“I’m sorry, Tempest. I didn’t mean to throw you under the bus, but since Brandt just did the same to me I couldn’t think of any other way to shift attention from Lucien and myself.”
“I’m angry with you. But I understand. I’ll be better later. Maybe,” Tempest said.
“What did I miss?” a little girl, who looked a whole lot like Hellen asked as she wandered into the room, bringing most of the accusations to a halt, or at least transforming them to a friendlier level.
“Not a thing, little miss I-have-to-know-everything,” Valerie said.
“Hell?” Lucien asked, picking up a scent much like Hellen’s on the child from all the way across the room. She looked so much like Hellen that the child could be hers, and he was not aware that Hellen had a child already. He was a little freaked out that he may be a father by proxy and didn’t even know it.
“She’s my niece. Harley, that’s Lucien, Lucien, that’s Harley. My brother’s daughter.”
“Ahhh, makes sense. The twin brother.”
“So, where did Hellen find you?” Daisy asked quietly.
“Left for dead in a swamp,” Lucien said, his usual blunt self.
“Oh, so she saved you,” Everly exclaimed.
“Yep. And here I am.”
“And that’s why you chose her as your mate. It’s so sweet,” Everly said.
“No. Not at all. I wish it was that easy to understand,” Lucien said. He looked directly into Everly’s eyes. “She’s kind of mean. Have you noticed?”
“Boy, I think I’m about to whip your ass!” Maverik threatened. “Do not be talking about my daughter like that!” Maverik turned his attention back to Hellen after he’d finished speaking to Lucien. “And why you gotta always be so damn difficult? The male protected your ass from your own Alpha, and you gotta be mean to him.”
“I’m not difficult! You just don’t understand!”
“I raised your ass. I understand perfectly.”
“Why didn’t you tell anybody you were pregnant?” Delilah demanded, walking over to stand next to Tempest.
“I have reasons,” Tempest said. “Valid reasons!”
“You’re golden,” Bam said, smiling at Lucien.
“Oh, he is!” Daisy said.
“No, I’m a gator,” Lucien said, not understanding Bam at all.
“Yeah, and you’re golden. So is Hell. It means you’re mates,” Bam said.
“Yeah, I’m not arguing with that one. Though I question the golden part,” Lucien said.
“He sees auras. He’s a healer. If you have a golden aura, it means that you’ve met your mate,” Everly explained. “Daisy can see it, too.”
“Really, a healer? Cool. Could have used you a few months back, when Hell left me to die alone after she tried to bury me alive!” Lucien called out, his voice rising to cut through the din of everyone trying to speak over each other about either Tempest and Brandt’s pregnancy or Lucien and Hellen’s brand new relationship.
“Hellen!” Valerie chided.
“I did not! I told him I’d be back as soon as I could. And I only tried to bury him until I realized he was still alive, then I dragged his big, ungrateful ass out of the hole I put him in!”
Kaid couldn’t help it, he started laughing.
Bam joined in.
Even Everly giggled a little.
