Page 250
Every few minutes, one of the pups breathes her in again. Arlene does the same to them. So do I.
Hours pass with Arlene in my arms and our pups wrapped around us. Our mate bond hums warm inside my chest, familiar sparks moving between us with every touch, and the family bonds that disappeared with her death are alive again.
No one lets go.
Our family is whole.
55
Darian's POV
Morning finds us exactly where the night left us.
Arlene sits against the couch with Arian asleep on her chest, Darlene curled against one side of her and Damian against the other. I'm behind her with both arms locked around her waist and my face buried in her hair. Apple and cinnamon fill my lungs. Her heart beats beneath my palm. Familiar sparks dance across my skin everywhere our bodies touch.
Every few minutes, I breathe her in again. My wolf presses close beneath my skin. Mine.
"Ours."
Arlene's fingers slide over mine. She knows I'm awake. She doesn't say anything about the fact that I haven't loosened my hold on her once.
Selena sits across from us with her daughter nestled against her chest. Rylan is beside her, watching his mate and daughter almost as closely as I'm watching mine.
Selena looks at Arlene. “Why don't we take the pups home with us for a few hours?”
Darlene immediately tightens her arms around Arlene. “No.”
Damian doesn't say anything, but his hand closes around his mother's arm. Arlene kisses Darlene's forehead.
“I'll still be here when you come back.”
“You promise?”
“I promise.”
Damian looks up at her. “You're not going anywhere?”
“Nowhere.”
He wraps both arms around her again. Arlene holds him close before reaching for Darlene and pulling her into the hug too.
Rylan stands. “Come on. Your mom and dad need some time.”
Darlene looks at him suspiciously. “Why?”
“Because I said so.”
“That isn't a reason.”
Rylan looks at me. “She's definitely yours.”
Arlene laughs. I don't.
Rylan grins. “Come here, trouble.”
He scoops Darlene into one arm before reaching down and lifting Damian with the other.
“I can walk,” Damian says.
