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It had been clear to him from the first time he saw Rafe with his daughters that he adored them just as much as he did their mother. He must have been over the moon with the news that he’d have another perfect little girl to dote on. From the way Zoey’s smile softened dreamily he knew he was right.
“He’s a very proud daddy.”
Zander was a very proud uncle too, but he still felt like he was intruding on the moment. Zoey and Nova had been sharing a nice afternoon on the porch, sipping lemonade and talking babies. He had stumbled onto them and was glad to hear the happy news but he was still trying to figure out exactly where he fit in this big, crazy, connected family.
“Well, tell him congratulations for me. I should get moving.” He pushed off the fence and Zoey raised her eyebrows.
“You sure you don’t want to come in and tell him yourself? You can grab a bottle of water and check on Violet, maybe? She’s upstairs with the girls playing dolls.”
“As much as I would love that, I’m covered in sweat and I have a pretty good idea that I smell terrible.” He grinned, “How about once Maya gets home we come back by and pick Violet up for dinner tonight, if that’s okay with you?”
“Of course. She’d love that.”
“Sounds like a plan.” He nodded, “I’ll see you tonight.”
“Bye!” Nova called and Zoey waved at him.
“Be careful out there. It’s hot and you’re not used to the Louisiana humidity yet.”
“Yes ma’am.” He did a fake salute and then took off down the trail again.
He jogged around the bend and back into the woods on the other side of the clearing Rafe and Zoey had built their home in. He was smiling as he thought about how happy Zoey had looked when she told him about Nova’s vision and the sense of pride he’d felt knowing he was part of their family. He was still trying to figure out his footing with all of them, was so used to being alone that it felt weird to know that his family had grown tenfold, but he liked the little community of Noir and the connections they all had.
He appreciated that Zoey had accepted Violet into her life too. He loved that Violet had so seamlessly found a home with them. But he knew that Zoey was right and they’d have to truly figure out how best to care for her after the full moon and everything with Maya was settled.
He wanted Violet to come and live with them, at least part of the time. Maya had told him about growing up and splitting her time between both of her older siblings. It had sounded like it really worked for her and for Nova and he wondered if Violet might want to do the same thing.
It would be good for her to know she always had a home, whether it was with him or with Zoey. She wouldn’t ever be alone again. He would make sure of that.
Lost in his thoughts about raising Violet, Zander slowed when he realized there were two men on the path in front of him. He was sweating and he wiped his arm across his forehead, trying to clear it from his eyes as he approached them. He moved to one side of the path to pass them but to his surprise, one of the men stepped in front of him.
“Excuse me.” Zander tried to step around him.
“Nah, I don’t think we will.” The shorter man in the middle of the path smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes.
He could tell just from looking at them that they were shifters. Maya had been teaching him how to spot the signs. She’d explained that there was magic in their blood and now that he was connected to her that he could sense it if he tried. These two men put off enough testosterone to nearly choke him but beneath it he could still feel the hum of magic that told him they weren’t human.
“Uh, hey guys.” Zander held his hands up innocently, “I’m new around here so I’m not entirely sure what I might’ve done to offend you but trust me, I didn’t mean it.”
“Oh, he didn’t mean it.” The taller guy in his pack snorted.
“Well if he didn’t mean it I guess we’ll just be on our way.” The other one sneered.
“I don’t want any trouble.” Zander tried again as the hair on the back of his neck went up.
“Too bad, because we do.” The shorter one had moved slightly, causing Zander to shift to keep him in his line of sight.
“Look, I don’t know what this is about guys but…”
“You don’t know? Let me fill you in.” The shorter guy shoved a finger into his chest. “You’ve been fucking that hot little wolf bitch.”
Zander snapped to attention, “Excuse me?”
“You heard him.” Tall guy snorted.
“She’s a fine little piece of ass, isn’t she? I bet she’s wild in the sack. All teeth and claws.”
Fury burned through Zander and he smacked the man’s finger away, “Don’t you fucking dare talk about Maya like that.”
