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already planning.
    “Trust me, just let Rory handle it. It’s what she does,” Willow whispered to Nina.
    “She can have at it; party planning is not on my list of talents.”
    “You have a list,” Ryder teased. Ranger slapped him. “Hey you’ve been hanging out with my wife for months and I don’t even get to talk to yours?”
    “You can talk , just not about the subject of her talents,” Ranger smiled.
    “Nina , you can kick his ass right?”
    “ Probably.” She was trying to stifle a laugh.
    “ Good, then I’ll be your new best friend. These two are thick as thieves. Been that way since before Willow and I mated. I’m her mate but my brother is her best friend.”
    “So you f eel left out,” Nina teased.
    “Damn strai ght I do. You’ll see, sometimes it’s like they think with the same brain.”
    “Interesting. ” Nina cast a glance back at Ranger.
    “It’s nothing to worry about lov e.” Ranger tightened his grip.
    “I wasn’t worried hot stuff. I like Willow,” Nina smiled.
    “On that note , I say we get out of here and leave these two alone,” Willow suggested with a wink.
     
    Ranger and Nina waited as the rest of the families dispersed. Kendra hugged her daughter as she and Malcolm left the house. “Gemma has invited us for dinner on Sunday. We will see you there.” She turned to Ranger. “Take care of her.”
    “ From what I hear, she can take care of herself.” Ranger looked directly at Xavier.
    “She caught me off guard,” Xavier defended.
    “She caught me off guard as well. That just leaves you unmated Xavier. Nina, you don’t happen to have any sisters for my poor lonely brother, do you?”
    “I have three,” she grinned.
    “Oh no… not going there. Three sisters in law and Emory, that’s enough women in my life,” Xavier sighed. There was no way he was ready for mating. And after his experience that morning it would be an even longer time before he wanted to deal with a pregnant mate.
     
    In the shadowed shade of the nearby park, one of Blake Howland’s pack stood watching from a distance as the Cheveyo pack leader and his family exited the home of the one they called the Oracle.
    “ They are coming out,” he said into a head set planted behind one ear.
    “Any indication why they were there?” Blake’s aggravation was clear.
    “ No sir. They met with the Mage and some of his men.”
    “ The Mage, huh? Perhaps Royal sees us for the threat we are. Was the Alpha heir with them?”
    “ Yes sir and his wife, she’s had the child.”
    “ Hum, well that is news. Too bad we didn’t get word of this meeting until too late. We could have taken care of all of them at once.”
    “ Sir, my source only said the Alpha bitch was in labor. I had no indication a meeting would follow so soon after with the Mage. My informant has no knowledge as to what prompted the meeting. She only said the family left shortly after the birth and that they were in a hurry.”
    “ That is curious. See what you can find out about the Mage and his involvement. If Royal has enlisted their forces, we might have to adjust our strategies.”
    “ Yes sir. I’ll try.”
    “There will be no trying. You will do. Do I make myself clear?”
    “Yes sir. I’ll follow the Mage. He’s leaving now.”
    “ Good. Keep me posted. Oh, and Will…”
    “Yes sir?”
    “ Don’t disappoint me.”
    “I won’t sir,” Will’s words had fallen on deaf ears. Blake Howland had not waited for the lackey’s reply before hanging up.
    Blake paced the small cottage he had procured just outside the Haven’s Port city limits. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer
    was his motto.  The Cheveyos had ruined his family name and stolen some of his pack. The deserters had chosen to live among the Chosen. The Chosen, what a joke. How could a former human be the Chosen? It was absurd to even think of it. She was an aberration. Her existence along with that sister of hers, was an insult to the race.
    If the