Wilde Creek: The Protector's Heart Part 17

She chuckled in surprise. "I've enjoyed working here, Kimmi. I hope you know that I care about you and Frank a great deal, and I wouldn't leave if it wasn't the best thing for me and my family. You've been so good to me. I can never repay you for all that you've done."

"You can give me a hug," she said, smiling sadly.

"Sounds good to me," Nila said as she stood and moved around the desk, hugging Kimmi as she stood.

"Don't be a stranger," Doctor Kimmi said.

"I won't."

Nila left the office and went into the employee bathroom, giving herself a few moments to collect her thoughts. She didn't think she'd be so sad to be moving on, but she was. A little bit, anyway. Kimmi and her husband had been really wonderful to her.

A knock at the door made her twist the handle to unlock it. Malachi stood in the doorway. "You okay, sweetheart?"

"I'm great." She stepped out of the bathroom and into his arms. He always seemed ready to give her a hug, to offer emotional and physical support whenever she needed it. She peered up at him. "I love you."

"I love you, too."

The full moon was the day after Christmas. Malachi's family had descended on his and Nila's home at the crack of dawn on Christmas Day, his parents' car filled with so many gifts that he was surprised his father didn't get pulled over for not being able to see out the back window. Jack had taken to his parents immediately, but they'd also brought plenty of toys for him as bribes. They'd loved Nila, too, not that he was surprised. She was amazing. The day had pa.s.sed quickly in a flurry of torn paper, ribbons, and bows, and when his parents and Mia left after dinner, they made him promise to bring Nila and Jack to visit, wanting to reinstate their weekly Sunday dinners, which had fallen by the wayside when Malachi moved back to Wilde Creek. He was happy to share the weekly dinners with Nila and Jack. Some of his favorite memories growing up revolved around those dinners, when he got to stay in the dining room and listen to the adults in his family talk about hunting and the pack. He wanted that for Jack, too.

Malachi spent the afternoon of the full moon waffling between staying home and going to Acksel's house. The pack would gather behind his home before the hunt, but because it was so cold out, there wouldn't be the usual pre-hunt get-together. Those wouldn't pick up again until spring. For now, only those that Acksel personally invited would be at the house before the pack gathered, among them his father, the elders of the pack, his sister Eveny and her human mate Luke, and Mia, because she and Brynn were best friends. Malachi, Nila, and Jack were invited, but the more he thought about it, the less he wanted Nila to experience anything even remotely close to what she'd been through before with her ex's pack.

Something soft hit his shoulder and he looked down to see one of Jack's stuffed animals at his feet.

"Did you throw this at me?" he asked, bending down and picking it up.

"I've been saying your name for two minutes, where are you?" Nila asked from where she sat next to Jack on the family room floor.

"Sorry, sweetheart, I'm just thinking." He sat down across from her with Jack between them and put the toy in the pile of animals he was stacking. When the pile was five animals high, Jack shoved it over and laughed loudly. Then he began the process all over again.

"What are you thinking about so seriously?"

"About staying home."

He looked at her and she smiled knowingly. "You're not him, and you never will be. I trust you. I know you won't cheat on me. If you want to stay here, do it because it's something you want to do, not because you think I'm going to have a meltdown when you go off into the woods."

Her gaze was steady, and there wasn't a hint of her trying to pretend that she was anything but honest in that moment. He loved that she trusted him, even when her history told her wolf males were dishonest to the core. Besides, if he didn't bring her to the pack tonight, he wouldn't be able to claim her and Jack, and that was something he wanted to do badly.

He glanced at the marks on her neck and his wolf made a humming noise that seemed to sound a lot like a purr when it rumbled from his chest.

Jack's head shot up from where he'd been studiously watching the stuffed animals, and he lumbered to his feet. Malachi went down to one knee and Jack pressed his palm to Malachi's heart. "Carrot?"

He growled again, louder this time, and Jack grinned. "Woof."

Malachi's wolf huffed in indignation. His growl sounded nothing like a dog. Nila chuckled and said, "No, kiddo, woollfff," she sounded the word out slowly.

Jack looked at his hand and then at Malachi and said, "Woof."

Malachi grabbed Jack, hoisting him into the air and he squealed in delight.

"One of these days he'll get it right," Nila said.

He set Jack on the floor and said, "I want to go tonight, and I want you and Jack there to watch me s.h.i.+ft, and I want you to be waiting for me to come back from the hunt so I can bring you home and we can...you know."

