Page 40 of Elias
Damon’s frown didn’t soften, but he pulled his mate into his arms and held her close. “I love you, Little rebel. Please don’t make me regret this.”
“I won’t, Daddy.” She hugged him back.
Suzette wrapped her arms around Brock, while Jezebel did the same to Arion, and then the men filed out of the house to join the others who were waiting outside.
Iliana went with them.
“Mom?” Elias asked.
She turned back at the door. “I’m not staying, son. We will be going right past Germain’s house. I will stay there with some of the other elders and their mates.”
Elias nodded. “Be safe.”
“You, too, Elias.” She smiled at Leah before leaving with the men.
“Who is Germain?” Leah asked. It was the first in a long list of questions she had. Might as well start with the most recent.
“Germain is one of the most senior elders in the pack and among the Alpha Protectors. Most of the older elders no longer patrol or hunt.”
“Oh. Why wouldn’t we all go where they are?”
Elias finally lowered her to her feet and smoothed her dress down her back. It was obvious he was frustrated and trying not to show it. Frustrated that he wasn’t out helping the other Protectors. It had nothing to do with Leah’s questions. She knew by the way he tucked a loose lock of hair behind her ear that his mood wasn’t related to her. Maybe it would even be helpful if she kept asking questions.
He pulled her against his side. “Because it’s safer if the women are divided into multiple homes. When I go back to working patrol, I will always leave you with one of my friends or my brother. You’ll never be alone.”
That surprised her but only because they hadn’t discussed it before. It made sense. She couldn’t imagine him leaving her alone. Heck, he rarely left her alone in the bathroom let alone the house.
Leah turned her attention to the three women watching her. They looked slightly nervous.
Olivia spoke first. “I want to get to know you, but I’ll have to do it another time.”
“Of course,” Leah responded. “We’ll do something another time.”
Olivia headed toward the front door.
Elias hurried over to open it. He stopped her with a hand on her shoulder. “Do not step off this porch for any reason, understood?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“I mean it. I know you want to help, and we will all learn to appreciate and accept your help, but this is a matter of safety. Damon will spank your bottom until you can’t sit for a week if you break this rule. If you scent something, you come back inside immediately. I’ll leave the door open a crack. All you’ll have to do is push it open.”
“Yes, Sir. I promise.”
Leah was mesmerized by her Daddy’s interaction with Olivia. Apparently these Alpha Protectors were bossy with each other’s mates, too. It was an interesting dynamic.
Olivia stepped out onto the porch and shifted into her wolf form. She lowered onto her haunches near the edge of the porch, ears perked up, gaze scanning the area.
Elias pushed the door almost closed and turned toward Suzette and Jezebel. “I’m glad the three of you will have this chance to get to know each other, but today is not a day for shenanigans.”
“Yes, Sir,” Jezebel and Suzette said at the same time.
He turned toward Leah. “You can show the other girls your nursery, play a game or something. I’ll make lunch. No plotting.”
Leah was amused. Apparently these women were professionals at naughty behavior, and Leah was more than willing to learn from the pros. Perhaps today wasn’t a good day to implement anything that would get them in trouble since there was a serious threat to the pack, but Leah intended to ask a lot of questions and find out what it meant to be a Little girl to one of these Alpha Protectors.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Leah led Suzette and Jezebel into her room. “According to Daddy, you’ve all seen my nursery before. He said he had very little to do with it because he was in denial about claiming me and let you three decorate and fill it with clothes and toys.”