into my arms as though carried on a breeze. “My body does not belong on earth anymore. I belong in the stars with my mate. Luna will do well as my vessel here. Her powers are actualized, though, and like her they will grow over time. She will still need your love, Beta, and that of your pack, to reach her full potential.”
I cuddled the sleeping pup to my chest as my packmates nuzzled or licked her, ensuring themselves of her safety. “She’s one of ours,” I told Selene firmly. “She’ll be loved to pieces.”
Selene’s smile was wide as Faron pulled her to his chest. “I chose well with you, Penelope Miller. Your mother would be proud.” Faron tugged his mate up to him for a kiss before the pair disappeared in a shimmer of light and shadow.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Pixie
Warm lips pressed against my neck and I sighed, leaning back into Ian’s hold as I stared out my bedroom window to where Chann, Zev, and Shannon played on the lawn below with the pups.
“She’s alright, kitten,” Ian murmured into my ear, tracking my line of sight to the little blonde figure giggling on the grass among her packmates. I tugged Ian’s arms around me, snuggling into his chest, but I didn’t pull my eyes from the tableau below.
“It’s so surreal.” Ian kissed the top of my head, not pushing for more as I tried to search for the words I needed. “I mean, even as a human turned werewolf, this is surreal. A six-year-old demigoddess who can see hate and turn people into wolves? Yet you look at her right now and…” I waved a hand toward the window where she was doing somersaults with Owein, her blonde hair picking up pieces of grass, and shook my head.
“She’s special, kitten, just like you are. It’s why Selene chose you to protect her, and you did. Now you get to help her grow into her powers and teach her to protect herself.”
I shifted slightly so I could glance up at him. “If what Faron said is true, then we have time,” I reminded him. “They’ll wait and watch.”
“She’ll still need training,” Ian cautioned, kissing me lightly. “If we prepare her now, she won’t be at risk later.”
“I don’t want her to have to grow up too fast.” I sighed, looking back at the window. “She shouldn’t have had to see so much pain and hate in her life already. I can’t imagine knowing that so many people are filled with that kind of bitterness. It’s one thing to suspect it—I mean, I’m not exactly Ms. Sunshine... But, Ian, she’s just a pup. She should think there’s good in people, not have to wonder if they’re plotting murder.”
“Then we work on showing her the good parts of a pack. We love her and teach her and cherish her for exactly who she is. Then, when she has to face the rest of the world, she’ll know she can always turn back to us.”
I turned to loop my arms around his neck. “When did you get so smart, Mr. Cole?” I teased him, brushing my lips over his before I tugged on his tie.
He growled, pressing his fingers into my hips as he pulled me against him and walked us backwards into the room. “You want to play with me, kitten?” He might have been calling me kitten, but his words were nearly a purr as he towed me toward my bed. His chocolate eyes were warm as they met mine.
I shrugged a shoulder, peering up at him through my lashes as I bit my lip, hiding a smile. “Well, I don’t have anything better to do.”
“Oh no, kitten, I don’t think that will do at all.” His lips just barely brushed mine as he slipped out of his suit jacket and set it aside. “I think I’ll give you plenty of things to do. Strip for me, kitten. I want to see you bare.” I pulled my t-shirt over my head, tossing it heedlessly aside. A flick of my wrist unfastened the button on my skirt, and the fabric pooled to my feet. Ian hissed, his hand darting out to grab my chin and force my eyes to his. “Did one of the others take your panties, or did you decide not to wear them today?”
“I didn’t wear them,” I admitted, my voice already breathy.
Ian growled, pulling his tie from around his neck. “It seems we may have been neglecting our kitten,” Ian