"Go to sleep?" she asked with what he supposed she believed was an innocent look.

"Eventually," he said, grinning.

Nila wasn't honestly worried about Malachi. He had too much character to cheat on her. When they walked into Acksel's home, he left her with Brynn, Mia, and Eveny, and went to speak to Acksel and the other wolves inside the house. Eveny, who she hadn't met officially, gave her a hug and said, "Welcome to the pack, Nila. I'm so glad that Malachi has finally found someone willing to put up with him."

"He's not so bad," she promised.

Jack reached for Eveny, and Nila let him go. "Wow, what a cutie pie. No wonder you want him here all the time," Eveny said to Brynn.

"Besides being a fun kid, it's neat to watch Acksel with him. I hope we have a boy."

Mia shrugged. "Girls are easier."

"Says the girl who painted her bedroom walls solid black during her junior year of high school and her 'goth phase,'" Brynn said.

"I'll never live that down," Mia complained.

"I don't care what we have as long as he or she is healthy and happy. Acksel said there's only a 50/50 chance that our children will s.h.i.+ft, depending on whether they take more after me or him."

"I think it would be easier if our kids could s.h.i.+ft, but if they can't then at least they're growing up in a pack that accepts them, unlike others that are strictly full-wolves only," Eveny said. She walked away with Jack to a handsome blond male, and Brynn said that he was Luke, her human mate.

"Malachi told me about the changes to pack law. It was because of her, and you, that things are they way they are now, right?" Nila asked Brynn.

"Yes. If Acksel and I weren't mates, then he wouldn't have made all the changes that he did, but because he wants our pack to be inclusive and not exclusive, he changed all the laws pertaining to mates and children. One of our children may one day lead the pack."

Because Brynn was human, Acksel wouldn't have been allowed to take her as his mate without being banished. Since he was alpha, instead of taking the banishment, he chose to change the laws that dictated that action. Some pack members left because they didn't like those changes and wanted the pack to remain wolf-only. She was glad that he'd changed the laws, because she benefited from it as Malachi's mate. She wasn't considered a complete outsider. Although she'd never be part of pack meetings or have authority in any way, she was welcome at the gatherings and had the protection of the pack members, and so did Jack.

"I can't imagine Jack ever s.h.i.+fting into a full wolf, but Doc said that it's most likely going to happen, since he partially s.h.i.+fted already." She was envious in a way, of the freedom and the power that came with being a s.h.i.+fter, and she was glad her son could enjoy it. It would be better to be a half wolf who could s.h.i.+ft than one who couldn't. "Thanks for letting me and Jack hang out here tonight."

"You two are welcome anytime. Now that you're leaving the clinic, I'll miss our chats."

"Are you going to keep working through the pregnancy?"

"Acksel wants me to quit now, but I told him I wanted to work a little longer. I like getting out of the house and being around people. With you going to work for Doc, you'll be there when I deliver the baby, right?"

"I suppose, I mean if you'd like me to be."

"h.e.l.l yes!" She lowered her voice. "I'm scared as c.r.a.p. I mean, how am I supposed to get a baby out of there? Did you know that she-wolves can s.h.i.+ft after they have a baby and then when they s.h.i.+ft back to their human form, they're all healed? How unfair is that?"

Nila remembered Jack's birth vividly, mostly because she'd been all alone in the hospital room. Even though the nurses had been friendly, it wasn't the same as having someone she knew and cared about there with her. She'd wished that Diane had been able to be there with her, but she'd been out of town on vacation and had come to see her as soon as she got home.

She squeezed Brynn's shoulder. "We're made for it, you know. Even if you're scared, your body will still know what to do. I remember what having Jack was like, but the pain and stuff is fuzzy in my memory. The thing I remember the most is that when they took him away after he was first born and did all the testing and cleaned him up, he was squalling like he was being tortured. Then they brought him back in to me and the minute they laid him on my chest, he quieted, as if he knew he was with someone who loved him and would take care of him. That right there is what makes the pain worth it."

Brynn sniffled and rubbed away a tear. "That's so sweet."

Acksel and Malachi were suddenly between her and Brynn, and Nila looked up at Malachi in confusion.

"Are you okay?" Acksel asked Brynn.

"I'm fine, geez. Overreact much?"

Then Nila realized that Malachi was putting himself between her and Acksel, because Acksel was obviously the sort of guy who didn't like his mate being upset. She wrapped her arms around Malachi's waist and hugged him. "You're awesome."

