He puckered his little brow. “Like brock-wi?”
“Is it nutritional?” I asked.
The boy cocked his head. “Woocy, is brock-wi nutrinaw?” he asked, trying his best to sound out the large word.
“Yes.”
His eyes widened, and he looked me over from head to toe. After my shower, Warden Egara had provided me with new clothing, pants and a shirt that, while sized for an Atlan, were styled more like human attire.
“If I eat it, can I grow to be as big as him?” He pointed at me as he asked the woman.
“It’s possible,” she said.
“I want brock-wi for my bedtime snack! I want to be huge!” he shouted, then ran in circles around my legs. The little girl, who’d remained silent this entire time, watched her brother. Seeing that he wasn’t fazed or afraid, she followed him in behavior.
I looked to the woman called Woocy as the children ran around and around my legs. “Where is Olivia Mercier?” I asked.
“She had something to do but will be back soon,” she replied. That was not a sufficient explanation.
“Something to do? It is late. What could she be doing that cannot wait? It is not safe for my female to be out at night. She should be home. Safe. With her mate protecting her.”
She raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms. There was that gods-be-damned pose from a human female again. “Yes, it’s late,” she confirmed. “Yet here you are. A stranger banging on the door. Was it safe to let you in?”
I stared at her, my beast appalled. “I would never hurt a female. Or a child.”
The children began to slow, and I imagined they might topple over soon from dizziness.
“It’s still late, Warlord. I don’t know you.”
“You do,” I countered. “You said my name.”
Her mouth snapped shut with the click of her teeth.
“I will wait.”
“Of course.” A smile spread across her face. “You should sit so I don’t get a crook in my neck.”
She was a small human, like Olivia, but slender like a male human. She had no blatant curves, no lushness to her physique like my mate had. My beast was not interested in this female, thinking that she would be bony, not soft to fuck like Olivia.
I looked between the seating choices and selected the couch, the largest and most likely not to break beneath my weight.
“Let Wulf sit down,” Woocy said, and the kids stopped as if stunned with an ion pistol.
I took that advantage and went to the couch and settled upon it. I had to push the small table in front of it farther away so my legs could fit.
“You’re the woof?” the boy asked.
“That is my name,” I replied.
“I’m Tanner. I’m a superhero.” He tugged at the fabric that draped down his back.
I looked to Woocy.
“He’s wearing a cape,” she said, although that didn’t explain anything.
“Me, too! Emma!” the little girl said, patting her chest.
These two reminded me of the new little ones running around The Colony.
“Hello, Tanner and Emma,” I replied, then looked to Woocy. “You have… nice children.”
She laughed. “They’re not mine. They’re Olivia’s.”
My gaze dropped back to the children. My mate had children? That meant… “She said she was not mated.”
Lucy shook her head, her red curls bouncing. She settled into the chair beside the couch. “She’s not… mated. They are her niece and nephew. Their p.a.r.e.n.t.s.d.i.e.d.” She spelled the last two words.
It took me a moment to process what she’d said, especially in a different language, but I finally understood the reason why she didn’t say the word straightaway.
“That is s.a.d,” I replied.
“Can I sit wif you, Woof?” Tanner asked, coming to stand beside my right leg. Emma remained closer to Woocy as if still unsure of me.
“Yes,” I replied. I was used to The Colony children climbing on me, but most of them had been born and raised among huge warriors and were accustomed to us. Wyatt, the Hunter Kiel’s son, had come to The Colony older but had quickly become fearless like his father. I had to assume I was the first warrior these children had ever seen, and it was surprising—and heartwarming—that he wasn’t fearful.
I wasn’t sure if I should be pleased or concerned for the trusting nature of these children with strangers.
Tanner climbed up my bent leg and sat on my thigh. On my lap. Not beside me as I’d expected. I hooked an arm around him so he didn’t fall off and hit his head on the table. Children were fragile and needed protecting, no matter their planet of origin.
“So, Wulf,” Woocy began.
“Woocy,” I replied.
She laughed, head thrown back. “My name is Lucy.” She tipped her head toward Tanner. “He’s working on sounding some letters. L’s are hard for him.”
I looked down at Tanner, who stared up at me with awe. “I think I like Woocy better,” I told him, as if sharing a secret.
He giggled.
That had Emma moving. She came around to the other side and tried to climb up my leg but was too small. I hooked her waist and lifted her up so she sat on my other knee, tucked into my side.
“You should stay and play horsey,” Lucy said.
I had absolutely no idea what that meant, so I moved on to more important things. “Olivia.”
“Your mate?” Lucy asked, eyebrow arched. She didn’t seem all that surprised. Then I remembered I’d heard her name before. So, this female was the Lucy that Warden Egara had spoken of. Lucy Vandermark. She was an ally. A friend. She was responsible for the extra time I would have to woo Olivia.
“You are her boss. You are protecting her privacy.”
She nodded. “I am. I saw the show. I knew you’d come. Olivia deserves someone special, who will care about her. Love her.”
I stiffened my spine. “I will. You know I am serious about Olivia.”
“Yes, I know. That’s why I’m helping,” she said. “You being here means what exactly? Because Olivia is my friend. She’s sweet and kind and a big softy. So if you’re only interested in more… door stuff and break her heart, I will take you out myself. Got it?”
“Take me out where?” I asked. “I do not wish to participate in a human date with you. I only want Olivia. She is mine. My mate. I would never hurt her. I will kill anyone who tries.”
She studied me for a minute, and I sat patiently under her scrutiny. I sensed that her good judgment of me was crucial to my success with Olivia Mercier. “You sure about that?”
“Yes.”
“Perfect.” She smiled and leaned back, much more relaxed. “She’s going to need your beast man. She thinks I’m stupid, but I’m not. She’s in some bad business with some bad people.”
I frowned and growled.
“He’s got rumbles in his tummy!” Tanner said, then patted my chest.
I ignored him because this was important. I sensed that Lucy was worried. “Is that where she is now? With these bad people?”
She bit her lip. “I think so.”
I would have jumped to my feet, but I was still buried in children. Very small, fragile children who belonged to Olivia. They would now belong to me. This little boy who kept patting me and the little girl who, when I looked down at her, had fallen asleep in my hold.