it.
John rubbed her back with the flat of his palm, and the touch soothed her frayed nerves.
As dawn drew near, James took her upstairs to clean up. The cool water on her face helped clear her head, and the clothes that she borrowed from his sister-in-law Samantha helped her feel more put together. When she and James came back downstairs to the kitchen, she was surprised to see that it was filled with males. Four females stood off to one side. She recognized the young blonde as the girl who was mated to her cousins.
John drew her over to the females and introduced them as his sister-in-law, Samantha, his niece Lachlyn, his daughter, Jilly, and Melody, a female lion and member of the pride.
James’ son Alek came over to them. “I’m taking the girls and kids to Uncle Rhett’s. Callie is there with the kids, and Ethan is going to stay with us. Eryx is on his way.”
Rue looked at John. “What’s going on?”
“The pride is standing with you. We’re taking the females and the kids away to make sure they’re safe, but the rest of the pride is with you, with us , all the way.”
The show of solidarity nearly undid her.
Alek said, “Welcome to the family, Rue. I’m looking forward to meeting your son and getting to know you both.”
She blinked at the tears that threatened and smiled at him. “Thanks, Alek.”
The women all said goodbye to their mates, except for Jilly, who came up to Rue. “I wish they weren’t making me leave, but Wyked is worried that I’m going to be a target because I’m newly bonded and I’m not a panther. I say let the panthers come, and I’ll gut them if they try to mess with me.”
John groaned. “Jilly.”
“What?” she asked indignantly. “Rue is my sorta, kinda step-mom, and they’re trying to take her from me before I even get to know her. It’s inexcusable.”
The declaration from Jilly, who she hadn’t even really met yet, made her mouth go salty and her eyes sting. Twin males pushed through the crowd and joined Jilly. Rue knew who they were immediately because they looked just like Dag had at that young age. She couldn’t tell them apart, but at the moment she didn’t need to.
“You’re going with the mates, Jilly, and it’s not negotiable,” one said.
She opened her mouth to protest but the other put his finger on her lips. “Don’t, kitten, please. We’ll come for you as soon as our cousins are safe. If we’re worrying about you getting hurt, we won’t be worth anything for what comes.”
“Oh, fine,” she huffed. “I thought Dad was bossy, but you two have him beat in spades.”
“You love us,” the first one chided.
She grunted in annoyance, but the happiness in her eyes told Rue that Jilly really did love the twins and that made her happy for her cousins.
“I’m not bossy. I’m just a dad,” John said.
“Same difference,” Jilly answered. She hugged John and then Rue. “Be safe. I have a new brother I’d like to fawn over.”
Rue’s chest tightened. It wasn’t fair to have all this support now, when dawn was coming and her life might be forfeit. She didn’t want James and John to sacrifice their bodies for her. They didn’t know what the dekray could do to flesh. The stories she’d heard of the damage even one strike caused were enough to tell her that even if they split the strikes between them, they would still end up permanently damaged and could possibly die.
She couldn’t live with herself if they gave themselves up for her.
Dag clapped his hands as the mates and kids left. “You’re here to stand for James and John and their mate, Veruka. She is my blood and I will speak on her behalf, but your show of support will go a long way in the outcome today. I know that our ways seem strange to you. My clan does not support what Gerarli and his clan did to Rue, or how they kidnapped her son. We can’t change the past, but we can hope for the
John rubbed her back with the flat of his palm, and the touch soothed her frayed nerves.
As dawn drew near, James took her upstairs to clean up. The cool water on her face helped clear her head, and the clothes that she borrowed from his sister-in-law Samantha helped her feel more put together. When she and James came back downstairs to the kitchen, she was surprised to see that it was filled with males. Four females stood off to one side. She recognized the young blonde as the girl who was mated to her cousins.
John drew her over to the females and introduced them as his sister-in-law, Samantha, his niece Lachlyn, his daughter, Jilly, and Melody, a female lion and member of the pride.
James’ son Alek came over to them. “I’m taking the girls and kids to Uncle Rhett’s. Callie is there with the kids, and Ethan is going to stay with us. Eryx is on his way.”
Rue looked at John. “What’s going on?”
“The pride is standing with you. We’re taking the females and the kids away to make sure they’re safe, but the rest of the pride is with you, with us , all the way.”
The show of solidarity nearly undid her.
Alek said, “Welcome to the family, Rue. I’m looking forward to meeting your son and getting to know you both.”
She blinked at the tears that threatened and smiled at him. “Thanks, Alek.”
The women all said goodbye to their mates, except for Jilly, who came up to Rue. “I wish they weren’t making me leave, but Wyked is worried that I’m going to be a target because I’m newly bonded and I’m not a panther. I say let the panthers come, and I’ll gut them if they try to mess with me.”
John groaned. “Jilly.”
“What?” she asked indignantly. “Rue is my sorta, kinda step-mom, and they’re trying to take her from me before I even get to know her. It’s inexcusable.”
The declaration from Jilly, who she hadn’t even really met yet, made her mouth go salty and her eyes sting. Twin males pushed through the crowd and joined Jilly. Rue knew who they were immediately because they looked just like Dag had at that young age. She couldn’t tell them apart, but at the moment she didn’t need to.
“You’re going with the mates, Jilly, and it’s not negotiable,” one said.
She opened her mouth to protest but the other put his finger on her lips. “Don’t, kitten, please. We’ll come for you as soon as our cousins are safe. If we’re worrying about you getting hurt, we won’t be worth anything for what comes.”
“Oh, fine,” she huffed. “I thought Dad was bossy, but you two have him beat in spades.”
“You love us,” the first one chided.
She grunted in annoyance, but the happiness in her eyes told Rue that Jilly really did love the twins and that made her happy for her cousins.
“I’m not bossy. I’m just a dad,” John said.
“Same difference,” Jilly answered. She hugged John and then Rue. “Be safe. I have a new brother I’d like to fawn over.”
Rue’s chest tightened. It wasn’t fair to have all this support now, when dawn was coming and her life might be forfeit. She didn’t want James and John to sacrifice their bodies for her. They didn’t know what the dekray could do to flesh. The stories she’d heard of the damage even one strike caused were enough to tell her that even if they split the strikes between them, they would still end up permanently damaged and could possibly die.
She couldn’t live with herself if they gave themselves up for her.
Dag clapped his hands as the mates and kids left. “You’re here to stand for James and John and their mate, Veruka. She is my blood and I will speak on her behalf, but your show of support will go a long way in the outcome today. I know that our ways seem strange to you. My clan does not support what Gerarli and his clan did to Rue, or how they kidnapped her son. We can’t change the past, but we can hope for the
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