by Bonnie Vanak
“Your own personal night light,” Samantha teased.
Arianna smiled at her. “You see, Darcy, you’re among friends here in this pack. We do not judge Others on what they are. We’re all different.”
Samantha pointed to another table, where a man sat with a woman, his gaze fixated on her. “That’s Grayson. He owns the ranch next to ours. He’s from the Dark Kingdom too. Maybe you knew him when you lived there.”
“You allow him to dine with you?” She stared at Samantha.
“Why not?” Darius asked. “He’s a good neighbor. Fine cowhand too.”
Blinking, she set down her fork, tasting tears in the back of her throat. “This is why Tristan wished me to come here. Not because you are all pure Lupines but mixed, like me.”
“Many of us are,” Darius said gently. “It’s what gives us strength as a pack. When Aiden formed our pack, he vowed to help those who needed a home, needed to feel accepted for who they were, not their origins.”
“Our differences make us stronger,” Kyle added.
She swallowed hard. Adrian was the same way, except he detested Others from the Dark Kingdom. Why couldn’t he find it in his heart to accept her as this pack seemed to do?
12
The following day, Darcy hoped she’d have a chance to speak in private with Adrian.
No such luck. He had breakfast before she woke, and when she went downstairs, a cheerful Lupine named Beth, who was Aiden’s niece, informed her that Adrian and Aiden had gone out on the ranch.
She grabbed a bite and busied herself with reading from the lodge’s extensive library. Not knowing everything about Lupines, but figuring she’d better learn, Darcy settled on the sofa with a volume about Lupine history.
Adrian didn’t show up for lunch either.
In the afternoon, she felt stir crazy and went to look for him. Darcy tugged on her parka, boots and gloves and trudged outside. The stables weren’t too far from the lodge, and she needed a walk to clear her mind.
A truck was parked before the building when she reached it. Maybe Adrian was in here with Aiden. Surely he couldn’t ignore her anymore, not with the alpha here.
But when she opened the door and went inside, disappointment filled her. No alpha males.
Just a tall, muscled cowboy feeding hay to the horses.
The smell of horses, hay and warmth flowed over her. Boot heels clicking on the floor, she looked around. The cowboy turned, saw her and tipped his black Stetson.
Jackson, one of the cowboys on the Mitchell Ranch. She’d met him last night at dinner.
Wearing a sheepskin jacket, a blue chambray work shirt opened at the throat, and dusty jeans, he was cute. Tall. Nice-looking Lupine, as were all the males on this ranch. But she felt nothing for him, unlike the stormy emotions Adrian conjured in her.
He paused, leaning on the handle of the fork. “How are you settling here? Everything okay?”
“Fine. It’s really pretty here,” she told him.
“Life on the ranch ain’t perfect.” Jackson forked more hay into the stall. “The pack ain’t perfect either, but I wouldn’t trade it for any other life.” Pausing, he turned and gave her an intense look from his dark eyes. “The only way I’d leave is if Lexie wanted to go elsewhere. I’d do anything for my mate.”
Such loyalty. Devotion. Caring. All the things Darcy longed to have as well. Why couldn’t she? Because you were dumb enough to fall in love with an alpha who always puts pack first.
He finished and set the fork aside. Outside, a truck rattled along the road and then stopped. Soon, the stable door opened and a petite, young Lupine walked inside, her hips swaying gracefully. Snow dusted her black cowboy hat and long, dark hair and covered her thick work boots and jeans.
Jackson’s polite interest flared into fierce intensity as he looked at the arrival.
“Speaking of the devil lady herself,” he murmured. “Hey there, sweetheart.”
Lexie, Jackson’s love. The Lupine rushed forward, engaged her mate in a long, passionate kiss that raised the temperature in the stable by twenty degrees. Darcy busied herself with studying the horses.
The couple broke apart. The tenderness in Jackson’s gaze and the adoration in Lexie’s made her chest hurt. It was sweet, but suddenly she felt jealous of their devotion. She wanted the same from a relationship.
Jealousy never served a good purpose. Darcy pushed the feelings aside and focused on petting the horse in front of her. The couple almost seemed oblivious to her.
