The Love He Squirreled Away (4 page)

“Likewise,” he murmured.

“I don’t think that’s the case.” Carlie laughed. Her expression sobered. “Not that I don’t understand it.”

“I very much doubt you do,” Daniel couldn’t help but shoot back.

He immediately regretted it when he saw Soren’s sad expression.

“Look, I’m sorry. We appreciate this. I’m just having some trouble with it.”

His relationship with Soren was so new, and they still had so much to learn about each other. However, Daniel now found himself forced to face being “the other woman,” at least in front of Soren’s pack. Since both Soren and he were male, it was quite ironic, but true nevertheless.

Carlie nodded and gestured them toward the bench where Daniel had been sitting. Daniel took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. “Soren, give us a moment,” he said.

His mate nodded. “I’ll get us an ice cream.”

“No peanuts,” Daniel said automatically. Soren chuckled and pecked his forehead, then ran off in the direction of the ice-cream stand.

“So…” Daniel began awkwardly once his mate was out of earshot.

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“No peanuts?” Carlie repeated, sounding surprised. “I thought you were a squirrel.”

“I am,” Daniel answered, making an effort to control his normal speech pattern. “I just dislike processed nuts of any sort.”

Carlie grinned at him. “I have to say I agree with you on that, although to be true, what I hate is all these supposed hamburgers.

Give me a good old-fashioned steak, and I’m happy. Wait…does it make you uncomfortable if I say that?”

Daniel shook his head. “It may not be common knowledge, but squirrels aren’t strictly herbivores. On occasion, we are known to consume meats.”

“I see. I suppose that’s going to be useful in the future, with you being Soren’s mate and all.”

“It is my absolute conviction that our diets are completely inconsequential insofar as our lives together are concerned.” He saw Carlie’s amusement and glared at her. “And yes, before you ask, I do always talk like this.”

“I don’t mean any offense,” Carlie said. “I like you, Daniel. I think you can make Soren happy.” She reached for him and took his hand. “Now, if you’d allow me to be your friend, we can make sure no one stands in the way of that happiness.”

It might have been his need to believe, or something else entirely, but Daniel found himself nodding. “I will do my best.”

“Thank you, Daniel.” Carlie beamed, looking relieved.

On impulse, Daniel added, “Call me Dani. All my friends do.”

“Okay…Dani,” the female werewolf replied.

And just like that, a weight lifted off Daniel’s chest. He still didn’t like what they’d be forced to do, but maybe, just maybe, he’d have help dealing with it.

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From: [email protected]

To: [email protected],

[email protected]

Subject: Anniversary – can you come?

Hi guys.

As you probably remember, Angel’s birthday is coming up, and as
it is, this period also marks eight months since we took him and Clark
in. Brody and I were thinking of inviting everyone here for a little get-together, to celebrate. I’m not sure it won’t be a fiasco, to tell you the
truth, but someone has to take the first step. I want Angel and Clark to
grow up around people who love each other, and they’re too smart
not to see the tension between our families.

Brody is inviting his family, and I got my mother to come. She’s
still having trouble getting over what happened with my brother, but
she’s trying. Shiloh also invited his folks, and I know at least they’re
excited. It seems they love little Reed. So basically, the tentative guest
list so far is the wolf elder, Brody’s brother, my mom, Liam’s sister,
Shiloh’s parents, and of course, you guys.

So what do you say? Are you up for it? I’d really appreciate the
help.

Your friend,

Carson

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P.S. Sorry about the phone. Seems for whatever reason, Clark got
angry with it. Still trying to replace it.

Daniel hummed thoughtfully as he reread through the e-mail from his lamb friend. He did care about both Angel and Clark, and seeing Shiloh would be a treat. The swan had moved into a new house on Carson and Brody’s land. Daniel admitted he felt a little lonely these days. He still had Nicolas, thank goodness, and he’d taken to hanging around Skylar Pierce.

