Chapter Six

Hunter The officers had finished, but evidently, Erin hadn’t.

“But I want to know what will happen. You can’t just leave without saying anything,” she insisted. “Somebody was in this building and at my door. And they tried to get into my car, so they know what I drive. What am I supposed to do with that knowledge?”

The officer rubbed the back of his neck in consternation. “Ma’am, I understand your dilemma, but there isn’t anything that we can do about it. It could have been the wrong apartment or an accident, and somebody could have bumped into your vehicle hard enough to cause it to spark the alarm.”

“All at the same time? Listen to me, dammit! It wasn’t a mistake. I think they wanted me to go out to turn off the alarm so they could either get in my apartment or grab me.”

“Is there a reason you think that?” asked Officer Randal.

“I… none that I can think of.” She was lying, and Hunter knew it, but it served his purpose, for now, so he said nothing.

“Can you stay with family or a friend for a while?”

The officer continued to keep a blank face but looked in my direction. Evidently, my closeness to her body was noticed. Wolves think nothing about sharing space. Humans are personal space freaks. Erin didn’t seem too bothered by my crowding her or my possessiveness. Interesting.

“No. I don’t have… no.” Erin seemed hopeless now. She looked into my face, but then cast her eyes downward. “Never mind. I can do this myself. I always have in the past, and I’ll continue to do so now.”

“I recommend being more careful in the next few days.”

Openly dismissing the officer, Erin turned around and walked away. Before I could respond, my cell rang. It was Gage. Finally. The only other person I trusted implicitly outside of triplet Suzanne and younger brother Lucas. We protected her and backed him.

Earlier, I’d agreed he should go over to check out Erin’s employer. The answer wasn’t good. “Hey, I called the police. Erin’s boss has been shredded. I’d say Hellhound by the smell.” As Gage began to describe the scene, evidently the department called Officer Randal. By the time I realized what their intent was, Officer Randal had broken the news to Erin like it was no more important than the classifieds. I wanted to bury the man for his insensitivity, but couldn’t. I was often guilty of the same thing. My wolf nearly annihilated the man. He snarled and sped to shield her from any other incompetent actions. He couldn’t protect her from the pain.

Suddenly the other crime scene was more important. Now Randal decided there might be something going on and told her to come in for an interview in the morning. I wouldn’t let her do that alone. I’d be there. My guard was up, and all my senses were on high alert. I needed to sit down and talk to Gage to strategize. I know he did a thorough search before calling the Wolf Pass PD in. I hoped he bailed before making the call. With a little more information and his business card left in her hand, Officer Randal and his partner left.

“Erin, let me see if I can help, honey.”

Silence. I worried she wasn’t going to acknowledge me, but then she crumpled, followed by tears.

“Come here, sweetheart.”

I reached my hand out and watched her walk right into my arms like she was mine. She was. I knew at that moment it would be difficult to resist her even if I’d wanted to. I tried to calm things down, but I couldn’t. Words were not what she needed, and it wasn’t what I needed either. The difference was, I needed action, she needed comfort. In this case, she required Gage. I was the aggressor, the fixer not the nurturer, not the Daddy Dom.

I swooped her into my arms and carried her to the sofa, pulling her onto my lap as I sat on the overly stuffed furniture. This was outside professional courtesy or even kindness. This was the place a close friend or lover would be. I wasn’t either yet. But I would be if the fates allowed. I was drawn to this woman, wanted her, and she reciprocated. There was no way I would let her go. My life just became so much more complicated.

And damn, she was nearly ready for mating. She was going into estrus any day now. Another sign something was missing. She was going into estrus at the full moon. At the wolf moon. Did the fates already know she was made for wolves? I didn’t know nearly enough about hybrids to put things together. I needed to go to Elder Mountain and speak to the ancient ones. Did I do that before the moon or figure this danger out first? Or were they connected? Typically I loved a good mystery, but when the stakes were personally high, things were so much more important to get right the first time.

I yearned for her down to my core. Her tits were so tight they could have burrowed straight through the material of her flannel nightshirt. I wanted to draw them into my mouth and suck hard, teasing her with my tongue. My wolf was pounding my insides, trying to get out. I couldn’t let him. He’d frighten Erin to death. I had to handle this carefully. The timing had to be right. I wondered if Erin knew she was a mixed breed, possibly a human hybrid? Something told me no.

