Ryleigh then whispered something to Jacks the miffed look on her face apparent to everyone in the room. Jacks continued. “thanks’ Bas just out of curiosity who is this friend you keep on talking about? Are you ever going to introduce us? I would like to personally thank them for not only this information but also from past investigations they have contributed to.” Jacks said with all sincerity. The team recognized his intent, things couldn’t continue on as they had before, transparency was a necessity now.
Maybe someday Alpha, Bas countered I will tell you this much she is reliable and trustworthy. I wouldn’t allow her access to any of our information if she weren't. I don’t appreciate my loyalty and professionalism being questioned when you never have so much as hinted at any unease before.” Bas said glaring at Ryleigh.
Dalton noticed that Jack’s request infuriated Bas, his jaw clenched and his hands were twisted in a white-knuckled fist, his bear was close. Bas didn’t appreciate his professionalism being called into question or the nature of his association with his hacker. Bas kept to himself much like the other guys on the team based on his reaction to Jacks questioning it seemed he was keeping a bigger secret. He didn’t want an unknown to cause any additional problems for Emma and the baby, shaking his head slightly, he had the realization in that moment, that he was acting just like his Alpha placing Emma and the child above everything and everyone else. He should be ashamed but he wasn’t.
I know Bas that your hacker friend has helped us many times and we have never had any backlash from it. Jacks look turned icy. We need it to stay that way! Get my meaning?
Ryleigh stiffened Jacks had just been bitching up a storm about Emma being an unknown but was willing to let some random hacker in on what was going on, the whole situation bugged her. They needed to keep Emma and the baby under wraps that didn’t seem like the best way to do that. Hackers didn’t have the best reputation and why couldn’t he just have Wyatt their own vetted computer genius do the work? She had decided not to hold her tongue, normally she would have waited till she could discuss things with Jacks in privacy of their room, shoot it was probably the hormones making her act out. Ryleigh did not like this at all. She just couldn’t hold her frustration in another minute.” Wait a minute you are telling me you gave confidential information to an unknown source but you won’t trust a pregnant beat up a woman? How exactly does that work Jacks?”
“Baby, Bas has been working with this hacker his entire life he trusts them and they have proven themselves to us over the years. I questioned it at first but the Intel has always been reliable and we have never had a leak from anything they have done. Jacks tried to placate her. Jacks was not going to let anyone know, now that he was mated the instincts to protect were riding him hard. He knew he was acting like a total douche putting Ryleigh and his child above everyone else he just couldn’t help it. If something were to happen to them he wouldn’t survive he would go rogue killing and maiming everything in sight. He cherished their bond. But theirs was the first in over a hundred years he couldn’t seek out any advice from anyone. How was he supposed to handle his urges as a mate and remain the Alpha? All he knew was that he needed to get his shit together. He had others that also needed his leadership and care. Right know he didn’t know how he was going to do both damn it.
Ryleigh still ticked pushed things even further, “actually Jacks what about Eli you trusted him for a long time and then he showed his true colors. I don’t feel comfortable sharing vital information with an unknown! We have to protect Emma and the baby even more now! “Ryleigh snarked.” I completely agree with her!” Dalton chimed in
Damn it! Ryleigh thought, it had to be hormones or sleep deprivation she never thought she would throw Eli the traitor back in Jacks' face but she couldn’t stop herself.
“We will protect Emma and the baby, it just doesn’t have to be here under our roof.” Jacks growled. He needed to regain control of the situation, He didn’t understand his team anymore what was the big fucking deal they would without question help the woman and her baby just not at their base. They had safe houses everywhere they also had the whole of NAC at their disposal to help guard them. His mate was pushing buttons he would rather her not, but damn it he was the Alpha not her. His job was to protect everyone and he was going to do it how he saw fit, no matter what anyone else thought. Ryleigh wouldn’t look at him he tried to adjust her to get her attention but she just stiffened.
