by Creator
“What’s going on?” she asked in her most authoritative voice.
The men parted and eyed her silently. Finally, Mack, one of the newer guys stepped back and allowed her to see what held their fascination. A small wolf lay curled up, blood oozing from a wound in its side.
“Oh! Oh my!”
Aislinn scurried into the circle and knelt beside the baby wolf cub. She placed a hand on the animal and murmured to it softly. A prickling sensation crept from her hand to the animal and she bit back a gasp. Not a wolf. A werewolf!
“Come on, sweetheart. Let’s get you inside and taken care of.”
Aislinn lifted the furry bundle into her arms not caring about the blood now smeared on her clothes, and carried it into the work trailer. Laying her precious cargo down on the small sofa, she gently prodded the wound, trying to get a better look.
Reaching for the radio beside the door, she pressed the button. “Connor, it’s Aislinn.”
“What is it, sweetheart?”
“I need you in the trailer now. We have an emergency.”
A moment later, her mate appeared, his worried eyes scanning her and widening when they saw the smears of blood on her shirt.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, but this boy isn’t.”
His eyes looked down upon the small bundle of fur and his brow furrowed. “Boy?”
“You don’t recognize him? He’s not one of the pack?”
“Aislinn, what are you talking about.”
“He’s a werewolf.”
The pups head lifted at her words and his eyes bore into hers, surprise flaring in their depths.
“It’s okay, honey. We’re going to take care of you,” she assured the youngster.
“How do you know it’s a werewolf? I only sense a normal wolf lying there.” Connor frowned. If it truly was a werewolf, one he couldn’t sense, then that could only mean something sinister was afoot.
“I think he’s been masked, probably as protection against whoever hurt him.”
“Can you heal him and maybe get him to shift?”
Aislinn bit her lip. “I think so, but it would be better to do it at home. Too many of them saw me bring a wolf in here. If I carry out a small boy, they’re going to wonder where he came from and where the wolf disappeared to.”
Connor nodded. “Okay. Let me just tell the foreman what’s going on and we’ll head home.”
An hour later, her patient lay on a towel on the bed. Using peroxide and some clean clothes, Aislinn had cleaned the wound as best she could while the child was in his wolf form.
“Can you shift?” she asked.
The wolf pup shook its head.
With a sigh, she knew she would need help. “Eric! I need you.”
The sorcerer materialized and crossed his arms. “You called on me to fix a werewolf?”
“He says he can’t shift and he’s been sliced open with a knife. Obviously someone means him harm.”
Eric stepped closer and looked over the pup. The blue eyes that met his looked familiar. “Zachary?”
The pup whined and nudged the sorcerer’s hand with his nose.
“You know him?” Aislinn asked.
“His father was the alpha of the Raleigh, North Carolina pack, until he died last month. The new alpha, Benjamin, took the position of alpha through a challenge. It seems he didn’t want to take a chance on Zachary coming back to claim his spot at the pack’s alpha.”
“That’s horrible!”
Eric placed a hand over the pup’s side. A blue glow engulfed both the sorcerer’s hand and the wolf pup’s side. When Eric pulled his hand back, the wound had vanished. Picking the pup up in his arms, he murmured a few words in a language Aislinn didn’t understand. A moment later, a little boy with auburn hair and freckles was in his arms.
“I think we may need some clothes,” Eric said with a smile. Placing the lad on his feet, he immediately dressed the boy in jeans and a sweater.
Aislinn knelt beside the child. “Zachary, my name is Aislinn.”
“Hello, ma’am,” he said in a soft voice that held a trace of a North Carolina accent.
“You’re safe here.”
He nodded and tears formed in his eyes. “The new alpha killed my daddy and my momma. He tried to kill me, too.”
Aislinn wrapped her arms around the small boy and held him close. “I know, darling. But the bad wolf won’t hurt you now, you’re safe here.”
He nodded and hugged her back.
“The big bad wolf?” Connor asked from the door with a raised brow.
“You heard?” she asked.
He nodded. “Obviously the boy can’t return to his pack. I’ll call Gabriel and ask him to come over, along with his brothers and mine. We’ll convene in an hour.”
Aislinn tightened her arms on the child. “I don’t care if you convene or not. He’s staying.”
Connor raised a brow and looked at her, his look souring when the sorcerer began laughing.
“The sorceress has spoken, werewolf. I’d listen to her if I were you.”
Connor glowered at the sorcerer. “I heard her.”
Aislinn looked into Zachary’s blue eyes. “How old are you?”
“Five,” he replied shyly.
“Would you like to stay here?”
He looked from her to Connor to Eric before nodding enthusiastically.
“Then stay you shall.” Aislinn rose and glared at her mate. “You might want to move.”
As Connor stepped back into the doorway, Aislinn transformed the blue bedroom into a little boy’s delight. A table appeared with a wooden train set, the dresser was topped with a lamp in the shape of a wolf, glowing stars and a moon appeared on the ceiling, and a blue wolf print rug materialized beside the bed.
Deciding to lend a hand, Eric made a matching bedspread and pillows appear. Next, he created several pairs of jeans, sweaters, socks, and underwear for the child. A toy box materialized in the corner. A stuffed wolf’s head poked out of the box.
