Ten years later.
Nathan was careful as he put the small ceramic teacup on its saucer. It made a soft tink as he held the plate in his large hand.
"Nathan, you didn't put your pinky up," Xochi sounded so disappointed. The tiny seven-year-old pouted across from the gigantic man seated at her cramped tea table.
This miniature-sized Eliza had stolen the heart of her mother’s guard the moment she was born. Xochi could do no wrong in his eyes and she looked at him like her best friend. Nathan didn’t pinch her like her older brother or cry and whine like her baby sister. No, he listened to colorful stories, laughed at her stumbled-over jokes. He was patient and calm when he spoke to her. In her eyes, Nathan was her favorite wolf. Well, after her dad. No one compared to her daddy.
“I’m sorr
