Daxon's Heart (Ravenwood Panthers Book 3)

by Lynn Howard

  “Daxon?” Penny asked, snapping him out of his fantasies.

  “Sorry. Zoned out,” he said. Wasn’t a lie. “Sure. We can play outside today.”

  “You don’t have to stick around if you have something you need to do,” Ryanne said. She gathered the empty cereal bowls and deposited them in the sink.

  “Nothing to do but hang out with my two favorite girls,” he said, winking down at Penny.

  “Yay!” she yelled a little loudly.

  “Inside voice, please,” Ryanne said. “Go brush your teeth and hair, clean your face, and change clothes. We’ll meet you outside.”

  Ryanne kissed her sister on the top of the head when Penny stood, then swatted her behind teasingly to get her moving.

  Ryanne and Daxon took their coffee out to the porch and settled on the steps, their shoulders touching.

  “It’s a pretty morning,” Ryanne said as she leaned against Daxon’s side and settled her head on his shoulder.

  It was pretty. The sun was bright. There were a few puffy clouds in the sky, and a gentle breeze brushed their skin.

  Daxon stole a glance at the woman beside him. She’d changed while he was outside trying to get his junk to settle down. She wore a pair of shorts that hugged all the right places and a t-shirt that covered the mark on her shoulder. She wore no makeup, but she was still as stunning as the first time they’d met.

  “You’re so beautiful,” he muttered more to himself than out loud.

  But Ryanne sighed and snuggled closer. “You make me feel beautiful.”

  He turned his head and placed a kiss on the top of her hair the same time the front door opened and Penny stepped out onto the deck.

  “I’m going to play in my sandbox,” she announced as she ran across the wood deck and down the stairs, not sparing a single backward glance toward Daxon or Ryanne.

  “I wish I had that much energy when I woke up,” Daxon said, leaning his head on top of Ryanne’s.

  There was no awkwardness. No regrets of what they had done last night or this morning. Just peace and contentment. He’d found the one person meant solely for him. He’d found someone to make his heart grow.

  He’d found two people to devote his life to.

  “You feel happy,” Ryanne muttered as they watched Penny pack sand into one of the buckets Daxon had bought for her.

  “I’m the happiest I’ve ever been in my life,” he admitted.

  She lifted her head from his shoulder and turned to look at him. She kept her voice low, checking on Penny before saying, “Are you sure you want to do this? I mean, it’s not just me. Penny will be my responsibility for the rest of her life. Even after she grows up. There will be all kinds of expenses like the doctor and dentist, and eventually college.”

  “So, I’ll get another job,” he said.

  How could she doubt his feelings for either of them at this point? He had literally left his mark on her last night. And she’d marked him less than an hour ago. That wasn’t something either of them could reverse.

  While any male could mark a female, the change in their blood only occurred when that male was their true mate. Ryanne would carry Daxon’s scent forever.

  Penny tossed sand in the air, and the birds nearby went silent.

  Frowning toward the trees, Daxon squinted his eyes. Why the hell would they freak out over some sand being thrown around? They weren’t even near her.

  And then the leaves in the surrounding trees shook like wind was blowing through them and the silence was engulfed by a cacophony of loud squawks.

  He hadn’t imagined it. The fucking crows were there.

  Chapter Ten

  Daxon’s entire body tensed beside Ryanne and made her lynx bristle. She followed his line of sight but didn’t see anything.

  “Penny!” he barked out, lunging to his feet and running toward her. “Come here!”

  Penny’s head whipped up and her eyes went wide as Daxon sprinted toward her. Without a single word, she jumped up and ran toward him, holding her arms out when he grew near.

  Daxon scooped her into his arms, holding her tightly against his chest, and sprinted back toward the house.

  “Get inside!” he ordered Ryanne.

  His eyes were bright, the glow telling her everything she needed to know without asking a single question. There was a threat nearby.

  The second Daxon was on the porch with her little sister cradled in his arms, Ryanne shoved the door open and ran ahead of him, slamming it shut and clicking all the locks in place.

