Page 192 of As The Shifter World Turns

There was a cry from inside the house. Elune was awake and Archer went to get her. Martin, Toby and I chatted while nibbling on the fresh cookies Archer had baked until footsteps on the path coming toward us told us it was probably Micah. But he wasn’t alone and I heard Daire’s distinct voice, along with Nate’s.

Micah froze when he saw us. “Hello.” He glanced around. “Where’s Archer?”

We told him and he replied, “He'll be pleased when he hears my news.”

‘“Let me guess. You’re cooking up an idea for a new business,” I suggested.

“Nope,” Daire grinned. “Though we’re always tossing around ideas.” He grabbed a cookie and took a bite.

“Let me show you the place,” Micah told Nate and Daire. “Have you ever seen it?”

I cocked my head, wondering what they were talking about. Daire had been in Micah and Archer’s house countless times.

Daire mumbled something I couldn’t catch but Nate spoke up and said, “I haven’t.”

“Hi, love.” Archer walked outside with Elune in his arms. The little girl put her hands out to Micah and he took her and kissed her.

“Hello, my darling girl.”

“Hi, guys.” Archer nodded at Daire and Nate.

“You’re going to be so proud of me, babe,” Micah said to Archer as Nate peered through the glass doors into the apartment. Oh no, I had a bad feeling about this. I nudged Martin who was studying his phone.

“What?” he asked.

“I think there’s been a mixup,” I whispered.

“Huh?” he replied

Archer held up his hand. “Before you go any further I have news too.”

“I’ve found us a tenant.” Both Archer and Micah spoke at the same time.

“What?” Archer shrieked and Elune’s lower lip quivered and she snuggled into her alpha father.

“Sorry, sweetheart. I didn’t mean to frighten you.” Archer gave his daughter a quick kiss.

“I told you,” I hissed at Martin. “But you got here first so the place should be yours.”

“What are you talking about?” Micah asked his mate.

“Martin and Toby are our new tenants,” Archer announced.

“No. Daire and Nate are. I’ve offered it to them. That’s why they’re here.”

I rubbed a hand over my face. What a mess.

Toby had been in a far corner of the garden investigating a hole Patch had dug. When he saw Daire, he ran up to him. “Guess what? I’m going to be living here. I know you’ll be sorry we’re not at Sunshine Manor any more, but I hope we can join you every Friday night on the roof.”

“Ummm.” Daire shared a glance with Nate while Micah fumed. “I thought we were going to discuss this before offering the place to anyone.”

Archer put his hands on his hips. “Well, if that’s the case, why didn’t you consult me before speaking to Daire and Nate.” Archer’s wolf was close to the surface and Elune, who’d picked up on the tension between her parents, started to cry.

82

ON THE MOVE

Martin

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