by Milly Taiden
“Where are you?” Anxiety coursed through her, causing her voice to tremble.
“Thirsty Wolfe.”
Damn it. Nate’s bar sat across town almost forty minutes away on a good traffic day.
“I need you. Some wolves attacked when we were leaving the school.” She said the words so fast they tripped over each other.
“Are you okay?” His voice turned into a rough growl.
She tried to choke back the fear over the amount of bleeding her brother had. “Yes, but Ellie, Jordan, and Kel need help. I tried to call 9-1-1 from my cell but it died on me. The operator and I had connection issues.”
“We’ll be there soon.”
“Hurry!”
NATE’S HEART THUNDERED hard in his chest as they sped to the school. All-consuming fear for his mate, for their child, and the rest of his family tore at his insides.
“She said they were fine, right?” Jake asked from the driver side.
“Yes. I sent some of our men who were in the area ahead to give them backup in case others showed up. Great time for Aric and dad to be gone.”
“You know how this works. They had to show face at a leaders’ council down south. If they didn’t, it would have been seen as something negative on our behalf. The whole ‘we’re better than them’ attitude.” Jake growled and hit a speed bump, never slowing down.
“He’s going to be pissed he wasn’t here.” Shit. He was pissed he hadn’t been there to defend the women from a new attack. They should have known that Rocco would send rogues out. Their helping Caleb was seen as siding with the enemy. Not that anyone in the Wolfe pack gave a shit about what Rocco or his lackeys thought.
It took thirty interminable minutes for them to reach the school. When they did, they caught sight of Ellie with a group of enforcers and Jordan sitting some yards away, both scratched up, but okay.
Both he and Jake jumped out of the vehicle in a rush. They reached Jordan, who was sitting on top of her car, wrapped up in a blanket.
“Are you okay?” Jake asked.
She nodded, pushing the hair away from her face. The movement revealed a long gash on the side of her face, dripping with blood. “I’m okay, but they can’t find the guys anywhere.”
Jake turned to Nate. “Go to Karla. I’m going to talk to the enforcers. I’ll go search the area with them and scent the women’s clothing to see if we pick up anything. You stay with them, and I’ll get back to you on what we find.”
Nate nodded and glanced around. He stomped back and forth around the emergency vehicles, searching for Karla but not seeing her anywhere. The wolf pushed at the skin wanting loose. He growled and turned to Jordan, but she was being interrogated by some enforcers.
He snarled. Fury soared inside him, explosive and dangerous. His mate. He had to see her. Touch her. Ensure she was safe. Fear for what could have happened created a red haze of wrath in his vision.
He ran around in a circle, growling at the scent of blood. The bastards were gone. They’d escaped, and they’d hurt his family.
Ellie ran toward him, blanket swinging around her legs. “She’s in the ambulance. Kelvin was cut up pretty badly, but we’re sure he’ll be fine.”
The ambulance doors opened at that moment. Karla was helped down by a medic. She looked pale. His anger turned to concern she’d collapse.
“Karla!” His voice thundered in the parking lot. “Were you hurt?”
“No. I’m okay.” Relief filled her brown eyes. He was happy his being there served to calm her. He drew her into his arms and buried his nose in her hair. Her scent immediately soothed the animal inside. He’d been pushing at the skin, restless. Her arms curled around his neck, and she slid her fingers into his hair. Pleasure filled him.
She sighed, her warm breath caressing his neck.
“What did they say about Kel?”
“He’ll need a few days to recover. He’s saying he’s fine. They’re bandaging him up and once they’re done I’m taking him home with me.”
She propelled back, meeting his gaze. “He’ll be fine, right? He won’t have some weird reaction to getting all scratched up, will he?”
“No, honey. Nothing strange should come from that.”
He hated scenting her fear and concern. He wanted to make things better now. But there wasn’t much anyone could do. Caleb’s few men weren’t enough to take down the army of rogues Rocco had amassed.
