Kai POV
Three Years Later
"Macy," I shout up the stairs. "It is almost time."
A pair of big, round blue eyes peer down from the top step. Her messy curls are wild all over her head. She looks feral.
I smack my hand against my forehead and groan. "What happened to the pigtails I did this morning?"
She giggles, and her little head disappears from the top of the stairs. I try to maintain my cool, but the Luna Queen will be here in just a few moments. I want Macy to look her best.
I have never been nervous for Raven to visit before. Over the past three years, we have all become close. Knowing that our children will be mated one day, we try to let them spend as much time together as possible. By the time they recognize each other as mates, their bond should be strong.
But this visit is different. As our only child, Kaden and I have a big proposition for Raven. We want to pass the South Pack to Macy. It is unconventional to have a female Alpha, but the Luna Queen was once unconventional as well.
I hear a loud squeal come from upstairs and then a series of giggles.
With Macy thrown over her shoulder, Tish makes her way down the stairs. There is an amused look on her face. While Kaden and I are nervous about Raven's visit, Tish could not be more excited. She has been chatting all week about how it has been too long since the last time they saw each other.
As she descends down the stairs, I can't help but marvel at her beauty. Every time I see her, it is like the first time. It is hard to believe that three years ago, today, we almost lost her. Macy had perforated Tish's uterus, and there was no chance of saving it. Tish cried for months. She felt like a failure. She wanted to be able to give us a "proper heir" for the South Pack, but Kaden and I were just happy that she survived.
When she reaches the bottom of the stairs, I wrap my arm around her waist and pull her in close. I press a firm kiss to her lips, and Macy wrinkles her nose at us. Tish sets her on the ground, and Macy attempts to take off again. She is squealing and giggling as she rushes down the hallway to the kitchen.
Just when she thinks she has gotten away, Kaden pops out from behind a corner and scoops her into his arms. Blows raspberries against her cheek, and her laughter fills the pack house.
"What happened to your hair?" He asks, settling her on his hip.
She pushes her bottom lip out into a perfect pout and crosses her arms over her chest. Shoving her nose into the air, Macy refuses to look at any of us.
"Macy," Tish warns her.
"Nyx says I don't have to," she tells us.
The reaction from all of us is the same as always. We all draw in a sharp breath. Since Macy started talking, Nyx has been there with her. In fact, Nyx was her first word. We all knew that Macy would have Nyx one day, but we all assumed it would be when she turned eighteen. We all assumed wrong.
Tish is the first to recover. "How does Nyx want you to do your hair?"
Macy shakes her head back and forth, making her curls even more unruly. "Like this."
Tish shrugs her shoulders and turns to walk away. "She can't look like that when Raven gets here," I whine.
"Pick your battles," Tish reminds me.
"Today is important," I remind her.
"What happened to you?" She chuckles. "When did you become so serious?"
"When that feral monster came into the world," I laugh, pointing to Macy.
Macy bares her teeth at me and snaps at my finger. Her little teeth graze across the tip of my finger, and I look at her in shock. "She bit me."
"You did call her feral," Tish reminds me.
"Not me," Macy giggles. "Nyx did it."
"Macy," Kaden scolds her. "It is not nice to lie."
"I not!" She screams in protest.
"Fine," Tish steps between us all. "Macy, tell Nyx it isn't nice to bite."
"Okay, Mommy," she chirps as she wiggles out of Kaden's arms.
He sets her on the ground, and she skips off into the kitchen, where I am sure she will con the kitchen staff to give her a snack. She worries me. Macy is only three, but she is terrifyingly smart and cunning. I thought I gave my mother and father a headache, but Macy is something else.
"We shouldn't tell Raven," I begin.
"Shouldn't tell me what," Raven says from behind me, and I jump.
I spin around and plaster a fake smile on my face, but Raven isn't buying it. Kaden has a smirk on his lips. He isn't planning on backing me up.
"Kai doesn't want to tell you that Macy already hears Nyx in her mind," Tish butts in. Kaden sucks a sharp breath between his teeth and looks at the ceiling and begins to whistle.
Raven's were outstretched in an attempt to hug Tish, but at her words, she drops them at her sides. She glances between Kaden and me, waiting for one of us to confirm what Tish has said.
"Surely, you are mistaken," her voice cracks. "Tish, a werewolf cannot communicate with their wolf until they turn eighteen or sometimes older."
"Tell her," Tish points to me, but Kaden and I stay silent even though she is looking at us for help. "I am not crazy. She talks to that damn wolf day and night."
"It must be a coincidence," Raven shakes her head. "Maybe she overheard you talking about Nyx and created an imaginary friend. A lot of only children do that."
"That is not what this is," Tish grinds out.
Suddenly, Edward comes running down the hallway, holding his hand tightly against his chest. Oliver runs after him, but he wraps his arms tightly around his mother's leg. Fat tears are rolling down his cheeks, and I don't have to guess what happened. I already know.
Raven bends down, and Edward shows her his hand. There are two puncture wounds, and blood is seeping from them.
"She bit me," he sobs as Raven holds him close.
"Macy," I shout, and her curly hair peaks around the corner. "Come here now."
She drags her feet as walks to me. She doesn't lift her eyes from the ground while she stands in front of me.
"Macy," Tish hisses through gritted teeth. "We just talked about biting."
"It isn't my fault," she whimpers. "Nyx said they are mine, and I have to bite them."
Raven looks up at Tish, who crosses her arms over her chest. "I told you."