Page 24 of Squirrel Hunt

Gideon snarled, Konrad growled, and Myka made a sound close to a whimper.

“If you were his cousin, you wouldn’t need to introduce yourself.” Gideon’s teeth didn’t fit in his mouth anymore.

Jyran slapped his arm. “Stop it.” Then he jumped over the bar and rushed over to Dahy. His arms closed around him in a hug, and Dahy clutched at him.

“He’s your cousin?” Gideon didn’t sound impressed.

Jyran huffed in reply, but Dahy ignored their interaction and inhaled deeply. Squirrel. Family. Home.

Chapter 12

It took every ounce of control for Konrad not to attack Jyran for touching his mate. Dahy was his. His! A low growl vibrated in his chest. He should’ve known. Should’ve understood the reason behind the weird reactions he’d had since meeting Dahy, but that fucking perfume had messed with his senses. Now he was certain. Dahy was his and would always be his.

“Seriously, Jyran. Is he your cousin?”

If Gideon didn’t shut the fuck up, Konrad would have his throat. He peeled his lips back and flashed teeth at him. Gideon’s eyes widened, and he raised his hands as he momentarily dropped his gaze to the floor. Some of the anger in Konrad simmered down.

“Of course he is.” Jyran took a step back, but gripped Dahy’s shoulders and looked into his eyes. “Squirrel cousin.”

Myka snorted a laugh. “Which means?”

Konrad had forgotten she was there, but her comment made him relax a little more. There were two squirrels and a human, only Gideon was a threat to Dahy. He could take Gideon. He was the alpha, and while Gideon was a strong wolf, he wasn’t as strong as Konrad.

“It means he’s my…mother’s second cousin’s mate’s sister’s nephew, I think.” Jyran was scrunching his face in concentration, and Dahy looked thoughtful but nodded.

“My mother’s sister’s mate’s third cousin, I think.”

“Wasn’t that what I said?”

Dahy nodded. “Pretty much, yeah.”

Jyran turned to Gideon. “See, cousin.”

Gideon’s sigh could’ve earned a note in a book of records somewhere. “He’s a total stranger.”

“No, he’s not. He’s family. A cousin.”

“Aww, you’re so cute.” Myka touched a hand to her heart.

“It’s not cute, it’s squirrel…idiocy.”

Konrad stared at Gideon, about to say something, but Jyran beat him to it.

“Watch it, buddy, or you’ll be out of squirrel idiocy for the rest of your life.”

“Jyr.”

“No, you fucker. You have your family around you all the time. I have one relative I know for sure is alive, and you’re throwing a fit.”

“He’s not staying with us!”

“He’ll stay with me.” Konrad cut into their conversation with a loud voice. Dahy turned to gape at him, and Konrad wished he could say something soothing, but he was busy keeping himself in check.

For a few seconds everyone was quiet, then Dahy looked at Jyran. “Fleda is alive. Or was three days ago, at least.”

“Yeah? I haven’t heard anything from her in years.”

“Her online presence is under—” Dahy cut himself off and looked at Konrad first, then Gideon. “—under a different name.”