saucepan.
“I’ve never seen it done like this before.” He put his little hands on the bench and peered at the milk as it bubbled. “Dad uses chocolate milk mix. It doesn’t need sugar in it.”
“Ah, well. I’m pleased to introduce you to the wonders of cocoa. Pure chocolate. The good stuff.”
“The good stuff.” He grinned as if this was genius.
I let the milk slowly warm until it rose with a nice creamy froth. Then I put it into the cups, stirring so there was a nice layer on top.
“Where do you guys want to drink it?”
“Can we go into the side room where we were watching TV before?” Egan asked eagerly.
“Sure thing. But I’ll carry the cocoa over there, okay? Adara, you bring the marshmallows.”
She gave me a thumbs up and started following, still stuffing her face.
As I walked through the main room to set the kids up, I felt my mouth stretching into a wide grin. I wasn’t just faking this to get in good with Whitney. I was genuinely having a good time, and I was surprised with myself.
As I passed the side parlor where I left my cousin and Aleksy, I realized they had both left the room. It wasn’t difficult to tune my senses, and I heard Daire outside chopping wood. There was no mistaking the sharp, rhythmic crack of logs being split. With a tilt of my head, I tuned him out and focused on the soft footfalls in the snow some distance away.
Aleksy must be headed back to his own cabin, probably to check on his power situation.
I knew this situation was bad, and it was getting worse by the minute.
We had all imprinted on her. That was clear. There was no good way for this to end. We would fight, but only one of us could win.
The old clan families didn’t live near each other in the valley or on this mountain anymore. Once Aleksy left there was no more fighting, and my family spread out across the surrounding hills. We had flourished and prospered, but we knew it was only because Aleksy chose to leave.
He had family members still living here, but they were all much older and not of a mind to start the war. It always fell to the youngest generation to claim the territory. In theory, with two of us, Daire and I should kick Aleksy’s ass and claim the territory for our clan once and for all.
Then we wouldn’t feel like we were living on borrowed time.
In actuality, if we tore each other to shreds, no one would get Whitney. Ultimately, it was her decision. I think that contributed to our stress more than anything. Bear life should be simple. Finding your mate, claiming her and then marrying her. If there were contenders, you slaughtered them. Simple.
Not so simple when the woman didn’t know a thing about shifters and wouldn’t have the faintest idea what to do if she saw three massive bears tearing each other to shreds.
I headed through into the TV room, carefully balancing my hot cups so they didn’t spill or fall. I couldn’t worry about the other two having man tantrums right now. I was too focused on these gorgeous kids. It didn’t matter that they were Aleksy’s kids, to me they were bright, adorable little cubs that needed the best attention I could give.
When I entered the room the two cuties aren’t sitting watching the TV like I expected. Egan had decided he wanted the marshmallows and Adara would not give them up without a fight.
Egan grabbed the bag and yelled, the edge of it sounding like a roar. Adara yanked the bag out of his hands and turned to run and to my shock, Egan shifted right there in the middle of the room.
It happened so fast I barely had time to register it. I put the hot cups down on the sideboard and turned back to see Egan fully shifted and going after Adara. She triggered, and I saw dark fur flowing across her skin.
Black waves crossed my vision, I staggered in place, hand to my head. A fierce growl ripped through me and I fought my bear harder than I ever had before. I blinked my way back into sanity and crossed the room in three quick strides.
“Egan!” I wanted to grab him, but I knew that would only make things worse. “Think about what you’re doing!”
He let out a little growl, swiping with his big claws. His thick bear