Author: J.D. Tyler

“Easy for you to say. You’re not the wolf from the wrong side of the tracks being scrutinized by the PTA committee.”

He laughed. “I promise they’re not as bad as a bunch of soccer moms. Not even close. Go with an open mind and you might even be surprised.”

“I’ll be surprised if I’m surprised. Does that even make sense?”

“Yes.” He spun her around and gave her a smoldering kiss. “Now, go and have a good time. Don’t threaten to kill anyone and you’ll be gold.”

She scowled at him. “That’s not funny.”

“Then you need to work on your sense of humor. Go.”

Rolling her eyes, she swept past him and through their quarters, out the door. In the hallway, she huffed, realizing she’d just thought of his apartment as theirs. That was an interesting mental tell. Was she accepting her mating to the gorgeous black wolf? It seemed so.

And I do too have a sense of humor!

His gentle laugh sounded in her mind, and she couldn’t help but smile. Zan had a way of making people feel good. Anyone could see that, and she was slowly coming to realize how lucky she was that the man was hers.

She pondered that on the way to Kira and Jax’s quarters a few doors down. But with a shield over her thoughts. Wouldn’t do for her mate to get too big of a head.

At Kira’s door, she knocked and waited to be let in, and was surprised by the friendly greeting she received. Kira, Mac, Rowan, Melina, and Daria were sitting around sipping red and white wine—except for Mac, who held a glass of milk. Mac was sitting on the comfy-looking sofa, round belly sticking out so that it appeared she’d swallowed a basketball. With her free hand, she scratched the mound and then rested her palm on top of it.

“Damn,” Mac muttered, then panted a few breaths. Everyone paused.

Rowan started to rise. “What’s wrong?”

But Mac waved her down. “Nothing. Just been having a few contractions today. I’m fine.”

“If you’re sure . . .” But the other woman didn’t seem convinced.

“Jeez, stop worrying! You guys are all like a bunch of mother hens.”

“Can I get you something?” Kira asked, returning her attention to Selene.

“White, please?” She didn’t drink a lot of wine, but she didn’t see beer in evidence. When in Rome and all that.

In seconds she had a glass in her hand and was perched on a chair, part of the circle of friends. Sort of.

Daria must’ve sensed her discomfort, because she leaned over and spoke quietly in her ear. “I was the newest one before you, not too long ago. So I know how you feel.” She patted Selene’s knee. “But really, it’ll be all right. These are good people, but it’s a strange world, for sure.”

“I come from a stranger one; trust me.”

“Really? Would you mind telling me about your pack?”

Pleased that the other woman took an interest, she described her clan as she had to her mate. Daria and a couple of the other women were listening, nodding and asking intelligent questions about how their society was run. That made her feel good, too. Like she wasn’t such an outsider.

“At least you were already a wolf,” Daria said. “Try being human and getting thrust into the paranormal world. Talk about culture shock!”

Kira agreed. “Same for me. I had no clue shifters, vampires, and a whole list of other paranormal creatures were real until I was thrown into the middle of a dangerous situation and my very own wolf came to my rescue.”

“I didn’t know about all that stuff, either,” Rowan put in. “I was looking for my brother, Micah, and found this place. When I saw a bunch of wolves surround me and then turn into naked men, I literally fainted!”

Everyone laughed at that, and Selene found herself truly relaxing for the first time. She was fascinated by each woman’s tale as she told the story of how she met the Pack and her mate and the dangers they battled. But what didn’t escape her notice was that in each of the stories, her father played a prominent role as a strong hero.

She didn’t think they were pumping Nick up on purpose. Everything they said sounded sincere. The battles her father had faced, the dangers, the way he’d protected his men time and again . . . The man sounded larger than life.

Brave. Caring. Too good to be true.

What was the truth? Who was the real Nick Westfall?

“Oh!” Mac’s startled exclamation put everyone on alert.

Melina touched her arm. “What is it?”

“I don’t—oh!” This time she wrapped an arm around her abdomen and grimaced in apparent pain. “I think my water just broke!”

Indeed her maternity pants and the sofa underneath had a spreading stain. Melina rose, calmly giving orders.

“Someone call Noah, tell him to bring a wheelchair.”

“I’ll do it,” Rowan volunteered, then yanked out her cell phone.

“And someone call Kalen,” Melina continued. “He and most of the men are in the rec room playing poker tonight.”

“On it.” Kira took the phone Melina handed her and called Kalen while Melina grilled the other woman, making note of all of her symptoms.

The doctor nodded, her face transforming with a wide smile. “Sounds like we’re having a baby soon!” This drew excited exclamations from around the room, along with congratulations and encouraging words about how she and the baby were going to be fine.

Selene sure hoped so. She was starting to like these women, and Mac was so sweet. Kalen seemed like the perfect mate for her, and Selene had no doubt their baby would be as beautiful as the couple.

In less than five minutes, there was a knock at the door. Noah hurried in with the wheelchair, and they quickly got her situated. Then he wheeled her out, moving briskly but not too fast. The other women were chattering, trailing behind, and Selene accompanied them, caught up in the magic of an impending birth. From what she understood, this would be the compound’s first child. Sounded like the baby would be spoiled, too.

