Maple
At three in the morning Maple had slipped from Cora’s room leaving her alone to climb back into Raymand’s bed Her whole body had ached from the odd angle Cora wanted to be in. Finding Raymand completely naked almost broke her down into waking him up but exhaustion won. When her body hit the bed, everything let out a pulsed with pain before relaxing. Now morning light shined in her eyes and she rolled into a tough pillow, her hand ran up rows of muscles while her brain slowly registered where she fell asleep, next to her man and she wanted to be his mate. Now if only we had a chance to complete the bond to make it official.
Her eyes fluttered open while she stretched. Her feet pressed into something that wasn’t there earlier. She sat up to find a small wolf curled up on a pillow at her feet. Maple scented the air to confirm her suspicions of the wolf being Cora. She grabbed blankets and covered Raymand from Cora’s little eyes.
If Cora hadn’t been in the bed she might have rolled him onto his back and climbed on top of him. Sparkes zipped around in her belly but she pushed them back. Carefully she climbed out of bed and tiptoed to the bathroom. When she came back Raymand’s eyes opened and locked on Cora. A growl vibrated through the room, Cora skittered off the bed and dashed behind Maple. She sighed heavily and shook her head.
“Really?” She glared at Raymand. “Come on, Cora. Let’s get you ready for school.” Maple lifted Cora from the floor and shuffled away from the sexy man still in bed. Part of her had wanted to get Cora out before Raymand woke up to avoid any awkwardness. Maple didn’t see any reason why he should have been growling toward the pup.
She set Cora down in the bathroom and pulled a towel from the closet and placed it on the toilet for her. “Shift and get cleaned up. I’ll make breakfast when you get out and get dressed.” Maple left the room and closed the door.
“Why did he growl at me?” Cora asked through the door.
“I’m not sure, honey. It might have been because he didn’t have pajamas on.”
“But we’re shifters. I’ve seen my dad after he shifted before he dressed.” Cora turned on the water. The pup had a good point, problems with nudity didn’t transcend to the wolf population since they shifted and tore through clothes like a wildfire eating up a dry forest.
“It might have been a tired growl and he didn’t expect you to be there.” Maple shrugged even though she knew the pup couldn’t see through the walls. “You just focus on getting ready for school, I don’t want you to be late.” Maple left her alone to go down the stairs and into the kitchen were Raymand wore a pair of sweats which clung to his hips with no shirt.
When she moved to Denver she never thought her fresh start would involve finding her mate in the alpha or wanting to take on an orphaned child. Yet here she stood in Raymand’s kitchen read to fight him about the cute pup upstairs.
Her wolf purred and ideas of pouncing him on the kitchen counter flitted through her mind. Cora’s little steps upstairs reminded her of the morning’s incident.
“Did you really need to scare the hell out of her?” Maple hissed.
“She was in my bed.” Raymand pointed toward the upstairs area. Maple resisted the urge to roll her eyes.
“And?” Maple lifted her brow at him for being completely unreasonable when it came to Cora.
“I’ve never had a woman in my bed but you.” He growled low. Maple took a second to process the information.
“First off, she isn’t a woman, so your precious bed hasn’t been soiled for me. Second off, the pup needs to feel safe and being close to me and you do it for her.” Maple folded her arms over her chest. Being his mate might be more tricky than she anticipated last night. Yet every fiber of her being still wanted to be tossed in bed and fucked, hard. She pushed down the urge and focused on the problem at hand.
“She won’t be here for long.” He shook his head while he grabbed a cup for the coffee brewing on the counter. Her stomach twisted and her mouth dried up. Maple opened the fridge while trying to come up with the right question. Having Cora here already felt right.
“What do you mean? We have to catch these guys first, isn’t that what you said?” Maple grabbed a package of bacon and eggs before turning toward him.
“I didn’t expect to find my mate when I said it.” Raymand shrugged. She grabbed his arm and turned him to face her.
“Oh no, you’re not kicking Cora to the side and blame me. No fucking way.” She jeered. Maple prayed Cora wasn’t listening in on their conversation. She didn’t need any more uncertainty in the little girl’s life.
“I don’t want her here.” Raymand pulled out of her grip and strolled away leaving Maple confused. Instead of following him she searched for the pans and turned on the heat. She needed time to think and arguing with him wouldn’t help. Cora shuffled into the kitchen and leaned against Maple.
“What’s up pup?” Maple smiled down at her.
“Why doesn’t he want me?” Cora’s pain made Maple’s stomach tighten. Her wolf whimpered inside, Maple wanted to punch Raymand for being such an ass, but she stayed with Cora.
“I don’t know, sweetheart.” Maple placed the bacon on the hot pan and took Cora away, so the grease wouldn’t burn her. “I think we need to convince him to let you stay. What do you think?” Maple whispered. Cora’s sky-blues brightened for a few seconds then she bit her lower lip.
“I don’t think he’ll change his mind. You don’t know him like me. When he says something, it’s final.” Cora rocked on the balls of her feet.
“Well, I think I can persuade him one way or another.” Maple winked. Cora grabbed some of Maple’s hair and twirled it in her small fingers.
“That would be awesome.” Cora’s lips lifted but her eyes spoke to the uncertainty.
“What would be awesome?” Raymand asked. Cora jumped and look at Maple.
“This bacon, it’s delicious.” Maple smiled. Raymand turned away then Maple winked at Cora. The girl relaxed and bounced into the dining room. She had no idea how to convince Raymand to keep Cora in the house. The bond forming between herself and the pup grew too strong to just toss her out. Her wolf nodded firmly, the need to protect Cora grew stronger every hour.
Maple finished breakfast and scurried out with three plates full of food, the second Cora’s plate hit the table she started scarfing it down.
“Slow down or you might choke.” Maple shook her head. “Where does she go to school?”
“Grant but I’ll take her since I need to see Drake again. I’m interviewing some people about our current problem.” Raymand took a bite of bacon and Cora’s shoulders dropped. Maple held her tongue for now, she didn’t want to fight in front of the pup.
“Cora, I want you to promise me something.” Maple turned and fully faced the girl growing on her.
“What?” Cora took a drink of milk.
“When you leave school today only me, Raymand or Drake are allowed to pick you up. If you don’t see us, then stay in the building.”
“Is it really necessary?” Raymand asked. Maple glared at him and a low growl vibrated through her lungs. He glared back for a second.
“Yes, it is.” She pushed through her teeth. With the two attacks toward the pup, she wanted to be overly cautious.
“I’ll do it, Maple.” Cora took her plate to the kitchen leaving Maple still glaring at the alpha.
“She is a wolf, she can defend herself.”
“Oh yes like her parents were able to stop the hunters.” Maple growled. “I don’t want her to take unneeded risks until they are caught.”
“It’s a school.” He looked at her like she grew another nose.
“Don’t mess with me on this one, Raymand. You should learn this fast, I take kids safety as a top priority. It doesn’t matter if the child is mine or part of the pack.” Maple stood and grabbed her purse. “Cora grab your bag. I’m taking you.”
She grabbed Cora’s hand and they marched out of the house leaving Raymand in a state of shock. Even though she didn’t complete the bond with the sexy alpha she needed to fight for the little pup. It may have been too soon to press her luck, but she couldn’t help it. She needed to keep Cora safe. It would break her heart if she was hurt on Maple’s watch.