Miles knocked once on the door then opened it. He stepped into the large, open-
concept foyer. “Hello? Anyone home?” he called as a courtesy. He knew there was because he could smell the scents of each individual inside the mansion. His daughter’s was one of them, but there were three he hadn’t encountered before.
Without waiting for someone to greet him, Miles headed for the living room. Inside were a couple and a small child he’d never met, all werewolves. The woman had the same coloring and build as Jaden. The man had long, black hair. The female child looked to be a year old. Both the man and woman seemed to stiffen as Miles walked farther into the room. The scent of anxiousness suddenly came off the adult female.
He slowed his steps, stopping before he came too close. The man shifted slightly, as if he were trying to place himself between his family and Miles. Miles put on a smile that would show he wasn’t any kind of threat. Some males could be overprotective of their mates, especially when they had young with them.
“Hi,” Miles said. “I didn’t mean to startle you. I’m Miles. Saskia is my sister, and Jaden is my daughter.”
The man answered. “I’m Beowulf, and this is my mate, Roxie, and our daughter, Nevaeh.”
Miles nodded at Roxie. “Nice to meet you all. I just stopped by to see Jaden.”
Before he could say anything more, Saskia came rushing into the room. Her gaze flicked to the couple on the couch. Miles could have sworn his sister wore a panicked expression for a split second, but it was gone too quickly. She turned her focus on him
“Miles, what a nice surprise. We weren’t expecting you today, what with you finding your mate last night and all. We thought you’d be busy with her.”
He smiled. “I dropped Kareena off at her place, then decided to pop in to check up on Jaden. I’m not staying long. I’m taking Kareena to a movie this evening.”
Saskia closed the distance between them and gave him a hug. “I’m so happy for you.
How do you feel about Kareena being mortal?”
“She’s my mate. It really doesn’t matter that she’s not a werewolf. It doesn’t seem to be a problem now. I’m worried about her being able to accept what I am and the differences in our life spans. I don’t want to think about that though.”
“I wish there was some way I could help you with the last part.”
Miles took a deep breath and let it out. “So do I. Though I met Kareena less than twenty-four hours ago, my feelings for her are growing stronger. A lot faster than they did with Jaden’s mother. The idea of losing Kareena to old age makes my gut knot. I’d give anything to have her become a werewolf, but we all know that isn’t possible. She’d have to be born one.”
Roxie cleared her throat. “She’s your mate. That’s why your feelings for her are already so strong. I take it you haven’t claimed her yet.”
Miles looked at Roxie. “No. Jaden told me her rule about how she wants male werewolves with mortal mates to tell them what they are first to give them a choice. She said that was a rule given as the foretold one. So I really don’t have any choice but to obey.”
Roxie smiled. “Jaden is very smart. And that’s a perfect rule. I couldn’t have come up with a better one.” Beowulf snorted, and his mate gave him an elbow in the stomach for it.
“I heard someone say my name,” Jaden said as she waddled into the room with Leif at her side.
“I just told your dad how smart I thought you were for telling him about the rule you have about mortal mates,” Roxie replied.
“Oh. Nothing bad then.” Jaden came to Miles and kissed him. “What are you doing here, Dad?”
“I wanted to check up on you and the little one.” He placed his hand on his daughter’s distended belly and was rewarded with a kick. He smiled.
“As you can see, we’re doing fine. How about we go out back and visit? It’s a nice day. I figure I won’t get too many chances to just sit and enjoy the outside once the baby comes. I’ll be too busy.”
Miles nodded. He turned to Beowulf and Roxie. “I hope to see you again.”
He followed Jaden and Leif through the house and outside to the back patio. It was a gorgeous day with the sun shining bright and hardly a cloud in the sky. Miles sat at the wrought-iron patio table as Jaden sank onto the chair next to Leif with a sigh.
“Are you sure you’re fine?” Miles asked Jaden.
“Yes. I’m just ready to have this baby. Plus, I’m feeling cooped up in the house.”
“Tell you what. I recently bought a cottage that borders the Point Reyes National Seashore land. It’s on the secluded side, but it’s quiet. You and Leif can spend a couple of days there with me and Kareena.”
“I don’t know,” Leif said. “Jaden is close to giving birth. And there is the whole question of it being safe for her up there.”
“Between the two of us, I think we can watch over Jaden well enough,” Miles quickly assured his daughter’s mate. “Kareena is an ER nurse. So if anything should happen in regards to the baby, she should be able to help. We’re only going to be an hour drive away.”
Jaden looked at Leif. “This sounds like a great idea. I’d love to go. I’m sure Aunt Saskia won’t have a problem with it. I promise I’ll take it easy and rest.”
Of course Saskia would have to be consulted about the trip. As the leader of the Protectors, she had the final say when it came to the safety of the foretold one.
Leif stared at Jaden while she gave him a pleading look. “God, I hate when you look at me like that,” Leif said to Jaden. “I can never tell you no.”
Jaden took her mate’s hand. “Does that mean we can go?”
“Yes. So long as Saskia agrees.”
“When would you like to go?” Jaden asked Miles.
“I was thinking tomorrow or the next day. I’ll talk it over with Kareena tonight and see if she can get time off work.”
“Then let’s go tell Saskia what we have planned,” Jaden said as she pushed off her chair and stood.
They filed back into the house and went to the living room. Saskia was still there along with Beowulf, Roxie, and their daughter. Jaden explained what they wanted to do.
As Miles had predicted, his sister agreed with their plans. Shortly after that, Miles said his good-byes and left. He couldn’t think of a better way for his mate and daughter to get to know each other better. He just hoped Kareena would say yes as well.
After the sound of Miles’s car on the driveway could no longer be heard, Saskia blew out a breath. “That was too damn close. I’m sorry, Roxie. I never expected Miles to show up like that. He usually calls before he drops in.”
Roxie waved her concerns away with a flick of her hand. “Don’t worry about it. No harm done. I’m sure your brother is more than a little distracted with his mating urge riding him. I doubt he would have thought Beowulf and I were anything more than just friends.”
“Still it was a risk.”
“He’s changed,” Roxie said then paused. “I think we have to tell him the truth.”
Saskia, Beowulf, and Leif all said “No!” at the same time. Saskia shook her head.
“No, Roxie. We can’t. He’s only changed because he thinks Jaden is the foretold one. I don’t know if that will last once he finds out we’ve lied to him.”
“Your brother has found his mate. His mortal mate. Is it really fair to let him continue to think Kareena can’t have the same lifespan as him when I can turn her into a werewolf?”
“I don’t think it is,” Jaden said in a quiet voice. “My dad has done terrible things in his past, but he’s trying to make up for that. I don’t think he’ll ever go back to what he was, no matter the circumstances. If you don’t want to tell him the truth then at least let him know Roxie is special and can use a spell to change Kareena into a werewolf. He doesn’t need to know the other things Roxie can do.”