The Protector's Heart (Wilde Creek Three)

by R. E. Butler

  She moved to turn onto her back to see him, but he prevented it. “If you turn around, sweetheart, then things are going to get sexy really quickly. It’s better if we just sleep, especially since we’re not alone in the room at the moment.”

  Her cheeks heated. “Fine,” she said, finding the humor of the situation, “be all noble and keep your hands to yourself.”

  His warm lips found her neck and he nipped her gently before kissing the mark. “It’s only because I don’t want to wake Jack when I make you scream in pleasure, okay? Don’t think I don’t want you, because I do. I want to make you come a hundred times, taste you, touch you, make love to you.”

  A shiver raced down her spine and her nipples beaded. “Malachi,” she whispered.

  “I’m not going anywhere, sweetheart. We’ll pick this up another time, when we’re not in the same room with your son.”

  She closed her eyes and tried to quell the desire that rushed through her. It wasn’t hard when he pointed out that Jack was right there, sleeping soundly in the play pen. Thank goodness Malachi was thinking clearly enough for the both of them.

  “Goodnight, Mal.”

  He kissed her neck again and murmured goodnight. It didn’t take long for her to drift off to sleep. In her last bit of wakefulness, she wondered at her feelings for the protective male. She’d been so intent on keeping him away from her and Jack, but here she was just a few weeks after meeting him, letting him hold her while they slept and taking refuge in his home. She didn’t know what the dawn would bring, but she wasn’t as worried about it as she would have been if she were alone. Malachi was taking care of her, and she had no doubt that he would continue to do so. There was something very honest and real about him. He wasn’t trying to charm her or lull her into complacency. He was just a good guy, right down to the very center of his being.

  She wanted to tell him that she was sorry for being such a bitch, but when she opened her mouth she yawned instead and decided to tell him in the morning. Relaxing in his arms, she absorbed the warmth and comfort of him and slipped away into sleep.

  * * * * *

  Monday morning, Kammie opened the front door and smiled at Malachi as he wheeled an older human woman up the makeshift ramp to Kammie’s front porch. “Good morning, I’m Kammie,” she said, smiling at the woman.

  The woman’s face was black and blue from a severe beating, and her left arm and right ankle were in casts.

  “I’m Diane. Thanks for taking me in.” The woman smiled in spite of the bruises and cuts on her face, and Kammie smiled back. Kammie knew what it felt like to be beaten by a wolf, and according to Malachi, Diane had been attacked by several of them because she’d harbored Nila, Malachi’s human mate, who had a crazy wolf ex.

  Malachi introduced Nila to Kammie as Jeremiah took over, pushing Diane into the front room. Earlier that day, Jeremiah and Adam, both omegas, had brought over a hospital bed and a suitcase of Diane’s things, and oversaw a human male from Malachi’s security company as he installed a system in her home to make sure they were well protected. Kammie’s home was going to be watched over by the protectors to make sure that Nila’s ex didn’t try to harm either of them. Kammie had suffered enough at the hands of her uncle during her teen years to know that she wanted to help keep Diane safe. At least Kammie had the ability to heal faster because of her wolf nature, and she was stronger than a human and could shift and escape if she needed to.

  Nila came up the ramp swiftly and hugged Kammie. “Thank you so much. Diane is the only family I have left outside of my son.”

  Malachi cleared his throat noisily and Nila looked at him with a raised brow. “We’re not official yet, I haven’t said yes.”

  He hummed in his throat and Kammie had the distinct feeling that if she hadn’t been there, Malachi would have enjoyed making Nila say ‘yes’ to whatever question she was referring to. Probably to mate with him. Kammie smiled at Nila and said, “I’ll take good care of her. Come by anytime. Malachi has my cell and house phone numbers, and I’ll report to him if anything is up.”

  “She’ll be safe here with the patrols, Nila,” Malachi said. “Go say goodbye so I can take you to work. We can stop by after dinner and you can spend time with her if you’d like.” Nila smiled again and left Kammie on the porch.

