Chapter Two #2
There was a sheen to his father’s eyes when he knelt down to say hi to the two smaller children. “It’s wonderful to be able to meet you. Hunter has been wanting to get to know you for a while.”
Keran looked embarrassed. “We didn’t know why he kept watching us, so we stayed away.”
His father nodded, then stood. “That’s the smart thing to do. If you’re ever unsure if you’re safe or not, always hide first, then check things out.”
Hunter growled. “If they aren’t safe, I’ll just remove whatever is making them unsafe.”
His father clapped him on the shoulder. “I’ve taught you well.”
Keran smiled softly, almost to himself. “I like having a protector.”
Hunter turned to him. “Technically, I’m your brother now. But, as I will be helping to raise you with your sister, you can call me, ‘Dad’ if you want.”
Nicol stared, her lower lip trembling. “A real dad?”
“Absolutely. You’re already my cubs, no matter what label you want to use,” he said, reaching over to place his hand on her head.
She hopped out of her chair and practically threw herself at him.
He easily caught her and lifted her into his lap.
“You now have a dad and a grandma and a grandpa.” He paused.
“And with your sister’s blessing, if you don’t already have one, I have someone in mind to be your athair.
Plus, all my unit brothers will be like uncles to you. ”
Keran and Nicol tensed at the word ‘uncle’.
“Not a good term. Hmmmm, what else can we call them?” he mused out loud.
His father sat at the table. “No matter what they call them, those boys will absolutely adore them.”
His mother sighed happily as she cut up the bread. “It’s so good to have kids around again. It’s been years since Amy was little.” She quickly began making a mountainous pile of sandwiches. “Johann,” she said, pointing to the platter.
Immediately, his father stood and carried the sandwiches over.
His mother was behind him with plates and a pitcher of milk.
When his dad saw the milk, he turned around and got glasses out of the cabinet.
Hunter gave each child three sandwiches and made sure they got a glass of milk.
Kiera, Keran and Nicol stared.
“What?”
“I don’t think they can eat three sandwiches, Hunter,” Kiera explained, looking amused.
“Really? When I was their age, I could eat five or six."
Nicol patted his cheek. “We’re prolly littler than you were.”
Oh yeah. Witch kids didn’t eat as much as shifters.
“Just eat what you can,” he said, and picked up his own sandwich.
Nicol watched from his lap with wide eyes, and he practically put one whole sandwich in his mouth.
“Wow,” Keran said, watching entranced.
“Don’t even try it,” Kiera warned. “Those sandwiches are almost bigger than your heads,” she said.
Nicol turned in his lap and held up the sandwich in front of her face. “Is it dad?”
Hunter nearly choked when she called him dad. With a mouth full of peanut butter, he could only hum his yes.
Nicol peeked around the sandwich and saw his expression. Shyly, she kissed his cheek. “Dad,” she said firmly, then began eating her sandwich.
“Can Kiera stay Kiera?” Keran asked.
His mate nodded quickly. “You deserve a mom, but I love being your sister.”
Keran looked relieved. “I like you better as a sister too.”
His mother dried her eyes with the corner of her apron. “There are no rules when it comes to family. You can have a sister and a dad. You have a grandma and grandpa too, if you want.”
Keran jumped up and flew to his mother to hug her. “I do!”
“Me too!” Nicol exclaimed.
His mother pulled Keran on to her lap and held him while his dad pulled the sandwiches on the plate in front of them. “You three are the best blessing this family has had in a long time,” his father said, pouring Keran a glass of milk.
Kiera poured a glass for Nicol and the kids began eating.
Hunter watched in amusement as the kids devoured nearly all three sandwiches served to them.
Keran sat back, leaning against his mother and patted his rounded little stomach. “That’s the best food we’ve ever had.”
Nicol yawned. “Yup.”
His mother kissed the top of Keran’s head. “We have a room with two beds if you want to stay together, or we can give you each your own room, if you want to stay here, that is. We have plenty of rooms,” she offered.
Keran thought it over. “Maybe we can sleep in the same room for a little bit. But, I’d love to have my own room later.”
Kiera reached out and took his hand. “You don’t mind if I go with Hunter to the Nu estate?”
Keran shook his head, blushing. “I’m a kid, but I know you both are new mates. Me and Nicol will stay here with Grandma and Grandpa.” Then his smile turned mischievous. “I know you have to be alone to have babies.”
Kiera stared at her brother. “Keran!”
Behind him, his mother burst out laughing. “This young man is a genius.”
Hunter turned Nicol in his lap so she could see him. “We’ll never be more than a few minutes away. The house is close by. You can call us any time, day, or night. I’ll buy you both cell phones so you can call whenever you want.” He stopped and thought about it. “We should take them shopping!”
Kiera nodded. “My last job paid out well. We can get them a few things.”
“Huh?” he asked.
“What?”
He pointed to his chest. “I’ll pay.”
“No.”
“Why?” he said, feeling disappointed. “I want to get them toys.”
“They need clothes first,” she countered.
“Okay, so we’ll hit the clothing stores first.”
“I need to budget our spending.”
“Huh?” he looked to his dad. “Huh?”
His dad reached over and took Kiera’s hand. “Hun, you’re scrambling Hunter’s brain. It’s like this. He lives at the Nu estate. He wears unit uniforms. He either has his unit leader or his mother feed him. That boy has been saving for his family for centuries. Now that he has one, let him shop.”
Kiera flushed and looked down at their hands. “I don’t bring much.”
His mother laughed. “Kiera sweetheart, even if it was you, with just the clothes on your back, you’d be more than enough. I’ve never seen Hunter happier. But, you are also bringing us your siblings to love. What price can you put on new family?”
Kiera just nodded absently, clearly uncomfortable with the idea of being provided for. “I’d like to go look at your garden, if that’s okay?” she asked.
His Ma smiled. “Of course, take your time.”
Hunter watched as his mate stood, then walked out of the kitchen.
He shot a look to his dad, who stood and took a drowsy Nicol from him. “Go tend your mate, we have the kids.”
“She always cried when she visited because she didn’t have a lot of money to take care of us,” Keran said, frowning. “Whenever she came home, she was thinner and had dark circles under her eyes.”
Hunter stood and kissed the top of Nicol’s head where she dozed in his dad’s arms. “Is that why you never told her something was wrong?”
Keran looked like he’d been caught, then slowly nodded. “She was already doing too much.”
“Keran, later, when it’s just me and you, will you tell me what was going on?” he asked.
“Will you tell Kiera?”
“Only if you want me to. But, I will say this. I think you’ll feel better if you tell her. Remember, neither you nor your sisters are facing things alone anymore.”
Keran was quiet, but gave a single nod.
“Thank you, for trusting me. Now, I have to go spoil your sister.”
Keran brightened. “Spoil her lots! She needs it.”
Hunter snapped him a salute causing the boy to laugh.
“Go get your mate, son,” his father said, pointing to the door.
“Yes, sir,” he said, then jogged for the door and after his mate.
*****
He found her sitting on the stack of pavers his dad was adding to the garden.
Wordlessly, he picked her up and carried her over to the wide swing his parents installed years ago. He sat down and pulled her close to his chest. “Wanna talk about it?”
“If I had just stayed in Storm Keep and ran into you, everything would have been better. But, I was stupid and left.”