Wolf Claims His Pack (Salvation Pack: The Next Generation Book 3), page 7
“First off, I never make a promise I can’t keep. You told me to leave, but I never said I would. And I’m here specifically because Waya came and got me.”
“He what?” Shocked, she whirled around and confronted the boy.
He met her gaze defiantly. “I’ve been watching him. I thought he could help. I’ve been in the system. You’re not my birth mother. We have adoption papers, but CPS might still try to take me since you’re young and single. It’s not right, but it’s how it works. And if they find out about Henry or Eliza, what do you think will happen?”
Bailey winced. The kid didn’t pull any punches. Sad thing, he wasn’t wrong.
“I’m tired of running. I like it here.” He lowered his head. “I want a home.” The tortured whisper about broke Nicholas’s heart. Eliza whimpered, burying her face against his neck.
“Oh, sweetie, you’ll always have a home.” She pulled the boy into her arms. He was nearly as tall as her and wider, but she was the stronger one. “You belong to me.” Her fierce words sent a shudder through Waya. Henry leaned against Bailey. She freed one arm and wrapped it around him. Emmett put his hand on Henry’s shoulder and leaned against his sister.
Feeling slightly left out and aching to be a part of the love they shared, Nicholas put his arms around them, sandwiching Eliza between them. For the briefest second, Bailey rested her forehead against his shoulder before pushing him away. She reached out and took Eliza from him.
“What are we going to do?” Emmett asked. They all looked to Bailey for answers.
She dragged her fingers through her hair and glared at him. “You complicated the situation. Any suggestions?”
“We get married.”
Chapter Seven
“You can’t be serious.” Bailey’s life had been tossed upside down in the past hour, and the man standing calmly in front of her had played a huge role in it. A part of her had wondered if she’d built him up in her imagination, remembering him as better than he was in real life. If anything, she’d downplayed his appearance.
Magnetic. There was no other word for it. It was like he was a huge magnet, pulling her closer without doing a damn thing. It was annoying. The man looked better than he had a right to in scuffed boots, jeans, and a plain T-shirt.
“Deadly serious.” Hands on his hips, he didn’t appear to be joking. Her heart had broken into a gallop when he’d stepped into the clearing beside Waya, and it hadn’t slowed since. Her first thought had been one of joy. He didn’t leave. Suspicion had followed. Why is he still here?
She handed Eliza off to Emmett, knowing he’d take care of her. The way she’d run to Nicholas, confident of her welcome, had shocked Bailey. The girl generally avoided strangers, but she’d taken to him like a duck to water. The way he’d immediately sought to comfort her and had run his hand over her back had slightly thawed Bailey’s frozen heart.
She couldn’t afford to open herself up any more than she already had. Losing people hurt. She’d had no choice but to love the kids. Nicholas wasn’t a lost or unloved kid. He didn’t need her. And she couldn’t afford to need him.
Waya seemed angry and resigned. Henry’s expression was blank, which meant he was worried. Eliza chewed on her bottom lip, but she appeared hopeful. It was the speculation on her brother’s face that gave her pause. Was he really in favor of this? Her marrying a stranger?
“I understand we need to talk, but give me a second.” He turned to Waya. “I need your papers.”
“Why?” she asked. It bothered her that Waya gathered them from the table and handed them over without question.
“Thanks.” Nicholas held up one finger as he pulled out his phone. “Two minutes.”
Was steam coming out the top of her head? The anger that had been simmering was close to exploding into a full boil. How dare he put her off? This was her life he was messing with. “Nicho—” She broke off when his call was answered.
“It’s about damn time,” the male voice growled. “I was hours away from coming after you so I could beat your ass.”
Whoever he was, he didn’t sound friendly. The call wasn’t on speaker, but they all had preternatural hearing, which Nicholas would know or suspect. It calmed her, but only slightly, that he wasn’t trying to keep her out of the loop.