“I was out on the ATV, checking to make sure the roads are all clear in case of an emergency.” Lexie smiled at her mate. “Maybe we can duck out later and go visit our favorite spot in the woods. Build a bonfire.”
Jackson chuckled. “Little minx. It’s a date.”
Darcy suspected the bonfire wasn’t the actual reason for the “ducking out.”
Then Lexie turned to her. “I’m sorry, Darcy. Didn’t mean to ignore you, but I haven’t seen Jackson all day. Are you settling in here okay?”
Everyone seemed worried about making sure she felt comfortable. Maybe the Silver Wizard had threatened them. Or maybe everyone on this ranch was simply nice.
“Fine. Just admiring your horses.”
“You want to ride? Diamond needs exercise, and Jackson has chores to finish.” Lexie gestured to the row of horse stalls.
Anything was better than moping around, wishing and hoping for a glimpse of Adrian like a lovesick schoolgirl. Or a lovesick pup. “Sure.”
In no time, two horses were saddled and ready. Lexie led the horses out of their stalls and outside of the stable as Darcy accompanied her.
“The horses need a good workout. You’re doing us a favor. With Nia so close to giving birth, a lot of our people are tied up in things like babies and renovations and birthing,” Lexie said.
Babies. Birth. Families. All the things so far removed from Darcy’s world, and yet they were common to Lupine packs. I’d like a family. But the only guy I will ever love will never settle down with me.
“Jackson and I are trying to get pregnant.” The pretty Lupine’s mouth wobbled, and emotions flashed in her dark gray eyes. “Nia’s my aunt. I’m happy for her and Aiden, but…”
“You want a family too.” Darcy understood.
“Every Lupine on this ranch seems to get pregnant if the guy just looks at her. Not me. We’ve been trying since earlier this year. I stopped competing on the rodeo circuit, and Jackson stuck close to home. The pack physician said to give it time and we’re both young.”
A cold wind swept across the snow-covered meadow, but the sun sparkled on the ice-laden trees and the crisp, white snow. So much land and space. It gave Darcy a feeling of freedom she never felt before. And yet the pack was close-knit and liked to stay together.
She cast a dubious look at the mare, who lowered her head and studied her with large, liquid eyes. She stroked the velvety nose. At least Flower wasn’t as large as Diamond, Lexie’s horse.
After Lexie swung up into the saddle, Darcy did the same. Leather creaked as she settled into the seat. It had been a few years since she’d ridden a horse.
They started out on the trail paved with the snowplow.
“Have you ridden much?” Lexie asked.
“Some, when I had an assignment on a ranch in Wyoming. I’m more used to being ridden,” Darcy admitted.
“I like being on the bottom too,” Lexie confessed.
Darcy laughed. “I wasn’t talking about sex. I was talking about turning into a horse and having someone ride me.”
A cute blush tinted Lexie’s cheeks. “Oh! Duh. Jackson told me rumor had it you’re a Changeling Shifter.”
“Was. Not anymore. Long story.” She flicked the reins, and Flower plodded along.
Silence fell around them for a few moments, broken by the steady swish of snow under the horses’ hooves and the wind billowing through the pine trees.
“It’s not easy having your life turn around. I can’t imagine wh
at it’s like for you, having all that power and losing it,” Lexie finally said. “But I’ve learned that even when you think you’ve lost it all, there’s something better just around the bend.”
Darcy wished she could believe it. “That’s nice. Maybe I can find something better like working in a convenience store instead of serving the goddess.”
Sarcastic? Yeah, but she hurt. This Lupine with her glowing love for her mate couldn’t understand what Darcy faced. Suddenly Lexie dug her heels into Diamond’s flanks and pulled the horse to a stop. The Lupine turned to her with a fierce look.
“I’m serious. I may be younger, Darcy, but I’ve seen a lot in my lifetime. My parents abandoned me when I was young because I was deformed. It took Jackson, and this pack, to convince me that I was normal and to find acceptance.”
Darcy stared. “My parents abandoned me too.”
