Cage convulsed on the ground then stopped moving. The wolf receded and a dead man lay at her feet.
Her bear wanted to continue tearing into the body but Lauren forced her bear down by sheer willpower and shifted to human form. She was sweating profusely, and every joint and muscle in her body ached.
She straightened up and stared at Irfan. With a curt nod, the Beta of the Dire Wolves released Eddie.
“Aunt Lauren!” Eddie ran to her and hugged her legs tightly. “Aunt Lauren, you're awesome!” The boy was sobbing and laughing at the same time.
Reid came over and enveloped them in his arms. Lauren started to tremble but Reid held her tight and whispered soothingly to her. His voice anchored her and steadied her, and she found she could breathe easy again.
Over Reid's shoulder, Lauren saw Irfan kneel beside Cage's body. He stood up silently, carrying his dead packmate and started to walk away.
Lauren pulled away from Reid and called out, “Why did you help us?”
Irfan stopped walking but he didn't turn around. Lauren stepped forward and said, “You gave me a way to free Eddie from his father's debt. You didn't have to do that.”
Irfan turned his head slightly and said over his shoulder, “I grew up shouldering my old man's debt. By the time I finished paying the debt, there was nothing left of me.” He sighed and added, “Perhaps I am trying to find some pieces of me.”
His eyes flicked to Eddie and Lauren thought she saw the corner of his mouth curve ever so slightly. “I didn't have an aunt.”
Without another word, he resumed walking. Lauren stood and watched him carry the dead wolf past the line of trees and disappear into the shadows.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Reid was helping Lauren in the kitchen when the front door burst open and Damien stumbled in. He dumped the shopping bags on the table and boomed, “Where are my favorite people? I got toys for y'all!”
Immediately, the baby started to cry in the bedroom.
Reid scowled at his cousin. “You woke the baby.”
But before any of the adults could move, Eddie had jumped up and was zipping into the room. “I got this!” the boy yelled.
Reid and Lauren hurried into the bedroom to see Eddie cooing to the baby. “Hey, don't cry, Matthew, I'm here. Everything is okay. Look what I have here. A purple dinosaur! It's yours, okay?”
Lauren picked the baby up and sat on the bed, patting the baby's back. Eddie immediately knelt beside her and stroked the baby's soft downy hair, talking to the baby the whole time. The baby gurgled and reached for Eddie's finger.
Eddie grinned and kissed his cousin's tiny hand. “Matthew loves you,” Lauren told Eddie. “He stopped crying once he heard your voice.”
“He started crying once he heard Damien's voice,” Reid deadpanned.
Damien elbowed him in the ribs and sauntered forward. “Come here, come to Uncle Damien,” he sang.
Reid watched Lauren pass their son over to Damien. When Damien began to speak gibberish to the little guy in his arms, Eddie shook his head and said sternly, “Don't speak to him like that, Uncle Damien. He understands every word. I've been teaching him.”
“Oh? And what have you been teaching him?” Damien asked.
“I taught him the alphabet, and a few songs I learned at school. He can sing after me you know,” Eddie said proudly.
“No he can't.” Damien smirked.
“Yes he can. Come on, Matthew, let's show Uncle Damien what we can do!”
Eddie began to sing the alphabet song in his clear, bright voice and Reid chuckled when the baby raised his head and started to coo and squeal in time to the song.
Damien whistled, impressed. “Wow. You boys are great!”
Reid ruffled his nephew's hair and took his son from Damien's arms. “Ooh, time to change your diaper,” Reid said, wrinkling his nose.
“Can I help?” Eddie asked.
“Sure.”
Lauren got up and smiled at Damien. “I just baked a pie. Come to the kitchen. I'll get you a slice.”
“Oh, yum!” Damien started after Lauren, then asked, “You don't have to supervise those two?”
“Oh!” Lauren burst into laughter. “Of course not. I only do the feedings. Reid and Eddie do everything else. Those three are inseparable! Hmph, being the only female in this house, I'm starting to feel kind of left out.”
Damien chuckled. “Wait till you have a baby girl...”
“She'll be a little princess for sure!” Lauren shook her head. “With Reid, Eddie, Matthew and you around, she'll have a big Papa bear, a big cousin bear, a big brother bear and a big uncle bear! You'll wrap her up in cotton candy and scare all the boys away!”
“No we won't!” Reid, Damien and Eddie shouted together. Even little Matthew squealed his protest.
Reid took the clean diaper and baby wipes from Eddie. The two of them worked as a team, efficiently and seamlessly getting the clean diaper onto the baby and disposing of the dirty diaper in one minute flat. It was like a military operation.
“Can I hold him, Uncle Reid?” Eddie asked, holding out his hands eagerly.
Reid nodded and made Eddie sit comfortably on the bed before handing him the baby.
“You're a very good cousin to Matthew,” Reid said, smiling at Eddie. “You two are going to be best friends when you grow up.”
“Like you and Uncle Damien?” Eddie asked, beaming.
“Just like me and Uncle Damien.”
“But you guys squabble and fight all the time.”
“He is annoying,” Reid huffed. “But I still love him.”
“I heard that!” Damien said, walking into the room with his mouth full of pie.
“You'll never get me to repeat that,” Reid growled.
“I don't have to. I know you luuuuurrve me!” Damien tackled him in a bear hug.
“Get off me, you oaf!” Reid bellowed. He threw his cousin off and held him in a headlock.
Damien twisted round and managed to sweep Reid's legs out from under him. The two of them crashed to the floor and continued wrestling.
“Aunt Lauren!” Eddie yelled.
“Tattletale,” Reid and Damien said together. They exchanged a glance and grinned.
Before Eddie could scramble away, they pounced on him together. “Help!” Eddie shrieked with laughter.
Lauren strolled into the room and hid a laugh behind her hand. She saw Damien at the bottom of the heap. Eddie was sprawled on Reid's back, panting and grunting.
Reid was holding the baby expertly on his shoulder and grinning up at her. He was sandwiched between Damien and Eddie.
“What are you doing?” she demanded, mock glaring at them.
“Guy stuff,” they answered in unison.
Reid caught Lauren's smile. She stood at the door and gazed at her family with affection and amusement. Reid met her gaze and her smile widened. Love ya.
Giving them an exaggerated eye roll, she shrugged and went back to the kitchen.
“Boys,” she tsked. Then she chuckled softly. “My boys.”
~ End ~
About the Author
Natalie Kristen is a writer who enjoys mixing the sweet with the spicy, the light with the dark, the possibilities with the unimaginable. She enjoys exploring paranormal and dystopian worlds, deep desires and inspiring romances. She is hopelessly addicted to coffee, chocolate, reading and writing. She loves to hear from readers so please feel free to follow her on Twitter and Facebook, or visit her blog for the latest news and updates.
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/NatalieKristenBooks
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