My wolf told me in no uncertain terms that there was a time limit to my ability to control his appearance. I knew he was right. Evidently, my wolf did not care who she was because I could picture the whole first sex scene. Her long legs with enough chubbiness to be healthy and cute as hell extended out from her short nightshirt to wrap around my waist as I pumped into her. Suddenly I realized what she was wearing right now. I wanted to spank her ass for hinting at all her attributes in front of the officers. Those were only for Gage and me. Even if she didn’t know whom she was meant to be with right now, she would shortly.

Her red painted toenails and her cute dark-framed glasses perched on her slightly upturned nose had me tied in knots. Her eyes were gold with green flecks. It was an unusual color for a human, but distinctive for a shifter. This could get sticky. I steeled myself as I watched her lick her lips. She rubbed her cheek on my shirt and slid her hand up and down my back. I’m not used to denying my wolf any woman he wants because, before today, he only wanted to play. He wanted to keep this one. I agreed. Alphas didn’t dilute their blood, so why was I beginning not to care? My head had the same thoughts and arguments swirling around, trying to make sense of things I couldn’t figure out yet. I knew it was time to get her out of here. I needed air. I needed a run. I wanted to give her some comfort before we left this spot.

***

Erin I was ashamed to say or even acknowledge that I wanted Hunter as much as I still wanted Gage. That made me a slut of the first order. It was obvious these men trusted each other but being attracted to them to the point of sex, even if it was just foreplay was unforgivable. There was no explanation for it, but that I was out of my mind with grief over the loss of Joey and fear that I could be next.

I rubbed my cheek on Hunter’s chest, and the need to feel him inside me was something I had only felt once, with Gage. My lust was devouring me. I kissed his chest and slipped my hand under his T-shirt. While I was horrified at my wantonness, I couldn’t stop. Strong, taut muscles and warm skin along with his muskiness nearly had me ripping his clothes off, but I restrained myself. Want and sexual desire was building, causing my insides to practically explode from within. Hunter kissed me. I kissed him back roughly when he was gentle. He answered my demands with his own.

Hunter pulled my nightshirt over my head and ripped my panties off. He was nothing like Gage. There was no teasing, verifying that I needed this, he took what I offered without another question. Gage watched me for my signs, but I understood viscerally that Hunter would give me what I needed without a word. He dropped his pants in seconds and sheathed in a few more.

My furor of need was so overpowering, when he flipped me, forcing me to lean on my forearms and jut out my bottom, I arched my back and hiked my behind in wanton invitation. I wanted him. Once again, my insides raged as I wordlessly begged for him to take me. I could feel my tensions rising as my orgasm inched closer to reality. Then he stopped.

He didn’t take me hard. There was no more teasing, no Hunter pounding me to an orgasm. Instead, he used his fingers to enter me. I cried my anguish. I craved his cock not his hand, but he continued to take me roughly from behind digitally. He had sheathed and I was confused why it wasn’t his cock that I was feeling deep inside, answering my need with his heat. One hand wrapped around my waist and the other playing a tune, bringing me to places I desperately wanted to go. I reached back in my desperation to bring him inside and encountered his cock still in its wrap, hard and pulsing, but not seated inside.

I pulled the condom off roughly and the feel of his satin skin was heaven. I encircled him the best I could. That sent me up and over the top, bringing me to the precipice quickly, I catapulted. I could hear his labored breaths mingle with mine as he pumped in and out of my hand with determination. Suddenly, just as I was falling back to earth, he reached over and pinched my clit. He slapped my bottom and I was flying again. I came so hard I nearly choked with sensation.

Then I heard Hunter as he followed with his own grunts of release, my pussy clenched hard again, empty, but satisfied that I brought him to pleasure. His hand stayed mine and he kept us in place while he released on the floor. It was the hottest assisted masturbation I had ever experienced. He kissed my neck, my back, my hair, whatever he could get to while leaning over my sweaty body enough to swing us on the sofa. He tugged me into his lap, situating me in the V formed by his thighs. He quickly wrapped his slick sweaty legs over mine, pinning me in place and held me open to him while he played hard with my breasts each one in turn and rubbed my clit. I was powerless to move from his hold and I lacked any real motivation because it felt so good. I could feel myself becoming sensitive the moment I came down from this last bit of ecstasy. I had never had so much attention from a lover that I became hypersensitive. Though I was touchy, I relished the feeling and what it represented to me.

