A Cold Wind Blows (Forgotten series, #3)

Chapter 27: Part 2

"Mama, can I go with Lander?" Graham's voice filtered into my head and I turned to look at him.

"You cannot bother your brother while he is visiting but you may." Lander was at the age where he didn't want his little brother hanging out with him and his friends. I knew he loved Graham and the rest of us but I also remembered what it was like to be his age.

"I just want to play with Tandi and Clary." His bottom lip stuck out slightly and the two girls in question ran over with smiles on their faces.

"Aunty Lace, can Graham come and play?" They practically vibrated with excitement and I ignored the name. Graham had convinced them that it was the perfect name for me and he looked hurt when I told them to stop. Perhaps I was spoiling the boys a tad too much. All they had to do was pout and I caved like a poorly made sandcastle.

"Yes he can but you three are not allowed to bother Brin, Belle, or Lander." Belle was a new addition to Lander's friend circle. She was Mason's eldest daughter at fourteen. She was a very vivacious young woman, very outgoing. So it surprised me when she hard started hanging out with Brin and Lander. I didn't question it but it surprised me.

"Okay!" They grabbed Graham's hand and dragged him towards the fort. I watched them go with faint amusement. They were certainly bossy little creatures.

"They are going to bother him." Azrael walked over, bouncing Eli in his arms, the young boy giggled and tangled his fingers into Azrael's beard.

"I am well aware." I knew that was going to happen but I had to give the rule regardless.

"How's my little girl?" He reached out and tugged the sling down slightly to look at Nina. She smacked her lips, nuzzling her face closer to my collarbone. Larissa had given me a different type of sling, it was one long piece of cloth that when wrapped different ways, made different slings. It was interesting and highly useful.

"She is sleeping." Her little face scrunched as she yawned. She had tired herself out playing in the pool, even little Jonathan had played with her. Both of them giggling as they splashed water everywhere.

"I can see that." He chuckled as he reached down and smoothed Caden's hair down. He was clinging to my pants as he always did when we were in public.

"Uncle!" A dark haired boy ran over and Azrael beamed at him.

"Angus! Why are we yelling?" Angus was another one of Mason's children. If my counting was correct, he and Katrina had five. Their eldest was named Matthew but he was out training at a different pack at the moment. It was a small mountain pack that specialized in creating warriors. Only the top warriors from the various packs were picked for it. Mason had proudly called it the Sparta of the mountains.

"I'm just excited! Uncle Brick is here!" He bounced up and down and Azrael stiffened, a still aggression filling his muscles that intrigued me. I had never heard the name Uncle Brick before but who ever it was, Azrael was not fond of them.

"Pardon?" His voice was icy and Angus grabbed his free hand, pointing towards the crowd that was slowly gathering close to the gate.

"He just walked through the gate. Come on!" Angus tugged on his hand and Azrael set Eli down, pushing him towards me. His dominance radiated off of him like a cold fury as he stalked towards the group. My wolf and I were curious and intrigued to his rather violent response to the name. We had never managed to illicit a response from him quite like that. We tilted our head as we watched his back, his shoulder bunching as his anger seemed to make him that much larger.