Page 100 of The Chosen One Universe: Volume One

“Daddy, Papa let me draw a butterfly for my bug study and I made sure to put all the parts. Will you look at it?”

“I’d love to. After lunch, okay? I’ll come to your school room and you can show me.”

She beamed and skipped back over to the couch. There was a nature documentary playing, and Vaughn couldn’t help but laugh. This one was about tigers. The kids had been fascinated by their new patient, and he’d even been nice when they came in to meet him.

Vaughn had been prepared to order a completely unnecessary enema or something if he was rude to his kids, but the guy knew better. Besides, all shifter cubs were precious. They were so rare that even shifters of other breeds were shocked by the cubs in Vaughn’s life. Each and every supernatural patient he had since he’d found the cubs had sworn vengeance on the people who’d hurt them.

Vaughn had never loved his community more.

“Jack, you’re up next.”

“I don’t like bugs,” Jack said with a scowl. “I want to learn about the ocean some more.”

Vaughn ran his hand over Jack’s head. “Did you ask Papa if there were any bugs in the ocean? I bet you could look it up.”

Jack seemed intrigued. “I’ll ask him. Ladybugs are dumb.”

Vaughn had to bite back his urge to correct Jack’s use of the word. They were picking their battles, and Sam and their therapist agreed that small instances of acting out were good for them. It reassured them that they were in a safe place where they could speak their mind.

Jack skipped away and Vaughn looked up and caught Sam’s eye. His mate knew exactly what he was thinking and he heard Sam gently remind Jack that they didn’t like to use the word dumb.

“Dad?” Ben asked quietly.

“Hey, buddy.”

His oldest son was taller than him by nearly four inches now. He was finally filling out and becoming the size he should be for a bear cub his age. “Papa said I could do my experiment over at the clinic with you today. Is that okay?”

Vaughn remembered. They’d ordered a grasshopper dissection kit for Ben in preparation for this unit. But Sam had adamantly refused to help and had shivered repeatedly every time he thought about it. He’d told Vaughn that he only made it through their high school biology class with a passing grade because the teacher had actually witnessed him turning green the moment the formaldehyde soaked animals appeared. He’d written a ten page paper instead.

“That sounds great. You can come back with me after lunch.”

“Can I check on the kittens?”

“You sure can. Henry? How about you?”

His only human son had a mischievous glint in his eye. Henry’s powers as a mage made him the most vulnerable of all the kids, and Vaughn constantly worried that they weren’t doing enough to keep him safe. But Henry was thriving in their care, and his magical training with Zaire had done wonders for both his confidence and control.

“I picked fleas.”

Vaughn couldn’t help but laugh. “Oh really?”

“Daddy I don’t want fleas!” Ollie yelled from his perch on one of the stools at the kitchen counter. He had a coloring book and crayons in front of him.

“You won’t get fleas, little man. I promise.”

“K. Daddy, I’m coloring Nana a picture ‘cause I miss her today. But she’ll be here tomorrow. Even Nanas need a break sometimes.”

Vaughn couldn’t help but smile. Ollie repeated back so much of what they said. He’d had to be really careful now that he had so many little ears around. “I bet she misses you, too.”

“Yeah. ‘Cause I’m adorable. That’s what Papa said.”

“And Papa is right.”

“Natasha?”

“Ants are so cool.” She didn’t even pick her head up from the book she was reading, but she did lean into him so he could wrap an arm her. Foxes were very tactile creatures, even if they weren’t quite as in-tune with pack instincts. Natasha had been raised with the others, though, and she’d been adjusting very well to her new life.

“They are indeed.”