I was a weak mess, gloriously sated and horrified I had amazing foreplay-sex with two men in one day’s time and never got to the main event. As we lay in each other’s arms, that undeniable feeling of well-being took over and settled into my bones. I knew foreplay took a weak second to the aftercare of snuggling in Hunter’s bulging arms. After another few moments passed while I soaked up the atmosphere buzz, I started to move.

As the saying goes, nothing lasts forever: the good or the bad. I knew it was time to pull up my big girl panties, figuratively speaking, and be an adult about things, which meant I needed to take control of my chaotic life. But my big girl panties were wet, likely drenched and on the floor somewhere. I still ached right at the apex of my now sticky thighs despite another round of life-changing orgasms as dramatic as any passionate sex I’d ever experienced. I started to sit up and Hunter held me tight for a moment longer before kissing my temple and releasing me. I didn’t move off his lap immediately. And damn if he didn’t sniff the air again.

“When are you going to the police station tomorrow?” Hunter asked as he redressed and tossed my nightshirt at me, shoving the underwear in his pocket and grabbing a kitchen towel to clean the mess from the floor.

“Why?”

“Because I’m going with you.”

I tossed my nightshirt on and stood. “Oh, no, that’s fine.” Hunter roped me into his arms again and sat on the sofa not allowing my resistance to settling on his lap bother him. He brought me down anyway.

Gage walked in just at that moment, looked around, sniffed the air, grinned, and sat at the end of the sofa. He opened his arms and Hunter kissed the side of my cheek before giving me a little nudge in Gage’s direction. I was going stark raving mad. It seemed as though both of these men wanted me, and neither was upset about it. The smell of sex permeated the room. Either this was the best thing since – anything, or I was misinterpreting their actions. Hunter kissed me and released me, and Gage didn’t balk at offering comfort while I was still in Hunter’s arms.

I looked up into Hunter’s face and he inclined his head. “It’s okay, sweetheart. Gage wants to comfort you.”

And he did. I climbed out of Hunter’s lap and curled up into Gage’s. The two men were very different in many ways. How they comforted was one big way and how they made love, another, but they both were kind and I needed all they had to give right now. Hunter encompassed me and let me cry, then took me on a wild ride to heaven. I felt safe. Gage enveloped me, touching, kissing, talking to me and when he loved, it was the same way until the end when he was as wild and needy as Hunter.

My whole world had turned upside-down. Gage was more like a huge teddy bear with a steel belly, which made it seem impossible to feel cozy and comforted in his lap, but I was. Hunter was like the benevolent king of the universe. He gave me what I needed instinctively, but did not release his control on the world around him. He held my power and safety in his grasp. Both were dominant, bossy men who did not accept the word no when it came to their orders, who comforted when the situation called for it, and who were generous lovers. And at least Gage, punished. She had little doubt that they both did.

“We were talking about going to the police station tomorrow,” supplied Hunter.

I wanted Hunter to go with me, but I couldn’t afford it. I was already so needy that between mental and emotional exhaustion and physical arousal, I didn’t know which way I was going, let alone when. Joey was dead. He knew it would happen. He had to have known something.

“It’s my fault. I should have made him tell me what was bothering him, made him go to the police.” The tears rolled down my cheeks again.

Gage shushed me. “It’s going to be okay, baby. We need to get you out of here for a while.”

I sat up sniffling and wiping my eyes. “What? No. I don’t want to go anywhere.”

“Erin, do I allow you to lie to me?” asked Gage. I snuggled in closer.

“I’m not… I’m fine. I want to stay in my apartment. With my things.”

“Get together an overnight case,” said Hunter as he stood. It was not a request. I don’t think Hunter ever asked, he just said what he wanted and expected people to do it. I flooded again and had no undies on to create a barrier to the flow. Then I protested.

“Didn’t you hear me? I’m not going anywhere.”

“It wasn’t a request, Erin. A change of clothes and whatever else you need for tonight. Do it.”

Gage patted my bottom cheek; I’m sure as a reminder. Hunter raised his eyebrow in displeasure.

“Why? I don’t understand. If whatever happened here is a fluke, then why leave?”

Hunter spoke to her seriously. “Do you think it was random? Not directed?”

I could have told him I thought it was a mistake, but I knew it was deliberate. Gage stood and placed my feet on the floor. Hunter behaved as though the question was merely academic. “You’re coming home with us.”

“No.” I shook my head when I wanted to nod and jump for joy.

Hunter eyed the couch dubiously. “Fine, I’ll stay here.”