“I need your help.” He didn’t give any greeting, but jumped right to his request. “You’ll need to take notes.” He rattled off their names and the numbers on the documents.
“What the fuck have you gotten yourself into?” the unknown male demanded, even as she heard the faint sound of scratching, like he was writing it down.
How dare he give out their information without her permission? Her mind raced, figuring logistics. They had alternative identification and could buy more, if it came down to it. She had a contact from the last time and could tap it. It would drain their resources, but it would be worth it.
“Can you make sure these are solid? And keep it on the down-low. I don’t want any outside third parties getting a whiff of this.”
“Are you in danger?”
“No. Just get Armand on this now. I’ll get back to you. I need to call Dad.”
“Call me back later or I’ll track you down.”
“Promise. Bye.” He hung up. “That was my brother. One more second.”
She reached out, ready to rip the phone from his hand when it was answered. “Talk to me.” The voice was male and deep and commanding. Was it her imagination or were Nicholas’s shoulders straighter? Both Emmett and Waya were standing taller. Henry and Eliza were both staring at the phone as if they expected something, or someone, to jump out of it at any second.
“I’m in a bit of a situation. I gave Aaron some information. It needs to be solid. CPS has been called on a female half-breed and the four kids she’s taking care of. They’re a mix of full and half-breed.”
All the blood drained from her face. “What have you done?” His father was a male wolf. So was his brother. They would have contacts. Word would get back to her mother’s family and then they’d come. The only saving grace was it would take time for them to get here.
There was no time to lose.
“Evacuation in thirty minutes.” Waya looked so pale his golden skin was almost white. She grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him into a crushing hug. “This is not your fault.”
He clung to her, still a child in a man’s body. “I didn’t mean for this to happen.”
“It’s okay, sweetie. We’ll get through this. Smith Pack forever.”
“Smith Pack forever,” he whispered.
“Emmett, help Henry and Eliza.”
Nicholas tucked his phone away. She cursed herself for not paying attention to the rest of the conversation. Adrenaline pumped through her veins, her entire body primed for action.
“There’s no need to run,” he began, but she was past listening.
A wildness grew inside her, a need to make him pay for destroying her kids’ peace of mind, for putting their lives in danger. She kicked off her shoes and ripped at her shirt.
“Bailey?” He held his hands out in front of him, his eyes wary. Good, he should be afraid. She might have been able to talk her way out of the situation with the caseworker if not for him. She would have handled the two men in the first place—talked them down or cajoled them out of their anger—and today’s visit would never have happened.
The life they’d worked so hard to build was about to implode. Because of him. Then he’d dared to share their names and personal information with unknown male wolves.
Since the death of her parents, she’d been living on nerves and desperation. She’d almost begun to believe in hope again, to see brighter days again. Now there was a storm brewing that might destroy them.
She embraced her wolf, and the creature leaped forward, ready to fight, to defend. Her pups were in danger. Didn’t matter that some of them were almost grown. They were hers.
Her limbs reformed, her hands becoming paws as she fell forward. The process was slow but steady. Her jaw lengthened and her forehead flattened. It no longer hurt, as it had the first few times. Now it was as much a part of her as her wolf.
Sharp teeth bared, she growled at the male wolf who’d threatened her pack. Gathering her back feet under her, she leaped, aiming for his throat.
****
Holy shit! Bailey can shift!
It wasn’t unheard of. His own pack had a half-breed who could shift, but it was so rare as to be the stuff of legends. This was a mama wolf defending her pups. There wasn’t a deadlier creature alive.
Her fur was reddish brown. Her green eyes snapped with fury. There would be no reasoning with her.
“Bailey! No!” her brother yelled.
Shoulder muscles bunched for impact, he lunged to the side and caught her midair, keeping his face away from her powerful jaws. She thrashed, struggling to get loose, trying to dig her claws into any part of him she could reach. Her strength was enormous, but his was greater.
