She wasn’t sure if she should be relieved or insulted.

  No, the sneaky wolf was subtler than that. She was beginning to understand how he worked. He’d found every excuse in the book to touch her. Oh, nothing overt. It was all subtle—like kissing her neck and running a finger down her arm. But those touches added up over time. Now she was a ticking time bomb of desire ready to explode.

  Maybe he was trying to get her to jump him. If that was his plan, it was working. She didn’t know how much longer she could hold out, wasn’t sure she wanted to.

  The kids stormed in, saving her from her lustful thoughts. “Wash your hands before you sit down.” Henry, who’d been halfway on his seat, popped back up and headed for the kitchen sink. Waya helped Eliza before doing his own.

  Not waiting to be asked, Nicholas took the jugs of milk and sweet tea out of the fridge and started filling glasses, well aware of who wanted what. Another sign he’d integrated into their lives.

  “Waya, grab the cold cuts.” The bread was already on the table. She added the cutting board with shredded lettuce and tomato slices.

  Emmett strolled into the room, his damp hair dripping on his shoulders. “Good timing,” she told him. “The work is done.”

  With a laugh, he retrieved the mustard and mayo. “Here’s my contribution.”

  They all sat in their usual places, except for her brother. That was one change this past week. He’d given up his seat for Nicholas, who sat opposite her.

  “I have to run to the post office this afternoon,” she announced. It wasn’t her normal day, but her schedule had been thrown off this past week. “I have a dozen online orders that have to be shipped. I’ve started a grocery list on the counter. If there’s anything you need, add it, and I’ll do my best to pick it up while I’m in town.” The kids were hesitant to ask for things. It was easier for them to write it down. Bailey couldn’t always accommodate them, but she did what she could. It was the same reason she made sure they all contributed in some small way to each meal—it gave them a sense of belonging, of contributing to the pack.

  “I’ll go with you.” It was more an announcement than an offer.

  Gritting her teeth, she sent Nicholas what she hoped was a smile. “I can manage on my own.” And it was partly to give herself a few hours away from him.

  Frowning, he stopped building his giant sandwich—the man had a huge appetite. “I don’t think that’s wise.”

  Bristling, she carefully wiped her hands on her napkin. “And why not.” Resting her elbows on the table, she steepled her fingers together. “I’ve been doing it on my own for years.”

  “You’re married now. Word would have gotten around. The people at the county office, the judge’s secretary, hell the judge himself probably mentioned it. We should be seen together.” He flicked his gaze to Waya. “If the caseworker hears anything or asks around, it would be better if she believes the marriage is real.”

  Everyone went silent. Waya glared at Nicholas.

  “I hadn’t considered that.” And she should have. She was so wound up, hoping for a respite from the sexual pull between them, that she hadn’t considered the reason he was still here. “You’re right.” Needing a second to compose herself, she took a sip from her glass of sweet tea, the drink he’d poured for her. “We shouldn’t be gone more than a couple of hours. Three tops, depending on lines at the post office and grocery store.”

  Conversation resumed, but it wasn’t the bright banter of earlier. She wasn’t the only one affected by his presence. The boys hung on his every word, even Waya, which surprised her. But there was something about Nicholas that was solid and dependable.

  Waya shoved back from the table. “I’m done.” Without another word, he slammed out the back door.

  She started to go after him, but Nicholas grabbed his sandwich off his plate and followed. “I’ll talk to him. Don’t leave without me.”

  The door closed again, this time more softly. Emmett cleared his throat. “Is he really leaving when this is done?”

  Appetite gone, she pushed aside her plate. “He has a life and family.”

  “We’re his family, aren’t we?” Eliza asked. The girl’s eyes were wide and luminous.

  “For now.” Shoving up from her chair, she crouched beside the girl, wondering how she could explain it so she’d understand. “He cares for all of us.” She brushed Eliza’s golden braid over her shoulder. “But it’s not fair to ask him to stay.”

  “Why not?”

