Ford deserved to know that he meant everything to her and that she was horribly sorry about the way things had gone. She never meant to bring any of this upon him. The smile on his face as he joked with Evangeline meant everything to Daphne. That simple expression told her that they’d both made the right decision.
They needed this small family and the support they offered.
“Oh my god,” Daphne muttered.
All eyes turned on her, even though she’d thought she’d been quiet.
“I need to find a new job,” she said after looking from face to face.
This clan would not grow exponentially, like Zander’s. The benefits of belonging to Gavin’s clan came with how few members there were. They did not have to stretch themselves thin to support hundreds of shifters.
That meant that Daphne’s previous role was almost obsolete. Of course, Bree and Evangeline would need help for a good while to come. Once they were comfortable in their new skin, Daphne had nothing else to do.
“Well, that depends on what you want to do,” Casey said as he passed her a cold can. “You can run finance for my construction company. I’m sure Evangeline could use help at her shop, especially now. If you wanted, Ford might be able to find you a job at the restaurant. It’s all up to you and what you want now.”
Daphne’s jaw dropped. She’d never had so many options open to her at once. “I don’t know what I’m even good at.”
Casey snorted. “You’re good at keeping everyone in line, at holding everything together, and at being a general badass. You can do anything you put your mind to.”
Her eyes misted. Her brother had never said anything so kind to her. When she looked past him, to Ford, she found him wearing a soft smile.
“I agree,” he said.
“It looks like I have a lot of thinking to do…” Daphne glanced around.
Evangeline sat forward and put her elbows on her knees. Her pastel hair danced in the wind, so soft compared to the devilish expression she wore. “You need a tattoo, too. Both of you. It’s a clan requirement.”
Gavin rolled his eyes.
“One of us! One of us!” Bree chanted.
Her mate joined in, then Dillon started, and Isabella joined. Daphne’s chest warmed. Was this what it was like to be wanted? Zander’s clan had needed her, but she’d never felt so wanted in all her life.
“Wait,” Isabella said softly. “Shouldn’t we be chanting two of us?”
Everyone paused, their expressions twisting while they tried to figure out how to chant for both Daphne and Ford. Meanwhile, Daphne realized there was nowhere she would rather be. She pulled her chair up beside Ford. He let his fingers trail lazily over her exposed shoulder, tickling the claiming mark he’d left on her.
She had to savor the quiet moments while she could. This wouldn’t last. Zander wouldn’t fade into the night. From what she’d shared and what she’d heard, every other attempt he’d made to upset the new clan had failed. He wouldn’t hold back any longer.
She stole a glance at Gavin. He, too, watched his new family with a strange mix of pride and fear. He must have come out here to be alone and, in no time, found himself surrounded by a new clan of faithful shifters. Life took unexpected turns like that.
If his witch relented and gave in to him, then they might stand a chance. Daphne knew from one look that Gavin was aching for something. If he’d left Tiffany behind, then perhaps she hadn’t been the mate they’d all thought her to be. This witch, Nellie, just might be. Her love could be the factor that would give Gavin the strength he needed to finally defeat his father.
After the grilled chicken pieces were reduced to bones and scraps, Evangeline got to her feet. She bounced on the balls of her heels.
“I need to do something,” she announced.
Daphne nodded and joined her without question. The new dragon in Evangeline would have too much energy for her human body to contain. Daphne needed to get up and stretch her weary body, too.
“What do you have for contact sports?” Daphne asked. “A football? Or, any ball at all?”
“I’ve got balls for you,” Erik said with a smirk.
Ford’s hand fell on the back of his neck, making Erik cringe. Erik whispered a soft apology, making his mate roll her eyes.
“You deserved that one,” Bree said. She pulled her bracelets from her wrists and let them spill onto the table. “We don’t need anything to play tag.”
Daphne’s brows rose. “That’s a good idea. We just need to decide who’s it.”
Casey put his finger to his nose. Others quickly follow suit, even if they didn’t understand what was happening. The only ones who didn’t mimic the gesture were Ford and Gavin. They shared a glance, both their brows falling flat as they awaited what was to come.
Daphne rubbed her hands together. She didn’t know which man to choose. Ford kept himself on the edge of this family, like he was perpetually waiting for a dismissal. On the other hand, Gavin encased himself in ice and needed to become closer to his clanmates.
One thing she knew for sure, Gavin was going to regret folding her into his clan. Her shifter management instincts would never go away.
Daphne lunged forward and slapped her hand to Ford’s chest. “Tag! You’re it!”
She would make Gavin regret his decision another day.
***
Shifters crashed through the woods, chasing after one another. His mate was it, but no one had caught her yet. He stopped and found her scent on the air. The darkness might have hidden her form, but he could find her anywhere. Every path he walked led him back to her.
Laughter filled the air as Ford split off from the group. He padded along, keeping quiet. He intended to cut her off as she rounded back in his direction. Before she reached him, a blazing light illuminated the sky.
Everyone came to a crashing halt. Ford looked to the sky and saw the dark silhouettes of dragons circling the cabin. On the ground, headlights flooded the area with harsh light. Some of the clan groaned, and he saw them shield their eyes.
He hadn’t expected Zander to make a stand today, but he shouldn’t have been surprised. When Ford told himself to step forward, his feet rooted themselves to the ground. He felt his beast moving. It didn’t share fear or worry, but yet it wouldn’t move.
Ford wanted to howl with frustration, but he didn’t make a sound.
Chapter Fourteen
Zander’s gaze found her first. Daphne wanted to recoil. She held firm, though. She wouldn’t allow Zander to see how much he bothered her, how he scared her. Hand outstretched, he beckoned her forward.
“Your vacation is over,” he said. “I have asked you to come home. I have sent trusted friends to bring you home. You have ignored me every step of the way. Don’t try to fight. You brought this on yourself.”
Her jaw dropped. “Trusted friends? You mean the shifters you sent to trash Ford’s house? The same shifters who tried to kidnap me?”
Fury rolled through her. The world took on a red hue, as if she were looking through her beast’s flames. She searched the shifters coming forward, but Ford wasn’t among them. Her stomach dropped and the red hue faded. Fear slithered in to take its place.