Page 103 of Kidnapping Their Third

“Save me, Cora,” Pike called out, putting the back of his hand to his forehead. Cora’s peals of laughter echoed into the night until Kimble kicked the front door shut and proceeded to ravish them both repeatedly.

Chapter 38

Three months later, the first Walsh family BBQ at the Laske Pack compound

Cora

Julie and Hailey cackled with laughter as they ran by Cora, Caleb, Tim, and Kimble. Right behind the two eight-year-olds was Pike, waving his arms in the air and pretending to roar. The three of them disappeared behind a small cluster of leafy avocado trees.

“It looks like Pike is having a fun time,” Cora commented as the three reappeared on the other side with the girls now chasing Pike. The big shifter was smiling as he begged for mercy and pretended to trip. Julie and Hailey were on him and started tickling him mercilessly.

Julie was one of Caleb’s kids, and Hailey was the oldest child of one of the pack’s families. Cora had worried about letting all the kids play together, not that she thought the wolf shifter children would deliberately hurt the human kids, but accidents happen. Even though they couldn’t shift yet, the shifter children were bigger and stronger than most humans their age.

Kimble and Annette assured her that pack children were taught to be gentle with other species at a young age and this party was proof. Not only were all the kids getting along, but it was obvious there were a few best friend situations brewing.

“It seems we’ve successfully created a Walsh family BBQ,” Kimble said. “I see nothing but happy faces and hear nothing but laughter.”

Cora nodded and pressed in close. Kimble slung an arm around her shoulders, his other hand holding a beer he was pretending to drink.

“You were right, this place is perfect,” Cora agreed. She’d been sure no one would drive all the way out to the compound. Then family members started arriving, and on time too! A rare occurrence within her family.

“All you need is a pool, and this place would be way better than Dad’s,” Trevor said as he joined their group.

“I’ll look into it,” Kimble said. Translation:I’ll have a pool installed before the next party.

“I can’t believe your friends roasted a whole pig,” Janet said, looking over to the empty fire pit where they’d dug up a perfectly roasted animal hours earlier.

Cora watched several of the pack families expertly prepare the pit yesterday. Around noon they’d lit the fire and buried the animal. That was when she found out that the Laske Pack looked for any excuse to roast a pig.

Every member of her family had raved about the food and made the wolves promise to do it again. Cora suspected that a few brothers might ask to be part of it next time so they could learn how to do it themselves. Too bad it looked like it required a tractor. Her siblings were going to be disappointed!

“I can’t believe you made napoleons,” Cora said to Janet. They were standing near the dessert table and although Cora already ate two, she was eyeing the last one sitting on a platter.

“You’ll make your belly hurt,” Kimble warned her.

“Worth it,” Cora decided and reached for it. She felt Kimble’s amusement through their link.

“I can teach you how to make them,” Janet offered.

“No way,” Cora said around a mouthful of food. “I’d end up the size of a house.”

“Speaking of houses,” Tim said, sidling closer to her. “I was wondering if I could do a little renovation at your place. Just a few things, nothing major.”

Cora raised an eyebrow. “We can talk, but I’m not giving you permission to build a dungeon.”

“Hey, that was uncalled for,” Tim protested.

“But was it?” Cora responded.

“I put a collar on once to spice things up, and you guys never let me forget it!” Tim whined, turning red.

“You answered the door wearing it and nothing else!” Cora reminded him.

“I told you; I thought you were Rachel!” Tim said. “It’s your fault for not warning me you were coming over.”

“The front door has a ring camera for a reason,” Cora pointed out. “I gave you the log on and everything.”

Tim looked to Caleb with a pleading expression. “Change of subject, please?”

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