“Ryleigh I understand why you would question my informant but I trust this person with my life she would never betray NAC or The Holly Group.” Said Bas
“Sorry Bas I wish I could just blindly trust your word but after Eli I’m a little gun-shy and now that Mia has confirmed that Emma is in fact one of Franklin's babies. Her child could be a true shifter. It is even more crucial that we keep this information in-house. Maybe even just in this house.” Ryleigh turned and looked into Jacks' eyes. She was pleading with him to agree with her and he knew he would in time but Bas was loyal he had to be the Alpha. Ryleigh needed to understand that as well. Her words hurt proving she still didn’t trust him completely.
Ryleigh was still sitting on Jacks lap he had pulled back not liking the things she was saying and Ryleigh wished she had kept her mouth shut, but damn it this was all just a little too much. She wanted to trust all the guys from Alpha Team. For the most part she did but all this talk and what happened to Emma not to mention her break down earlier were playing havoc with her emotions. But what she really hated was the stiffness she felt from Jacks.
“What the fuck! The baby is a shifter for sure? How do you know? We don’t shift until we hit puberty. No family knows until then not to mention the mere fact that the child is female how can you be sure?” Cash said.
Chapter 24
It was Mia’s turn to speak up,” Sorry guys the tests I ran show that the baby is definitely a shifter. Everything is pointing to bear at the moment. No other strands have been detected at this time but it's early. I have the DNA sequencer running but it could be a week before I know all the results and even then, we are literally no closer to any answers. We won’t know if the child can shift until puberty as we all know there just isn’t a way to test for that. It either happens or it doesn’t. We are still working with a lot of unknowns. I can isolate Shifter DNA that’s legitimately all. Now that we know about the gestation period we can narrow the field but even that is an uncertainty as premature births happen all the time. I will try and track heritage after all of that, but again that will take more time. Unfortunately, it is just a waiting game. I hope to have more information in the next twenty-four hours but the definitive answers could take a week and that is only the basics the whole process could take years.”
“Fuck! That baby could be related to one of us.” Jack’s said hugging Ryleigh closer to him for the first time realizing the ramifications to his clan were astronomical. The baby currently sleeping down the hall was the first known female shifter born in over a hundred years. She would be sought after not only from the clans but also Pandora, Davis, and the Association. Not to mention the rich freaks that wanted designer pets. The thought sickened him. That little girl’s life would never be normal he had to wonder about his own child growing in Ryleigh’s belly. Would his baby have the same fate? Ryleigh’s small grunt of discomfort brought him out of his thoughts. Wrapping his hands around her waist he needed to feel his own little one safe in its mother’s womb for a second. Ryleigh relaxed in the comfort of his arms and Jacks was able to breathe a little easier. They would do what needed to be done for Emma’s little girl and for his future child. Whatever it took, he would keep this cub safe.
Dalton had been sitting there quietly as his team gave their reports on Emma and he was pissed. He understood that they had to be careful but at what point had they turned into a bunch of non-trusting, judgmental, asses? He wanted to have more faith in the men and woman he had come to think of as family and it irritated him that they couldn’t see past their noses to the beautif
ul, trustworthy woman Emma was. All of them had grown to accept and love Ryleigh and it hadn’t taken all that long. Didn’t Emma deserve the same type of treatment or was Ryleigh just accepted due to Senior and Jacks claim. Was she the only one that deserved to be trusted and accepted if so why? Mia also seemed to have earned her place within the group but Dalton and the others didn’t know her from Adam. Grinding his teeth together so hard he was sure they were going to break he disliked his team at the moment and that had never happened before.
Emma had exposed herself to Ryleigh, Cash, every member there in fact. Didn’t these fuckers see that! She didn’t want to hurt anyone. She was the one that had been injured. They helped people in Emma’s situation. That was their job! There was no friction when Ryleigh joined their group was she more important than anyone else? He loved Ryleigh like a sister but he hoped he never became as jaded as the rest of the team seemed to be. Then there was the baby yeah, the ramifications were huge but did they really matter. She was just a tiny baby it would be years before any of them knew the true extent of her being. Dalton could have told them from the start that the baby had Shifter DNA he had smelled it. He could feel that his bear knew the child was one of their own.