“I’ll take you both home, and you can tell me what happened.”
She nodded and leaned her head into the curve of his shoulder. He glanced up and caught Ellie motioning for Karla and Nate to join them.
“We were given the all clear.” She smiled. Thank God. He loved his sister to death and would go crazy if she were badly injured again.
“I have a crummy bite, but the medic said I just have to shift a few times, and I’ll be fine.” Jordan pouted. She scrunched her nose and wiggled her bandaged foot before looking up. “Anyone wanna volunteer to come over and cook for me?”
“How about you all come with us, and I’ll cook?” Nate offered.
Ellie grinned. “I accept for all of us. We need food.”
“And wine.” Jordan added with a wince. Her shoulders drooped on a sigh. “Most of us need wine, anyway.”
His cell phone rang. A peek at the screen showed it was exactly the person he wanted to talk to.
“Hey, Mom.”
“I just heard. Is everyone okay?” His mom asked in a rush.
“Yeah. Kelvin was the one with the nastiest cuts. We’re all heading to Karla’s house.” He toyed with a long dark strand of her hair as he spoke.
“I’ll be right there.”
“I was hoping you’d say that. They’re all hungry.”
His mother’s burst of laughter tugged at his heart. “I’ll bring food.”
“You’re the best, mom.”
“Oh, I know. Tell Jordan she better give Aric a call before he hears about it from someone else and decides to fly back tonight thinking she’s been badly injured.”
He glanced at Jordan and saw her on her cell phone. “I think she’s already on that.”
“Thanks. It will be a while before we get there. Jake is scenting the women’s clothing to see if he picks up anything familiar. He’s going to search the area with the other enforcers to see if he finds anything. We decided I’d stay with Karla, Ellie and Jordan for peace of mind. See you in a bit.”
“DID YOU RECOGNIZE any of them?” Nate’s mom asked everyone sitting on the different forest green sofas spread over Karla’s large living area.
“No.” Was the consensus.
“Their scents weren’t familiar at all, Mom,” Ellie said, sipping from her wine and leaning back into the super soft cushions.
“I definitely haven’t seen them before.” Jordan sat sideways on the sofa.
When he arrived at the scene, Nate had already arranged for some of the enforcers to check out the area and make sure that the men who had attacked weren’t around. They weren’t, but by not recognizing their scents, they had no idea who the men were.
Karla leaned into his side, her head resting on the curve of his neck. She’d been quiet for a while now. And had eaten very little.
“All I know is I need to enroll in some of those classes you ladies have been taking.” Kel grunted. “I got my ass handed to me tonight by a mutt.”
Ellie laughed. “Shifter. There’s a difference. We can kick ass.”
“Obviously.” Kel grimaced and moved to a better position on his recliner. “Sign me up for the next boot camp. I’ll gladly take a beating from an instructor if it means I don’t get torn into like a damn toy the next time those guys show up.”
“Kel, I have the perfect instructor for you,” Nate’s mom said.
Uh-oh. Nate knew where she was going. “Mom…”
She gave her best innocent wide-eyed stare. “What? We have great instructors.”
“Cut it out with the matchmaking,” Ellie chastised.
“I ne
ver said I was going to match make,” she said, turning toward the kitchen.
They all knew better though. Barbara Wolfe was the ultimate matchmaker and nothing as pesky as free will would ever stop her.
Kel lifted a brow in question. From what he mentioned in their conversation about his past, Nate didn’t think he’d want to get set up any time soon. Kel had already had an ex-girlfriend who dumped him for some other guy.
“Just be careful who she gets to be your instructor. We have a couple of female enforcers. And you will end up mated and married before the summer is over if Mom has her way.”
Kel raised his hands, shaking his head in mock horror. “Thanks, but no thanks.”
“Yeah,” Jordan snorted, “good luck trying to get her to understand that one. The only reason I’m not pregnant yet is because she can’t talk my ovaries into doing her bidding. If she could I’d be in deep shit.”