  Kammie wrapped her thick sweater tightly around herself as Malachi turned to her. “There are three protectors patrolling your home. They’ll be in six-hour shifts, but there will always be three guys here. If anything looks off at all to you, call me immediately. I don’t care what time it is. It’s important to me that you and Diane are safe.”

  “Thank you,” she said.

  “You’re welcome. Thank you.”

  She nodded at the big male and turned and headed into the house. Diane had been settled into the hospital bed that was tucked into the corner of the family room. Nila was sitting on the edge and holding Diane’s uninjured hand. Both of them had tears on their faces. Kammie stepped into her bedroom and brought out a box of tissues, handing it to Nila discreetly. Then she went into the kitchen and busied herself with breakfast.

  Nila stopped into the kitchen to say goodbye, leaving with the omegas and Malachi. Kammie carried a lap tray to Diane. “Your meds say you need to take them with food. I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I stocked the kitchen with all sorts of things.”

  Diane looked at the tray, laden with scrambled eggs, pancakes, apple juice, and bottled water.

  “Oh, it’s perfect. I haven’t had anyone cook for me in ages; I’m always the one cooking for everyone.” She lifted the fork in her right hand and said, “Thank goodness those assholes didn’t break my right arm, or I’d have to learn how to do everything left-handed.”

  “It’s good to find the humor in these situations,” Kammie said.

  Diane swallowed a bite of pancakes as Kammie opened the water for her. “Sounds like you know something about being knocked around.”

  “Yeah. But he’s gone and won’t be back.”

  “How do you know?”

  “He was banished. If he shows up in town, Acksel will kill him.”

  Diane raised a brow. “I think I like your alpha.”

  Kammie brought out her own food and sat with Diane, and then after the dishes were put away, she walked into the family room to ask Diane if she’d like to watch TV and found her trying to open a new package of cards.

  “Can you shuffle? I’m out of commission but I’d love to play some UNO, if you’re up for a few games.”

  “I’d love to.”

  Sitting on the bed, she made herself comfortable and shuffled while Diane moved the lap tray until it was between the two of them.

  “I might be a bit of a card shark,” Diane said with a wink.

  “I’ll watch out for you, then,” Kammie said, chuckling as she dealt out the cards. She could tell she was going to enjoy Diane living with her. As a human, Diane wouldn’t pressure Kammie like some of the she-wolves did, demanding that she make herself available to work for them. Even though all females were omegas, some of the females thought they were better than others, as if service to the pack was beneath them. Those females, who treated Kammie like a second-class citizen and saw her as too weak to be of any real value, ordered Kammie to cook and clean for them, threatening to tell the alphas she wasn’t performing her duties. Kammie spent a lot of time hiding from the pack during the full moon hunts because her body was scarred from her uncle’s abuse. She liked letting her guard down with the sweet human. It was nice to be appreciated without feeling obligated.

  Kammie tried to focus on the cards, but she found her mind wandering to something Jeremiah had said to her earlier in the day.

  “I’m thinking of going, you know?” he said, after he’d brought in the hospital bed.

  She had looked up at him in surprise.

  “Leaving? What do you mean?”

  He’d shrugged his broad shoulders and looked away from her. “It’s hard to be on the bottom. At least
you like being an omega; I’m forced to it because of my genetics.”

  “Where would you go?” She didn’t mind being an omega. She liked to help, and that’s what omegas did.

  “I don’t know. Somewhere. Anywhere but a place where everyone looks down on me for not being able to shift.”

  “I don’t think less of you for not being able to shift. You know how much flack I get for never shifting in the yard with the others? They think I’m weak because of my scars and my fears.”

  Jeremiah shook his head, turning his brown eyes to her. “I don’t think you’re weak.”

  “I don’t think you are, either. Screw genetics. Genetics gave me a rotten uncle and terrible father.”

  He smiled half-heartedly and said, “Thanks for listening to me bitch, but don’t say anything to anyone, okay?”

