Page 53 of Promise of the Wolf Moon

“If it’s all right with you, we’ll give them a few moments to gather themselves,” my dad murmured from the other side of the doorway.

The odor of vinegar and sour milk hit my nose. Apparently, Viveca did not like how the twins clung to us. And that was too fucking bad.

The sound of the door clicking into place made me want to sob.

I’d thought we had time. I never dreamed Viveca would come to claim her sister’s babies so soon.

I wasn’t ready. I would never be ready.

Seff set the twins on their feet. “Hold on to us. Just for a minute.”

His hands landed softly on my shoulders, and I wrapped mine around his forearms. He pressed his forehead to mine, and for that minute, we shared a few deep, calming breaths.

He pulled me in closer, his mouth to my ear.

“Not the way I’d planned this, either.”

His lips brushed the curve of my neck, just at my shoulder. I swallowed a soft gasp when his sharp canines sank into my flesh, quick and clean, marking me as his. A promise made in blood to show the entire wolf world he was mine as well. My whole body shivered. Inside my chest, something seemed to lock into place as he swept his tongue over the minor wounds, once, twice, and one last time. He stepped back and gazed at the mark he’d left, and when he looked at me, a huge smile spread wide across his handsome face.

After a quick kiss, Seff crouched down on one knee and took the twins’ tiny hands in his. “Time to say ‘hey’ to your aunt.” Before they could disagree, he nodded and went on, “We gotta let her have her say, but I promise, she ain’t gettin’ you without a fight.”

Arteisma sniffled, then asked, “Are you gonna slug her in the face?”

“Nah.” Seff grinned. “Fightin’ to keep you and your sister ain’t that kind of fight. And hittin’ females is one the lowest things a male could ever do. Besides, I don’t think she would be here if she didn’t care about you.”

I wanted to scream, “She doesn’t even know them!” but kept the words tight inside.

Nereida wiped at her face and whispered so softly I couldn’t hear, but Seff did.

“You bet we do,” Seff answered. “Don’t you ever doubt it. Not for one second.” He wrapped his arms around them both and kissed their heads. “Desarae and I are gonna have a serious conversation with your aunt, and we’ll get this all worked out. First thing, we need to invite everybody in, out of the cold.” He stood and pulled me into his arms and kissed me again. “You ready for this?”

Though my head nodded yes, my heart screamed no.

He gave me a quick nod back, then crossed the room and opened the door.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Seff swung one of thecookhouse doors wide and motioned with his arm. “Y’all c’mon in. We’ve got coffee, tea, and hot chocolate.”

Jessy was the first to rush inside and stopped to give Seff a quick hug. She whispered something, then turned to me, her arms open wide to take me in.

“Oh, Des.” Her tight, tearful hug nearly strangled me.

Fighting back my own tears, I closed my eyes and nodded while breathing in her calming meadow flower and alfalfa scent. I’d missed my cousin. I hadn’t seen Jessy since her wedding back at the end of June. Not ready to face everyone else yet, I held her close as the deep male voices around us disappeared into the background. I definitely wasn’t prepared to see Viveca. The fear of losing the two precious females I had loved since the day they were born caused a hard knot in my stomach.

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