Everyone laughed at the panic in Jordan’s voice. Nate glanced down at his quiet mate and realized she’d fallen asleep. He carried her to bed, removed her clothes, and covered her with a blanket. When he returned to the living room, only his mother remained.
“Where are Ellie and Jordan?”
She smiled and sat down next to him on the sofa. “They went home. The poor things were feeling tired and said their body aches urged them to shift.”
“And Kel?”
She patted his knee and turned to face him. “He said those painkillers were finally taking effect, and he was going to bed.”
“Do you need me to take you home?”
She laughed. “Like you would leave your mate and child alone after what just happened.” She patted his cheek. “But it’s a lovely offer.”
“I’d take you home if you need, Mom. I’d drive like a bat out of hell, but I’d take you.” He chuckled when she clucked her tongue.
“I’m not trying to die young.”
His mother was too much. “Fine. Ask what you want to know then.”
“What’s going on here? I sense you and Karla aren’t where you should be for a pair ready to welcome some babies into the world.”
Wait, what? “What do you mean babies? I scented the change. Only heard one heartbeat. How did you come up with multiples?”
She sighed. “Son, you are—what do you young people call it? Oh yes, a noob. I know scents. I know babies. You’re having multiples.”
His heart stopped and he swallowed hard. “How many is multiple?”
“Two or three. They’re very in sync, so it’s hard to say. But definitely more than one.”
Holy shit. He wondered if he should tell Karla. She was still getting used to the idea of having him around. If she got any overwhelming news, it could be stressful for her.
“Son?” She laughed. “You look kind of pale.”
“No, I’m okay. This is exciting. Shocking, but exciting.” Finding out he was going to be a father to multiples was definitely something he wasn’t expecting. One thing was for sure; he would do anything to ensure his mate’s safety. That meant he’d work double time to help Caleb get rid of the rogues in the area.
“Anything else on your mind?” His mom gave him that knowing look she’d used when he was a kid and couldn’t figure something out by himself.
“I don’t know how to close the space between us. I sense her holding back.” It pained him to say it, but it was true. His feelings for Karla had grown with the years he’d known her, but he always sensed a wall on her side—like she kept herself at an emotional distance.
She nodded. “I understand. It’s probably something to do with the way she was raised.”
He frowned. “What do you mean?”
“She’s mentioned a time or two how her mother chased after men all through her youth, to the point she would spend all her money giving men whatever they wanted in hopes they’d stick around.”
“That’s sad, but we’re not in that situation.” Not even a little. Though he’d been busy with Caleb, he’d been very clear he wanted to be with her.
“Really?” She raised her pale brows high. “How much time have you spent with her since the scenting ceremony?”
Not much, but… “We’re working on that.”
“Right. And don’t you think that’s the first door that needs to open for your new relationship to grow? Why should she take your word that you’ll be around as anything special?”
It went without saying. “She’s my mate!”
“She’s scared.” His mother smiled sympathetically. “She’s never seen a man stick around for her mother. What makes you think she’ll think you will for her?”
He didn’t know how to respond to that. The men in his family held their mates and children as the most important part of their lives. He couldn’t understand how Karla didn’t see that.
“What do I do?”
“Give her time. But be there for her. Words,” she shrugged, “they’re easy to say. Actions speak louder, son. Your mate needs proof that you’re not going anywhere. Treat her like what she is, your equal. Involve her in what you do to the point she knows she’s an important part of your life. That she’s not a bother.”
“I’m trying, but with more rogues showing up in Caleb’s land I want to help rid of them. I don’t want her or our children in danger.”
“I know. Follow your instinct when it comes to your mate, Nate. She wants you to want to be with her without her asking. That means you must spend time with her. Or that wall she’s erected? It’ll only keep growing.”