Dalton stood up from his chair, leaning forward and placed his hands on the table, looking Jacks directly in the eye. He could feel the heat in this face and knew his eyes were glowing neon. I am just going to tell you all right now if you make Emma and the baby leave I am leaving with them! And you are not going to separate them. Emma is concerned that the baby may not be hers but she loves that little girl and if you would open your eyes you would too Jacks. Your so blinded by your fears that you can’t see what is right in front of your face. Emma opened herself up to us completely, asked for help and made herself and her child vulnerable, she is everything that we have sworn to protect. If that child turns out to be a shifter, then they need our help even more. I will happily leave the team if our core values have changed so drastically!” Dalton said throwing himself back into his chair.
Dalton knew he was crossing the line. He had disrespected Jacks several times since walking into the conference room. The whole situation was sad Jacks and the other members of his team had earned his respect throughout their childhoods and while in the service but he felt they all had blinders on now. He also knew the feelings he was having for Emma and the baby were playing havoc with his nerves. Just yesterday or even earlier today he would never have challenged Jacks or gone against his Team for anything. He was there to keep them safe but somehow Emma and her baby were now his first priority. The Alpha Team his brothers were second. He didn’t know what to think about that and he didn’t know how to handle it. He felt like a bull in a china shop he wanted to beat them all into submission until they realized how precious Emma was. That thought alone made him sit back down in his chair.
The room erupted some of the guys jumping up out of their seats at Dalton's comment. All of the guys had sworn their lives and loyalty to the Alpha Team and NAC and Dalton just let them know he was ready to give it all up for a woman he didn’t truly know and a baby that wasn’t even his. It was sacrilege. Dalton knew his days were numbered he and Jacks would need to make things right sooner or later, in the Shifter world that meant blood.
After a lot of” What the fucks!” and “You have got to be kidding me!” Jacks stood dislodging Ryleigh from his lap and yelled. “Calm the fuck down all of you! Listen Dalton I have nothing against that Emma and the little girl but I need to make sure we are safe and regardless of what the fuck you think it isn’t all about Ryleigh and my cub. Eli lived with us for years until he fucked us I can’t risk my child or Ryleigh with an unknown you have to understand that. He sat back down once he had everyone’s attention and pulled Ryleigh back into his lap. He needed the contact he was upset with her but she was still the most important thing in his life. They would talk all of the shit out later.
Dalton was seething he wanted to get the fuck out of the room. What surprised him more was that he wanted to attack his Alpha. That had never happened before he was loyal to the team and especially Jacks. But he couldn’t abide by his behavior, it seemed to him that Jacks didn’t care what he or anyone else said or thought, He only cared about one thing his mate and it pissed him off. Dalton knew he had already done enough damage. Right now, he just needed this meeting to play out, so he could get back to Emma but he had to wonder, if they were supposed to be a family shouldn’t Jacks care about all of them. Wasn’t it their fucking mission in life to help all woman and children in need!
Jacks spoke quietly directing his eyes to Dalton. “Bas, and Mia just proved that Emma is a minimal threat if that. We just have to be careful. I also can’t believe that you would think I wouldn’t help an abused woman and her baby. That is not who I am and you know it! You and I need to have a long talk after this meeting but know this. We will protect Emma and child.”
Dalton was fucked Jacks was only ever quiet when he was beyond a doubt pissed. Looking around the conference room he noticed that all the guy’s eyes were glowing a sure sign of aggression and agitation. The entire team was one with their anger at what had just transpired and he was pretty sure the rage was directed solely at him. He knew he deserved it. He had acted out of character but thankfully his brothers seemed to be giving him a reprieve at the moment. He didn’t know how long it would last but he hoped it lasted long enough for him to get his head out of his ass. He was angry, tired, and confused not a good combination for a Shifter.
