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I grin and carry Arian into the changing room.

He's on his own.

SELENA'S POV

Arlene and I are upstairs in her bedroom when Darlene comes running through the door, her little face bright with excitement. Arlene is resting against the pillows, and I'm sitting beside her when Darlene stops in front of us as though she has the most important announcement in the world.

“Mommy, Auntie Selena, I learned a new word! Do you want to hear it?”

Arlene smiles. “Of course, sweetheart. What did you learn?”

“Fuck!”

My smile freezes.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck!” Darlene repeats, delighted with herself.

Arlene's mouth falls open. I stare at Darlene, then at her mother, who looks back at me with the same expression. For a moment, neither of us seems capable of remembering how to speak.

“Darlene,” Arlene finally says, “where did you learn that word?”

“Uncle Rylan!”

My eyes narrow.

Oh, he did not, my Lycan growls.

“Rylan! GET UP HERE... NOW!”

The growl slips into my voice before I can stop it. Downstairs, I hear movement, followed by the unmistakable sound of someone deciding whether coming upstairs is worth the consequences.

Darlene looks toward the door. “Is Uncle Rylan in trouble?”

“Possibly,” I say.

Arlene presses her lips together, and I can tell she's fighting a laugh. She reaches for Darlene's hand and gently draws her closer. “Sweetheart, that's a bad word. We don't want you using it.”

Darlene frowns. “Why?”

“Because it isn't a nice word to say.”

“But Uncle Rylan said it.”

I close my eyes for a second.

This is going to be a wonderful conversation.

“Adults sometimes say things they shouldn't, too,” Arlene explains.

Darlene considers that carefully. “So, Uncle Rylan said a bad word?”

“Yes,” I answer.

“Is he getting a timeout?”

Arlene makes a small sound beside me and immediately covers it with a cough. I turn toward her, but she's suddenly very interested in straightening the blanket across her lap.

“That's an excellent question,” I tell Darlene.