When Zachary pulled the wolf out, he saw a ball, cars, and a play set of solders inside the box. Tears formed in his eyes and he ran to hug Eric and Aislinn.
“I’ve never had so many toys before. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” Eric stated in his deep, rumbly voice. “You’ve had a trying day. Why don’t you take a nap while Aislinn fixes you something to eat?”
Zachary nodded and climbed onto the bed. Burrowing under the covers, he laid his head on the pillow and closed his eyes. In a matter of minutes, his breathing became deep and even.
In the living room, Eric stood against the wall, arms folded over his chest, while Aislinn and Connor sat on the sofa. The pack had been called and they were merely waiting.
“You know you’re going to let him into the pack. Why call everyone over?” she asked.
“Because it’s a formality. I share leadership with Gabriel, so it’s only right that he has a say in this.”
Aislinn snorted and rolled her eyes. “Please, as if any of you are going to turn your backs on that precious little boy. I swear to you Connor, if you turn him away, I’ll walk out the door and never come back.”
He looked taken aback. “You’re serious? You would choose that child over a life with your rightful mate?”
“If my mate is an obtuse pain in the butt, then yes. If you turn your back on that child, send him out there alone, then I won’t stay with you.”
Eric grinned in perverse delight. “I do believe she has you by the short hairs on this one.”
Connor nearly choked at the comment. The sorcerer was right, but he’d be damned if he was going to admit it. Aislinn meant the world to him, and he’d do anything for her, even if it meant
adopting another werewolf’s son. And he had a sinking suspicion it just might be part of the requirement of being her husband. She was obviously attached to the child already.
“If the others agree to let the boy stay, we have to be clear on somethi
ng. He may be a male child, and once we’re married we can adopt him as our own, but only a blood related male can inherit my position as alpha.”
Aislinn lifted her eyes to his. “And if I only give you daughters?”
Connor looked startled by the thought. “Then, I guess we could reassess the situation then. It will also depend on the type of young man Zachary grows into. If he grows up to be the type of young man who could one day lead a pack, then I won’t have a problem with him becoming my heir.”
Aislinn smiled in triumph. “That’s all I can ask.”
Chapter Nineteen
The pack had been in complete agreement to take in Zachary, and Connor had placed a call to Matt, hoping he would have insight into how to go about adopting the young werewolf. If his original pack thought he was dead, and their alpha had tried to kill him, they didn’t want to advertise that the boy was alive.
After a filling meal and some time to get acquainted better with Aislinn and Connor, Zachary had settled right in to his new life. While he missed his mother and father, he was happy to have found a new family, one who obviously cared about him already. He was lucky and he knew it. He swore to himself, that no matter what it took, he would repay their kindness one day.
While Zachary was playing in his room, Connor and Aislinn cuddled on the sofa.
“You know, someone might recognize him one day. We probably shouldn’t use his given name.”
“You mean, rename him?”
Connor nodded. “It isn’t uncommon when a small child is adopted. And it might help keep him safe.”
“We should talk to him about it. It isn’t right to change his life so much without discussing it with him first.”
“I know, but when he understands it’s to keep him safe, I’m sure he’ll be okay with it.”
“Okay with what, Connor?” Zachary asked from the doorway.
“Come over here a minute, Zachary. Aislinn and I need to discuss something with you.”
“You decided not to adopt me?” he asked in fear.
“No, nothing like that,” Aislinn assured him. “It’s just that… we’re worried that someone in your old pack might see you one day and recognize you. There can’t be too many werewolf boys with red hair and blue eyes answering to the name of Zachary. Understand?”
“You want to change my name,” he stated.
Aislinn nodded. “Yes. We don’t want you to ever forget who you are, but we want to make sure you stay safe, too.”
“A new name and a new family.” He nodded. “So what will my name be?”
Aislinn thought a moment. With his red hair and freckled face, he reminded her of a Scotsman. “What about Alisdair?”
He sounded the name out, trying it out on his tongue. With a smile, he nodded and ran over to hug Aislinn.
“Alisdair Zachary Tierney,” Connor said with a smile. “Something new with something old, keeping you a part of both families.”
“I’m glad you were the ones to find me. I felt like I was led to the construction site and now I know why.”
“Why?” Aislinn asked.
“Because you’re the best parents ever.”
Aislinn looked at Connor over the top of the boy’s head, tears forming in her eyes. She cleared her throat, not wanting Alisdair to see she had been crying.
“Well, I think it’s time for bed Alisdair. Would you like me to tuck you in?”
He smiled at her and nodded, then scampered down the hall to his room.
Connor reached over to take her hand. “We should get married as soon as possible and have the adoption papers pushed through. It’s the only way to guarantee his place in our lives.”
With a tremulous smile, she kissed his cheek. “I’d really like that.”
The next morning, Aislinn woke to find herself in Connor’s arms. She smiled and snuggled closer, having missed him the one night they had slept apart. She hadn’t convinced him to be intimate with her again, but she hoped it would happen soon. Having a small child in the house was going to make it more difficult, but not impossible. Alisdair awoke some nights crying out in the throes of a nightmare, but Aislinn was always able to calm him down and get him back to sleep.
