don’t like her, but you’re the one who woke up when she went missing.”
David thought Grandfather woke him, but he mentioned Sarita after David told him something was wrong. “I suppose. Can I go back to sleep?” He rubbed his face against his daddy’s chest. One day his chest would be big and strong like his dad’s.
“Yes, we’ll look for Sarita.” His dad stood, walked toward his bed and placed him on it. “Get your rest, son. Thank you for what you did. It’s snowing outside and in the morning would be too late.”
Chapter 11
Heavy hearted, Jasmine walked into the nursery six hours later. The kids did various activities but stopped when she entered. Running toward her they talked all at once asking if they could go outside to play, or wear their new coats and boots, or participate in a snowball fight.
Jasmine looked at each of them, so bright, so eager, and so oblivious. She’d failed. While trying to make sure her children were safe, she’d wrapped them so tight in a bubble they missed vital lessons. She hadn’t provided critical ingredients to their upbringing and couldn’t fully blame them for believing the world revolved around them. She’d spent the early part of the morning pulling together what she considered to be a palatable solution.
“Come, sit.” Her voice rose above their requests, silencing them immediately. David glanced at her and then turned away.
Once she sat in the rocking chair, and the kids sat at her feet staring up at her, she exhaled. Four sets of eyes gave her their complete attention and she wasn’t sure how to start. A modified beginning seemed best.
“You know your father is a full-blood wolf and I’m human?” She searched their eyes to make sure they understood. They nodded. Good they had paid attention when Silas and the twins taught wolf biology and the things they should watch out for as they develop.
“There are a lot of people who don’t think it’s right to mate with someone outside your race or… species. Some of those people are angry, hateful and try to destroy… kill people like me, and the twins.” The look of shock on their faces pained her. But she and Silas discussed the matter in depth and decided it was best to share Sarita’s involvement with the Liege.
“Why? Because you’re different than daddy?” Adam asked.
Discrimination had always been a challenge, but she’d never feared her life was in jeopardy until she met Silas. “Yes.”
“People want to kill you? Rone and Rese, too?” Jackie asked frowning.
“Yes. They do not like half-breeds or the women who give birth to them. Now… before you get upset, you should know I’m not afraid. And does Rone or Rese look scared to you?”
David’s face relaxed. “No.”
“They’re not scared of anything or anybody, ‘cept you and daddy,” Renee said with a hint of hero worship in her voice.
Jasmine smiled at the nods from the other children and wondered if her sons knew what these four thought of them. Probably not and she’d leave it that way.
“Mommy’s only telling you this so you understand. Not everyone has it the same as you.”
“That’s right, mama. The boy I played ball with yesterday said he lived in a little house with no fence,” Adam said.
“We are important because daddy’s the boss,” Renee said looking at her siblings.
“Everybody does what we say ‘cause they scared of daddy and you mama,” Adam said.
“They don’t have pretty clothes like we do,” Renee said looking at her pink and green outfit. “Why don’t daddy give everybody pretty clothes?”
“And big houses? He can make everybody a big one like ours,” Adam said.
To tell them about the cost to their father’s body and soul to carve out a place for him and his den would mean nothing, not at this point in their lives. They had no idea how life worked, and that was her fault. Silas had wanted them exposed to pack life earlier, so they could see how everyone worked together
David thought Grandfather woke him, but he mentioned Sarita after David told him something was wrong. “I suppose. Can I go back to sleep?” He rubbed his face against his daddy’s chest. One day his chest would be big and strong like his dad’s.
“Yes, we’ll look for Sarita.” His dad stood, walked toward his bed and placed him on it. “Get your rest, son. Thank you for what you did. It’s snowing outside and in the morning would be too late.”
Chapter 11
Heavy hearted, Jasmine walked into the nursery six hours later. The kids did various activities but stopped when she entered. Running toward her they talked all at once asking if they could go outside to play, or wear their new coats and boots, or participate in a snowball fight.
Jasmine looked at each of them, so bright, so eager, and so oblivious. She’d failed. While trying to make sure her children were safe, she’d wrapped them so tight in a bubble they missed vital lessons. She hadn’t provided critical ingredients to their upbringing and couldn’t fully blame them for believing the world revolved around them. She’d spent the early part of the morning pulling together what she considered to be a palatable solution.
“Come, sit.” Her voice rose above their requests, silencing them immediately. David glanced at her and then turned away.
Once she sat in the rocking chair, and the kids sat at her feet staring up at her, she exhaled. Four sets of eyes gave her their complete attention and she wasn’t sure how to start. A modified beginning seemed best.
“You know your father is a full-blood wolf and I’m human?” She searched their eyes to make sure they understood. They nodded. Good they had paid attention when Silas and the twins taught wolf biology and the things they should watch out for as they develop.
“There are a lot of people who don’t think it’s right to mate with someone outside your race or… species. Some of those people are angry, hateful and try to destroy… kill people like me, and the twins.” The look of shock on their faces pained her. But she and Silas discussed the matter in depth and decided it was best to share Sarita’s involvement with the Liege.
“Why? Because you’re different than daddy?” Adam asked.
Discrimination had always been a challenge, but she’d never feared her life was in jeopardy until she met Silas. “Yes.”
“People want to kill you? Rone and Rese, too?” Jackie asked frowning.
“Yes. They do not like half-breeds or the women who give birth to them. Now… before you get upset, you should know I’m not afraid. And does Rone or Rese look scared to you?”
David’s face relaxed. “No.”
“They’re not scared of anything or anybody, ‘cept you and daddy,” Renee said with a hint of hero worship in her voice.
Jasmine smiled at the nods from the other children and wondered if her sons knew what these four thought of them. Probably not and she’d leave it that way.
“Mommy’s only telling you this so you understand. Not everyone has it the same as you.”
“That’s right, mama. The boy I played ball with yesterday said he lived in a little house with no fence,” Adam said.
“We are important because daddy’s the boss,” Renee said looking at her siblings.
“Everybody does what we say ‘cause they scared of daddy and you mama,” Adam said.
“They don’t have pretty clothes like we do,” Renee said looking at her pink and green outfit. “Why don’t daddy give everybody pretty clothes?”
“And big houses? He can make everybody a big one like ours,” Adam said.
To tell them about the cost to their father’s body and soul to carve out a place for him and his den would mean nothing, not at this point in their lives. They had no idea how life worked, and that was her fault. Silas had wanted them exposed to pack life earlier, so they could see how everyone worked together
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