Vaughn
“Well, if it isn’t Dr. Jerrick Junior, all grown up and looking fine as hell. Took you long enough.”
He couldn’t help but grin. “Long time, no see, Zaire. This is my mate, Sam.”
She turned her stare to him and leered. “Well, hello, cutie. You sure you’re into the lug over there? Because I’m told I’m quite the catch.”
Teague snorted and turned to look at Sam. “Ignore her. She’d flirt with a corpse if she could get it reanimated first.”
“Uh… that’s a thing?” Sam asked.
Zaire cackled. “Oh, you’re an innocent one. Adorable. Vaughn, you think you might want to educate that cute mate of yours?”
Sam growled. “That cute mate of his has had three days of this world, so if you could tone it down a bit, that’d be great.”
“Human puppy’s got claws. I like you.” Zaire walked over to Sam and hooked her arm into his. “Three days? For real? I gotta hear this story.”
Sam sent a panicked look his way, but Vaughn simply smiled and let them go.
Zaire came on strong, but she’d settle down once she wasn’t being all blustery and badass in front of them.
He’d learned pretty quickly that her bark was nowhere near as bad as her bite, but she only bit when she was really pissed.
Sam had already proven himself to her by not putting up with her bullshit. Goddess, he’d gotten lucky. His mate was perfect for him.
“Wonder how Meshaq convinced her to come,” Teague said.
Vaughn didn’t need to wonder. He knew. All Meshaq had to tell her was that there were kids involved. After everything she’d done to keep her son safe, no way would she leave a group of cubs unprotected. Of course, Vaughn couldn’t say that.
Very few people knew of Keziah’s existence, and Vaughn wouldn’t be the one to reveal her secrets.
He’d find a time to speak to her privately and ask permission to explain everything to Sam.
He didn’t want to keep secrets from his mate, but he would if he had to. It came with the territory sometimes.
“Vaughn!” Sam’s call drew his attention to the front of the house where Sam and Zaire were sitting on the porch steps. Henry stood in the open doorway with Nana behind him, her hands holding his small shoulders. Henry looked terrified.
Vaughn ran in their direction, bounding past Sam and a stunned Zaire to reach Henry’s side.
“Hey, buddy. It’s okay. She’s a friend, Henry.”
Sam stepped beside him, shielding Henry between them and Nana. He heard Zaire move away, and Teague’s footsteps approaching, his senses immediately on red alert for any sudden movement after seeing Henry’s fear.
“She… she’s like me,” Henry whispered.
“She is,” Vaughn replied. “Meshaq sent her.”
Henry looked up at them, his eyes wet with tears. “I’m scared.”
“Alpha Jerrick,” Zaire said from behind them. Vaughn glanced her way. “We should send for Meshaq. I think I know what the problem is, but I’ll need his help.”
“Do it,” Vaughn said.
Henry grabbed the front of Vaughn’s shirt and held tight.
Vaughn could feel him trembling, and it triggered such fierce protective instincts his wolf threatened to claw its way out.
Sam wrapped an arm over his shoulders and leaned in close.
“The kids are probably freaking out right about now. They need their alpha. I’ll wait for Meshaq. You go help them get settled.”
Vaughn stared into Sam’s eyes and felt the warmth of his hand on his back. It settled him, and he regained a semblance of control. “Okay.”
“I’ll be inside in a few minutes.”
Vaughn nodded as he guided Henry and Nana back into the house and shut the door. His mom stood in the living room with the rest of the cubs huddled around her. He guided Henry over to the sectional couch and sat down with Henry beside him.
Nana cuddled up next to Henry on the other side. The rest of the cubs took their cues from him and hurried over, settling around them in one big group. His mom sat at the other end of them, tucked in close to Ben.
“Everything’s fine,” Vaughn said. “Meshaq sent a friend of his who is a magic user. Henry could feel her close by and he got a little scared, but everything is okay. Sam’s waiting for Meshaq to come now.”
“He’s out there by himself?” Ben asked worriedly.
“He’ll be fine. Man, what is that awesome smell? Were you guys helping Nana with dinner?”
Nana and his mom took the hint that distraction was needed, and they started gabbing about all the things they’d done in the half hour since Vaughn had seen them last. Vaughn listened with half an ear, petting them when they leaned into him, responding when he needed to, but his focus was outside, where his mate was dealing with something for the first time as a representative of their pack.
He didn’t even know how significant his gesture was, but to Vaughn it was everything.