He knocked on Aaron’s door and ducked his head inside. “Rafe asked me to find someone to sit with the children so you could take over running the pack,” he announced grabbing Rayne’s hand and pulling her inside with him. “I thought Rayne could do so until you found someone else?”
His brother grinned broadly and gestured towards the living area. “That would be a great help, if you wouldn’t mind, Rayne?”
She blinked at him slowly, slightly startled by her sudden ‘volunteering’ to babysit and then she scented the sweet scent that tantalised her so much and she smiled. “I’d be glad to help,” she answered softly, already heading towards the enjoining room which appeared to be set up as some kind of playroom.
“Can I help in anyway?” Dayton asked his brother.
Aaron clapped him on the shoulders already making his way outside, totally relaxed about leaving the children in Rayne’s care. “I was scheduled to take some of the younger ones out on a training run this morning. If you could do that it will free me up to see what Rafe had planned that may need taken care of.”
A training run meant letting his wolf out outwith their agreement and for a moment Dayton balked at the idea. But he knew how important it was for the Pack young to learn to embrace their wolves and how to read the forest. It was crucial in their development. He nodded his agreement as he headed downstairs with Aaron.
“Rafe also said to cancel the meeting at eleven. Said you’d know what he was talking about?”
Aaron’s glance shifted up the stairs for a moment and then he smiled. “Yeah, I’ll get onto that. And arrange a reprieve for Rayne as quickly as I can. Thanks, Day. I’ll get organised quickly and find someone to relieve you of the young ones as soon as I can. Really appreciate your help. I guess old Beta instincts really die hard.”
With that he disappeared into the library leaving his brother staring after him with a confused expression on his face. “I guess they do,” he finally murmured before he headed outside to go round up his charges.
*****
Rayne stood in the doorway of the playroom and watched the little ones play in blissful happiness. Aaron’s three mixed easily with the hybrid children, hovering almost protectively over the younger ones despite their own young age. It was so obvious they would be strong wolves, no wonder their parents were so proud of them.
Her eyes fell on a little red haired boy jumping up and down on a child’s trampoline, closely ringed by Aaron’s three in case he fell off. Clearly he belonged to Ashleigh and Nors as he looked so much like his father it was uncanny.
Two young blonde girls with a mass of long curls sat puzzling out a jigsaw with the brown haired girl from the forest. They all appeared to be of around a similar age though it was clear that the two blondes were not twins, unless they were fraternal.
The boy from the forest was lying on his stomach beside them, colouring in what she first thought was a pre-drawn book but then realised was his own drawings. Even from this distance she could see that he was already very talented.
As one, all eyes suddenly turned from what they were doing to look directly at her and she felt her heart stutter as she looked into the eyes of the hybrid children. A feeling of such belonging washed over her that she felt tears spring to her eyes and run unchecked down her face.
“Why are you crying, Rayne?” Rowan asked curiously running across the room to take her hand. “There’s no need to be sad. Come and play with us.”
The little red haired boy climbed off the trampoline and followed his friend, his arms reaching up to her. She didn’t hesitate to pick up the beautiful child, feeling his arms snake around her neck trustingly.
“She’s not sad, Rowan,” he said with a little laugh. “They’re happy tears.”
Rayne had no idea how he could tell the difference but he was right. The joy she felt in her heart was indescribable, simply overwhelming as she hugged his fragile body against her as the rest of the children rose and came over to her.
“I’m Liliana and this is my brother Kallum,” the dark haired girl pointed to the boy beside her. “Our parents are Loretta and Andrei. That’s Dara and that’s Cassia,” she pointed next at the two little blonde girls. “Their parents are Aunt Cedar and Uncle Alexei. You know DJ, Thorne and Rowan already because they told us. Oh, and that’s Liam you’re holding. His parents are Aunt Ashleigh and Uncle Nors.”