“No, I’m going to comb her place anyway, so I’ll stay,” said Gage.

Now I looked at the couch with similar doubt. “Okay, then I’ll sleep out here.”

The grunts morphed into growls, in stereo. Gage answered. “I need to protect you and I can’t do that from the bedroom when you’re out here; in the line of fire. Coming to our house would take you totally out of the situation. No danger at all.”

“Are you sure about that?”

No, neither seemed confident and I knew it had nothing to do with their house or what had happened here. It was because we all felt the pull to some degree. Two of the hottest men I’d ever met maybe hotter than any I’d ever seen, and they’re taking care of me. I looked at them. Tall, enormous really, and yet not freakishly so. Gage was darker skinned, a bronzed god with black hair. Likely Alaska Native. He was proportionate with muscles that wouldn’t quit. With just a look, he had me panting and my fingers itching to do more than run my hand over his incredible chest. Hunter had lighter features and hair, but he still sported a lighter version of Gage’s warm brown skin. His body, while not as pumped up as his partner, she knew from experience, was as well-built.

Hunter’s walk was lithe and predatory as he entered the hallway to speak to his men.

“You must see the inside of a gym for hours every day.”

Gage laughed. “It’s mostly genetic.”

“I said that out loud, didn’t I?”

This man, even in my shock, does it for me. I look up at Hunter as he re-entered the apartment and wonder if his physique was ‘mostly genetic’ as well.

How can I be so callous? No decent woman would be turned on by a stranger much less two men right after her friend dies. Joey and I weren’t buddies. I’d never hung out with him and sometimes when he was buried in a chapter, Joey rarely spoke more than a few sentences in a day. Some days I didn’t see him at all, but considering everything, Joey James was an incredible person and he did care about me as a friend. I sometimes got the impression that he wanted to tell me something, but never did. Our time was companionable and limited.

I don’t know these men well, especially Hunter, so why was I so attuned to their moods? It’s as though my sharper instincts are homed in on these two men. Like I was a pigeon and they were my home. My gut instinct was that they were not only significant today, but a large part of my future. I got a flash of Gage and Hunter and babies. Plural. It filled me with a warm content feeling I wasn’t willing to let go of easily. I heard my name and then talking that drew me back to a concerned Gage. I found myself back in his lap.

“Where did you go?”

“Go?”

He tapped my head. “In here.”

I shrug. “Not sure. Sometimes I can see things or feel things, like a premonition.”

“Like a premonition or a premonition? Do they come true?”

“I don’t know about all of them, but yes. The ones I know about do come true.”

“See anything about Joey James?”

She shook her head sadly. “No. About you and Hunter. Us.”

“Oh, you don’t need a premonition to know how that’s going to turn out.” He smiled and I hoped he and my instincts were right. I wanted them to be.

I switched thought paths and looked around. My sense was that something associated with Joey’s death has put these men on guard. It raised the need for me to be protected. It all solidified what I had already feared: Joey James knew he was going to die. He knew why. And the information he made sure I had held the key to it all if I could just decipher it.

“How did he die?” Suddenly I needed to know.

The room went silent. Gage tensed. When I looked in Hunter’s direction, he looked ready to battle.

“We don’t know yet,” said Hunter grimly.

“But it wasn’t just a robbery, right?” I ask.

Gage answered. “Right.”

I crawl out of Gage’s lap awkwardly and he helped me stand and followed suit. His hand brushed the side of my breast and we inhaled simultaneously together. I look up in time to see his head lower. We kissed. It was just a brush of lips, but long enough to make me drip honey. I could smell it. I realized I’ve been aroused since Hunter arrived. Gage’s eyes dilated as he swooped down to savage my lips because this time it was no ordinary kiss. It penetrated my soul.

“It will be all right, baby girl. I promise we will figure it out.” Gage said.

“How can you promise something you have no power over?”

“You’d be surprised.”

I was handed to Hunter without realizing it until his lips claimed mine in a controlling kiss. It was passionate, dominant, and I felt like growling myself. Their kisses teased my pussy and tickled my core until I was so slippery, I had to excuse myself to cleanse and put on fresh panties. I decided to shower. Hunter laughed a devious kind of laugh. He could smell me too. They both could. That knowledge made me even hotter for them. No normal woman would allow two men to kiss her and comfort her, but I was doing just that. My control was slipping. I had no doubt I was in way over my head and I didn’t care. I already missed Joey’s company.

“Grab a change of clothes,” Hunter reminded me. “I won’t tell you again, sweetheart.”