Lexie nodded. “You know what it’s like. It hurts like hell. I had a deformed foot, caused by not eating enough raw meat to shift all the way into a wolf. After I joined this pack, Aiden and Jackson both encouraged me to keep eating, and eventually, the deformity went away. But for the longest time, I felt so alienated and alone. All I had was barrel racing and my horse, and that purpose. And I found something better. I found Jackson.”
Darcy smiled. “I am glad you found him. You two are obviously very much in love.”
“We are, but our relationship was stormy at the start. It happens with many couples.”
“Not as stormy as mine,” she muttered. “Ours was more the hurricane variety.”
Sympathy colored Lexie’s expression. “It’s none of my business about what you and Adrian are going through. But my advice is if you have feelings for Adrian, talk to him. He’ll come around.”
She quietly thanked Lexie as they continued their ride.
Talk to Adrian. Impossible when he kept avoiding her.
Darcy felt ready to give up on him.
Because clearly he’d given up on her.
* * *
On the third day since their arrival at the Mitchell Ranch, Adrian realized he could no longer keep avoiding Darcy. He felt like a heel, leaving her in the care of the other Lupines. But Aiden Mitchell had wanted to talk, alpha to alpha, about what had happened in the mine.
He’d busied himself with learning about the ranch from Aiden and Darius. Might be a good investment for his pack for the future.
And at dinner the second night, Darcy hadn’t shown up for the much-smaller gathering in the lodge. Nia informed him that Darcy had eaten earlier. Alone.
By the time Adrian had gone to bed, Darcy’s door was firmly shut.
Planning on joining her for breakfast this morning, he showered and dressed and then started down the stairs to the second floor.
Darcy was leaving her room. She saw him, ignored him and kept going.
“Darce, wait.”
No answer.
Adrian sighed. “Okay,” he called out. “I know I’m a louse, but will you at least stop for a minute?”
That got her attention. Darcy whirled, her green eyes storming. “Why? Aren’t you afraid I have some disease you’ll catch? Isn’t that why you’ve been avoiding me?”
Temper rising, he forced himself to speak in a level voice. “I had to meet with Mitchell. Business and pack politics. Speaking of which…” Adrian craned his neck to look down the hallway. “It’s quiet in there. Too quiet. Where is everyone?”
“Most of the pack left earlier this morning. Some kind of big baby shower celebration or something.” Darcy narrowed her eyes. “So breakfast is on your own. I’m sure as hell not cooking for you.”
“Thank the powers,” he shot back. “Your cooking could be used as rodent killer.”
She glared at him and started for the stairs. Adrian silently cursed. This was all wrong. How the hell had he screwed up this much?
“Darcy, wait,” he called after her.
A harsh cry drew his attention down the hallway.
They looked at each other. Then Adrian raced to the rooms claimed by the alpha couple.
“What’s wrong?” he asked. “Can I help?”
Nia sat on the bed, Aiden beside her, equally pale and distressed. Nia’s scared, wide-eyed gaze found his. “The baby’s coming. I’ve had back pain all night, and then my water broke. And the midwife isn’t here. She and her team are at a baby shower on another part of the ranch.”
“A baby shower?” Aiden roared. “When my mate is about to deliver our child?!”
Nia glared at him. “Hush up. I gave her permission. She’s been hovering, everyone’s been hovering around me, and I just wanted a little time alone.” A grimace tightened Nia’s face. “I didn’t think the baby would come this soon. I thought the aches and pains in my back were just backache!”
Aiden’s expression smoothed out, and he became a concerned mate. “It’s all right, sweetheart. We’ve got this. It’s just like the classes we took. Breathe through it.”
Nia uttered another moan, and her mate paled, but he clutched her hand and murmured assurances as she took cleansing breaths. Like their wolves, Darius and Samantha paced the room, the couple looking distressed.
“I can’t believe all the females with birthing experience are at this shower. No one’s here to help. I’ve never delivered a baby before,” Darius said, jamming a hand through his hair.
“Me either,” Samantha echoed.
“I’ve delivered a horse and a calf.” Darius looked hopeful. “Can’t be much different.”
“I,” Nia grated out, her face contorting with either pain or rage or both, “Am. Not. A. Cow!”
