Lexi rose from her chair and leaned down to hug me. She smoothed her hands over my back and said softly in my ear, “We’ll find him. Who am I to sit here and judge how you feel? I’m so sorry, Naya. Thanks for everything you’ve done for us. Not just now, but through the years.”
She backed away and I glanced across the table. Denver faked a grimace and wrapped his arms around Austin. “Hold me.”
Austin shoved him off and Denver chortled.
“I’ve changed my mind about the pairing,” Reno grumbled, shooting Denver a frosty glare.
Denver nodded his head at him. “Shut it. We’re Bonnie and Clyde, so deal with it.”
“Have you even seen how that movie ends? That’s the shit I’m talking about, Austin.”
Lexi guided me away. “They mess around with each other all the time, but it’s just play. Everyone knows Denver’s wolf is vicious, so despite his laid-back attitude, he’ll fight when it counts.”
“Interesting family. Now that I’ve seen them in their natural habitat, I understand all your complaints a little better.” I wrapped my right arm around her playfully and squeezed.
“I never thought I could live in such a big house with so many people, but I have to admit I love it. We push each other’s buttons all the time, but we never cross a line that can’t be uncrossed. We might look a little insane to an outsider, but these men have nothing but love for their packmates.”
Melody wandered into the living room clutching a baby doll with pink streaks in her hair. “Where’s Daddy?”
Lexi beamed. “Come here, sweetie pie, and spin around. We’re going to do a flip.”
Melody tossed her doll on the floor and turned around, reaching between her legs. Lexi grabbed her hands and pulled her up, causing Melody to flip around until her feet stamped on the floor.
She giggled. “Again!”
After three more times, Lexi was out of breath. “I shouldn’t have started doing this. Maizy never liked it, but Mel will probably ask me to do it when she’s twelve.”
I giggled and patted her cheek. “You’ll be a good mama someday.”
Her smile waned. “Maybe.”
Chapter 21
That evening, we split up and headed to our assigned locations. Trevor and William were on point to guard the front and back of the house, and Jericho’s wolf circled the property. Shifters communicated with their animal on a completely different level. During the shift, there’s a moment when both spirits inhabit the same space and intentions are understood, so Jericho’s wolf knew his job was to guard the territory. Shifters are intuitive creatures, vastly superior to their animal counterparts in the wild.
“What do you do for a living?” Lorenzo’s packmate asked in a rich baritone.
“Moreland, I’m an exotic dancer,” I said matter-of-factly.
He chuckled. “With a body like yours, it would be a sin if you weren’t.”
Moreland looked like a strong man. He was three shades darker than me with the appearance of an exotic islander, from his broad nose to his almond-shaped eyes. Most men with long hair kept it free or tied it back. But Moreland had precise rows of braids against his head going back.
“So, how long have you been with Lorenzo’s pack?”
Moreland switched on the high beams when we exited the highway. “Since the beginning. Enzo values loyalty, and we’ve been like brothers since before our change. Except now our brotherhood has grown,” he said with a thick chuckle. “He’s a better man with a good woman at his side.”
“How’s Ivy been getting along with her new family?”
“We’re glad she chose us—chose him. A Packmaster is only as strong as his mate. She might look like a delicate little flower, but Ivy’s fierce. That woman doesn’t mess around. Don’t get me wrong, she’s a compassionate soul and keeps a nice balance in the pack. After they had the baby, pregnancy became contagious in our pack.” He laughed and turned the wheel. “It’s good to see the mated couples finally having children. Lorenzo made it a house, but Ivy made it a home.”
“I guess that makes her a good bitch,” I said with a playful smile.
“Noo.” Moreland wagged his finger. “Don’t ever use that word to describe Ivy around Enzo; he’ll have your head for it.”
“And I thought all this time the wolves defended their use of the word as a term of endearment.”
He smiled. “You’re funny. Those damn humans always have to dirty up a good word. It seems like most men have a problem with it after they find a good woman.”
I looked into the inky woods when he pulled the car off the side of the road. Moreland shut off the engine and the lights blinked out. “You stay behind me. Hear? This is just a reconnaissance mission.”
“You men and your war terms,” I said with a wave of my hand. “In English, please?”
“We’re just window-shopping. How’s that for women’s terms?”
“Brilliant.”
“How did you get involved in wolf business?” he asked. “Just out of curiosity.”
“Moreland, I’m going to cut right to the chase because I’m not a woman who censors herself. I’m in love with the man we’re looking for.”