Page 61 of Midnight Rules
Iven’s little witchy wolf went through a harrowing experience. They both had. They would probably sleep for a week.
Iven stood, keeping Marric in his arms, and headed to the house.
He could hear sirens in the distance, marking the end of their entire ordeal.
“I learned one thing today,” Iven whispered.
“Just one, Sheriff?” Marric still sounded as if he were on the verge of passing out. But it was just exhaustion.
“Other than your father has a big mess to clean up.” Iven would help, but most of the dirty work would fall to Kinnison. Hehad saved him from a two-year prison sentence. It was the least Iven could do and Kinnison was right. They were family now.
Marric sighed. “Can’t think about that right now.”
“I know, love.” Iven tightened his hold as he stepped onto the porch.
Regan and Emery ran out the front door. Emery grinned. “It’s over. No more curse. I can feel it.”
“Is papa gonna be okay?” Regan asked.
“Papa just needs a lot of sleep. He’ll be better from now on.” Iven carried Marric inside, with Emery and Regan on his heels.
“Can I sleep with you and Papa tonight?” Regan followed them up the stairs.
“I want to too.” Emery went ahead of them and opened Marric’s door.
“You both can.” It wasn’t Iven’s first experience with having scared kids in his bed, although it had been a while. Not since his boys were little.
Iven could feel Marric’s lips turn up into a smile. “You never told me what you learned.”
“Right.” Iven had almost forgotten. “I learned that I never want to live without you.”
“I love you too.” Marric kissed his neck. “For the record, I don’t want to live without you either.”
With his little witchy wolf criminal and their family, there would never be a dull moment. But that was just the way he liked it.
Epilogue
“Regan. Emery.” Iven’s voice penetrated the recesses of Marric’s brain, telling him he needed to get out of bed too. He had a field to plow and horses to set out to pasture.
Grumbling met him just as he went back to sleep. The grumbling came from Emery. She had a daily rhetoric about being old enough not to need Iven’s stupid wake up call. The stupid part was her word for said wake-up call and not Marric calling it that. Marric appreciated the sentiment, though.
But Regan was all rainbows and sunshine even in the morning. He was cute and annoying at the same time.
Marric’s bedroom door banged open, and Regan ran inside. He made a giant leap on the bed, bouncing twice on purpose before sitting next to Marric.
Sunshine filled his smile. “Dad told me to wake you.”
Marric fought a smiled and the urge to cover his head. “Go tell Dad to suck an egg.”
Iven walked in. “I can’t suck eggs. I already scrambled them. Hopefully, the ladies in the chicken house will put out today, sowe’ll have breakfast tomorrow or I’ll be going to the store after work.”
Marric put on his best scowl and grabbed Regan, as quickly as he could, before Regan caught on and wiggled out of his hold. And then he tickled Regan, making him roar with laughter.
“Dad’s little minion. You’re supposed to be on my side.”
Iven chuckled and rescued Regan by plucking him off the bed and onto his lap. “Papa’s a grouch in the morning.”
Marric gave his best scowl, but the smile took over. He met Iven’s gaze. “Is my dad already at it this morning?”