Kalen rounded a corner, followed by his friends, wide-eyed and looking frantic. “Sweetheart! Are you all right?”

“I’m fine,” she panted. But her voice was small, a little afraid. “I can’t believe it’s actually happening.”

“I’m here, okay?” Taking her hand, he walked beside her chair, murmuring soothing words to his mate.

In the infirmary, Mac and Kalen were whisked back to a room while everyone else had to remain in the waiting area. Zan found Selene and gave her a smile and then a kiss in front of everyone, which pleased her enormously. It further cemented that she was becoming part of something here. It was hard not to like these people.

“Did you have a good time with the ladies?” he asked.

“I did. They made me feel really welcome.”

“I told you.” He looked pleased about this.

“Yes, and you were right. It’s not that I doubted you, but . . .” She shrugged. “If the situation were reversed and a hostile female barged into clan territory gunning for my uncle, she wouldn’t survive the first five minutes. Much less be invited for cocktails.”

“Ah, but they’re sneaky. Did you check to be sure your drink wasn’t laced with something nasty? Kidding,” he said with a laugh when she made a face at him.

She liked that he could joke with her. It made her feel good inside, at peace in a way she hadn’t been in a long, long time.

That feeling lasted until Nick arrived and stood with them to wait on word. As the other team members began to arrive, she took the opportunity to study him.

The first thing she noted was that when he interacted with people, he was nothing like her uncle Damien. Nick was very much their commander, but they were comfortable around him. He was one of them, and they respected him. Damien, however, would’ve been standing on the fringes of the group, holding himself aloof with that stern expression of his.

Nick talked to his men, and they listened. And he listened to them as well. His face showed that he was genuinely interested in what they had to say. His eyes were warm.

And even her uncle always said the eyes never lied.

She was beyond confused as to what to believe. Yesterday, that rogue in the cell had been going after her father, and she knew in her heart he would have died to protect Zan and Jax. At every turn, it seemed she’d been wrong about him.

As luck would have it, he turned his head and made eye contact with her. She tried a smile. It felt strange on her face, to show him any sort of tolerance. He appeared surprised and made his way over to her and Zan.

“How is your bite wound?” she asked.

“Already healed, thanks.”

“I’m glad.”

He appeared as surprised by that as she did, and he cleared his throat. “Exciting news about the baby, isn’t it?” he said a bit awkwardly.

Seeing him look so unexpectedly vulnerable caught at her heart. “Yes, it sure is. I was there when she went into labor.”

“I’ve never seen Kalen move so fast,” said Ryon. “He dropped all his cards and upended the poker table when he got the call.”

“And I was winning for a change too,” Zan said, making a good-natured face. “Damn.”

Selene chuckled. “That’s what you get for gambling.”

“Hey, we were only playing for quarters. I save the real gambling for Vegas.”

“You go there often?” she asked.

Ryon laughed. “Only to pick up women.” That immediately earned him a smack on the back of the head from his mate as his friends laughed. “Ow!”

“Used to pick up women!”

“Of course, baby! Used to.” He leaned in and kissed her thoroughly.

Selene gave Zan a pointed look, and he raised his hands. “Don’t look at me. My carousing days were over before I met you.”

Aric coughed loudly, and it sounded a lot like bullshit. Zan sent him a sour look that promised retribution, but the redhead just smirked.

Spirits remained high, especially when Kalen came out to update them. “Looks like it’s going to be soon! I just wanted you guys to know.”

That drew some smiles as he rushed back inside. People took seats in the chairs, or simply sat cross-legged on the floor. When Melina at last emerged from the back, dressed in scrubs, she was wearing a wide smile.

“Mom and baby Kai are doing just great.” A cheer met this announcement, and she waited for the celebrating to die down before she continued. “Mac is worn-out, and she and Kalen need time to bond with their son. So, no visitors until tomorrow, but Kalen said he’d text everyone pictures.”

This seemed to satisfy the group, and one by one, people began to say good-bye and drift away. Nick lingered, and Selene struggled with what to say. Finally, she settled for looking him in the eye and keeping it simple.

“Good night.” Daddy. She always used to call him Daddy, but her throat closed on the word. She couldn’t do it yet. Perhaps never again.

Nick cleared his throat. “Good night.” As she left, she could have sworn she heard him whisper, baby girl.

Back in their quarters, Zan held her in his arms as they snuggled in bed. Long into the night, she remained awake, thinking about the events of the evening.

Despite herself, she had started to form a very real bond with the good people at the compound. It felt . . . right. And she found herself wanting to hold on to what she’d found. To let nothing ruin this fledgling peace and warmth.

She drifted to sleep, thinking joyous thoughts of friends, babies, and mates.

And fathers who really loved their children and would never dream of leaving them.

Nick sat behind his desk the next morning, elbows on the top, hands buried in his hair. He glared at the computer screen and read the message again, a slight variation on the first one.