Nathan couldn't help but tremble at the loud roar that echoed across the clearing. Pressing his face into Griffin's shoulder, Nathan tensed as another roar, quieter this time, sounded again.
Griffin rubbed Nathan's back, "It's alright. She's just saying hi."
Nathan refused to look up, suddenly scared to be around someone new again.
Suddenly, a loud, feminine voice yelled across the clearing, "Griffin! My baby! Who's this?"
Griffin continued to rub soothing circles on Nathan's back as he walked forward to greet his mother.
"Mom, this is my mate, Nathan. Nathan, this is my mother, Leandra."
Nathan peeked over his shoulder at the short, teal-haired woman who was suddenly cooing at him.
"Oh, look at him. He's so cute!" Leandra almost lunged forward, pinching Nathan's cheek. "So adorable! How old are you? Species? Tell me everything!" She gushed.
Nathan whined in complaint at the woman bombarding him with questions as he jerked free of her grasp and turned back into Griffin's chest.
"Mom," Griffin sighed, "why don't we go to the cabin? We can talk and answer your questions there."
"Hmm," Leandra hummed as she leaned in closer. "Alright. But I want to know everything."
As Leandra retreated to grab the bag she'd dropped, Griffin whispered in Nathan's ear. "Sorry about her. She's always been… enthusiastic. If you want to, you could go for a run while I talk to her."
Nathan fisted Griffin's shirt as he considered the idea. "Is it safe to let her know? About what I am?"
Griffin kissed Nathan's forehead. "I should think so. She was quite upset at the whole incident. Refused to talk to any vampire for at least 80 years."
"I'll stay, but I don't want her grabbing me again."
Griffin let out a low, rumbling purr, the vibrations further relaxing the wolf in his grip. "Never. I'm the only one allowed to grab you."
"What are you two talking about?" Leandra asked as she walked back up to them.
"Boundaries," Griffin replied. "Nate's not comfortable being grabbed and touched randomly. Especially by people he doesn't know."
"Oh!" Leandra exclaimed in shock. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize. Of course, whatever makes him comfortable."
"Thanks."
Griffin led the way back towards the cabin, Leandra trailing them, observing. She was pleased by how the small boy was clinging to her son, obviously reliant on him.
"How long are you planning on staying?" Griffin asked as he prepared tea for the three of them. He had to do it one-handed because Nathan was refusing to be set down.
Leandra looked up from the small wolf and dragon carving that was sitting on the mantle. "Just a few days. Your sister lives even further north than you and I don't want to be there when the snow starts falling in a couple weeks."
"Oh, did she move again? What's the reason this time?"
Leandra sighed as she thought of Griffin's little sister, Vira. "She found someone new, again. Claims that this is the one."
Griffin shook his head at his sister's antics. "She says that every time. How many 'the one's' has she gone through now?"
Leandra laughed as she answered, "I think this is number 19."
Griffin handed two mugs to Nathan to hold as he laughed himself. "Of course," he said as he handed the mug he was holding to his mother. Sitting down, Griffin adjusted Nathan so he was draped more comfortably across his lap. Nathan handed him one of the mugs while staring down at his lap.
"So," Leandra said as she sat down, taking a sip of her tea. "Tell me. How did you two meet?"