  God, things were so simple when you were ten. Although that wasn’t fair. The child had already been through abuse, loss, and heartache, still had nightmares—which had stopped with Nicholas’s arrival. Funny how she’d only just realized that.

  “He’d stay if you asked him. He likes you.” she picked up her sandwich and calmly began eating.

  Henry was silently eating, but her brother cleared his throat. “He fits in well around here.”

  It wasn’t anything she hadn’t thought a dozen times herself. “We don’t need to worry about it right this moment.” She was putting him off and he knew it.

  Her brother grabbed the rest of his sandwich and stood. “I’ll take Henry and Eliza foraging with me later. I saw a patch of blackberries yesterday that are ripe for the picking.” Mushrooms, wild greens, and berries abounded, allowing them to supplement their food supplies.

  “Maybe you should take Waya.” She glanced out the window. There was no sign of either him or Nicholas. “I should have gone after him.”

  “No.” The finality in her brother’s voice gave her pause. “He’s better off with Nicholas.”

  She didn’t flinch, even though it felt as though he’d flayed her bare skin. “I see.” The longer Nicholas was around, the more the others looked to him and not her. Was that why she was so keen to be rid of him? It was a lowering thought, even if it might be accurate. He was usurping her place without even trying.

  “I didn’t mean it like that.” Emmett detoured to her end of the table and kissed her cheek. “Sometimes a guy needs to talk to a guy. I’ll be ready to go in about an hour,” he called out. “I’ll be in the barn until then if you need me.”

  Henry glanced at her and then longingly at Emmett’s back. “Go on,” she told him. So much for a family lunch. “What about you?” she asked Eliza.

  “I like eating with you.”

  At least someone did. “I appreciate the company.” She snagged the pad of paper and pen from the counter. “Is there anything you want to add to the list?”

  ****

  Nicholas followed Waya, waiting until they were far enough from the house that they wouldn’t be overheard. “Don’t make me chase you.”

  As he’d expected, the teen whirled around, fury darkening his face. “What do you care? You’re not staying.” He took a step forward, asserting his dominance.

  Hands loose by his sides, in case he had to defend himself, he stared the boy down.

  “You’re not different from the rest,” he muttered, spinning around to walk away.

  “What rest?”

  He whirled back around. “All those do-gooders who take you in, and then decide you’re too much trouble and return you like you’re a defective product.”

  It broke his heart to think of that happening to such a proud kid. “Is that what happened to you? What about your parents?”

  “Parents?” His laugh was bitter. “I’m not sure I ever really had any. My old man didn’t stick around after I was born. My mom went to the store one day and never came back. I was eight. Someone must have called the cops. For all I know, she did.”

  “What about pack. You’re full-blooded?”

  “My mom was running from hers. She never talked about them. I have no idea who they are or where to find them. The only thing my dad did for me was name me.”

  “Waya is a good name.”

  He snorted. “My real name is Liam Hennessey.” He held his arms out by his side, a teen in a man’s body. “I’m a full-blooded wolf but a half-breed human. My dad was white Irish. His family is somewhere in Ireland. I think he was here on holiday or a work visa and decided to go back home when things got too real. Waya is the Cherokee word for wolf. I’m not sure of my mother’s tribe, but I like the name. It says who I am, what I am. I chose it.” He pointed at his chest. “After running away from my last foster home. It’s not easy for a kid like me. Too many folks are prejudice—not white enough for some, too white for others.”

  Nicholas wanted to wrap his arms around the boy, but he wasn’t ready for it. He was like a wild animal longing for a gentle hand but not trusting it wouldn’t hurt him.

  He’d trusted Bailey enough to stay. That spoke volumes about the woman he loved.

  “I’m not going anywhere.”

  Another snort. “That’s not what you said.”

  Deciding to be straight with him, Nicholas put his hands on his hips and sighed. “Bailey isn’t exactly open to the idea of me sticking around.”

  “Why? Did you hurt her?” Hands fisted, he stalked forward.

