparations for the winter solstice celebration tonight. I suspect we’ve all got a lot to discuss.”

She nodded. “We sure do.”

The walk to her childhood home took only a few minutes because her dad and Declan both had long legs and she had to walk fast to keep up with them.

Winterlyn gave her mom a hug when she’d hung up her coat in the hall closet and found her in the family room, ironing a dress shirt for her dad.

“You’re glowing, honey. You look so happy,” her mom said. Then she glanced behind Winterlyn and said, “I suspect you’re the reason. Hello, I’m Starla.”

Declan shook her hand. “Nice to meet you, I’m Declan Knight.”

“Let’s have a seat,” her mom said. “We don’t have a ton of time.” She hung up the finished shirt and turned off the iron. Then she sat next to Winterlyn’s dad on the loveseat, and she and Declan took the couch.

“So tell us everything,” her dad said. “Where are you from, how did you two meet, and what kind of shifter are you?”

Declan exhaled, then said, “I’m a wolf, and my pack is in Southern Ohio. We met in Northernmost at the Well of Magic this morning when a witch used Winterlyn as a ruse to get close enough to Santa to try to kill him on behalf of Jack Frost.”

Winterlyn was not surprised her parents’ jaws dropped at the huge amount of information they’d been given. She jumped in and filled in the blanks, including that she knew how foolish she was to try to go to the Well, but that it had worked out in the long run because she found her mate.

“Well,” her mom said after a few moments of trying to say something but being unable to. “I gotta say that it’s really wild. You went to the Well of Magic to find your shift but found your mate instead.”

“That was dangerous,” her dad said, his upper lip curled. “You could have gotten seriously hurt traipsing up there with a stranger, especially this time of year when Jack Frost acts a fool and tries to take over the Well. He might not be able to turn shifters evil like he can magical people, but that doesn’t mean he can’t use one to cause problems for Santa.”

“I know,” Winterlyn said, feeling like a scolded child. “I’m sorry that I went under the circumstances I did, but I’m not sorry that I met Declan.”

“Of course not,” her mom said, smiling. She elbowed Cole. “She’s safe and she’s got a mate. There’s worse news than her trying to use magic to get her shift to come out.”

Her dad scrubbed a hand down his face. “True. All right, well, I’m sure your mate isn’t going to want you doing anything quite so ridiculous in the future.”

“Absolutely not,” Declan said.

Winterlyn rolled her eyes. “Don’t gang up on me. That’s not fair.”

“All’s fair in keeping you safe, sweetheart,” Declan said.

He looked at her and she could see the truth in his eyes.

Well, she didn’t have plans to do anything dumb, so he wouldn’t have to worry about her.

Her dad gave an approving nod.

“I can have you removed from the skulk’s membership roll tonight,” her dad said. “I’ll add it to the new business.”

“I don’t need to be there, right?”

“No, it’s not necessary. Then you’ll have to call and get permission from us to visit, just as a courtesy, as this won’t be your home territory any longer.”

“You can come visit anytime of course,” her mom said quickly.

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