Cherished: True Mates Book 5 (BBW Wolf Shifter Romance) (A Craggstone Paranormal Romance) by Olivia Arran Read Free Book Online

wolf is trained like that, Mom. It didn’t mean he doesn’t love me—you know that.”
    I bit back the words I really wanted to say, and instead took a deep cleansing breath. We were nearly at the tree line, only a little longer and we’d reach the other women. I was hyper-aware of Oliver following just behind and listening in, his silent presence oddly reassuring.
    “There are some things you need to know about your dad, Josh, but not now, not tonight. Can you trust me for the moment and I promise I’ll explain everything in the morning?”
    When he looked at me, his brown eyes narrowing in consideration, I held my breath. I was asking a lot, asking for him to choose me, the mother he had hardly seen over the father he knew so well.
    He eventually nodded, his gesture and expression older than his six years, and I let go of the breath, my heart thundering inside my chest.
    On light feet, not making a noise, Oliver slipped ahead, leading us through the forest. Muscles rippled under his T-shirt with each step, a hand darting out here and there to hold back branches or indicate rough terrain.
    He’s making allowances for my human sight, the thought dawned on me after he scooped back a third branch, Josh automatically avoiding it, yet I would have walked smack bang into it.
    I stumbled, despite the prior warning, and his hand shot out, gripping my elbow.
    “Thanks,” I murmured, wondering at the heat searing into me as it traveled up my arm and warmed me.
    “No problem,” he answered, then let go, his fingers lingering for a second before dragging free.
    “Who’s that?” Josh whispered, his tone wary.
    How do I answer that? My brain was starting to hurt with all the difficult questions.
    “I’m Oliver and I can hear you,” Oliver whispered back, chuckling under his breath.
    He had a great laugh. It sounded real , like it came from a place inside that wasn’t used to laughing, so when he did, you could tell he meant it. A strange thought, but that’s how it felt.
    “I heard you earlier talking to my mom. You can’t have her, you know. She’s my dad’s.”
    In the faint moonlight Oliver’s jaw clenched, his back stiffening. “She’s her own person, kid. No one owns her,” he eventually said in a tight voice.
    “When a man mates, the woman belongs to him. That’s what Dad said.”
    I couldn’t believe what I was hearing! “Is that what you would want, Josh? For a girl to belong to you?”
    “I don’t want any stinking girl, they’re crybabies. But Dad said that eventually I’d want to, and that I’d get to pick because I’m strong and it’s my right. But I don’t really want to.” He screwed his face up in disgust and relief flooded me. Given time I could make him see how wrong his father was, show him what it really meant to be a good man.
    “Kid, women have the right to choose, just like you do. You’ll understand when you’re older it’s about love, not ownership. And, yeah, it makes my head hurt! So, enjoy being a kid while it lasts.” Oliver mimicked Josh’s screwed-up face of disgust while rolling his eyes.
    When Josh grinned, rolling his eyes in agreement, I shot Oliver a grateful smile.
    “And, we’re here.” Oliver moved to the side, revealing the small group we had left behind. “I’m going back to find the others. Stay put this time,” he ordered, his lips quirking in a smirk, before he tore off, back the way we had just come.
    It was like standing in the middle of a stampede, the women swarming toward the children, cries of shock and happiness echoing through the forest as small bodies were gathered up into loving arms, kisses raining down on tear-streaked faces.
    Some of the children ran toward Jason, his face twisting in shock and concern as they stood before him, blinking at him with big eyes. The women stiffened, grabbing their children, until Macey quickly explained the situation.
    I swallowed the lump in my throat, moving toward the small group of children who