“Stop it.” He shook her lightly, his biceps bulging as he fought to hold her. “I’ll protect you and your pack. Hell, my entire pack will protect yours.” It was the truth. If he could get her to calm down, maybe she’d listen to reason.
She threw her head back, slamming it against his. He swore as blood trickled from his nose. Small blessing that it wasn’t broken. An angry howl echoed across the land. Shit! She was out of control.
There was no way this could end without her getting harmed. He couldn’t hold her indefinitely. He glanced toward the kids, caught the edge of their fear.
There was only one force in the world powerful enough to stop this train wreck. “You’re scaring the children.”
Like flipping a switch, all the fight drained out of her. Taking the chance she wouldn’t turn on him and rip out his throat, he gently set her down on the ground and took a step away, his hands held up in front of him to show her he meant no harm.
“My pack won’t harm yours.” He doubted she’d heard his earlier reassurance. And it wasn’t only her who needed that guarantee. “They’re different from most. We have half-breeds and one full-blooded wolf who can’t shift.”
Bailey growled, as if to call him a liar.
“It’s the truth.” Emmett and Waya seemed as skeptical. Henry’s expression was unreadable. Eliza looked both scared and excited.
Nicholas dragged his fingers through his hair. “Okay, quick history.” Before she ran out of patience. “My father and four others broke from their pack decades ago. Their pack was old-school. My grandfather was alpha, and a meaner son of a bitch never lived.”
Bailey grabbed her T-shirt from the ground and trotted around the side of the house. Emmett grabbed her jeans and tossed them to her when she stuck her arm out. Nicholas did his best not to notice the plain white cotton bra and panties lying in the dirt.
Barefoot, her hair tumbling around her shoulders, she stomped toward him. Her green eyes flashed, the fury only slightly tempered. “I seriously doubt that. Our grandfather killed our parents.”
He briefly closed his eyes, hating that his suspicions had been right. “I’m sorry for that. My grandfather tried to kill my father. When he failed, he attacked the human woman he’d fallen in love with.”
“I’m sorry.” Some of her anger bled away, her shoulders slumping.
“I am, too, but it turned out in the end. They mated and had me and my brother.”
Her jaw dropped. The others were in various stages of shock. “You’re a half-breed, too?”
He shook his head. “My mother was one of the rare ones to be converted instead of dying from a wolf bite. And my uncle eventually killed his father. My point is, I come from a small pack, but a diverse one.”
Bailey crossed her arms over her chest and nodded. “I get that you were trying to help.”
“Armand is my father’s cousin. He’s one hell of a hacker. He’ll make sure your identities are secure without leaving a trail back for anyone to trace.”
She chewed on her bottom lip, wavering in her decision.
“If you want to run, I’ll help, but that might make things worse. Ms. Burns strikes me as a thorough woman. She’ll be checking up on you. If you run, you’ll have cops everywhere looking for you.”
He wanted to comfort her, to wrap his arms around her, but she’d shrug it off, not ready to trust. “We get married. It’s a piece of paper. It keeps Emmett and Waya safe. We keep the younger two off her radar, if possible. Once we’re in the clear, if you still want to leave, I’ll help.”
The fate of his future rested in her strong, callused hands. Heart pounding, he kept his expression as neutral as possible. His wolf was silent and watchful. Her courage, her heart, her pure spirit had sealed the deal. Bailey was his mate. That she could shift was the icing on the cake. It didn’t matter to him one way or another, but he wouldn’t lie and say it wasn’t a huge turn-on.
“Give me a chance. Give us a chance.” It seemed the entire world held its breath.
She turned her back on him and looked at the kids. Of course, she wouldn’t make a decision without including them. Their small pack worked much like his. The alpha would discuss things, but in the end, the decision would be hers.
“Well?” she asked Emmett.
Ignoring her question, he addressed Nicholas. “If you’re lying, I’ll kill you.”
“I’d expect you to.” It pleased him that the teen was protecting his sister.