“I thought Gage was staying with me here. I need a shower.”

“Change of plans.”

I turned my entreaty to Gage, instinctively knowing that Hunter didn’t change his mind often. Our children would definitely pick their battles with this father. But Gage was a daddy. He wanted to be my daddy, and I vowed to look up what that really meant soon. “I need to clean up.”

“I agree with Hunter, baby.”

Time for my frontal attack. “Well, I don’t.”

Neither man seemed swayed by my dissent. Gage walked into the hallway.

“Disobedience is punished, Erin.”

Hunter pulled me against his chest, and swatted my butt twice, hard. His hand slid up into my hair, and I should have been afraid or angry or something. But I wasn’t. I arched into his hand. An image flashed across my brain, and I knew what he was going to do. I craved it. He landed another two swats. I moaned. The twinges of pain morphed into pleasure that heated deep in my belly. It slid down, causing more moisture to gather. My insides physically ached for him. I whined. He growled.

***

Hunter I should send her to one of my hiding places because she won’t ever be safe with Gage or me. This woman was in danger but my only thoughts were of protecting her from me and all the things my wolf desperately wanted to do to her. She nearly brought him out herself with that moan when I slapped her ass. I imagine Gage is thinking the same thing. Erin thinks she can handle the fire, tame it, but what she doesn’t realize is that I’ve already destroyed her. She can no longer exist outside of me; I won’t allow it. My wolf is calling to the same deep visceral hunger inside Erin that I have for her. I needed to mark her so intensely that after she moaned and arched into my swats, I kissed her and bit her tongue before I backed away to nibble her ear, lick her shoulder. I needed to mark her with my scent.

Erin released a grunting whine of impatience. Did she pant? She was as desperate as I was. I felt my wolf pushing through and something else. Was Erin connecting to my wolf? How can that be? She seemed unaware of it. I wrenched away. Erin whimpered. Too close, I almost rubbed my body on her and then I wouldn’t have been able to stop myself from biting her tits, her shoulder, her pussy lips, ultimately taking her hard again. I have to fight the urge to bond with her for her own sake as well as the strength of the pack.

With all the strength I had, I pulled away and handed her to Gage. Maybe he wasn’t as affected. I called our sister. She’d keep her safe. Suzanne was already life-bonded to her husband and her sons were only three so no competition for my woman. Gage wasn’t a competitor, I tell my inner wolf-man. He was our woman’s other mate. He found her for us. Erin seemed to understand that I was the ringleader, the alpha because she tried to force me to deal with her, but I set her away from me, then stepped back further. I’ve done all I intended to do. She wasn’t staying and I wouldn’t change my mind no matter how much I wanted to make her happy.

“This is not up for discussion, Erin.” My voice was harsh and hard because I couldn’t deal any other way right now. “Go get your things. Make it for a few nights. Take your work and whatever else you need with you.”

At that statement, the little human with the now bright green eyes darted those beauties around the room and then down to examine her hands. She was about to lie to me.

“No, I’m fine. Really. I was just a big baby.”

I grab her hair tighter than I had intended, but it got her attention. “Don’t lie to the big bad wolf, baby, because I’ll have to punish you. A real punishment.” I leaned closer. “And I like punishing naughty girls.”

She shivered and licked her lips. Fates and fairies, she was killing me. “Go. I’m taking you to my sister’s place.” I watched her start to lie to me again about being fine or some such garbage and I cut her off. I really did enjoy punishing naughty lobas. I imagined I’d love punishing her more. “Don’t lie to me, sweetheart. And if you tell me you are ‘fine’ even one more time, I will flip you over the nearest surface and paddle your bottom cherry red. Understood?”

“But… Yes.”

“Good. You’ll like Suzanne. She’s very nurturing, like Gage.”

“Unlike you, you mean?”

“Exactly.”

She watched me. “But what if I like the big bad wolf?”

She was playing with fire and, crazy though it was, I really think this little one knew it. “Go. You have ten minutes.”

How many times had I told her to do the same thing without result? That wasn’t like me. I punctuated my demand as she passed me. I swatted her ass, hard. She skipped to the side and giggled. Giggled. Damn, I was in trouble. My tough persona was useless against giggles. And apparently one sexy woman who needed me.

Gage walked back into the apartment and closed the door. I saw he has more information that I should hear. I glanced toward the bedroom and see the door is closed. “What is it?”