  “Control your anger,” he snapped. “Your wolf is making you extra aggressive. If you want to be treated like an adult, act like one.”

  The teen’s chin snapped up and he growled. Nicholas growled back, exerting dominance. Not enough to crush the boy’s spirit, but enough to remind him who was alpha. And wasn’t that the gist of the problem?

  “I would never hurt Bailey or any other female. No male of any honor would.”

  Waya rubbed his hands over his arms, likely feeling the ripple of his wolf beneath the skin. The boy was extremely close to his first shift. “Then why?”

  “She’s alpha of this pack.”

  Like a lightbulb going off, the teen’s eyes widened and he nodded. “If you stay, you’ll be alpha.”

  “She’ll be female alpha, but I’ll be male alpha.” She, like most, would naturally believe he’d take control. And maybe he would, but only in situations if she or the kids were in danger. Otherwise, he was happy to share the responsibilities with her. “And like you,” he continued, “she’s been hurt, doesn’t fully trust. Everything happened so fast. She needs time. It’s my job to give her whatever she needs. She needs to learn, to understand I’m not going anywhere. If she kicks me out, I’ll be back camping by the river.”

  Waya studied him for a long time before nodding. “If it comes to that, I’ll sneak you in for the occasional hot shower.”

  Laughing, he slapped the teen on the back. “I appreciate that. We need to get back. Bailey’s probably worried about you.”

  That spurred him on like nothing else would. All the kids loved her. He was no different. The woman was pure magic. She was tough—she’d had to be—but her heart was tender, whether she’d admit it or not.

  “And I don’t want her going into town without me.” He wouldn’t put it past her to slip away while he was gone. Her independence had been challenged. “We good?”

  “As long as you keep your word.”

  “A male, human or wolf, is only as good as his word. I don’t give mine lightly.” That was only one of the many things his father had taught him. It felt good to pass the lesson along to another generation. He wanted Bailey, and he wanted this pack for his own.

  Waya was silent on the way back. He wasn’t sullen but lost in his thoughts. Nicholas reached around him and opened the door, surprised to find Bailey and Eliza still at the table, their heads bent over a notepad.

  “Everything okay?” she asked.

  Waya nodded and glanced down at the floor. “Sorry about running off like that.”

  Bailey pushed back her chair and pulled the boy into her arms. “Smith Pack forever,” she whispered.

  He laughed and hugged her back. “Smith Pack forever.”

  Nicholas was on the outside once again. It wasn’t intentional. He had the impression this was something they said often, a ritual to bind them, to remind them they were part of something bigger than themselves. His wife was an amazing woman and an incredible alpha.

  “You ready to go?” he asked.

  “Give me five minutes.”

  He couldn’t read the look she sent him. Was she pissed off or happy with him? Time would tell. He’d find out soon enough. “I’ll be out by the truck.” Needing some air and time to himself, he left the three of them.

  The yard was empty, but he could hear Emmett and Henry in the barn. He hadn’t been here long, but this place was in his blood, as much home as North Carolina. It was the people who made a place a home. Any piece of land would do as long as those that lived on it were safe. He had a better understanding of his father’s willingness to move the Salvation Pack from what had been their home for decades. Keeping everyone safe was more important than anything. You could rebuild anywhere as long as you had your pack.

  Tilting back his head and closing his eyes, he let the soothing sounds of the birds, bees, and other insects calm him. The sun warmed his skin. His wolf was restless for a run. Soon he’d release him and give them both what they needed.

  Exactly five minutes had passed when Bailey stepped out onto the porch. His eyes snapped open. She’d brushed her hair and clipped it back, maybe splashed some water on her face, and swiped on some lip balm. From what he’d noticed—and he’d spent hours watching her—that was the extent of her everyday beauty routine.

