Garret reached out a hand to Kelsey, but she flinched away from him, her wary brown gaze shooting between them all. Parker stepped forward and Ty stiffened, blocking her with his head and nudging her back.
Parker grabbed his face and looked him in the eyes, showing no fear. “Ty, if I’m not mistaken, that girl right there is your sister. And she’s terrified right now. All of you big brutes watching her every move probably isn’t helping. Let me go to her. Let me help her. She looks like she’s starving. She needs food, clothes, a shower. She hasn’t tried to hurt me. She hasn’t tried to hurt any of us.”
Ty debated for a quick second before shifting back to his human form. There were enough shifters present to stop the wolf… his sister… if she tried anything. As soon as he was standing on two legs again, he pulled Parker into his arms and held her tight for a moment before pulling back to look into her eyes.
“I don’t want you hurt.”
Parker stretched up and kissed him. “I won’t be. She’s not aggressive, just scared. Let me do this. You can stay close while I get her settled. Just stay out of sight.”
Ty looked at Kelsey, who was hunched into herself, staring at the ground. She was still trembling, and he had to admit that everything Parker had said was true. And they couldn’t stand around here forever without doing something,
“Okay. But I’m staying close, and I have sensitive hearing. I’ll be there before you can even finish calling for me.”
Parker smiled at him. “It’ll be okay,” she said, starting to move toward Kelsey.
Ty pulled her back to a stop, tugging her around to look at him. “Parker. You’re not scared? Or disgusted?” She looked at him with a question in her eyes and Ty gestured to himself. “Of me. You didn’t run. You’re still here.”
She shook her head, smiling softly at him. “Of course not, Ty. Besides, I already knew.”
Ty stood, stunned, as Parker walked slowly toward his sister, speaking softly. She already knew? How? He rubbed at his chest, where his wolf was alert but silent and content in his chest.
Shit. How many surprises could one man take in a day?
Parker sat at the table with Kelsey, watching as the girl ate slowly. Or maybe calling her a woman was accurate. She couldn’t be more than a few years younger than Parker. Kelsey was freshly washed, wearing some of Parker’s clothes. The leggings and shirt were still far too big, but they were clean, and Kelsey had seemed happy with them.
Kelsey still hadn’t spoken a word, to any of them, but the wariness had faded from her eyes just a bit. Parker thought she must have been starving, and she wondered when the last time the girl had eaten. She was eating a bowl of soup, going slowly but clearly wanting to wolf it down. Pun not intended, Parker thought with a secret smile that was tinged in sadness.
Kelsey was holding her spoon in one hand and clutching a dinner roll in the other, almost as if she were scared someone would take it. Parker reached out slowly and nudged the plate of rolls toward her. “There are plenty. Eat however many you like.”
Kelsey looked at her with a cross of suspicion and nervousness in her dark brown eyes, so like Tyler’s. Parker felt her heart break a little more for Kelsey as she gave her the most reassuring smile she could muster. Kelsey slowly raised the roll to her mouth and tore off a bite before quickly going back to the soup.
Parker studied her as she ate. Kelsey had light brown hair like Ty’s, just a shade lighter and more blonde, and eyes just a shade darker than his, bordering on black. Her facial features were a mix of Ty and Chase, but she was completely feminine. She didn’t have the brother’s towering height, just a touch taller than Parker, and she was skin and bones. But she was clearly a MacKeltar. That much was obvious to anyone with eyes.
Parker saw Ty turn his head just a tad to check on them from where he was sitting on the couch, pretending to watch television. She felt a small smile stretch her lips. He’d been hovering the whole afternoon, just a few steps away as she’d gotten Kelsey settled. She knew this was hard for him. He worried so much over her safety, and their baby’s, but he was doing so well tonight. Not speaking or intrusive, just there.
Parker caressed her baby bump, which was rapidly growing. The baby was measuring big, and her belly was reflecting that, but Parker didn’t mind. She’d assumed she’d have a big little boy, because his daddy was big, and she loved being able to see physical evidence that their baby was growing strong inside of her.
She let her mind wander as she waited for Kelsey to eat her fill. When she’d walked outside earlier to see a massive tiger growling at a much smaller cream wolf, she’d freaked out. She wouldn’t lie about that. It wasn’t often that you walked outside to find humongous animals looking like they were about to brawl in your front yard. Then Tyler’s black wolf came bounding in front of her and she’d instantly relaxed. She’d still been worried over Ty, but she knew he wouldn’t let anything happen to her; and he was so massive in size, that she knew he could hold his own if it came to that.
His wolf was beautiful. He was pitch black, with no markings at all, with eyes just as black. He’d stood proud, his head just as tall as she was, on paws the size of her head. She’d felt no fear. It was Tyler, and she’d seen him, shining through the wolf’s eyes.
She knew she’d surprised him when she said she’d already known what he was. But now there was nothing to hold him back. He knew that she knew. Once they talked, they could get everything straightened out and in the open.
And then they could begin their life together.
The sound of a spoon hitting a bowl jerked Parker from her thoughts, and she looked up to see that Kelsey had finished her dinner, and was sitting with her head down, staring at her lap.
“Are you still hungry? Would you like some dessert, cake or ice cream maybe?” Parker asked her softly. Leah looked up from where she was cleaning up, ready to fix another plate but Kelsey shook her head. “Okay, then. Would you like to lay down and get some rest?”
Kelsey looked up and nodded, gratitude and wariness waring in her eyes. Parker stood and Kelsey
followed suit. Parker led her up the stairs and to one of the rooms on the other side of the house from hers and Ty’s. The room was next to Chase’s, where he could keep an eye on her if she needed anything, he said.
Parker thought they just wanted to make sure Kelsey didn’t leave.
Parker opened the door, gesturing Kelsey through. It wasn’t as pretty as the room Parker had occupied when she first came here, where Parker had wanted to put Kelsey, but it was still nice. It was clean and safe from the elements, which Parker supposed was all that mattered. She had a feeling that Kelsey had been sleeping outside for far too long.
Kelsey came inside and Parker started to turn to go back out when Kelsey’s whisper stopped her. It was low and scratchy from disuse, and Parker had to strain to hear her.