She brushed her hand over Carson’s head gently. “What about you? Hungry?”
Carson shrugged, but none of them missed the hopeful look in his eyes.
“I’m starving,” Alpha Roper said. “I hope there’s enough for me too.”
Carson leaned into him. “Alpha Nick always has enough for us,” Carson said softly. “He says we can have as many snacks as we want. But not junk food. Mr. Sam said we could only have certain kinds of snacks. Dr. Jerrick and Mr. Sam say that nutrition is important.”
The simple words revealed more than Carson realized. The Ropers shared a look before turning back to the boy beside them. “I hope there are carrots,” Sarah said. “I love carrots.”
Carson smiled and tucked his hand into hers. “I can show you.”
Victor and Riggs joined them as they made their way to the dining hall. The room was always busy, even between meals. With the number of people on the property at any given time, someone was always needing something to eat.
When they arrived, Victor noticed Puteri hovering nervously along the edge of the room. He met her gaze and nodded, trying to ease some of the concern he saw in her eyes. “Puteri,” he said softly, “any chance we could get a snack? We have some hungry cubs on our hands.”
“Of course. Puteri will get snacks.”
She moved into the kitchen area as Victor led Leif and Sarah to the same table where they’d eaten spaghetti a few nights before. Riggs claimed his spot on the end, stretching out his long legs with a sigh. Gus leaned over and reached out his hands to Riggs, so Victor passed him over with a smile.
Leif, Sarah, and Carson also took seats. Joy, still snug in the alpha’s arms, appeared to be sound asleep. And the alpha, much like Victor imagined he looked when Gus slept against him, seemed as if he didn’t know what to do.
“Is it… normal… for her to… just fall asleep?” Leif asked softly. He touched Joy’s head and lowered his nose to her hair. Victor tried not to acknowledge how parental the gesture was, especially as Riggs currently held Gus in the same way.
“They’re healing,” Victor explained.
“Even… the little ones?” Sarah asked, horror clear in her tone.
Victor nodded. She pulled Carson closer, tucking him as close to her side as she could manage. The little boy looked confused, but happy, as if he didn’t know quite what to make of this curious woman who held him close.
Many of the cubs were like that, although most were easing their way closer to open affection. Being around Nick did that, Victor was sure. Their alpha was all about the cuddles and power naps in a giant tangle of limbs. He seemed to understand instinctively that the cubs would feel strength in numbers. But the rest of them knew the cubs also pulled their strength from their alpha. Without Nick, they wouldn’t have come as far as they had. It had taken his unusual approach to keep the unruly pack from falling apart.
Puteri approached with an overloaded tray of snacks. Carson beamed at her when she set his favorites on a plate in front of him. He pulled away from Sarah long enough to lean into the brownie, who patted his back gently.
“Carson is well?” Puteri asked softly.
Victor waited for the answer. The alpha and his wife did as well. They all seemed to realize that Puteri, as well as Nick, would be making the final judgments as to what happened with the placement of the cubs.
Carson nodded. “They smell good,” he whispered.
“This is good,” Puteri agreed. “Carson remembers the rules.”
He nodded. “If I get scared, call Puteri.” Carson looked around and leaned closer, obviously forgetting the adults would be able to hear every word he said. “But I’m not scared.”
“Good,” she said. She sent a warning glare to the alpha. “Puteri loves Carson.”
There was a threat in the words, enough of one that the alpha sat up straighter.
Carson, though, turned a sweet shade of pink and leaned back against Sarah. “I know. Carson loves Puteri too. Can I have some grape juice?” He turned his attention back to Sarah. “I like grape best.”
“Juice!” Gus yelled, startling the hell out of Riggs, who’d leaned back in the seat and closed his eyes.
Victor tried not to laugh. “Gus, manners.”
“Juice, peas!” Gus yelled louder.
Victor sighed and handed over his sippy cup. Gus leaned back against Riggs with a satisfied grunt and began slurping down the juice.
“One day, I will teach