He thought about her words and resolved to make changes in order for Karla to see his conviction for their relationship. Things weren’t going to be easy, but as long as he could find a way to help her embrace their future as a family he’d take that as a start. Her skepticism was deep rooted. It clearly meant she held on to her past experiences as a shield to stop herself from letting him into her heart. He needed to know where it stemmed from in order to help her see his commitment.
KARLA WOKE UP to the smell of food again. Nate had stayed the night, and she hadn’t even noticed. She groaned and turned away from the sunlight.
“Rise and shine.” He chuckled. “Come on, baby. You can’t still be tired.”
“You’re an evil, evil man. Why must you sound so chipper this early in the morning?” She groaned.
“I have food.” He rubbed his beard growth over her cheek.
A smile split her lips. She liked that he was attentive. “You might live to see another day then.” She flipped on her back and pushed the hair away from her face. Sure enough, he’d brought a tray with orange juice and toasted English muffins. Her favorite. He even brought her favorite orange jam. And she was out which meant he had to have bought a jar.
“Did you go out to buy jam?”
“I couldn’t leave you alone. I sent one of the enforcers to pick some up for you. He dropped it off earlier.”
She blinked, holding the juice mid-way to her mouth. “You had someone buy me jam and bring it over?”
He nodded, face clear of any smile to indicate he hadn’t joked. “Yeah.”
“But they have important things to do! They don’t need to be running errands.”
The bright light of his wolf glowed in his eyes. “You’re important to me. That’s enough.”
She gulped and sat up. “I think I’m being spoiled.”
He sat on the bed across from her and leaned in, shocking her with a gentle kiss. “I’m certainly going to try.”
It was times like that she fought the idea her mother had tried to instill in her about men lying about sticking around. Karla hadn’t placed any demands on Nate. Not even about their child. Yet there he was, willingly doing things to make her comfortable. That had to count for something.
“I need to talk to you about something.” His lips had flattened into a thin line, and his brow arched down into a deep V. Holy shit. Something was definitely wrong.
She gripped her sheet, not wanting to display her shaking hands. “Oka
y…”
He passed her a glass of juice and met her gaze. “You’re pregnant.”
Um. Okay. She laughed. Anxiety laced his words. She laughed again, harder. She’d been worrying for this? All the knots of fear that formed in her stomach disappeared suddenly. “I’m sorry. I think I knew that already. I thought we established I’m carrying baby Spot.”
His brows rose. “Baby Spot?”
“I don’t know if it’s a boy or a girl and Jordan claimed baby Furball for her future children.” She shrugged, uncurling her hands from the fabric and letting out a breath. “Besides, I like calling you Spot.”
“Baby, you can call me whatever makes you happy.”
She liked him being accommodating. Next she’d ask him to strip and see if that got her anywhere. Talk about feeling frisky. The day’s old beard and messy hair looked fantastic on him. Like he was ready to roll back into bed with her. Those piercing eyes held her entranced.
“But about baby Spot...”
Right. The baby. Damn she’d gone off and started visualizing running her nails down Nate’s body. Those abs and curling her hand around his long, hard cock. “Yeah?”
He grinned. Shit. He probably smelled how turned on she was getting. But he looked good. And she really wanted to lick her way up and down his body until she’d tasted every inch of him. He shifted, and her gaze dropped to his arms. Strong arms. Arms that had held her legs tight in his hold while he licked her pussy. Oh no. Her mind had lost all train of thought. Now all she could think of was him. Between her legs. Bringing her back to bliss.
She took a swallow of her juice and continued to daydream.
“I think you should know it’s probably multiples.”
Yes, she’d love multiple orgasms. Wait. They’d been talking about baby Spot. Oh. Oh shit! Those words shocked her brain into full function. She almost choked on her juice.
He handed her a napkin to cough into. “Are you okay?”
“You couldn’t say that once I’d swallowed the juice?”
“Sorry. But yeah, multiples.”
“How do you know? I haven’t even been to a doctor yet.”
“Mom. She called me a noob and said she can tell.”