Of course, the real problem was Soren’s absence. Judging by Carson’s e-mail, Soren would also be there, as well as Carlie. Since their meeting, Daniel constantly e-mailed both werewolves. He’d struck up quite a friendship with Carlie, something he hadn’t expected at all when he’d first heard of her. She was a good person, and Daniel felt truly pleased she was the one to carry Daniel’s children.

Of course, a degree of discomfort still existed when he thought about it. Soren had come to visit him several times, and they’d even gone together when the moment had come for Carlie to go through with it. They’d decided of common accord to go with artificial insemination. Carlie had been amazing with the whole thing. She’d confessed to Daniel she felt honored for the trust Soren and Daniel placed in her. But even so, the uncertainty remained. What would she think and do once the children were born? Even if she now claimed she’d hand them over to Soren, Daniel somehow doubted that would happen. She would always be their mother, while Daniel wasn’t even of their species.

Daniel rubbed his chest against the ache that appeared there. He’d thought he’d gotten over his little problem, but apparently not. All the excitement brought his past aches to the forefront. He didn’t dare to share it with Soren, since the werewolf already had too much on his plate. However, he knew better than to believe Soren wouldn’t realize it once they were together for an extended period of time.

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As a child, Daniel had developed a peculiar strain of squirrel pox.

In a strange development, he’d survived it, but most of the people of his community still believed he latently carried the virus. Daniel had been left with a weak heart and literally exiled away from everyone else—except his family.

Still, the rejection had hurt, as did his parents’ and brothers’

insistence to keep him hidden from other squirrels. A part of Daniel couldn’t help but wonder if he wasn’t making a mistake by allowing Soren to get close. Cold panic coursed through him at the realization that, should he indeed be carrying the virus, he could hurt his mate or his mate’s children.

Daniel shot up, cursing himself for not thinking about this before.

All throughout his quest to help Shiloh, his heart hadn’t given him any problems. He forced himself to breathe. It must be just the excitement. The family doctor, Perry Jenkins, told him many times the virus had disappeared from his bloodstream and whatever health problems appeared would mostly stem from a psychological issue.

Still, that didn’t mean he could take any chances. He retrieved his cell phone and dialed the doctor’s private number. The man was a family friend, so they didn’t have to go through the regular channels to get medical assistance.

“Hello, Daniel,” Dr. Jenkins greeted him moments later. “How are you? Everything okay? Your parents?”

The man would have continued to ramble on—he was, after all, a squirrel—but Daniel stopped him. “Actually, my heart has been giving me some trouble. I’m concerned, Dr. Jenkins. Are there any chances that the disease could return?”

For a few seconds, the other man didn’t speak. When he answered, his tone was serious but warm. “No, Daniel, but it might be best if we took some tests, anyway. I’m in my car now. How about I come to your house and pick you up? I’m sure—”

“No,” Daniel interrupted the other squirrel. “I mean, thank you, Doctor, but that won’t be necessary. If you deem it satisfactory, I
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would prefer meeting you at your clinic.” His parents would see the doctor’s car and the last thing Daniel wanted was to cause panic.

“Okay, Daniel,” Dr. Jenkins answered. “I’ll be waiting for you.”

They ended the call with an efficiency that belied their squirrel nature. Daniel put away his phone and changed into street clothes. He slipped out of his room, hoping against all hope that he’d manage to escape the house without being seen. Indeed, his mother was in the living room and intercepted him just as he was about to flee out the front door.

“Dani, sweetheart, how nice to see you. Come, sit with your old mother. Let’s talk like we used to. Did you want to go someplace?”

Daniel suppressed a sigh. He’d somehow managed to avoid telling them about Soren for the past month, in spite of Soren’s visits and his own escapades. They must have realized something was going on.

Well, there was no time like the present. He’d have to be honest with them, whether he pursued his relationship with Soren or not, if only because of his relapse. “Actually, Mother, I planned to go see Dr. Jenkins.”

All the color drained out of his mother’s face. Daniel didn’t even get the chance to say anything else. She ran toward him and forced him to sit with her on the living room couch. In a panicky, chirpy voice, she called out to Daniel’s fathers, brothers, and sisters.