  Whether it was by choice or because there wasn’t money for extras, he couldn’t say. The females in his pack didn’t wear much makeup—their senses were heightened and they all hated synthetic products of any kind—but he’d often overheard them discussing skincare and lipstick, excited about the array of new natural products on the market. There might have been more, but at that point, he’d always turned tail and walked away. Now he wished he’d listened more.

  She didn’t need anything to enhance her beauty, but a woman always appreciated a little pampering. Or so he’d heard his mother say. He’d give it some thought.

  “Ready?” he asked.

  “I have packages in the forge. It will only take me a second to get them.”

  “I’ll get them.” She was more than capable of handling them, but there was no need for her to fetch and carry, not when he was around.

  She looked as though she might argue but shrugged. “Suit yourself. They’re in a bin on the workbench.”

  Oh, he planned to suit himself. She’d been keeping her distance, but she couldn’t hide the sights and smell of her desire. As long as she wanted him, he’d find a way to get past whatever else worried her.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Hot air streamed through the open truck window. She preferred it to the air conditioning, enjoying the fresh scent of the wildflowers that perfumed it. The dust wasn’t fun, but it was a trade-off she could live with. They’d been on the road for five minutes, and Nicholas still hadn’t mentioned anything about what he and Waya had talked about.

  She tapped her fingers on her leg. Finally, her patience snapped. “Well?” He glanced her way, the corners of his eyes crinkling slightly as he squinted against the glare. “And why aren’t you wearing sunglasses?” The sun was shining straight in the front windshield.

  “I forgot them back at the house. And well what?”

  “Waya.”

  He relaxed and kept on driving. “We came to an understanding.” He adjusted the visor. It helped, just not a lot.

  Digging into her bag, she pulled out her spare pair of sunglasses. Hers were always being broken, misplaced, or “borrowed” by one of the kids, so she always had an extra pair on hand. They came from the dollar store and, lucky for him, had hot pink frames. “Here.” She held out the colorful glasses.

  His laugh came from deep in his belly, making her lips twitch. “Thanks.” He plucked them from her fingers and perched them on his nose. They should have looked ridiculous. Instead, they emphasized his masculinity—the sharp bone structure of his face, his firm lips, and his iron jaw.

  “Now tell me about Waya. And don’t even think about saying it’s a guy thing.”

  From the way his lips tightened, she figured he’d been about to do just that. “Wouldn’t think of it. His wolf is close.”

  She dumped her bag back onto the floor. “Yeah, I’ve felt it.” It was like prickles beneath her skin, her female bristling at having another male wolf around, needing to display dominance. “What does that have to do with your conversation?” He wasn’t going to distract her.

  “Everything. He’s more on edge, testy.” He slowed the truck to allow another one to pull into a driveway. “His feelings are more extreme. I had to reassure him I wasn’t going to abandon any of you.”

  Crap, she’d been afraid of that. “He’s been through so much.”

  “He told me about his parents.”

  Her jaw dropped. She forced her mouth to close and swallowed heavily. “It took months for him to open up to me.” It was stupid, but it hurt that he’d shared so easily.

  “Like I said, his emotions are more on the surface. He doesn’t have the control he did. It was easy to goad it out of him.”

  Okay, that made sense and made her feel a bit better. Not that it mattered. This was about one of her kids. She lightly banged her head against the headrest. “I’m walking a fine line here. I don’t want them to get too attached to you, but I want them to feel secure.” She rubbed her thumb over the gold band on her finger. Something so small represented so much.

  “Why don’t you want them getting attached? Or is it more that you don’t want to get attached?”

  “Don’t be ridiculous,” she snapped. He was too close to the truth for comfort.

  Rocks pinged off the bottom of the truck as he suddenly swung onto the side of the road and slammed the gear into park. “Who’s being ridiculous? I’m not the one denying what’s between us.”

  Repressed anger flaring, she unsnapped her seat belt, swiveled to face him, and drilled her finger against his chest. “Is that what this is about? Sex? Yeah, we’re good together.” More like out of the universe, shooting stars, and supernova good. “But I have to think long term.”