Pack Secrets by Shannon Duane

wasn’t safe here. He was doing great, but I missed him so much. When he was a year and a half old I went to visit. He appeared happy and healthy. He was getting so big. I stayed for a week. I would have stayed longer but a member of their pack took an interest in me. I wasn’t interested in starting a relationship and made it known. One night he snuck into my parents’ house while I was sleeping on the couch and pressed his interest. Our fighting woke Carter up and he came out to protect me. He was upset and shifted, growling at the man. Carter lunged and bit the man’s leg.”
    Dee shivered in his arms and he rubbed the goose bumps on her arms. “It’s okay, you don’t have to continue.”
    She nodded. “You’re going to be helping me raise him, so it’s only fair you know.” She took a deep breath to continue. “Carter was beaten. I was knocked unconscious and the jerk was hit Carter with a hot poker while he was still in wolf form. When Carter shifted back he had those marks on his back and a skull fracture. The cat was caught by my father and his life was taken as a lesson by the lynx protector. Lynx, aren’t really pack creatures, but we do have protectors who uphold the laws because humans can’t control us.”
    He was silently rubbing her back in comfort, so proud of the wolf that he would raise as his son. Wolves protect their own. For a small child to step in front of a fully grown shifter before the age of two was amazing.
    “I never went back. I didn’t want my son to be hurt even more because of me. When Blake announced Tidus was dead and I completed the bond with him, I knew I’d get my son back. Your brother allowed me to bring my son home, I’ve never been more thankful to anyone.”
    Justin leaned over to whisper into her ear, “Blake is a great leader. I’m so glad he was able to help you. From now on it’ll be me fulfilling your dreams. You and Carter will always be safe. I’ll tolerate nothing less. There is also the question of what Carter will call me.”
    Dee smiled sweetly up at him. “As if either of us have a choice. He’s pretty much claimed you as his Paw. What do you think about that? Does it upset you?”
    “Hell no, in fact, I’d like to adopt him and make it official at some point. Only if it’s okay with you though.”
    Turning swiftly in his arms she leapt up winding her legs around his waist to kiss him passionately on his lips. He held her tight and only broke the kiss when the dog wound his leash around his body and then a small bundle smacked into his side. Pulling back from Dee, he heard Carter giggle.
    “I loves you guys. We can be happy now and be with the pack and go to the moon runs and not wear stinky stuff. I’m so happy.” He only stopped to giggle again when the dog licked his face. “And I have a doggie, and a kitty, and a new daddy.”
    Dee turned toward Justin and caught the wide grin splitting his face. “Yep, you are one lucky lil’ guy and I’m one lucky big guy to have found you both. Hey, do ya think your mom would want to marry me? You can be my best man.”
    Carter hopped up and put his fist in the air. “Awesome, Mama, can we get married? I’m gonna be a man, the best one.”
    Dee stilled at his question. Her heart was racing and Justin could see the pulse at the base of her throat fluttering wildly. He ran his hand over her cheek gently, “I’m sorry, is it too soon? We’ve already mated; we don’t have to have a big wedding if you don’t want. We don’t have to get married if you aren’t interested. I just thought you’d like to make an honest man of me.”
    Her voice was hesitant, “I think I’d like that, but maybe you should think about it a bit more. I don’t want you to regret anything. Marriage is for life and you should give it a lot more thought.”
    “Carter, give your mom that thing I had you hold for me at the moon run. You still have it don’t you?”
    “Yup, I gots it.”
    The boy bent down and untied his