Page 115 of The Rowdy Ones

“I think the surprise of something like this has worn off. Your older siblings already gave me the gray hairs. None left for you.”

I laugh softly. “He’s so good to me.”

“I raised him right.”

“Sure did.” I release a shuddering breath. “Aunt Eve walked in on us having sex, Dad. She’d been acting strangely whenever we’d get close or were alone together. I just never expected her to stab him over it.”

“Eve had it rough. Her brothers and father treated her as if she were a vessel to have their babies. They raped and abused her nonstop. After those same men hurt your mother, I went after them. Took every single life in that shack, leaving little Eve all on her own.” He pauses and then exhales in a rush. “I imagine, when she saw Rowdy on top of you, she was triggered. Had a flashback or some shit. Your brother was the receiver of her rage and hatred toward the men she couldn’t save herself from long ago.”

Aunt Eve was present the day Rowdy was born. Mom loves telling the story about how she helped Dad with the delivery and even brought their new baby handmade gifts. For her to attack him so brutally, she clearly wasn’t in her right mind. Aunt Even loves Rowdy.

And yet…

“Are Mom and the kids safe with her?” I ask, hating that I have to.

“Yeah, kiddo, they are. Plus, your mother can handle herself.” Dad gives my hip a quick pat. “Well, that was perfect timing. Someone’s awake.”

Awake?

I jolt out of his lap and reach for Rowdy’s hand. As soon as mine slides into his, I feel the slightest squeeze.

He’s alive. Rowdy is actually alive. We’re going to be okay.

And because I don’t care what anyone thinks, I bend over, cup his cheek with my other hand, and plant a kiss on my brother’s face.

Thank you, God, for giving my brother back to me.

Six months later…

Scout is stupid if he thinks Spirit is going to put up with his bullshit. As predicted, my superior wolf smashes him to the ground with her massive paw until he cries for his mommy.

“Spirit,” Destiny chides from the picnic table. “Be a good girl. You know Scout isn’t tough like you are.”

Scout scampers over to Destiny and curls up at her feet. Spirit huffs in annoyance before sauntering over to the firepit. She sniffs as though I’m hiding food from her.

“It’s just tree bark,” I tell Spirit, showing her a sliver I’ve carved from my newest piece. “Don’t eat it.”

She bares her teeth and not-so-gently tugs the bark from my fingers.

“For fuck’s sake,” I grumble. “Remind me why I wanted to bring you here again?”

Destiny giggles and I dart my eyes over to her. She rises from the picnic table where she’s been packing a fuck-ton of orders. I spent all weekend making stupid keychains from sticks, but apparently people all over social media are obsessed. All I do is carve and whittle until I’m blue in the face.

But it makes my girl happy, which makes me happy.

What makes me really happy, though, is seeing her rounded belly. I’m still in fucking awe she’s growing my baby inside her. I never get tired of seeing her pregnant. In fact, I’d like to keep her that way. No wonder Dad knocked Mom up so many times. There’s something primal about your woman growing something you put inside her.

“Want to take a break and go swimming in the creek?” Destiny asks, head turned in my general direction. “I’m hot and my back hurts.”

I don’t have to be asked twice. I abandon my project and stalk over to her. She squeals when I swoop her into my arms, bridal style. With a kiss to her cheek, I start the long trek through the woods behind our RV to the watering hole we love. Scout and Spirit take off ahead of us, already familiar with the drill.

We lucked out on this property. It butts up on the backside of what Uncle Atticus owns. The old man who owned it passed away and the children, who don’t even live in Alaska, asked Uncle Atticus if he knew of anyone interested in it. Since Dad has all the legal paperwork and accounts for himself, he purchased the property for us.

I grunt when I get a sharp pain in my back. That shit still hurts all these months later. I’m lucky to be alive. I guess that’s all that matters.

“Put me down,” Destiny says, tapping the back of my neck. “You’re hurting. Let me massage you.”

“In the water,” I promise. “I can carry you the rest of the way.”