“I left Race there to monitor the situation and he said the police had had a hell of a time finding all of this James character. They have no idea what killed him, but Race saw bite marks on some of the larger parts. And the stench. Definitely what we thought.”

“Damn. Combined with that pizza delivery incident, we need to make sure we have her protected and I mean we lock her down at all times.”

We both turned when Erin came out with a backpack. “What do you think killed him? Is that why I need protection? They have connected me with Joey?”

Did she hear me? I turned to Gage. He gave a slight nod. Yeah, this isn’t your typical human. There was something special about her and not just that our wolves want her. I’m even more convinced of the hybrid theory.

“That’s what we’re about to find out, baby,” said Gage.

“Do not patronize me. I want to know.”

“Erin, we don’t know yet.”

“But you have your suspicions.”

“And for now, that is all they are. Let’s go. I’ll lock up.”

I heard a sound outside, likely in the lobby. I saw Gage still, and I could have sworn Erin heard it too, but possibly not as strong as we did. Interesting. I’ll have to explore that later, but right now the little beauty needed to get moving. She stood with her head cocked as though she were waiting for another sound. Hearing, scent, and I had no doubt her sight and taste were highly developed as well.

I urged her. She resisted. “Now, Erin.”

Gage turned her around, leaned her on his arm and swatted her ass, hard, really hard. I think we have used our quota of swats for compliance tonight, maybe longer, especially since she was new to all this, to us. And there has been too much for her to deal with. She squealed as she stomped her foot and immediately reached back to soothe her insulted buttocks.

“Stop smacking my butt. I am an adult and I have intelligence you know.”

“Then use it.” Gage dropped a kiss on her irritated lips and traced the seam with his tongue. “Let me in, little piggy.”

“I thought Hunter was the big bad wolf.”

“He is. I’m worse. I’m your daddy.”

He kissed her and she very quietly moaned. I knew we wouldn’t last long resisting her charms. I wondered how Gage had lasted this long wanting, but not touching. Yeah, that’s over now.

Keeping my inner wolfman, who was trying hard to present, under wraps was going to be tough, but I’d do the best I could for as long as I could. When I no longer needed to restrain my wolf, all bets would be off and this little pixie would be in so much trouble. And that made me happy.

***

Gage I can’t believe Erin has allowed us the freedom to touch her as she has. Her fragrance was intoxicating, but she was human. I couldn’t forget that and as gratifying as her giving over to us was, I knew she wasn’t for us. My wolf didn’t agree. He chose her, and I’m sure I could love her. I already did to some degree. We mated for life so there was no way I could bond with her. Hunter was the Alpha and he must claim a shifter. He said that she was only part human. A mixed breed. We have to be united in our decision unless I took her alone. Hunter wouldn’t fault me, but I didn’t think that was our life path. While we hadn’t had time to talk about it, I believed his wolf wanted her, too. Hunter has given all the same signs he was battling his inner self and that was encouraging. There was no denying it. She was mine. Ours. Regardless of biology or maybe it was because of it. Something was telling me to follow my heart and not my head. I wanted to.

Claiming her, however, was for a later date because right now she might be in danger. If she was in the crosshairs of a Hellhound, we must get her to safety. The trouble is, we are her only line of defense and I’ve never battled a hound before. I have to check with the older members of our pack to see what its weaknesses are. At least we’re approaching daylight. Hounds only terrorize in the dark. Erin was still dragging her feet as we started downstairs. Time for Daddy to take over.

“Erin, what is your middle name?”

She gives me a confused look. Good.

“I don’t care for it.”

“Understood. What is it?”

“Why do you need to know?”

“Daddies like to know their little one’s full name.”

“Fine. Felina.”

“Good, now go with Hunter. And Erin?”

“Yes?”

“The next time you tell me fine, I’m going to punish you.”

“Do you two read the same script?”

“Nope. But if you have already been told to find a new response and are having trouble doing so, I’d suggest figuring it out fast.”

There are things to do so I leave them after kissing the socks off our girl. I have no doubt that when the shock and newness wear off, we will have our hands full. She’s feisty and has run her own life for too long to be able to accept our personalities and hers with us without a lot of adjustments. I just hope she doesn’t find herself in more trouble than she or we can overcome.

“Be good.”

She twists her lips in distaste and I can’t help but laugh. I left Hunter to drive her to Suzanne’s place and settle her in with our sister.

I’m headed on a fact-finding expedition and then I’ll go on a hound hunt.