  She nodded at him and he’d left, but the conversation had stuck with her. Maybe the right thing for her to do was take off. She could walk away from the pack and find a new life somewhere. Maybe get some land somewhere so she could hunt in her own territory and not worry about who was looking at her scars and thinking she was damaged. Now, playing cards with Diane, Kammie was beginning to see the benefits of leaving the pack life behind. It’s not like her mate was in Wilde Creek. If he was, she’d yet to meet him. Maybe she’d run into him someday in the woods and he’d sweep her off her feet.

  She snorted, laying down a red ‘draw two’ card and making Diane curse. Shoving aside the thoughts of her current status as an unmated omega, she turned her attention to the card game. She’d find a mate someday and he wouldn’t care that she was scarred. Jeremiah would find his happily ever after too, she was sure of it.

  And birds could suddenly fly out of her butt.

  Snorting at her dreamy sub-conscious and her snarky inner bitch, she laid down a ‘draw four’ card and Diane cursed a blue streak while she pulled more cards from the deck. “I’ll get you back, don’t worry about me.”

  Kammie grinned. “I’m sure. UNO.”

  “Damn it!”

  Chapter 9

  Tuesday evening, Nila stood in the bathroom off the master and leaned closer, inspecting her makeup. She always wore a little mascara and blush to the office, but she never really wore makeup because she didn’t go anywhere. Jack didn’t care if she had lipstick on. Tonight, though, Malachi was taking her to dinner for their first official date. Mia and Brynn were sitting in the family room with Jack, waiting for her and Malachi to leave so they could babysit.

  She hadn’t been on a date in ages. Not since she and Damien had gotten married. He’d decided she didn’t need things like dinner dates once they were married.

  After work, Malachi had driven her to the daycare to pick up Jack and then to Kammie’s to visit with Diane. Then, on the way to his home, he’d asked her to go out with him. She hadn’t even had to think before saying yes; it was just automatic. But now, as she looked over her outfit and makeup, she was nervous. She smoothed her hands down the black dress, the silk warm against her palms, and looked into the mirror again. She’d left her hair down, because she knew that Malachi liked to see it that way, the dark blonde tresses falling past her shoulders.

  Stepping from the bathroom, she found Brynn sitting on the bed.

  “I just wanted to wish you a good night. Mia and I are going to take great care of Jack, and there are even extra protectors here, just to be safe. Although, honestly, that’s because Acksel insisted on it, since I wouldn’t let him come. Mia and I are going to do girl talk after we put Jack to bed, and I can’t complain about Acksel if he’s sitting right there. Well, I can, but it irritates him.”

  Nila smiled. “Thanks for coming. I know you’ll take good care of Jack.”

  “After my little guy is born, you can return the favor. Maybe Jack and my guy will be best friends and rule the pack someday.”

  Nila’s eyes widened. “Would your pack accept Jack? He’s not… I mean, his dad is from another pack.”

  Brynn raised a brow. “But he’s your son. Of course he would be welcomed once you and Mal…you know, make things official.”

  Nila shivered. “He hasn’t asked me.”

  “Well, things are kinda shitty right now. Mal is a great guy. I’ve known him my whole life, and I think of him as a brother. If I thought he was an asshole, I’d tell you, because I consider you a friend, too. He’ll ask you when the time is right, although there’s no rule against a lady asking her man to be hers forever.” Brynn winked with a smile.

  Nila hugged Brynn when she stood, and Brynn said, “You look amazing, by the way.”

  “Thanks. Thanks for everything.”

  “That’s what friends are for.”

  Nila walked out of the bedroom with Brynn and found Malachi holding Jack and pointing at pictures on the fireplace mantel. “This is my dad and mom.”

  “Carrot?”

  “You got it, buddy.”

  Jack reached for Nila, and she took him, giving him a hug and kissing his cheek. “Have fun tonight, Jack.”

  “Mama.”

  He grabbed a lock of her hair and fisted it, grinning at her. Brynn joined them and said, “Come here, little one, Aunt Mia and Aunt Brynn are going to spoil you rotten.”

  He went to her easily and Nila slipped into her coat, which Malachi held for her. “You look beautiful, sweetheart,” he said into her ear.

