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Reardon sat on his haunches as if he’d been waiting for their return. He didn’t go unnoticed by the boy.
“Hey, buddy.” Dylan held out his hand, summoning Reardon to his side.
Reardon didn’t have to be asked twice. He trotted over and immediately pushed his head into the boy’s legs, doing exactly what he’d wanted to do when he’d seen Dylan in town. He couldn’t stop his tail from wagging now that he could freely show his affection for the boy.
“Whoa. Easy, buddy. You’re going to knock me over. Did you miss us, Alator?” Dylan kneeled and cupped Reardon’s head in his hands. “You’re such a good boy. I got you a present. Want to see?”
Reardon let out a short bark, feeding off the boy’s excitement and his own joy at knowing he’d helped keep Dylan alive. And he’d keep doing so. Flidae would not succeed in hurting this boy or his mother for her own entertainment. Reardon would make sure of it.
Because theydidmean something to him.
He followed Dylan to the car where Brandy and Meredith were getting out and grabbing their bags. While Dylan buzzed around looking for the tire toy, Reardon took the opportunity to check on Brandy. He sidled up next to her, pushing his side into her thigh and looking up at her. If only he could shift and hold her as he wanted to.
Soon.
“Hey, Alator.” She ran her hand along his spine and the sensation made the man inside rage to get out. “Sorry we took so long getting back. We found a little excitement in town.” She rubbed his jagged ear then let her fingers trail down between his eyes and to his nose. Gods, he craved her touch.
She took a step toward her house, but Reardon got in front of her, not ready for her to leave yet. Was she truly fine? Had she gotten hurt when he’d brought them all to the grassy ground? His knuckles had healed on the run back to the sanctuary, but was she still rattled by the day’s events? What could he do to comfort her?
He licked her hand. It was all he could think of doing right now. He’d make use of his human form to comfort her later… if she’d let him.
Oh, how he hoped she’d let him.
“Love you too, Alator.” Brandy let out a little laugh that was music to Reardon’s ears. “I’ve got some things to do now though so why don’t you go see what Dylan has for you.” She nudged him away toward Dylan. “Go on. We’ll catch up later.”
She took a few steps toward the house then Dylan appeared, the tire toy triumphantly held aloft in his hands.
“Check it out, buddy!” He waved it in front of Reardon’s nose. “You want to play with me? Do you? Huh?” Dylan danced around the driveway then took off toward the field behind the clinic. “C’mon, Alator!”
Torn between following Brandy and chasing after Dylan, Reardon hesitated until Meredith came around the car.
“If you don’t run after that boy, he’ll be crushed. I’ll make sure Brandy’s okay. I am her mama after all.” Meredith gently pushed Reardon toward the direction Dylan had taken. “I’ve seen you moving around here. That leg of yours is healed. Go on. Go play.”
With one final look at Brandy now climbing her front steps, he took off toward Dylan.Play now, cuddle later.Sounded like a good plan. Besides, he needed to do something to burn off the energy—the sexual energy—swirling around inside him. Having his human form close to Brandy’s had brought his physical needs to the surface. If he didn’t tire himself out, he’d end up coming on way too strong at dinner.
And he couldn’t mess up dinner. It was the chance he wanted—to be with the Wendons as a human. He’d made them like him in wolf form. He could do the same for his human form. He had to because he didn’t think he could be without them. Brandy and Dylan were his something worthy, and though he didn’t care much about returning to his Ireland anymore, he did care about being exactly what they needed. He had to show them he was worthy of them. He’d made so many mistakes leading the fierce and brutal life he led as a warrior-for-hire.
Brandy and Dylan were his redemption. Even Flidae knew it.
He spent the afternoon running around the field with Dylan and the new tire toy. He wasn’t a common dog. He knew that, but seeing the delight on the boy’s face each time he chased after the toy and brought it back made him want to do absolutely anything Dylan suggested. Knowing the boy had bought the toy with his own money as a gift only made it that much better.
Finally, Brandy called for Dylan to come inside and wash up for dinner. Reardon took that as his reminder as well. He checked in with the other wolves, and finding them all to be fine and enjoying sanctuary life as they always did, he slipped to the gates. It wasn’t quite dark enough yet to shift so he glanced around. Finding no one but other wolves nearby, he backed up a few steps, broke into a run, and leaped over the gates.
A few barks sounded from the wolves, but one look back from Reardon silenced them. There were some perks to being the nominated Alpha.
With them settled, he dashed to the rocky outcropping and his hidden supplies. He shifted, bathed in a nearby pond, and put on the clothes he’d bought, hoping he didn’t look too rough around the edges. Grabbing the bottle of wine and the tennis ball launcher, he walked back toward the gates, wondering if he should open them and approach the house or wait for someone to come out to him. He wasn’t one for etiquette. Wolves and warriors didn’t worry about such things.
As he contemplated his next course of action, the sound of tires on gravel behind him made him turn around. Parker’s truck rolled to a stop at the gates and before Reardon could hide, Parker was climbing out of the driver’s seat.
“Hey, man,” he said in the friendly tone Reardon had heard him use almost all the time. “You must be Reardon. I’m Parker. Brandy gave me the lowdown on what you did for her and Dylan. Thank God you were there. Brandy’s the sister I never wanted, but I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to her or Dylan, so thanks.” He shook Reardon’s hand with a firm grip and his sincerity nearly knocked Reardon off his feet. “Where’s your car?”
“I… had someone drop me off. New in town. Don’t have a car with me at the moment.” He was a bastard for lying to Parker, but what choice did he have?
“Oh, well, hop in and we’ll drive you up to the house. We’re joining you all for dinner.”
Reardon regarded the truck and the woman sitting in the passenger seat. He assumed that was Chella. He’d heard Brandy and Parker talk about her and always picked up the subtle disapproving tone in Brandy’s voice when they did mention her. Looked as if he’d get to make his own decision about the woman tonight.
But with all this company would he get a moment alone with Brandy? Did he have the patience to wait? Was he crazy for wanting her to know exactly who he was,whathe was?
