He lowered the side of the crib, noticing her pacifier was next to her cheek. “I’ve got you, Little rebel.” He gently tugged the blanket out from around her trapped arm, freeing it.
Her anxiety instantly lowered. She was still breathing heavily, but her stress level decreased. “Sorry…”
“What are you sorry for, Little one?” He rubbed her tummy over the soft blanket.
“I panic sometimes when I’m confused.”
“That’s understandable. You’re in a new home. I’m sure you will wake up confused in your crib sometimes. Eventually you will remember you’re safe.”
“What if you’re not here?”
“Someone will always be here when you are, Baby girl.” He lifted her into his arms, letting the blanket fall away.
When he settled her on his hip so she could be upright, she squirmed, attempting to cover her breasts. “I need clothes.”
“Let’s get you a pretty dress.” He carried her to the closet, opened it, and selected a soft cotton dress. He was aware she had not used her diaper yet, but that was normal. She would.
After sitting her on the changing table, he lifted the dress over her head. “Arms up.”
She quickly obeyed him and released a deep breath as he slid the material down her body. She immediately reached out to touch it, feeling all over. “It’s so small.”
“Yes. The mates of Alpha Protectors do not live such modest lifestyles, Little rebel. You won’t wear clothes that cover every inch of your skin.” He lifted her to settle her on his hip again and carried her out of the room.
She held on to his neck tightly. “This dress has short sleeves.”
“Yes, and it reaches just past your bottom, too.” He demonstrated that fact by patting her diaper. “You’ll feel odd at first, but you’ll get used to being less confined soon. I promise.”
“All the other females wear dresses like this?”
“Yes, especially the newer mates. My mother and other older mates dress more demurely when they leave the house, but I’m certain when she and my father are alone, she still submits to my father in the same way she did when they were first mated.”
“When will I meet your parents?”
“It’s customary for newly mated couples to spend about a month hiding from the world and getting to know each other. They might visit us at some point to say hello. My brother Arion might, too, but there’s no rush. I want you to be more comfortable in your environment before we have guests.”
“How far away do they live?”
“All over the mountain on this side of the valley, Little one. We’re spread out so we can defend and protect the valley. Other Alpha Protectors and their mates live on the other side of the valley.”
She chewed on her bottom lip, her brow furrowed. “Do you walk to their homes?” she asked softly.
He’d reached the kitchen, and he set her bottom on the island before he pinned her in with both hands so she couldn’t fall. He needed to retrieve her glasses from the pocket of her dress so she could use them to see his expressions up close for as long as her vision allowed.
For now, he lifted her hands to his face so she could “see” him with her fingers. “We usually shift when we travel around the mountain. It’s faster.”
She swallowed hard. “What if I can’t?” Panic wafted from her.
“Shift? You’ll be able to shift, Little rebel. I’m certain of it.” He knew that was not what she’d meant, but he needed a moment to come up with an answer to her real question.
“No, Daddy,” she said in a sassy tone that made him smile. “What if I can’t see? How will I travel?”
“I don’t know yet,” he answered honestly. “We will cross that bridge when we come to it. It’s possible your other senses will be so heightened that you’ll be able to run free without difficulty.”
He hated that thought. It would scare him to death, but it was true.
“That sounds scary.”
No shit. It sounded like it would give him a heart attack. “There’s always the option of me carrying you like I did to get here.” He tapped her nose. “Don’t you fret over something we don’t know yet, okay?”
