Redsand Canyon Blood orange sunrise.

Maxim appeared from behind the unwelcome guest. He looked even more wrathful than her. Towhee would’ve shot him an approving glance if she hadn’t been boring holes in the newcomer with her eyes.

When the guy gave a name, another growl burst out of her. Reyes’s son? That wasn’t possible, though. He looked close to her own age. Towhee sneered all the same at the unexpected reminder of her former mate.

Thanks for the food, she replied waspishly, now fuck off.

Once he’d retreated, Towhee glanced over at her partner and then slipped back into the den to curl around their pups. She felt a little shaky, which made fear spear through her. But the slight tremors quickly subsided, the byproduct of the confrontation and nothing more.

They’ve been feeding and I’ve felt okay, she told her mate, looking up at him. Mind kicking that over here? she added, indicating the rabbit on the doorstep with a flick of her snout.