by Dannika Dark
Leo reached the porch first and wrapped his arms around me. “Are you safe?”
“We’re fine. Everything’s fine. Get inside where it’s warm. Your nose is redder than Rudolph’s.”
He lifted his bags and set them inside the door before taking off his boots and heading to the fire.
I gave Lucian a hug, even though he wasn’t the most affectionate man. He dragged a cooler in behind him, and it made a racket against the wood floor when it tipped over.
“Shit,” he muttered.
As soon as Levi reached the steps, he collapsed on the porch with a dramatic thud. “Sweet Jesus, never again.”
I pulled the hat off his head and tossed it inside. “What are you guys doing here? We told you not to come.”
He took my hand and stood up. “We’re the Cross brothers. That’s how we roll. Did you think we were going to let you risk your lives or starve to death out here?”
I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him on the mouth. “I’m thinking that maybe I’m just the luckiest woman who ever lived to have brothers like you.”
Levi might have been blushing, but I couldn’t tell since his cheeks were already aflame from the cold. “Yeah, my kisses do that to people. Step aside. We brought supplies.”
Once the door closed, the cabin was alive with activity. Finn’s wolf paced the room, whimpering and behaving peculiarly.
The boys stripped out of their winter gear and stood by the fire to thaw out.
I knelt down and opened a large plastic bag. “Who packed all this?”
Levi was lying flat on his back, puddles of water forming around his wet socks. “The girls. Us. Everyone.”
Inside one of the bags was a warm afghan that belonged to Page. There were also a few outfits for children ranging from newborn to age four. She’d also stuffed a few diapers in there, even though they were too large. My heart warmed. They must have been saving things like this just in case.
Another bag had toothpaste, toiletries, and…
I held up the canister of baby formula to show Logan, and he nodded as if to say it was going to be okay.
Leo sat with his back to the fire, his hair almost matching the radiant flames of burnt red and gold. “It’s a good thing we arrived here first. I apologize if this goes against the agreement you made, Logan, but we can’t have you doing this alone.”
Levi eased up on his elbows. “The roads are a mess. I hate to break it to you, but I don’t think your contact’s going to make it out here. Most of your tracks were buried by snow, and everything’s starting to freeze.”
It made me wonder how the Relic had managed. She must have either come from the other direction on the road or perhaps walked from a nearby cabin.
When a cry sounded from above, everyone’s eyes drifted upward—a bewildered expression on their faces.
Finn’s wolf bounded toward the ladder and tried in vain to climb it. When he barked a few times, Logan shoved him aside.
Levi rose to his feet. “Is that what I think it is?”
Logan climbed the ladder and then returned with a small bundle. Lakota didn’t have on clothes, only a diaper. He’d probably never worn clothes since he was taken from his mother so quickly.
Logan angled his arm so everyone could see the infant. “Meet your nephew, Lakota Cross.”
I stepped forward because I wasn’t sure of what I was seeing. There were actually tears in their eyes, and I’d never seen these men so emotional.
“Don’t give him to me,” Levi said, his voice quavering. “I’ll drop him on his head.”
I touched his arm. “No you won’t. You’ll protect him. He’s your nephew.”
Logan handed the baby to Levi, who held him flat against his chest instead of cradling him in one arm. Levi’s large hand splayed across Lakota’s back, and he gently swayed his body as if he’d done this a million times.
“I’m your Uncle Levi,” he said softly. “I’m going to show you how to be a brave little man.”
Leo gripped Logan’s shoulder, a proud look in his eyes. “My deepest congratulations, brother. If you don’t mind the question, what is he?”
“A Shifter,” Logan replied, lifting his chin high. “My son is a Shifter.”
After they passed the baby around, I realized Finn wasn’t going to sit still until he was introduced.
“Let Finn see him,” I said.
Logan shook his head. “He should shift. He might hurt the baby.”
“Finn would never hurt a baby,” I said. “I know that about his wolf. He’s dangerous, but he’s fiercely protective. You have to trust him.”
There wasn’t a thread of hesitation on my part. Finn’s wolf had comforted me long ago in one of the darkest moments of my life, and I’d come to know him as a man who protected those he loved. I cradled the child in my arms and dropped to my knees.
Finn’s wolf approached slowly, his nostrils twitching as he sniffed the baby’s feet. His tongue came out and licked Lakota’s tiny toes, making him squirm. Then he nestled his head on the baby’s belly and closed his eyes. I’d never seen him do anything like that before, and the love was palpable.
Within seconds, Finn shifted to human form.
Tears gathered in his eyes, and he sat before me, gazing down at the small infant. “He’s a wolf.”
I smiled. “He’s your nephew.”
“He’s my brother.”
Brotherhood was a wolf thing—a term that Shifters used among those they loved and shared a bond with as they would a brother. This union couldn’t have been planned more perfectly. A child we’d always wanted and a spirit wolf that Finn needed. Now he would be not only an uncle but a mentor, and I had a feeling Lakota would become a strong wolf because of it.
“Uncle Finn needs to put some pants on,” Levi said with a chuckle.
Finn stood up and put on a pair of jeans that had been stuffed in a bag near the door. Then he quickly returned and knelt in front of me. “Can I hold him?”
I wanted everyone to hold him, but I suddenly found myself struggling with the feeling of never wanting to let go of my child. I knew I’d have a lifetime with him, so I placed him in Finn’s arms and let the men admire their little nephew while I fell into Logan’s embrace.
“We brought resources,” Lucian announced, opening one of the trunks. “I think Levi shoved an entire turkey in one of these. There’s apple pie, vegetables, dressing, beans, and I think Sadie packed the potato salad somewhere in here.”
I smiled against Logan’s chest, realizing we were going to be all right. We had family, a warm place to stay, food, and donated clothes for our child. I never had a reason to doubt or fear as long as I had Logan by my side. Things would work out no matter what… because we had love.
“He’s a beta wolf,” Finn informed us. “A strong one.”
There are only a few moments in our lives that count—the ones that take our breath away, when our lives change and the world stops turning. Those moments alter our destiny and place us on an uncertain course, but without them, our lives are meaningless.
This was our moment.
Discover Lakota’s continuing story in the Seven Series. Begin with Seven Years.
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A personal note from Dannika:
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THE MAGERI SERIES is an exciting urban fantasy romance about a young woman's claim to immortality. Passionate, humorous, dark, and full of unpredictable twists, the Mageri series will take you on an unforgettable journey of love, friendship, and the hidden power within us all. Cliffhanger-free.
THE SEVEN SERIES is a paranormal romance that portrays Shifters living in secret in the modern world. A blend of humor, heartwarming romance, drama, and real-life issues. This series is for t
hose who believe in family, second chances, and finding that person who completes you. Cliffhanger-free.
Note: All my fantasy stories are written in the same universe. Same Breeds, same rules, and may contain character crossovers/appearances.
Sometimes ordinary people are destined for extraordinary lives.
Dannika Dark Newsletter
Books by Dannika Dark:
THE MAGERI SERIES
Sterling
Twist
Impulse
Gravity
Shine
The Gift
MAGERI WORLD
Risk
NOVELLAS
Closer
THE SEVEN SERIES
Seven Years
Six Months
Five Weeks
Four Days
Three Hours
Two Minutes
One Second
Winter Moon
SEVEN WORLD
Charming
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