The Heartwood all we can do is try.

Just as Finley jumped, so did Viggo, but he managed to hide his with at least some pride to spare. He, too, was disappointed that they would not be sneaking off into the bushes together, but he supposed it was likely for the best. Doing such things often led to complications, even if he was not likely to admit it.

He listened as Finley spun a tale of a murdered pack and the ghosts that haunted the forest, gasping at all the appropriate times and even giving her a little "oh my!" when she finished her grand work of fiction. Of course, he did not know it was fiction. Nor would he have told her if he had known. Believing a girl was one of the quickest ways to get what he often wanted out of their pretty little faces.

“Only one way to find out,” he said with a wink to each of the girls. “Why don’t we go see what we can find?” Viggo could play the big, strong, brave man, and they could cuddle close to him whenever they got frightened. It was perfect.