Page 39 of Elias
The man who was probably her mate stepped forward and rubbed Leah’s arm. “I’m Damon, Olivia’s mate. Nice to meet you, Little one. I’m sorry for the intrusion.” He turned toward the room and pointed at a couple to the left. The woman was blond. “That’s Arion and his mate, Jezebel.”
Jezebel gave a small wave.
Damon continued, “Next we have Brock and Suzette.” Suzette had nearly black hair. Leah wasn’t going to have trouble keeping them straight.
The woman Leah knew was Elias’s mother came forward next and reached for Leah’s hand to squeeze it. “So nice to formally meet you, Leah. I’m Iliana, Elias’s mother.”
“Nice to meet you, too.” Leah really wished Elias would set her down, but she wasn’t about to ask again.
Owen smiled at Leah next. “Nice to meet you, Little one. We’re so glad you’ve joined our family. Sorry to barge in on you like this.”
Olivia returned and trotted toward her mate before she finally shifted. Damon pulled her back against his chest and bent to kiss the top of her head. “And this is Olivia in human flesh.”
Olivia lifted a hand Leah’s direction. “I’m sorry for nosing around your home. I know it’s weird. I feel more relaxed when I know my surroundings better.”
“No problem.” Leah took Olivia’s hand and gave it a squeeze, thinking how strange it must be to be nearly blind in human form but able to see in her wolf form.
Chapter Twenty-One
“So what’s the plan?” Elias asked.
Leah was wondering the same thing.
Owen nodded. “Felix and Gavin are going to patrol outside. The women will stay inside with you. The rest of the team of Protectors waiting outside will split into groups and scour the mountain in search of the rogue bears.”
“Except me,” Olivia declared. “I will stay on the porch.”
Damon growled. “Olivia, we talked about this. I want you inside with the others.”
She shook her head. “No, Daddy.Youtalked about it. I never agreed. If you want everyone to be safe, you’ll ease up on your rules and let me stay on the porch. I promise I will not step one paw onto the grass.”
He scowled. “The last time I left you with the girls, you did much more than step a paw off the back deck. You waltzed right up to a pair of bears you knew nothing about and faced them from less than a yard.”
Leah gasped. She had about a million questions.
“It won’t happen again, Daddy. I promise.”
He stared at her.
No one breathed. The room was silent as everyone waited for him to speak again.
Olivia didn’t back down or tremble. She put her hands on her hips and seemed to stare right into his eyes. No one who didn’t know better would believe she was blind.
“She has a point,” Arion said.
Leah reminded herself Arion was Damon’s brother. He was probably the only person in the room who was comfortable challenging Damon.
Damon’s nostrils flared as he drew in a deep breath, not looking away from his mate.
Arion continued, “She has abilities none of us possess. You know this better than anyone. No one is suggesting she romp around in the woods, but she wants to be helpful, Damon, and the best thing she can do for the pack is shift and sit on the porch. She’ll scent bears coming long before Felix or Gavin will even have an inkling. She can warn Elias, and he can call us. I know we didn’t specifically discuss it this morning, but this is why we’re here, Damon. We’re here so the women will be in one place where Olivia can keep them safe.”
Damon reached out and stroked his mate’s cheek. “I know,” he said gently. “I just don’t like it. And the porch? I hate that part.”
“I can scent them faster if I’m outside, Daddy,” Olivia informed him as she set her hand over his and tipped her cheek into his palm.
Leah still had a ton of questions, but she was starting to piece it all together. Apparently Olivia had abilities no other wolf shifter had, not even the Alpha Protectors.
“I won’t step off the porch, Daddy,” Olivia repeated. “If I sense bears approaching who aren’t Surge or Thorn I will run inside and let Elias know.”