Jacks hated that the meeting had devolved into the mess it had. He also hated the fact that Dalton was acting like a complete ass. The man had been loyal to the group since they were children damn! More than that he had been loyal to Jacks. Now his focus seemed to be split and although he could understand if Emma was sparking his mating instinct he couldn’t just let his Enforcers behavior go. It looked like Jacks was going to be having all kinds of talks tonight and that fucking sucked. He was a man of action not a fucking shrink all he knew was everyone needed to get their shit together. He had noticed the Dalton was holding on by a thread, he could also see the man wanted to beat the shit out of him. Jacks didn’t care he was the Alpha and he would keep them all fucking safe and when things cooled down he would show Dalton who was in charge.
Dalton just couldn’t get over it, he was still mad even if he understood where Jacks was coming from he knew that if something happened to Emma and the baby he would feel the same way. What he didn’t want to tell Jacks was that his bear had already claimed them both and he knew without question Emma was his true mate. This mating shit was all too new to all of them he didn’t understand it himself and he was quite sure Jacks or the others would either.
Mia couldn’t stand the tension within the room, the weight of the vibes the men were putting off was beginning to make the simple act of breathing difficult. Her skin felt clammy and she could feel sweat gathering on her upper lip. Never having been in this type of situation before she decided to stick with what she knew and give her report, maybe just maybe it would make the guys focus on something other than their apparent anger.
Clearing her throat to get their attention Mia said “Listen guys Emma is not in good shape physically who ever held her only gave her the basics to sustain life. She needs to be under a doctor’s care for the foreseeable future. I have her on an IV drip right now but I am going to start her on a broad-spectrum antibiotic as well as some pain meds and anti-inflammatories.
Looking around the room she was thankful that she had gained all of their attention and the strangling vibes were starting to dissipate a bit. Hoping to keep it that way she continued with her assessment of Emma. I also want to start her on a high-calorie diet. I will start slow and bland at first but from Ryleigh’s exam we estimate she is at least thirty pounds underweight. She has been running on pure adrenaline and I think her reserves are spent. Between running and now just giving birth she could make a turn for the worst. Physically we can do whatever she need
s but I am afraid that she might start to exhibit some mental issues once she realizes that she is in a safe place and her fight or flight instinct wears off.
Mia knew it had taken her month’s years even to get a grip on her own ordeal. She didn’t want to think about it. Ryleigh had pulled herself out of that black place and she was grateful. She would do the same for Emma.
“The weight of what has happened to her in the last six months is bound to cause some problems. She was kidnapped held against her will and although I didn’t notice any damage we don’t know if she was raped or not. Those are all feelings she is going to have to deal with. I want to run some additional tests as well.” Mia said
Feeling the Alpha vibes lessen more Mia took a much-needed deep breath. Ryleigh must have noticed that she had been struggling with the tension in the room because she picked up the conversation looking her mate directly in his beautiful green eyes she stated “Jacks I understand your concerns but I can’t help but think this is the best place for Emma and the baby right now. We can’t let anyone know that she is here or that we have the first full female shifter here either, we are going to have to hide their presence until we know who we can trust.”
I agree with Ryleigh Mia said, the one good thing is the baby is in very good health ranking very high on the Apgar chart. After Emma wakes up I am going to talk with her about breastfeeding. I know it is the common belief that it is the best source of nutrition for babies but I just don’t know if Emma’s body can handle it in her current physical condition. My best guess at this time is the baby will need to be bottle-fed with formula which we thankfully have on hand due to the nature of your missions. This isn’t the first baby NAC’s Alpha team has helped. Mia really wanted to laugh, which surprised her after the tension earlier. As soon as she mentioned breastfeeding all the guys looked down or around the room not making eye contact with her. Typical guys mention boobs and they get all fidgety.
Dalton: NAC & The Holly Group (Alpha Team Book 2) Page 16