Page 25

“I don’t know how you talked me into making pies,” Connor complained, as he finished carrying in the pies he had baked for Arkadia’s first town Thanksgiving. He looked around the gym, the decorations were exquisite and the smells were heavenly.

Everywhere he looked, families were smiling and children were playing.

It was a huge difference from the sight that he had seen in the gym five months ago.

They had so much to be thankful for. He grinned, remembering the look on his commander’s face, when he reported that their killer had been eaten by a dinosaur.

Best. Report. Ever.

“Because one, you know what I’m willing to do for your chocolate pie, and two, you saw how overwhelmed your sister was getting,” Madison reminded him.

“She was looking even more puny than usual this week.” Connor looked over to where Rebecca was still crying over her surprise party. Rian evidently considered this a sign of success because he kept smiling at her and handing her tissues.

“Did your brother stop having dinosaur nightmares?”

Connor shook his head. “No, but I told him to reinforce the idea that the dinosaur is the overprotective babysitter in his mind. He might keep dreaming about it, but maybe in the dream the dinosaur saves my nephew, instead of eating him.”

“Looks like Rebecca is opening your gifts.” Madison grabbed his arm and dragged him over to where Rebecca sat in the middle of a large group.

When she saw Connor she waved the small box, struggling with the weight. She ripped off the paper and laughed when she saw he had given her a box of bullets.

Aleks glared at him.

“Wait, that’s part one. Open the larger box, that’s part two.” Connor pointed to the box at her feet. She had Aleks lift the box into the empty chair beside her and decimated the wrapping paper. When she saw what the box held she gasped.

“Oh, Connor, I love it! I always wanted my own espresso machine.”

Aleks stared at him. “I hate you.”

“Love ya, bro.” Connor grinned at Aleks, who was shooting daggers in his direction.

“I can’t wait until after the baby is born, I’ll caffeinate and shoot stuff!”

Connor waved happily at his brother, who was trying to hide the bullets, and walked Madison over to where Liam, Kent, and Sebastian sat at a nearby table. Liam held up his fist that Connor bumped. Madison walked over to the long buffet table to get some food.

“Priceless. Well played. What you got her will go nicely with the sky-diving lessons I got her.” Liam laughed.

“You two are bad,” Sebastian said, his mouth full of turkey.

Connor remembered something he had been meaning to ask Liam. “Hey, Liam, when will Brendan be moving to the pride house?” Liam had approached him to do counseling for the youngster, considering what the little guy had been through.

“They are waiting until the little tyke is out of school. I was suspicious at first, but my grandfather flew down there to make sure Brendan and his uncle are okay. Even my grandfather agreed that pulling Brendan out of school now wouldn’t be best for him, since things are just returning to normal for him.

Next summer, they are moving out here. I’d appreciate if you still talked to him though. ”

“Of course. Sounds like both he and his uncle have been through a lot.”

Liam nodded.

Madison walked back over and handed him his plate.

“Thanks, honey.”

“Liam, tell your grandfather to stop dodging my calls, they won’t be going away. Rebecca is right, we need to completely revamp our council laws,” Madison said, before taking a large bite of turkey.

Liam winced. “I’ll try.”

“Good, because I don’t want to have to get ugly.” She smiled sweetly.

“Down, hellcat.” Connor laughed. She poked him in the ribs.

“When are you due, Sebastian?” Madison asked.

“Christmas Eve. Kate’s due date is New Year’s Eve, and Rebecca is Christmas day. But Doc thinks that once one of us goes into labor, we’ll all go into labor due to our bond.” Sebastian rubbed his belly.

“It will be exciting to have so many babies around.” Madison sighed.

“Maybe you’ll be next,” Sebastian suggested.

Connor began to choke on his pie.

Madison smiled at him and winked. “Maybe.”

They ate two more plates over the next couple hours until Connor could barely move. Madison leaned over and whispered in his ear. “We could head home.”

Connor stood and pulled his mate to her feet.

“Is it my turn to surrender or yours?” Connor whispered the question, their lips touching. She shrugged. “Does it matter?”

He shook his head. “Not anymore.”