  “You look pretty good yourself,” she said and smiled. He was wearing black slacks and dress shoes with a black dress shirt and a red-and-black patterned tie.

  They said goodbye while he pulled on his coat and he escorted her to his SUV and helped her inside.

  “I made reservations at the Steak House.”

  “Sounds great.”

  He reached into the back seat and lifted a bouquet of roses, handing it to her.

  “Um, wow. Thank you.”

  “I heard that humans like to give flowers on their first dates.”

  She chuckled and lifted the dark red roses to her nose, inhaling the sweet scent. “Did you?”

  He hummed as he turned the SUV on. “Yeah. But I would’ve given them to you anyway.”

  “What do wolves give each other on first dates? Rabbits?”

  He shot her a grin. “Only if we’re really crazy about each other.”

  Their conversation was light on the way to the restaurant. They talked about his security company and the changes to how he would be guarding Brynn, taking her to work and picking her up, but not sitting around any longer. She felt the little twist of jealousy again, but didn’t say anything. What could she say, anyway? Please stop doing your pack job and guard me.

  Malachi’s warm hand squeezed her thigh. “I’m going to step down from guarding Brynn full time.”

  “What?”

  “I talked to Acksel about it yesterday. When things are settled with your ex, I’m going to stand down from being her personal guard, and someone else will take over. Then I can just guard you and Jack.”

  “We don’t need a guard.”

  He gave her thigh a light squeeze. “I just mean that I won’t be dividing my time between taking care of you and protecting Brynn. As a protector, I have to look out for her like I would anyone else in the pack, but I won’t be with her full time. I’ll be able to focus on the security company as well as taking care of you both.”

  “I don’t know if things will ever be settled with Damien. Every full moon I kinda wish that he’d be trampled to death by deer.”

  Malachi laughed. “Death by deer? Sounds painful.”

  “You probably think I’m nuts for thinking that.”

  “Not at all, sweetheart. He’s been tormenting you for a long time, but he’s not going to get to do that anymore. I want you to think about moving into my home permanently.”

  She didn’t say anything for a long while, and neither did he. Her heart was pounding as she replayed his words in her head over and over. The SUV stopped and she found herself looking at the restaurant.

&nb
sp; Unbuckling her seatbelt, she turned in her seat. He did the same, and reached for her hand. “I don’t want to rush you but I’m finding it harder and harder to be without you. Your house is fixed; you could go back there, and I’ll patrol every night with guards to make sure you’re safe. But I don’t want you there, I want you with me. I feel like such a dick.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I promised myself that I’d take it slow with you, and not push you. Your ex makes my wolf irrational. We both want you with us so we can keep you safe, but I’m trying not to be a Neanderthal about it.”

  Her heart clenched. He was such a sweet guy. The wolves she’d known in the past wouldn’t have cared what she wanted, they’d have just ordered her. Damien’s pack treated women badly, a fact she hadn’t known until after they were married.

  “You watched me, all this time while I was at work.”

  Even though it was dark in the SUV, the lights from the instrument panel providing only bare illumination, she could see his eyes boring into hers. “I couldn’t help it, but I was trying to be subtle.”

  She snorted. “You’re too imposing to be subtle, Mal.”

  He chuckled. “I suppose. I tried, though. I didn’t want you to hate me, even though you hated all wolves.”

  “I’ve learned about the differences between your pack and his. You’re nothing like him. I’m still scared a little, but I feel like I can trust you.”

  He swallowed audibly. “Your trust is everything to me. I’d die before I hurt you.”

  She leaned forward, reaching for him, and he closed the distance until their lips were nearly touching. Just a heartbeat passed with them frozen there, and then their lips met. A shiver raced down her spine, and she dropped the roses, wrapping her arms around his neck. His tongue swiped over her lips and she opened them, sighing as he swept his tongue into her mouth and the first, heady taste of him filled her. He tasted as wild and spicy as he smelled, and her stomach clenched as their tongues danced together. He groaned when she scraped her short nails over his neck, and the sound rumbled in his chest like a wolfy purr. He held her close, his touch firm but gentle, as if she were made of glass and he might break her if he held her too tightly.