  Shit. Locks wouldn’t do a thing if there were Shifters out there. They could easily bust through the windows or even splinter the wood frame to get inside.

  “What is it?” she asked, taking Penny from him and holding her close. She cradled her sister’s head in her hand, almost wishing she could form a bubble around the little girl with her own body.

  “The crows are here,” he said as if that made all the sense in the world.

  Daxon pulled his phone from his pocket and hit a number. When someone answered, he barked out orders to get their asses there. His words.

  “Stay away from the windows. My friends are on their way,” he said. His body trembled as his panther fought to escape the confines of his flesh and take on whatever threat was outside.

  But crows? Birds. They were both feline Shifters. Cats always won over birds.

  Daxon seemed afraid, though. Not afraid for himself, but for Ryanne and Penny. How many Shifters were outside?

  The birds. Oh no. She’d heard that sound for a couple of days.

  “Those squawks? That noise out there? Those were the crows? Those are the guys you don’t like?”

  His head nodded in jerky movements.

  “They’ve been here for a couple of days. I just thought they were a flock of birds moving through for the summer.”

  His entire body whipped around and his glowing eyes were wide. “They’ve been here for days? How many days?”

  She tried to remember while Penny whimpered against Ryanne’s shoulder. “Two? Three? I’m not sure. But I remember wondering what kind of birds they were because they were so big and loud. I didn’t remember seeing them around.”

  “Fuck,” he muttered, then cringed. “Don’t say that word, Penny.” Even in a moment like this, he was still being a fatherly figure to Ryanne’s baby sister.

  Penny lifted her head. “I won’t,” she promised. “Can I get down?” she asked Ryanne.

  “Yeah. Stay by me, though.”

  “Stay away from the windows,” Daxon told Penny. He dropped down to his knees. “And if I say so, I want you to hide in the best place you can find. Somewhere no one can find you.”

  Penny nodded and leaned into Ryanne’s hip. “Okay.” Her voice was so small and full of fear.

  Ryanne instantly hated whoever was outside causing that fear in her baby sister. It was Ryanne’s job to protect her and she’d kill anyone who tried to come for this little girl.

  Minutes ticked by and no one said a word. Ryanne didn’t know what to say. And she didn’t want to scare Penny even more.

  Daxon…he looked intense. He still trembled with the need to Shift, but he kept his skin.

  “Should I Shift?” Ryanne whispered.

  “Yeah, Ry, please turn into your cat,” Penny said against her side.

  “Not yet. I don’t want them to think they scared you,” Daxon said.

  “But they did.”

  “Me, too,” Penny whimpered. “Can you turn me into an animal, too, so I won’t be scared anymore?”

  Daxon turned and looked down at Penny, heartbreak obvious in his eyes.

  He moved slowly and knelt in front of her again. “You think I’m the coolest guy ever, right?” Penny nodded. “Well, I think you and your sister are the coolest girls ever. And I would never let anything happen to either you. I promise. Do you trust me?” She nodded again. “My friends are coming. You met them. And they’re pretty cool, too, right?”

  “That
one girl showed me fire in her hand,” Penny said, referring to the day they’d met Hollyn.

  “And all my friends are cool like that. There might be some people who come here that you haven’t met yet. But I promise, they’re all just as cool as me. And some of them have some pretty cool animals in them, too. Even bigger than mine and Ryanne’s.”

  “Okay,” Penny whispered. She pulled away from Ryanne and jutted her little chin out like she was ready to fight.

  Please, God. Don’t let this come to a fight.

  There was no way Daxon and Ryanne could take on a full flock of Shifters. Even in their animal forms, the crows could come at them from every direction while the two of them would have to stay on the ground.

  And Penny would be left vulnerable and at the hands of fate.

  How long had they been waiting in the house for the cavalry to arrive? And was there anything his friends could do? Surely, it was better to have more people here. Even if they weren’t flight Shifters, it was better to have some backup. If nothing else, they could help keep Penny safe.