Her mate stood, cracked his knuckles. “Of course you’re not, sweetheart. I’ve done this before. I’ll deliver my child.”
“No.” Adrian rolled up the sleeves of his shirt. “Your mate needs you at her side. I’ll deliver the baby.”
Darcy’s jaw dropped. “You?”
“I’ve delivered five babies in my pack.” His gaze locked to Aiden’s, who seemed to struggle with the idea. “Do you trust me?”
A brief nod.
“Good.”
Lovely, capable Darcy shook her head. “You amaze me, Adrian.”
Ordinarily he’d be quite pleased at her praise, but there was no time. He thought of all the things they’d need for this. Snow billowed outside, a hard wind pushing at the windows in the bedroom.
The baby needed to be kept warm upon birth. He looked at Samantha and Darius. Like in his pack, they were not only the beta couple but best friends to the alpha pair. “Turn up the heat in this bedroom. And then I’ll need warm blankets, disposable sheets, and something to cut the cord.”
“What about something to suction out the baby’s airwaves?” Samantha asked.
“No. Wiping his face will suffice. Suctioning will only impede his progress on breathing on his own.”
“Are you sure?” Darius, full of concern but arrogant.
“Yes. Now go.” His voice, low and quiet, carried the lash of command. Darius and Samantha scrambled to obey.
Aiden went to Nia. “C’mon, sweetheart, we can do this. I’ll help you. I’m right here with you, and I’m not leaving.”
Tears shimmered in Nia’s lovely eyes, and she grimaced, holding her stomach. Another contraction? Adrian counted. This was going to be quick. Good thing he was here and knew what to do. Cool, logical thinking overcame him. He forgot about all else except the child he intended to deliver and the couple before him. Aiden, worried, but in control. Nia, scared. Her heartrate soared. He could hear it from where he stood.
He must soothe her and assure her all would be well.
Giving a reassuring smile at the alpha female, he patted her hand. “It’s going to be fine, Nia. I know this is your first child, but I know what to do. I won’t let you down.” His gaze included Aiden. “Either of you. I promise.”
His gaze shot to Darcy. “I’m going to clean up. Help Aiden get her ready.”
In the adjoining bathroom
, he scrubbed his hands and arms with the plain soap in the dispenser. Drying his hands, he emerged to find a naked Nia propped up in bed, Aiden behind her, rubbing her belly in long, soothing caresses. Samantha and Darius stood in the corner, the supplies they’d found arranged on the bureau.
He looked at Aiden, who was remarkably pale but calm. “Talk her through the pain. Take deep breaths, Nia,” he advised.
Nia suddenly moaned like an animal. Her face contorted.
He’d done this five times, and each time was different. Adrian bent down, massaging Nia’s bottom. He saw not the mate of another alpha, but a scared and worried female, about to become a mother for the first time. All his training and instincts kicked in as he crooned to Nia. “You’re doing great, Nia. Keep pushing.”
“How can I help?”
Darcy. Quiet, confident. He wanted to trust her.
How could he trust her? She was a creature of the Dark Kingdom.
But Nia and Aiden looked at him, and the tension rose in the room. Darcy hadn’t done anything wrong. Rather, it was his own vow to his people that held him at bay. The Mitchell pack wasn’t involved.
Instantly, he knew he needed her presence here. “Go on Nia’s other side. Hold her hand. She can use the assurance of another woman. Keep encouraging her to push when I say so.”
Darcy sat on the bed, murmuring encouraging sounds that made no sense but sounded right.
Nia’s face contorted as she grunted, strained and screamed to deliver her child. Her mate murmured soothing words while Adrian focused on delivering the child, telling Nia to push.
A radio crackled. Darius removed the instrument hanging on his belt. “The midwife’s on her way.” He gave Nia a hopeful look. “I don’t suppose you could hold off on this for a few minutes? Maybe think of something else, like baseball?”
A low growl rumbled from Nia’s chest. Her pretty blue eyes turned amber, her wolf rising. “That’s for men and sex, you dolt!”
Darius drew himself upright. “I’m not a dolt, just trying to help.”
“Honey, hush up. You’re not helping.” Samantha tugged at her mate’s arm. “Let’s go out and get her.”