Page 64 of Shadowed Bond

“You good?” I ask her. She looks up at me, and then she rests her head against my shoulder.

“Better than good,” she responds, and I look down at her, inhaling the top of her hair as I press a light kiss to it. Stephen babbles again, reaching for her hair.

“Easy there, champ, the hair’s mine to tug at,” I murmur quietly. Jayce, Charlotte and Sienna all glance at me, but I ignore them, refusing to look up and acknowledge them. Luckily, Grandma asks Sienna something, and she turns away, amusement dancing in her eyes.

Oh really, it is? Charlotte asks through the mind-link as she tugs at Stephen’s cheek.

I look down at her. Yeah, really.

She opens her mouth, no doubt to tease me, and this time I’m unable to stop myself. I cup her face, making sure Stephen doesn’t fall off my lap, and kiss Charlotte deeply, not giving a fuck who’s watching.

Right now, all I care about is her.

Only her.

His Confession

Charlotte

Dinner at the Westwoods is nothing like the functions I have attended here. The sound of several conversations taking place at once fills the dining room. Voices talking over one another, chairs scraping back, someone laughing too loudly, someone else arguing over who took the last of something, or who reached for a jug first, even though the table is covered with enough food to feed a small army. There’s amusement in the banter, and despite it, everyone is helping one another without the careful etiquette I have known all my life.

Sienna moves a glass closer to Elijah; Scarlett holds Stephen, motioning Sienna not to worry; Renji places the salad bowl closer to Carter before he even asks for it, noticing it before he even opens his mouth. Jayce passes the chicken around before helping himself.

It should be overwhelming, chaotic even, but it just feels right.

There is something warm about it, something lived-in and unpolished, and I find myself sitting without touching anything for a moment too long.

And then there’s the extended family: Damon and Robyn, as well as Mum, Royce and Skyla, who managed to make it in time for today’s dinner; they’ll be staying until the ceremony tomorrow. Damon is currently speaking with Mum, while Royce sits beside Skyla, one arm behind her, his gaze protective as always. Skyla’s expression softens whenever she looks at the baby, but there is something else in her eyes, too, something quieter, and my chest aches for her even though she smiles when Scarlett spots her looking and passes her Stephen.

I know what’s been happening, although we only found out recently. They’ve been struggling to have a baby, and Skyla’s miscarried several times. It hurts… so much, and I wish there were something I could do…

I move my attention away, knowing they don’t want sympathy and she hasn’t told her family about her fertility issues. My attention lands on Renji, who sits beside Shahira, his hand around her waist. Now that their secret marriage is no longer a secret, Carter and Ares are clearly making it their duty to irritate him about it for the rest of his life.

“Why aren’t you eating?” Ares asks as he re-enters the lounge after dealing with something for his pack.

Ares stands beside me, arms crossed, already looking as if the entire thing has personally offended him.

I glance up at him. “You ask about food far too often; I was waiting for you, sort of.”

“That means you weren’t,” he states, but his eyes flick over my face, searching in that blunt, too-aware way of his, and I know he is still checking whether I really am alright.

I am fine, I reassure him. He sits down and takes my hand, giving it a small squeeze.

“Good,” he answers. He’s about to let go of my hand, but I hold it tighter.

“Princess, how do you expect me to plate our food?”

“With your other hand, Alpha,” I reply sweetly.

His eyes narrow at my tone, and I smirk when I see him swallow. Oh, I love the effect I have on him.

Liam notices us and smiles. “Eat first; the food is getting cold,” he says warmly, amusement in his expression. “It’s not like Ares not to have his plate filled first.”

“I know, he piles it so high as if someone is about to finish the entire table,” Renji remarks.

I bite back a smile as Ares glares at his brother and father. “I don’t do that.”

“I can imagine you doing that,” I admit, making the boys and Skyla snicker.