  “Are they still out there?” Ryanne asked.

  She hadn’t heard anything since they’d stepped inside and Daxon had made a phone call. It was like the crows wanted him to know they were there, then took off the second Daxon ordered her and Penny inside.

  “I don’t know. We’re staying in here until my Pride shows up.”

  “Do you need to Shift?” Ryanne asked him. Daxon looked at her over his shoulder. “You look like you’re about to come out of your skin. Or at least like your panther is trying to come out of your skin.”

  She tried to keep her tone light but knew Daxon didn’t miss the tremor in her voice.

  He shook his head, then looked quickly toward the front of the house.

  His long strides ate up the space between them and the door and he was on the porch before Ryanne could ask what was happening.

  And then the sounds of engines and crunching gravel met her ears.

  They weren’t alone anymore. Help was there.

  “Okay, baby girl. We’re safe now. Daxon’s friends are here.”

  “His Pride,” she corrected her big sister.

  “Yep. His Pride and maybe more people. You want to stay in here or go out and meet everyone?”

  “Is it safe out there?”

  Penny was trying so had to be brave but her bottom lip quivered and pissed Ryanne off all over again. Why did people like the crows think they had the right to mess with someone’s life? Why couldn’t they just leave Ryanne and Penny alone?

  Ryanne lifted Penny into her arms and settled Penny on her hip. She was cautious at first, peeking through the door to make sure Daxon was welcoming people and not fighting.

  All was good.

  Stepping out, she smiled at Charlie and Campbell, but knew it didn’t reach her eyes. It was an obligatory smile, the kind you were supposed to give when seeing friends or acquaintances. But she was far from happy to see them.

  Had it been any other situation, she would’ve happily moved closer for hugs. But these people had rushed over because there was danger.

  Daxon stood with a group of guys, some she recognized, some she didn’t. He looked irate. That was the only way to describe the expression on his face as he paced back and forth, speaking too low to hear from where she was standing.

  Until he bellowed the f word.

  Penny’s brows shot up her forehead and she buried her face in Ryanne’s neck.

  “Shit,” he muttered when he caught Ryanne watching him. Sorry, he mouthed.

  She smiled with closed lips and shrugged. If there was ever a time for that word, it was now. Unfortunately, Penny didn’t quite understand what was going on or the fact that, by the look on everyone else’s faces, the danger was far from over.

  “How you doin’, sister?” Campbell asked when Ryanne walked over to where she and Charlie stood.

  “I’m not sure yet.” That was as honest as Ryanne could get. She had no idea what was going on or why those crows had come to her property.

  “Hey, sweetie,” Charlie said to Penny, touching her back lightly. When Penny raised her head, Charlie said, “I heard you met my cousin. She was the one with the fire. Do you want to see something else cool?”

  “Oh, man,” Campbell whined. Apparently, whatever Charlie was about to do wasn’t one of Campbell’s favorite things.

  “You have to get down, though. It’s so funny.” Charlie widened her eyes comically and made Penny laugh.

  Penny looked to Ryanne for confirmation.

  “Go ahead. Remember? These are Daxon’s friends. That makes them the coolest.”

  With a giggle, Penny let Ryanne set her on her feet.

  “Watch this,” Charlie said.

  Campbell sighed and took a few steps away, then stood with her feet braced shoulder width apart. “Not so high this time.”

  Ryanne frowned down at Penny in a teasing way, then they both watched as Charlie extended a hand and wind whipped everyone’s hair around.

  Giggles burst from Penny’s throat as Charlie lifted into the air about five feet, then slowly lowered back down.

  “Can I do it?” Penny asked, clasping her hands in front of her face.

  “Is it okay?” Charlie asked Ryanne.

  “Of course. As long as she’ll be safe.”

  Charlie smiled, took Penny’s hand, and led her to where Campbell had stood.

  “Don’t be scared.”

  “I’m not,” Penny told Charlie.

