Once I got Kiera settled in my room for the night, I sat with my parents and the others. We were silent for the first little while. Just noises from outside filled the space, and the dark world outside almost seemed to watch through the windows as we sat there together.
"So," Mom started, "what do you plan to do with the child?"
"I don't know just yet," I told her honestly, "I can't send her back to Golden Claw, they let this happen for so long."
"Agreed," Drew and Markus said in unison.
"So, you're going to adopt her?" Dad asked.
"I mean, the nursery I grew up in is just sitting there, not being used." I pointed out.
"True, and there might be some extra blankets for the child to keep warm at night," Mom said again, and I agreed, the blankets I had growing up were stored in the closet in there.
"Seline and I can go get some new clothes for her." Anny said, Seline hadn't looked away. After that, my parents went to their room to sleep, and as soon as they left, the twins were sitting on the floor on my legs again. The girls both sighed and went to sit on either side of me.
"Clingy boys," Anny said. She and Seline lay on either of my shoulders. I sighed and pet the twins' heads, and we stayed like that together. I don't mind when we're like this. I lay back and just stayed like this, and actually started to fall asleep. I felt safe. Even while sleeping, I thought about the kid, what she could have been through, what kind of families in Golden Claw, and what happened behind those doors. I couldn't get the scene I found Kiera in, her own older brother hurting her, and I only stopped when I drew blood from his skin.
Makes me worry about how Hendrick, Soren, and Mordecai will act, knowing how that guy from the pack acted as is. Will they act like that, too? I was terrified of finding out, and that pack heir, is he going to be as awful? I'm terrified of finding out how bad the pack really is as a whole. Thinking about it more, the harder it is to even think about Kiera's future. I refuse to let her go back to that pack. She deserves a better future. She is my kid now, even before I adopt her.
When I woke up, the other four were already up and putting together breakfast, the boys struggling, Kiera was asleep on me, wearing better clothes, and my parents probably left for work already. I held Kiera and looked at the overnight bags in the corner of the room, out of the way. They stayed the night, and they are trying to put together breakfast. I won't say I don't like this, it's a fun thing to see with the others. Kiera moved in my arms, rubbing her eyes.
"Mourning starlight," I greeted her sleepy eyes.
"Morning, Mama," Kiera said in a sleepy voice. She only came in yesterday, and she has already taken in the thought of this house as her home and my parents and me as her new family. I smiled and pet her head. She snuggled into me, clinging to me, and gave a little smile. I just held her, feeling how thin she was, and how frail her body was, skin over bones. She needs to be taken care of, and I plan on getting paperwork done. She will be my daughter legally, and soon will be a member of the pack once we take her to the Moon Goddess Temple.
When someone new or an outsider is taken into the pack, their finger is pricked and pressed against a pearl on the front of the altar. The wound will heal immediately, and the bond will be made and set between her and the pack. She will be safe from Golden Claw and those in the pack as long as Golden Claw doesn't try shit. I haven't even met Hendrick or his friends yet, and I am already physically exhausted. Now I have to keep her safe from the pack heir and his friends in that pack.
I know the others will be pissed if the Golden Claw pack shows aggression like that blonde idiot. But only time will tell, the Golden Claw, now unwelcome guests, are probably all settled in by now and ready for the ceremony, where disdainful looks will be seen. I just hope the other packs will distance themselves from Golden Claw. Anyone who should keep contact with Golden Claw would be Skull fang, a pack where women are the strongest living beings anyone has seen. They'll scare those golden claw idiots shitless.