Stretching, she pushed Connor’s shoulder.
“Time to get up.”
He grumbled and tried to pull her back into his arms.
With a smile, she pushed him again. “Come on, I mean it. Time to get up.”
With a sigh, he rubbed his eyes and sat up. “Are you coming in to work after you drop Alisdair off with Cassie?”
She bit her lip. “I thought it might be best if I stayed with him, at least for a little while. Everything is so new to him; I don’t want him to feel frightened.”
He grinned at her. “Honey, you’re going to coddle him to death. He’s a tough little guy, and I’m sure he’ll have a blast playing with Cassie’s kids.”
“I know, but…” She grinned. “I guess I am being a little over-protective, but I haven’t been a mother before.”
Connor pulled her close and kissed her neck. “If I have any say in the matter, you’ll be a mother before too long.”
She frowned. “I already am. Connor, you have to think of Alisdair as part of the family. Once the adoption is complete, he’ll be your son just as much as he’s mine.”
He nodded. “You’re right. It just takes some getting used to, but I’ll make sure I refer to him appropriately.”
“Come on, you need to get ready for work and I need to wake up Alisdair and get him fed.”
“Hey! Don’t I get fed too?”
She giggled. “Yes, you do. Now, go take a shower and get dressed for work. Alisdair and I will leave shortly after you do. I don’t want to show up at Cassie’s at the crack of dawn. I figured eight o’clock was early enough.”
Connor kissed her cheek and rolled out of bed, going to take a shower as she had suggested. He smiled as he realized she was settling into her new life fairly well. She already treated Alisdair as a son, and treated him as if they were already married. A well placed call to the pack wives and to Cassie would get the ball rolling.
With a frown, he thought of Marin and wondered why she hadn’t stopped by yet. He knew she had to be in a lot of pain, and from Aislinn said the sooner they tried to help her, the better. Maybe he’d call Cole before calling the ladies.
Connor arrived at work with a frown on his face. According to his cousin, Marin had been healed by the sorcerer, and yet the man had said nothing to Aislinn. Why had he kept it secret, and why was he still training her in the art of healing?
When he entered his office, his frown deepened. “What are you doing here?”
Cameron smiled slyly and sat on the edge of his desk, displaying a lot of thigh in the process. “Waiting for you.”
“Cameron, you have no business being on this job site, especially in that short skirt.”
“I came to offer my services as your secretary again. I see she’s missing today.”
“She’ll be in later.”
Cameron made a tsking sound. “Already coming in late?”
“She had to drop her son off at a play date. I gave her permission to come in late, but I don’t see what business it is of yours.”
She pouted. “But Connor, I only want to help.”
He glared at her and didn’t comment. The only thing the infernal woman wanted to help with was getting him out of his clothes. And that wasn’t going to happen!
“I don’t have time for your games, Cameron. I have work to do and a wedding to plan.”
Her smile froze and her eyes became cold. “You’re still going through with it? You’re still going to marry that frumpy little nobody? When you could have this?” she asked as she waived toward her exposed legs.
Connor grinned. “Aislinn isn’t frumpy and she isn’t a nobody. She’s a beautiful, amazing woman, a woman I’m going to marry.”
Something shifted in her eyes and she pushed away from the desk. Sauntering over to
him, she draped her arms around his neck and wrapped a leg around him, pressing her body close. “You know you want me, Connor.”
Before he could respond, the office door opened and Aislinn walked in. Her face remained calm as she took in the scene, but Connor knew she was less than pleased.
“Actually, I’m pretty sure that he doesn’t, so kindly unhand my fiancé,” Aislinn demanded in an even tone.
Cameron stepped back and eyed Aislinn with barely disguised anger. “Why would he want you when he could have me?”
Aislinn stepped forward and hooked her arm through his and gave him an adoring smile before facing the loathsome woman again. “Because we’re meant to be together, and no one, not even you, can change that.”
Cameron was seething as she grabbed her purse and walked out the door, stopping to look over her shoulder one last time. “You’re making a big mistake.”
Aislinn’s smile grew. “The only mistake would be accepting your offer. Thankfully, he has too much taste and class to sink to your level.”
Connor choked back a laugh and stared at his fiancé in amazement. Where had this little fireball come from? Apparently her lessons with Eric were giving her a lot of confidence and self- worth, both things that had been much needed when she’d first appeared. He was happy to see her standing up for herself.
After Cameron slammed the door shut, Aislinn faced him and crossed her arms. “Am I going to have to get to a restraining order against that woman? I swear, every time I’m not around she glues herself to you like a leech.”
Connor chuckled and pulled her into his arms. “At least you were here to come to my rescue. I’m getting tired of fending the woman off.”
“Makes me wish I could turn her into a toad,” Aislinn grumbled under her breath.
“I thought you were going to take longer this morning,” Connor commented.
“Alisdair took right to Cassie’s kids and informed me he was a big boy and I didn’t have to stay with him. So I got back in the car and came to work.”