  Charlie lifted Penny about two feet in the air, then lowered her.

  “Higher,” Penny squealed, clapping with glee.

  Charlie lifted her three feet, then lowered her to the ground.

  “Higher! Please?” Penny squealed.

  As Penny lifted about six feet in the air, Daxon darted over to them and stood directly beneath the little girl.

  “Are you okay, angel?” he asked, looking up at her. Her feet were only a few inches lower than his chin.

  “This is awesome!” she screamed and clapped again. She did a strange dance as she stayed frozen in the air.

  “Don’t drop her,” Daxon said to Charlie and it sounded so much like a plea.

  Yep. Ryanne’s heart was all his.

  ****

  Daxon’s heart damned near stopped when he spotted little Penny hovering high in the air. What was Charlie thinking?

  But the girl was having a blast. After the scare they’d all had, the girl deserved some fun.

  Still, there was no way he’d walk away until her tiny feet were securely on the ground.

  “How you doing up there, angel?”

  “I feel like an angel. Look,” she said, flapping her arms like she was flying.

  Charlie floated her slowly from side to side to make it feel like she was truly floating like an angel. And Daxon stayed right below her, moving with her to catch her if needed.

  “You’re so cute,” Charlie said from behind Daxon.

  “What?” he asked, not turning his attention from Penny.

  “You realize I won’t drop her, right? And there you are, like a big papa bear.”

  “Panther.”

  “Huh?”

  Daxon glanced at Charlie over his shoulder for only a second. “Papa panther.”

  Ryanne, Campbell, and Charlie chuckled.

  Okay. So, Penny wasn’t technically Ryanne’s child. Which meant Daxon couldn’t technically be her father. But that didn’t mean he didn’t love her as if she were his.

  Kind of like Reed from Big River. Lola had come to him pregnant with another man’s cub, but Reed doted on Grace and loved her no different than if she were his own blood.

  After what felt like a fucking eternity, Charlie lowered Penny and Daxon pulled her to his body and balanced her on his hip.

  “Did you have fun?”

  “You were right,” Penny said, the biggest grin on her cute little face. “Your friends are so cool.”

  “But I’m stil
l the coolest?” he asked, leaning his head toward her in a conspiratorial way.

  “Yesss,” she said with a roll of her eyes. “Is it safe to play in my sand box again?”

  “Yeah. Go ahead, angel. Don’t get sand in your eyes.”

  “I won’t.” She ran off the second her feet hit the ground.

  “She doesn’t seem scarred by that shit,” Luke from Blackwater said.

  “Kids are resilient,” Gray, Alpha of Big River, said.

  Daxon had been surprised so many of his friends had shown up. Especially Gray since he had a mate and a cub at home.

  Even a few of the females from Blackwater and Big River showed up, along with the Alpha and Second of the Morse Pack.

  “You think those assholes were here to fuck with you?” Koda, the Alpha of Morse Pack, asked.

  Daxon looked over his shoulder to make sure Penny hadn’t heard Koda. The last thing he needed was not only for her to pick up a few new colorful words, but to be scared again when she had only just calmed down.

  She wasn’t paying them any attention. She was showing Peyton and Callie the sandcastle she was making, complete with the step by step of what she was doing.

  Those two females were not interested in sandcastles. But they were doing an awesome job of keeping the kid distracted. For that, he was grateful.

  “We did ruin their fucked-up plan,” Brax said. He glanced back at Penny then to Ryanne. “You think they were here for the girls or for you?”

  “Ryanne said they’ve been coming around for a few days. I wasn’t here when they showed up until today.”

  Brax grumbled a few of his favorite curse words then pushed some hair from his face that had escaped from his ponytail.

  Both brothers were covered in tattoos and had a few piercings. But Daxon kept his hair about shoulder length while Brax had grown his to the middle of his back. Other than those two differences, they had been considered identical at birth.

  “So it could still be either situation,” Gray said. He rubbed the back of his neck and looked back at Penny. “You think it would be safer if you brought them to Big River?”