“You won’t have to.” Waya’s eyes were fathomless and determined. Emmett might be older, but Waya was the more dangerous of the two. There was a darkness inside him. Whatever life the older two had lived, this boy’s had been harder.
“Have you shifted yet?” It always happened in the teenage years but varied from wolf to wolf. He’d made his first shift at thirteen. His brother at fifteen. Waya’s wolf was very close to the surface.
The boy frowned. “That doesn’t matter. I don’t need to shift to kill you.”
“No one is killing anyone.” Bailey huffed out a breath. “Unless it’s me. Let’s go inside.” Without waiting for an answer, she scooped Eliza up and headed for the door.
He waited, letting the others go ahead of him. The coolness of the inside was a reprieve from the blistering sun and heat. Bailey was already in the kitchen, pouring glasses of lemonade. Eliza perched on the counter beside her.
“When do you want to take care of the paperwork?” He swallowed back his excitement. This wasn’t a true mating. Not yet. She might view it as the expedient thing to do. He saw it as a stepping stone to his goal—mate with Bailey and protect her and the kids.
This was what had been missing in his life. Every priority had shifted the second he’d known they were in danger. This was different from chasing off the two humans who’d come to harass her. The lives of her and her family were at stake.
The emptiness inside him was gone. The restlessness had vanished, replaced with purpose. It surged through his blood, sank into his very bones—protect, care for, and cherish.
If she’d let him.
If she truly understood how much this meant to him, she’d likely run in the opposite direction. He’d have to be sneaky and get her used to having him around.
She handed out the drinks. He took his gratefully. Tilting her head back, she drained the glass and refilled it. “If we’re going to do this, and I can’t figure a way around it that doesn’t involve disappearing, we might as well get it done.”
Giving a nod, he drank deeply to keep from throwing back his head and howling out his triumph.
Her gaze narrowed. “This isn’t a true mating. This is paperwork to satisfy CPS.”
“I understand.” He set the glass on the counter. “I should probably move in. I can bunk with the boys or sleep on the couch,” he added before she could object. “We have no idea when Ms. Burns will be back—or the two humans. I can also keep you updated on what my family uncovers.”
He was counting on her need to protect the kids to override her wariness about him.
“Fine.” She checked her watch. “The afternoon is almost gone. Get your things. Supper is in an hour.”
“If you have things to get done in your forge, I can get something together for supper and get my things after.” His mother had insisted both her boys learn their way around a kitchen. He wanted to be a fully integrated part of the pack. That meant pulling his weight.
And the idea of feeding her soothed a primal need.
“I may take you up on that another time. Go get your things.”
It was impossible to read her expression. Leaving was a gamble. They might run while he was gone. At the very least, she wanted to talk to the others without him. He wasn’t a part of their unit. Not yet.
“I won’t be long.” He drained his glass and set it down. All eyes were on him as he walked away. The door closed behind him, the finality of it making him flinch. Silence followed.
Taking a deep breath, he walked down the steps and ambled to the woods. As soon as he was out of sight, he took off running. Best not to tempt fate. Right now, she was convinced marrying him was the best course of action. If they discussed it without him to add weight to it, they might come up with another option that didn’t include him.
He pulled his phone out of his pocket and dialed his brother.
“What in the hell is going on down there?”
“Congratulate me. I’m getting married.”
****
Bailey went to the window and peeked out the curtain. “He’s gone.” She hadn’t been sure he’d actually leave. It kind of shocked her, but then he was full of surprises.
Married! The man wants to marry me.
It wasn’t as though it would be a real marriage. Not like her parents had. Their relationship was one of love and sacrifice.
Nicholas was making a huge sacrifice and taking on a family, even if it was temporary.
What would it be like to mate him in truth? The idea of having someone who cared about her, who shared the load of responsibility, was tempting, but she needed to keep things real. As much as she was drawn to him, she had to keep her heart out of it.
