Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 105815 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105815 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Junjie nodded. He hid his growing smile behind a grimace as they started up a steep hill. “So rather than force this kid into your life where you’d both be unhappy, you found a family in which he had a chance of getting everything he needed.”
“Of course! I mean, look at your clan. You’ve been together forever and supported each other through everything. You have discipline and keep a regular schedule. From some things you’ve said, it sounds like you’ve trained and raised other kids, so having Erik around won’t be too much of a shock for you. I thought…” Leo’s voice drifted off and he sighed. “I thought he’d be happy there, and you’d eventually forgive me for forcing him on you.”
“You know, you didn’t force anyone to do anything. We could have walked away.”
Leo gave Junjie such a disbelieving glare that Junjie had to clear his throat and brush his nose, trying to hide his burning cheeks before he continued.
“We could have,” he pressed, a little quieter.
“Yeah, you could have, but I think I know you well enough after the past few months to understand that the chances of that were pretty fucking slim.”
“You’re probably right. But that’s not the point. You made a hard decision. I think most people would have attempted to take Erik in out of feelings of guilt or responsibility, regardless of whether it was the best decision for him. You examined the situation, understood that you were not the best for him, and found someone else who was. My clan and I are honored that you chose us.”
Leo huffed out a soft, breathy laugh. “You’re crazy.”
“Maybe, but we adore him. He’s so smart and sweet. I’ve never known a child who enjoyed being cuddled so much. Did you know one of his favorite things is to crawl into Chen’s lap in the evenings and have Chen read to him?”
The cat’s eyes looked as if they were going to pop right out of his head. “Chen? That Chen?” he demanded, pointing with his thumb over his shoulder in the direction they’d come from.
“That Chen.” Junjie lowered his voice to a whisper. “I think that’s part of the reason he’s so grumpy tonight. We had to leave prior to story time. When we return, Erik will be down for his nap.”
“I don’t believe it.”
Junjie smiled at his companion. “Chen has a magnificent voice for telling stories. He’s had a lot of experience with little ones. He was with the clan for several years prior to my arrival, and he helped with training and getting the youngest new disciples adjusted to their new homes. Shifu and Xiao Dan had a way of feeling like a second father, but it was Chen who was great at taking on the role of older brother that protected everyone. Made them feel like they belonged.”
Leo touched his fingers to his temple. “My head is spinning. I can’t see it. Chen is an asshole.”
A snort escaped Junjie, and he tried to cover it up by clearing his throat. “I never said that he couldn’t be that too. It’s just that he’s a natural with making kids feel at home in the clan.”
“Fine. I guess it’s good to know that he’s not scaring the crap out of Erik.”
“You know…” Junjie drawled. “Even if you’re not taking on the role of caretaker for Erik, that doesn’t mean you can’t visit him. There are a lot of things that he can learn from you. Things that we can’t teach him.” He tipped his head to the side so that he could see Leo’s face. “I understand that you probably don’t want to share all your shifter secrets with us, but I worry about him feeling lost and frustrated as he gets older. He needs to understand himself and his kind if he’s going to be happy.”
The cat shifter chewed on his bottom lip for a moment before giving a small nod. “You’re right. I know it. I…I feel guilty because I couldn’t be enough for him.”
Junjie squeezed Leo’s shoulder. “Maybe the job fate had planned for you was simply bringing him to me. Maybe your job is to help me prepare him for the life head of him. My shifu liked to say that life has many paths laid out ahead of us. There isn’t only one that we must set our feet to. I ended up at one of the greatest martial arts sects in all of ancient China, but that doesn’t mean that my only path was to be a great warrior. Chen is a great fighter, but he is an even better strategist. I am a strong fighter, but I am an even better healer and counselor to my clan. Ming Yu is a talented fighter, but her heart lies in being a caretaker.”