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Ellison didn’t like that "You can’t be planning to move back in with your brother"

Maria stopped, her braid swinging She turned warm brown eyes up to him, but they held a hint of steel "Of course not This is America I don’t have to live with my brother, or with Liam, or Sean I can live in a place on my own"

"Alone?" Ellison blinked "Why would you want to?" He couldn’t i by himself, without sister, nephews, cubs, parents, pack--family

He was almost alone here, head of a pack of four No mate of his own, no cubs Lone Wolf, the other Shifters sometimes called hi alone issplendid"

"Lonely"

"Peaceful"

"Boring" Ellison shook his head

"I wouldn’t sit at ho I would" Maria bit the corner of her lip then drew a breath "If I tell you this, will you keep it to yourself? Andrea knows, and Glory And Connor No one else"

"Connor?" She naer than Ellison’s nephews, all of twenty-one

"Yes, Connor He’s good at keeping secrets I want to go to school I’ve been saving up for it, and I’ for scholarships Connor’s been helpingthe You could drive Connor--the kid’s a e University UT Austin"

Ellison whistled "They don’t take everyone--they don’t take Shifters at all Maybe you should start with sonant look could have lit a fire "There is no reason to start so for it You never know in this life when it will all be taken away"

So true Maria spoke from her own experience, and look what had happened to Deni

Maria’s anger made her shake She needed reassurance, cried out for it, though Ellison knew she’d never admit it

Ellison put a hand on her shoulder Quietly, like he would for a cub as upset

But Maria wasn’t a cub She was a beautiful young wo for what had happened to her

Ellison’s touch of reassurance turned to a caress, the backs of his fingers brushing her skin "You go for it, Maria Aih as you want" And if you fall, I’ll be here to catch you