Page 33 of Claiming the Shifter's Heart

She nodded. And his heart soared.

“Yeah, Bud. I’m gonna be your Dad now,” he said, sniffing and kissing his little boy’s head, then pulling Della and Janie in for kisses of their own.

“I love you so much. All of you,” he told them.

“I love you too,” Della said, and dammit, he didn’t think his heart could feel any fuller.

Which was, of course, when the other shoe dropped.

“Sorry guys, um, Kris is going to have to come with me,” Dib said when they arrived back at the house.

“What? Why?” Della asked, stepping in front of him.

Both children were in a bath with Aunt Eileen watching over them, and Kris had shrugged back on his jeans, so he didn’t have to stand there like a princess in a blanket skirt. Dib eyed him and he sighed, knowing damn well why he had to go.

He took her hand and pulled her into the hallway with him. Her house was truly beautiful and old enough to have been built with integrity. It needed some repairs, and he could do that.

Hell. There was so much he wanted to do to it, for her, but first he had to pay the piper for his deed.

“Della, I know I said I would never leave you, but we have laws. I’m a former cop, believe me I know all about them.”

“You were a cop? I thought you made furniture?”

“Yeah. I do that, too,” he said.

“You ready?” Dib asked, knocking before stepping into the small hallway.

“One second, man. I am trying to explain.”

“Della, Kris acted in your defense with Cade, and because the threat to you was imminent, he was justified. I am certain I can get that charge wiped. But the Council is investigating this because of how Blayne went out. The way Kris killed him, well, the threat was not imminent.”

“But stuff like that happens all the time in the Shifter world!” she snapped.

“Yes, but usually that kind of threat is to a mate, and therefore justified. That kind of rage is acceptable when one of aclaimed pairis put at risk.”

“But I am his mate! You said so!”

“I know, but neither of you has claimed the other, and the law is clear?—”

“I’m so sorry, Della. I know this makes me a liar, but I swear I will make it back to you,” Kris said, shaking with emotion.

“No, wait, stop!” Della shouted, following after the two men. “I claimed him!”

“What?” Dib asked.

“What? When did you bite me?” Kris echoed.

“I’m a Crow, not a Wolf,” she said, mischief sparkling in her brown eyes. “We don’t claim with bites. We scratch. And if you turn around,mate dear, you can show Mr. Lowell the scars I left on you the first night we were together,” she whispered, her cheeks heating prettily.

Kristoff turned around, trying to see them for himself. He couldn’t of course. Not without a mirror. But that didn’t stop him from trying.

“Stop, for fuck’s sake, you look like a dog chasing his tail. Okay, yep. You have been claimed, Kris. Congrats. Now, I’m going to spend Christmas with my family. I suggest you do the same!”

Chapter 17

Blood surged through Della’s veins and her heart was beating out of control as the other Wolves all filed out. She’d finally admitted the thing she’d been too scared to face for the past couple of days.

Della had, in fact, claimed Kristoff their first night together. Her Crow cooed inside her, the big Bird desperate for his mark. She shivered as he approached, not with fear, but with pure desire, recognizing the gleam in his verdant gaze.

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