“Okay. But you’re still going to protect us, right?”
“I am,” Niko said, holding up his hand for a high-five.
Griffin slapped his hand, then picked up his juice and took a sip.
“Griffin, is your daddy with you?” Niko asked.
“I don’t have a daddy,” he said, taking another sip. “That’s why I need you to protect my mom.”
“Where’s your mom?” Niko asked.
“Over there,” Griffin said, pointing to the far side of the formal living room.
Niko looked over toward the living room and saw a lot of females scattered around on pallets, sleeping. “Good. She’s here in Alpha’s house, so y’all are both safe. I’m going to go help a friend of mine get their house cleaned up in case somebody needs to stay in it, and I’ll be back later. Okay?”
Griffin nodded.
“Rance call you?”
“Yeah,” Niko said, chuckling. “He’s overwhelmed with how to clean out the mess he allowed to pile up. I’m going to prod at him a bit.”
“And help him,” Jack said.
“Of course, but not without giving some sh… stuff, too.” He stood up, took another bite of his pancake roll up, and went back to the kitchen to grab his coffee. “I will see you later, Griffin.”
“Okay,” Griffin said.
Niko went outside and closed the door behind himself, thinking about the little boy who was terrified no one would protect his mother because he didn’t have a father. “I got you, little dude,” Niko said, as he drank his coffee and took another bite of his breakfast.
“Where did Niko get that pancake?” Izzie asked.
“And the bacon,” Bella added.
“We have all kinds of food that we cooked for our guests while you were sleeping,” Bonnie said. “There is even some steak and peppers and rice.”
“Can I have some?” Izzie asked.
“You can. Come show me what you want,” Bonnie said.
“Me, too?” Griffin asked.
“Yes, you, too!” Bonnie said, taking all the children into the kitchen.
There was a knock at the front door and Jack walked over to answer it. “Steve? Is that you?” Jack asked as he stood in the open doorway.
“Yes, sir. Hello, Alpha Laighin. Rance sent word to come see you,” Steve said.
“Come on in. I didn’t know you were one of the males that escorted Gwen here.”
“Alpha Grail said to get them to you, so I did.”
“Bonnie, baby? Look who’s here,” Jack said, as he led the way to the kitchen where Bonnie was making plates for the kids.
“Steve! Hi! I’m so glad to see you,” Bonnie said.
Steve nodded and smiled but the emotion wasn’t behind it. “Hello, Reigna.”
“Are you hungry?” Jack asked.
