The Gift of My Mate (Siberian Volkov Pack Romance Book 9) by Caryn Moya Block Page B

than the other lycans. “Before we make a decision, I want to talk to Jared. He will know more about our options.”
    “We can build a house and keep them all. Money isn’t really a problem,” Margot said quickly.
    “Your father might not like that idea. I didn’t tell him I was taking you, and I doubt he will accept our mating without a fight,” Mathis pointed out.
    “He may be angry, but he understands the mating bond comes first.”
    “Honey, your father is human, with human ideas. He will respond as a human father whose daughter has been carried away. Plus, there is still Ouelette to consider. I have been out of touch with my security force. I have no idea what has transpired the last few days.”
    “I still don’t think there’ll be a problem,” Margot mumbled.
    Mathis looked at Ujarak, who shook his head. “Try and rest while you can, Margot. Once we get to the lodge, there will be six children needing reassurance.”
    The ride to the lodge seemed to take forever. Cybille woke and yawned. Margot smiled and tried to be reassuring. She handed the child a toy and urged her to play with it. Cybille threw the toy on the floor. Next, Margot reached for the sipping cup of milk her mother provided. Finally satisfied, the child greedily drank the liquid.
    Margot stared out the window. This mothering thing wasn’t so hard. Suddenly growls started coming from the car seat. Cybille had shifted and her little teeth were gnawing on the straps.
    “Cybille. No. Stop that. Mathis what do I do? She’s going to ruin her car seat.” Margot looked to the front seat in a panic. She didn’t want to strike the puppy.
    “Stop the car, Ujarak,” Mathis said. Margot was amazed at how calm his voice sounded.
    Ujarak pulled over and Mathis walked around the car and opened the back door. He took Cybille out of her chair and walked back and forth, talking quietly to her. Cybille finally shifted back to her human form. Luckily, her clothes stayed on since the puppy was smaller than a human toddler.
    Mathis put her back in her seat and handed the now forgotten toy to her. Cybille grabbed the toy and put it in her mouth. It had only taken minutes for Mathis to handle the situation. Margot shook her head. How did he do that? She looked at the now content Cybille and the huge man who was her mate. They were once more on their way.
    “Are all the children so strong willed?” Margot asked. Maybe she wasn’t cut out to be a mother of six children after all.
    “I’m sure they are,” Ujarak said chuckling. “The older ones you can reason with, or bribe. Kumaglak and I offered them treats to make them behave. It worked.” So that’s where they disappeared to last night; Ujarak and his brother had transported the children to the pack.
     
    §
     
    Mathis undid the straps on the car seat and handed his sister to Margot. She bit her bottom lip, took the child, and balanced the bundle on her hip. Mathis smiled at the sight. Margot was nervous about taking on this burden, since she’d been stuck in a car with Cybille for a couple of hours.
    He unbelted the seat and then put his free arm around Margot’s shoulders and headed for the door to the Alpha’s lodge.
    The door opened, and a harassed looking Felicity stared out at them. Felicity was an older woman mated to the beta, Aramis, and she was also the mother of Granger, the other beta of the Quebec Pack.
    “About time you got here. I just finished cleaning up after the little darling’s lunch. They’re in the den watching television. Susan stayed home from working with the sled dogs to help watch them.”
    “We’ll be sure to thank her once we’re inside. Thank you for taking care of them, Felicity,” Mathis said. “Margot and I appreciate it. This little one is my sister, Cybille, and Ujarak is my youngest brother. He is nanuk, but he is going to stay a while to help out.”
    “Someone needs to take care of them,” Felicity grumbled. “How a whole tribe of shifters can