Chapter 10

Iblinked rapidly to hold back tears as Vengeance devoured the food put in front of her and glanced up for more. Already anticipating her appetite, Hugh was ready with a second plate. She was so intent on the food, she'd stopped snarling at us and didn't seem to care that Brannigan had wrapped her up in a tartan blanket. He was every bit as protective of her as we were, maybe even more.1 Edison was exactly the same, my family-oriented witch not protesting for a second about us playing finders keepers with a child, like I knew he wouldn't. His whole face had softened when I said she was orphaned.

We were cloistered away in our room now, with Ven set up in a chair that looked enormous compared to her tiny, winged body, her seat angled towards the electric heater Edison stole from a witch's room. I had a feeling he'd used magic to freeze her so she didn't fight his theft, but I just kissed his cheek.

"You have to chew food, tiny wolf," Slasher said in a gentle tone, his red eyes creased in a smile as he watched her from the end of our bed. He mimed chewing in an exaggerated gesture and my heart burst with love.

This was really not how I saw our day going when I woke up this morning, but my mates and I weren't the sort of people to walk away from a child in need. She still looked like a baby to me, so small, so fragile.

Dean grabbed the bottled water we'd brought from the kitchen and poured it into a porcelain bowl painted with ivy and honeysuckle. "Here, Vengeance. I dread to think when the last time you had something to drink was. There's very few sources of water in the woods."

She flicked a glance at him, but allowed him to put the bowl on the table in front of her—and only narrowed her eyes when he ran a hand down her white head. I knew his soul was yelling at him to keep her safe like mine was, knew he wanted to scoop her up and hold her like Slasher had.

"That's too many cushions," Edison remarked, drawing my attention to where he and Hugh were fluffing up the top of the bed into a sort of nest, trying to recreate the one she made high up in the tree. She must have flown up there originally, but with how weak she was now there was no chance of her flying anywhere.

"Where are we going to sleep?" Brannigan asked, coming to my side where I hovered by the wall, not taking my eyes off the tiny wolf for more than a second. I leaned into him when he draped an arm over my shoulders, his lips finding my temple.

"We'll figure it out," I replied. "This is only temporary."

Ven's head shot up, and my heart crumpled.

"The sleeping situation," I hurriedly added, holding her gaze. "We'll find you a proper bed, not a nest made on ours. We're not getting rid of you, Ven. You're not temporary. You can stay as long as you want to stay."

"And if that's forever, then you stay forever," Brannigan added, his smile changing his whole face. My throat tightened.

Vengeance exhaled her breath in a chuff and went back to slurping up water, still suspicious but without the hurt I'd glimpsed in her eyes when she thought we were getting rid of her. As if. Every single one of my mates had hearts in their eyes as they watched her finish eating, and I had a feeling I did too.

"Do you want more food?" Dean asked, stacking her plates when she licked them clean. She shook her head and my heart skipped at her communicating. Her gaze flicked towards the bed as Hugh and Edison obsessed over making the nest just right.

Her wings shuddered as she folded them into her back, trying to push the blanket from her shoulders so she could rise. But Brannigan left my side and swept her into his arms, ignoring her deep huff that very clearly said she could get onto the bed herself.

"Here," Slasher said, patting a space in the middle of the pile of blankets and pillows, scanning her every few seconds to make sure she was okay. "This is the best spot."

They were fussing, and it was so sweet.

Ven grumbled in the back of her throat as Brannigan placed her down, her violet eyes narrowed in such a human expression that I smiled. I suddenly, inexplicably, wanted to cry. How long had she been living in the woods alone, struggling, starving?

Dean was at my side the second tears lined my eyes. I leaned my head on his shoulder, watching the guys get Ven settled, much to her annoyance. She snapped her teeth and I chuckled.

"It'll be easier and quicker if you just let them be," I told her fondly. "They're men, they love to fuss."

"Hey," Hugh and Brannigan complained at once.

"Rude," Slasher said with a pout.

Edison just levelled a look on me that told me I'd pay for that remark later.

"Am I wrong?" I challenged.

"No," Hugh muttered, scowling.

I laughed.

Vengeance watched us all, her stare flitting around the room, eyelids a little heavier-looking than they'd been minutes ago. She was warm and had a full belly; sleep was calling and her body badly needed rest.

"Sleep," Dean told her, seeing what I did. "You're safe here. We'll watch over you."

She tried to snap her teeth but ended up yawning, which made me yawn. I sank into the chair she'd vacated—or been air-lifted from—but kept my eyes on her, watching her feathers rustle as she settled down. My chest nearly burst when Slasher leaned over the mass of pillows and kissed her head, earning a sleepy baleful glare.

One by one my mates joined me by the heater, Hugh sitting on the carpeted floor and leaning back against me, his head on my thigh.

"So," I said quietly. "Show of hands. Who wants to adopt her."

By the time I got my hand in the air, there were five others too. That was decided then. Vengeance was ours.

Thankyou so much for reading, and I hope you loved this insight into Rebel's and her guys' lives after the events of Blood Wolf. If this is your first glimpse of these characters, you can read Killer Crescent to start the duet now. And fear not - there's more coming from these psychos at Christmas!

Leigh x