Redhawk Caldera (M) Don’t click play.

That’s a big “if,” Towhee thought, though she kept it to herself. Her eyes flashed again. Once, she would’ve resented his bid for involvement. Nowadays, she would take all the help she could get. It was too bad he couldn’t carry, deliver and nurse any offspring… but there was part of Towhee that sincerely doubted she could either. It made accepting Hotah’s words that much easier.

Okay, she said simply, shifting her weight as the discomfort flared. I doubt we have to worry about pups, though. I think my body’s just trolling me. But on the off chance it isn’t, we can always name it Marmot.

Without another word, she prowled closer to him. He was little more than a stranger, truly, but that had never really been an issue for Towhee when it came to selecting a bedfellow. She wondered if Hotah had any romantic notions and snorted at the thought, her breath ruffling his shoulder as she skimmed her nose along it. If he did, too bad. She wouldn’t begrudge him paternity but nobody could claim her heart.

It would always belong to Maxim.