The area flooded with people, and Daniel’s head with a headache.

In squirrel families, polyamory was quite common, and his mother’s decision of having two husbands was quite tame in comparison to what other squirrels had chosen. Hell, Daniel had heard of both heterosexual and same-sex pairings of up to five people. However, their style of living worked for them. Daniel wasn’t sure who of the two men had genetically sired him, but it didn’t matter, since they both showed him the same affection. Their extended family offered him a stability most squirrels didn’t benefit from.

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His dads, Benjamin and Sean, knelt next to the couch. “What’s wrong?” Benjamin asked. “What is your mother talking about? Do you feel sick again?”

His eldest brother, Jack, sat down near Daniel and pulled him close. “Come on, Dani,” he said. “Tell us. Don’t make us even more anxious.”

His youngest sister, Zoe, looked down at him earnestly. Her lower lip trembled as she added, “Dani? Are you going to be sick again?”

Zoe was the youngest of them, and Daniel knew his disease had affected her greatly. He lifted his hand to control the chaos around him. He looked around at his family, tasting the bitterness of guilt in his mouth. “I am quite certain that won’t be the case. I have been passing through a fretful time, and I’m simply feeling the strain.” He paused and braved the truth he’d never told them. “I found my mate a while back. He’s a wolf.”

For a few moments, all was silent. With ten people in the room, it seemed impossible, but that didn’t make it any less true. Then, at last, one of his older sisters, Brooke, said, “Dani…You can’t be serious.”

Just like that, chaos exploded in the room. Brooke’s twin, Brandi, jumped Daniel and hugged him, as if intending to keep him away from all harms. Oscar and Oliver, the one set of male twins in their family, joined her, and they ended up forming a pile of squirrel-ness.

Their combined bulk sent the couch collapsing back, and Daniel fell against the hardwood floor with his siblings on top. It was shockingly comforting and familiar, in spite of the threat of spinal injury.

He hid a grin as he extracted himself from the pile. He brushed his clothes as he got up and arched a brow at his brothers and sister. His mother sighed, drawing Daniel’s attention back to the matter at hand.

“Dani, sweetheart,” she said, “are you sure about this? Did he hurt you? Is that why you need Perry?”

Daniel shook his head. “I just want a routine checkup, if you will.” He licked his suddenly dry lips. “Soren... He’s the Alpha of his pack, and soon he’ll be a father.”

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“A father?” Jack repeated. “Does that mean he has a wife?

Wolves aren’t like us, Dani. They can’t love more than one person.”

Daniel felt irritated, as Jack’s words stirred his own discontentment and bothered him more than he’d have liked to admit.

“It’s an arrangement,” he explained. “He needs to have pups, provide heirs for his family. It means nothing.”

“Of course it does. Aren’t you going to help raise them?”

Daniel looked away from his mother’s knowing gaze. “I don’t know. We’ll see what occurs after the pups are born. Now, I apologize, but I truly must meet up with the doctor. I don’t want to be a risk to the children in any way.”

“You’re not going anywhere,” Sean said. “You’ll stay right here, and we’ll call him to come to us. He won’t refuse, and you’re much safer here, with your family.”

Daniel wanted to protest, but he knew he couldn’t win. His shoulders slumped as he admitted defeat. He plopped down on an armchair and said nothing. It was only when his mother spoke again that he looked up. “Oh, and don’t think this conversation is over,” she said. “We want to meet your mate.”

There were nods all around, and Daniel’s mind was invaded by horrifying image of his large family crowding in on Soren. This time, he couldn’t suppress a groan and buried his head in his hands. And yet, in spite of the apprehension he felt, the pain in his chest had disappeared. Perhaps this wasn’t so hopeless, after all.

* * * *

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected],

[email protected]

Subject: Invitation

Hello.

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I’m writing as per my mate’s request. We’re having a small bash
to celebrate Angel’s birthday. Coincidentally, it also marks about
eight months since we adopted him and Clark.