Page 24 of Shifter Marked and Claimed

He stared at me with a strange look on his face and I blushed. I couldn’t believe I had mentioned that. Sure, he knew about Vada and he’d done well with that, but he still didn’t know all of my secrets and never could.

“You’ve executed a c-section before?”

“Yes. I’ve assisted with bringing dozens of babies into this world.”

“So you’re a midwife?”

“Not exactly. I just did what I had to do.”

He considered that and nodded. I knew that he had privilege to more information about what happened inside the Raglan compounds than the average person, but I wasn’t certain just how much he knew.

“Maybe you should be,” he said casually before popping a potato into his mouth.

“Should be what?”

“A midwife.”

I had never considered such a thing before.

“I haven’t thought of that. I do have to get a job and soon or we won’t be able to afford to stay here. I was supposed to be job hunting this week, but nothing has gone as planned. Every day it’s been something or another.”

“Well, what sort of thing are you looking for?”

“Literally anything.”

He looked like he was on the verge of wolfing out when I mentioned I might not be able to afford to stay. Kyle Westin was being very gracious in helping us out, but it wasn’t right, and I needed to be able to pull my own weight and stand on my own two feet. Vada counted on me and I couldn’t let her down.

“I’ve worked a few waitressing jobs, and some retail, but I really don’t have much in the way of professional experience after, well, you know.”

I thought maybe if I kept talking, he’d calm down some.

“It hasn’t been a year yet,” he said between clenched teeth.

“Huh?”

“Westin Pack took a vote to support every shifter the Raglan held that needed it for one year. We all agreed to a decreased stipend for that time to ensure none of you had to go without or struggle as you started your new life. Why aren’t you getting your cut to help with this stuff?”

I sighed. “Kyle’s allowing us to stay here rent free. Anything more was too much.” I had lost everything. Vada and what was left of my dignity was all I had left in the world and my pride wouldn’t let me take a handout. I could do this on my own. I hated not paying my way, and in some weird way, it made me feel indebted, or even enslaved to Kyle, just for the small bit I had accepted.

“Lucy, this program is supposed to help. We’re all pitching in for this, every single Westin wolf.”

“I don’t want to be indebted to you,” I blurted out.

I could see the hurt on his face and knowing I’d caused it cut me right through the heart.

“I didn’t mean you specifically,” I said quietly.

“Are you sure about that?” I asked.

Vada toddled back into the room and climbed up into his lap as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“Tired. Doc. Sleep?”

He looked a little confused.

“Come on pumpkin, I’ll put you to bed,” I said standing up to reach for her.

She shook her little head. “Doc. Sleep.”

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