“Hey,” Nat said, stepping forward. “You’re both shifters, right?”
The siblings eyed him warily. “What’s it to you?” Mallie asked.
“I thought we could go out and play in the backyard. See, I’m a raccoon, and so is Wanda.” Nat set Wanda down and shifted. He squeezed himself out through the collar of his shirt, waving his paws. “Tada!”
Wanda made a low churring sound and shifted, too.
“Awww, she’s so cute!” Mallie cooed, her gaze going soft.
Nat shifted back and pulled his clothes onto his lap. “You may play with her, but be gentle! She’s not used to you, so she’ll take a while to get friendly. But even when she does want to play, you’ll have to watch your strength. She’s just ten months old.”
Mallie bobbed her head obligingly. Teddy crept closer.
“Why do you only have two fingers and a thumb?” Teddy asked, staring at Nat’s hand.
Nat froze, unsure what to say. He glanced at Duke.
“I could explain, if you’d like me to?” Duke asked.
Nat nodded. “Sure.”
“Someone hurt Nat really badly,” Duke said quietly to Teddy and Mallie. “It’s why he lost some of his fingers.”
Teddy and Mallie both shuffled uneasily. It made sense—Duke had told Nat earlier that someone had murdered their parents, thankfully not in front of them.
Teddy huddled behind his sister. “Is the bad guy gone?”
“I’ll make sure he’s gone,” Duke said.
Nat frowned. “But—”
Duke pressed his finger to Nat’s lips; Nat’s heart stuttered. “Let me deal with it. You’re playing with Teddy and Mallie tonight.”
Nat knew an order when he heard one. He nodded and turned back to the kids.
“Why are you fat?” Teddy asked.
“Oh, gods.” Nat cringed. That wasn’t what he wanted Duke to notice!
Duke looked just as shocked. “Sorry, I’ll correct that,” he said earnestly to Nat. Then he turned to Teddy. “We don’t call people fat, kiddo. That word can be hurtful and unkind, even if you didn’t mean it that way. People come in all shapes and sizes, and they’re all beautiful.”
Nat blinked hard. He... hadn’t expected Duke to say that.
Then again, Duke hadn’t looked at him with any sort of disgust, even when he’d had Nat almost naked in front of him.
“Thanks,” Nat mumbled.
Duke flashed a quick smile. “Again, I’m sorry,” he murmured. To the kids, he asked, “Are we all good here?”
“I’m good,” Teddy said.
“I’m very good,” Mallie added.
“I’m better!” Teddy shouted.
Duke snorted. “All right. What about you and Wanda, Nat?”
Nat gathered Wanda into his arms—she was currently rooting around in her clothes, chewing them up. “We’re fine.”
