Lost Creek Hollow As we roll down this unfamiliar road

Gannet deflated quite a bit as she explained what she meant. She thought that because he did not understand the bond she and Rannoch shared, and because he couldn't therefore have that with Mona, he couldn't be a good father. And that meant he likely never would be able to.

Manufacture. No, she was wrong. For the first time in a very long time, Gannet felt himself get a little mad. Defensive at least.

It isn't manufactured. I don't have to be her mate to teach him. He said firmly. Just because it wasn't like she and Rannoch had didn't make it wrong. She asked me, and I want to. His silver eyes were intense, with none of the playfulness they usually had. He wanted this more than he had wanted anything in a long time, and it hurt a lot that she thought he couldn't do it.