Page 4 of Claimed for Eternity

“Maybe not, but he’s not doing it anywhere our kids could marry his pups anymore. He did a good job with your nephew and it’s true, he makes an excellent chosen mate for Colton. We just can’t rely on him for it anymore.”

“May he rest in bourbon,” I laughed.

“Stop that!” he said and playfully slapped my thigh under the table where Stephie couldn’t see him do it.

“Look, I just don’t want to have to W-R-I-N-G anyone’s N-E-C-K because they fucked with the kids, alright?”

“Why did you spell neck too?” Xenos laughed.

“I don’t even know anymore,” I sighed, and we fell quiet while we both managed to eat a few bites of our food while Stephie waved her mush-covered hands around in the air.

“Who do you think it is and why do you think it’s them?” I asked, pushing my chair away from the table to get up and refill Stephie’s chocolate milk sippy cup.

“Teddy Moonscale.”

“Is Crystal’s Theodore still an option?” I arched a brow. “He went by Teddy when I saved his life.”

“Not anymore he doesn’t,” Xenos shook his head. “Besides, there’s nothing wrong with Fred.”

“Fred? The dragon who showed up to kidnap Duke while Blake was in a coma?” I huffed, handing the baby her sippy cup. She copied my huff before taking a sip of her milk.

“Don’t teach her to huff like that. It’s not nice,” Xenos rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Fred grew up eventually and Lotus was a good person. It’s not like Fred just laid his own eggs, alpha.”

“Doesn’t mean I have to like the idea. Did Finn tell you this?” I asked, sitting back down at the table.

“No. He was just confused again but Mori and Ni have been invited to the Appalachian Wolf Pack Territory. Actually, Dern is sort of insisting on it.”

“How is Dern doing by the way?” I asked.

“Apparently, he’s in an old folks home because he shot Teddy Moonscale.”

“See, he’s bad news,” I laughed.

“Don’t laugh!” Xenos shook his finger at me again. “And don’t tell the kids I know Dern either. Mori is always complaining that he can’t talk to anyone magical that I don’t already know.”

“Is this about Ormund then?” I asked.

“Probably,” I shrugged. “Mori wanted to stay out of it…”

“Maybe we should let him do that.”

“Will you let me finish or are we teenagers competing for airspace, alpha?” Xenos asked and I flashed him a sheepish, apologetic grin.

“I love to hear you talk but would rather it not be about Teddy shagging our kids.”

“Ewww! That’s not what this is about,” Xenos shook his head. “But this is how it happens a lot. You follow a lead – doing a good deed or something and stumble right into meeting your true-mate. Besides, Star is a Moonscale, and you like him with Zeke.”

“That’s a dirty play. Of course, I like Star. He knows how to fight. He’s good with the kids. Hell, he’s good with our kids. He didn’t grow up looking up to Fred ‘Glitter’ Moonscale. Plus, Zeke loves him so much that he’d punt me all the way to visit Iggy if I didn’t love him.”

“Mori will be the same whenever he meets his mate.”

“Ugh! We should’ve talked about this before we had kids,” I mocked melting down into my chair and Stephie copied me until she slid right out of her highchair. I caught her and blew bubbles on her belly until she giggled with so much delight that she whomped me with a carrot mush covered hand.

“I’m gonna clean her up before we have our dessert.”

“What?” Xenos frowned at me. “Don’t I get dessert?”

“You had yours,” I teased him. “But we’re sharing a protein bar. You can have one too, if you want. That is unless you’re inthe mood to make something else. I was thinking an early B-E-D-T-I-M-E and some T-I-M-E for U-S, though.”

---