Page 55 of Her Big Bad Wolf

I refrained—for now.

Begrudgingly, Noah agreed to my conditions.

“You’ll need to be up early tomorrow to help with the farm, particularly the chickens since you seem so fond of collecting their eggs.”

The boy shifted from one foot to another uncomfortably.

Good.

Hard work would do the kid good. I suspected baking would as well, but I was going to reserve that until I saw my own reflections within him. At his age, I’d been so angry at the world. By all rights he should be, too. If that surfaced, I knew what to do, thanks to my grandmother.

The middle one seemed less affected by everything. In some ways he was more reserved and even tempered, however he could talk your ears off.

I knew I needed to have a talk with them. I didn’t want them going back to school and making an announcement that they were living with Crazy Sac.

It was a stupid nickname, but the lore that came with it scared most people away from here, so in that regard I didn’t consider it a bad thing. The last thing I needed was for Mason to tell everyone that the stories weren’t true.

“Noah, get your brothers, we need to talk,” I barked.

“Yes, sir,” he said, but I didn’t miss the way he cringed.

I hated that. I didn’t want to like the kids, or get used to them being around, but when he shrank back at the gruff tone of my voice, I wanted to kick my own ass.

“You don’t have to sound so mean with him,” Vanessa admonished me in a harsh whispered voice.

I growled. Did she really think I was that much of a monster?

I understood her initial reaction, but after spending a little time with me how could she still feel that way?

It dawned on me that she really didn’t know me and I hadn’t given her much to go on. Maybe it was for the best. It might hurt like a sonofabitch, but there was no way I could keep her anyway.

Still, I wanted to make her happy and the need to push her away while also pleasing her was a tough line to walk.

The worst part was that I knew I was only feeling this way because of the stupid bond.

My last foster parents were true mates. I’d seen what that kind of happiness could be like. But I’d also seen firsthand the shared pain between true mates in times of devastation.

I pushed all thoughts of Freddy away. Now was not the time.

Before my mind could escalate the memories, the boys returned.

“Well, they’re here,” Vanessa said, still irritated. “They really need to get some sleep, so make it fast.”

She was gorgeous, all fiery and frustrated.

“Sit down,” I ordered them, happy to see they listened.

“What’s wrong?” Mason asked.

“We need to set down some rules. Number one: don’t get too comfortable here, this is only temporary.”

Vanessa shot me a look that told me she was not happy about that one. I ignored her and continued.

“Two: no more stealing shit. You want something, you ask for it. You’ll work off what you already took and we’ll negotiate the next time you want something.”

Mason raised his hand.

I groaned. “What now, motormouth?”