~ Chapter 22 ~
“For goodness’ sake! Hold up.” Stracey sped up, trying to catch up with Chastity and the gaggle of children they were in charge of with Clayr and Ryder.
Chastity giggled as she caught up, Heather’s hand slipping free to run after Emily. Stracey huffed, again. “How do you do it? I’m exhausted and we’ve still got two hours before this is over.”
“You get used to it.” Chastity handed her a bottle of water. “Plus, you’re pregnant for the first time. That’s always the hardest, it gets easier after that.”
They had ten children in their group, three of them Chastity’s, Ailis, Heather, and Corey. Stracey had commented over and over that she didn’t know how she coped with her little pack. The fact she had nannies and a Pack of Wolves to help wasn’t something that Stracey seemed to realize. Only focusing on the number: five.
“Ailis! Will you stop pulling Corey’s hair.” Chastity yelled at their youngest daughter who turned, a completely innocent look in her blue eyes, and held her hands up as if she hadn’t done a thing. “That one is such a little witch, sorry, no insult intended. But she does things then looks so innocent that if you don’t know her well, then she’ll get away with it.”
Stracey smirked back. “None taken, and yes, I see right through that little one. She pinched Corey and when I told her off she pulled that look on me as if to say, ‘Who me?’”
“I swear she’s gonna get into big trouble that one.” Chastity shook her head. “Heather is the only one she doesn’t try that with. Well, not very often.”
“I know why. Because Heather won’t take any of her nonsense,” Stracey stated firmly. “She sneaked up on Heather but she heard her and turned around and gave her a growl. It was priceless! Ailis held her hands up as if she wasn’t just about to do something. And we both know that she was so about to. Heather has her number, that’s for sure.”
“I can’t believe how well Heather’s come on.” Chastity beamed. “I can still remember how badly undernourished she was when we got her. It seems like a lifetime ago.”
“Yes, but she’s come on leaps and bounds, Chastity. And I have to remind myself that she’s not a full Wolf. I just think of her as yours . . . you know?”
“Yes, we do too.” Chastity smiled. “She’s as much ours as any of them. Our fierce little Lion.”
“I can’t believe I hurt Jinx like that.” Stracey’s voice dropped to a mere whisper, Clayr and Ryder up ahead and Chastity hoped they didn’t hear.
“I know you didn’t mean to and I meant what I said. Hormones can do strange things when you’re pregnant. How’s things now? Is everything okay?”
Stracey gave a curt nod. “I think so. I apologized a hundred times but I know I hurt him deeply.”
“He knows you love him, honey. Things will work themselves out.”
“I hope so,” Stracey mumbled. “Me and my big mouth.”
Chastity saw Heather heading off toward the trees on her own. “Oh oh, she’s off again.” She raised her voice. “Heather! Don’t do that, sweets, no going off on your own.”
“I wonder how Jinx is getting on with Cam? I’m not sure how he managed to talk him into doing this,” Stracey quipped with a bemused look.
“I don’t think there was a lot of talking involved,” Chastity joked. “I’m sure it was more a case of him telling Jinx he was going with no argument allowed. He said if he was doing it then Jinx was going too.”
“I see.” Stracey smirked. “If it’s good enough for me, then it’s good enough for him. We both need to get used to this. But I’m surprised Mac isn’t here, especially with this group. He’s usually so hands on where Emily’s concerned.”
“Yes, normally he’d be here, but he’s working today, and Nate usually has Tristan in other groups. He likes to keep him apart because he’s staff.”
“That makes sense.” Stracey looked over to a sad little girl, shadowing Clayr. “That’s Shaney, isn’t it? She looks so . . . hell, Chas, the only word I can come up with is broken. I just want to hug her but I know I can’t. Clayr was very clear on that.”
Chastity knew how her friend felt. Shaney’s soul cried out for love but Clayr had warned them to leave her alone. Unless she came to them. She was scared, shy, and easily spooked. “I hear you, but she’s still scared. Although she seems to be warming up to Ryder. Do you see she’s following him around more and more? I think she feels safe around him.”
“Yes, I noticed that, but hell, who wouldn’t feel safe with him around?” Stracey snorted. “He’s huge and oozes power . . . and sex appeal! Clayr’s a lucky girl.”
Chastity covered her mouth, and the giggle that broke free. “Stracey! You naughty woman! You’re not long after telling me how much you love Jinx and here you are ogling another guy.”
“I do love Jinx, with all my heart, but dang, I’m not blind, Chas and that’s one hot potato right there.” Stracey poked Chastity’s side. “You’d have to be dead not to see that.”
“I’m not dead,” Chastity quipped back. “And yeah, I agree, Clayr’s lucky.”
At that point Clayr turned back, herding the kids together. “Time for lunch! Come on everyone and afterward we’ve got to see how many different types of leaves we’ve managed to collect. Then it’s onto the best part . . . bug collecting!”
Stracey groaned. “Are you kidding? We have to collect bugs?”
Chastity grinned. “Yup, the joys of having kids.”
Ryder hoisted Corey up, throwing him high into the air and earning a whoop of joy from him. Chastity smiled as Stracey winced and groaned. “Hell, don’t you worry he’ll drop him on his head?”
“Nah, the boys are used to all that rough and tumble stuff. They love it and Ryder’s good with the kids. He’ll never drop them, now, if it were one or two of the others doing that, I might be worried. I’ll pass on those names when the time comes.”
“Thanks.” Stracey laughed as they helped with the rest of the kids as Clayr laid out a blanket and lunches for them.
Clayr had picked one of Chastity’s favorite spots to stop, right beside a huge oak tree, nestled near one of the streams that ran through their land and eventually down into the river. It was sunny, quiet, and peaceful, now that Clayr had managed to settle the kids down with their lunches anyway.
So Chastity sent a quick message to Cam through their mind-link. “We’ve stopped for lunch. How’s your day going?”
He replied after a brief pause, his tone far cheerier than she’d hoped. “It’s more fun than I’d thought it would be. Ewan and Monica are having a great time. And Jinx seems to be enjoying himself too.”
“That’s great, I’m glad you’re having fun.”
“Aye, it’s not so bad.” He stopped briefly then rushed on. “Sorry, gotta run, we’ve got to round our lot up for their lunch. See you later, darling.”
“All right.” She finished, smiling as she started to eat her sandwiches, feeling more at ease now that she knew her other children were fine, as well as Cam.
It wasn’t long until most of the children had scoffed their food, some rising to run around as the adults chatted. Although Ryder seemed to be uneasy, his eyes roaming around until finally he got up to prowl around.
Prowl. Yes, that was definitely what he was doing, Chastity decided. Her eyes following him as he shooed Ailis back toward her, none too gently either.
“Ailis, come here.” Chastity ordered, worry beginning to lap at her insides as Ryder’s head rose, his nose scenting . . . for what?