Shifting Boundaries

Original Chapter 25

I had no idea how an adoption worked. Though I always expected to adopt a child one day, I never bothered researching the technicalities; why should I? I thought I had a lot more time before I reached this stage of my life; until recently, I hadn't even had a mate yet.

Everett and Penny were talking long enough that I started to get nervous and stood up to join them.

"Errit?" Griffin asked, looking forlornly toward Everett again.

"I'll take you to him," I offered, crouching back down and holding my hands out to the boy. Anya had given me some advice for interacting with Griffin, and I was grateful to her. I would have had no idea what I was doing otherwise. The number one rule Anya had given me was that I should always let Griffin come to me, never just grab him. It would help Griffin learn to trust me, she said, and I was willing to give it a try.

Griffin stood and walked into my arms, wrapping his own around my neck while I hauled him up. This was the second time I held Griffin, but the first time I held him knowing he would be mine. Tenderness flooded me, intensifying when Everett glanced over at us and beamed happily when he saw me holding Griffin. He waved for me to come over.

When I reached Everett and Penny, she grinned at me and offered a hand. "Hi, Felix. I'm Penny. I'm Griffin's social worker. I have to say, I'm really delighted to hear you'll be adopting him."

Everett had said he was certain the adoption would be granted if we applied for it, but hearing Griffin's social worker confirm it sent an intense relief through me that had my muscles going limp. I was glad when Everett took a squirming Griffin from me. Still, I wanted to be absolutely sure. "So this is official?" I asked. "We're definitely going to be approved?"

"Oh, yes. Unless your alpha has a problem with it, but I can't imagine why that would be the case. Ours has already signed off on Griffin's paperwork. I told him I had a couple in mind here in Lakota and he faxed the signed forms over this morning."

"This feels too easy," I said, feeling deeply disturbed. Shouldn't they be sure we were safe before they entrusted a child to us?

Penny winced and Everett stepped in. "Penny was just explaining that she already did the background research she needs to clear both of us. She interviewed my old boss in Delta and Spencer and Molly so she would have character witnesses on file. We also get to skip some of the process since we have respectable jobs in an upstanding pack. You're a warrior, hun. Not just anyone is trusted to defend their pack. And Molly let me work here with Lakota's children – of course she ran a check on me."

Maybe I should have felt like my privacy had been intruded upon, but Everett made it all sound so normal. I nodded.

Penny jumped back in. "I wouldn't have done it if I wasn't really certain Everett was going to apply to adopt Griffin. I just don't want this poor child in a pack-and-play crib in an RV with people he doesn't trust for a single night more than necessary. This way, you guys can take him home tonight."

Everett's eyes widened and filled with tears. He snuggled Griffin and smiled beatifically at me. I was still feeling kind of overwhelmed by all of this and would have liked just one more night with Everett to myself, but I wasn't selfish enough not to admit that this was better. I didn't like the picture Penny's words had painted. It was objectively best for Griffin to be with Everett, who after three weeks was somehow the person he trusted most in the world.

Everett checked his watch. "We're just about to start closing down here. I know you have to get the rest of the Neruda children loaded up and take them back to camp, but would you be able to meet us at Spencer's office afterward? I'll call and make sure he's available."