He chuckled. "Yeah?"

"You put yourself between me and your leader. That's pretty amazing in my book."

"For the record, I would never hit a woman," Acksel said with a huff.

"I disagree with that statement," Eveny said from where she and her mate stood while Jack played on the floor with some toys at their feet. "In fact, I have photographic proof that you've hit me on many, many occasions."

Acksel made a face. "Not since we were little, Ev, don't make me out to be an ogre."

Mia snorted and choked on her drink, spilling some of the dark soda onto the floor. Acksel snarled and Mia groaned. "Great. I'm the one who p.i.s.ses him off and no one is here to protect me."

Malachi said, "I'd get over there. Eventually."

She made a face at him and everyone dissolved into laughter. Nila rested her cheek on Malachi's chest and listened to his heart as he, Acksel, Brynn, and Mia teased each other. She really loved the camaraderie of the pack. Jack would get to grow up in this. Nila'd had friends when she was in school, but they hadn't been the lifelong sort like Mia and Brynn or Acksel and Malachi. Being part of the pack, even only as a mate, meant that Nila was part of something bigger than her own small family, and Jack was too.

Acksel clapped his hands together and everyone fell silent. "The pack is gathering outside now. It's cold as h.e.l.l, so let's get this show on the road. Ready, Malachi?"

"Yeah, we'll be right out."

Acksel and Brynn walked out onto the back deck after she bundled up, and Mia, Dade, and the elders followed. Eveny brought Jack to her and then she and Luke left as well, until it was just the three of them.

"After I've claimed you and Jack in front of the pack, we're going hunting. I always hunt with Acksel and Dade and usually Sam or Ren. There isn't anything other than hunting going on."

"You're not going to bring back any dead things, are you?" She made a face.

Laughing, he kissed her forehead. "Nah. We'll be gone a few hours and then when I get back, I'm taking you and Jack home and, once he's tucked in his crib, you and I are going to celebrate our mating night."

A s.h.i.+ver raced down her spine. "Oh?"

He practically purred as he kissed her, and then he tousled Jack's hair. "Let's get you two ready."

Malachi wrestled a very wiggly Jack into his snowsuit while Nila tugged on boots and a coat. They stepped out onto the deck and found an elder named Hollis standing between Acksel and Brynn. Hollis held a thick book in his hands. Torches were flickering on the deck, and the pack was gathered in the yard. Mia, Eveny, and Luke were in front of the group.

Nila, Jack, and Malachi stood in front of the trio. Malachi held Jack with one arm and gripped Nila's hand, linking their fingers.

Hollis spoke in a loud, clear voice. "On this night, Malachi Slattery brings Nila Caruthers and her son, Jack Caruthers, before the alphas, the elders, and the pack, to declare them his mate and his son. The laws of our people are clear: a wolf may claim any person as his or her mate and that person is welcome into the pack. If there are any among us who would disagree, speak now or remain silent forever."

She wondered if someone would say something. A she-wolf who thought she was better suited for Malachi, or a wolf who didn't think that humans should be part of the pack. But no one said anything. After what felt like an eternity, Hollis smiled at them and took a step back. Acksel and Brynn grasped hands, and Acksel said loudly, "As alpha of the Wilde Creek Pack, I declare Nila and Jack Caruthers honored members, under the authority of the alphas and the protection of the pack. Welcome to the pack."

He lifted his head and howled, the sound piercing the silent night in a way that shook her to her very soul. Brynn smiled and hugged her and Jack as Malachi and the other pack members joined in the howling. To her surprise, and everyone else's, Jack howled too, although his howl sounded more like a playful yip than the deep-throated cry of the others.

Malachi curled his hand around her neck and gently pulled her to his mouth. The nearly-chaste kiss made her smile as he pressed his forehead to hers and whispered, "My mate." Then he kissed Jack on the top of the head and said, "My son." He smiled at her, eyes br.i.m.m.i.n.g with love. "I love you, Nila. My life wouldn't be the same without you and Jack in it."

"I love you, too, Malachi."

Acksel called for the wolves to s.h.i.+ft and Eveny appeared on the deck with Luke, offering to take Jack inside while Nila remained with Malachi. Nila glanced around surrept.i.tiously as the wolves began to strip. Malachi took her hand and gently pulled her down the steps onto the snowy gra.s.s and around the corner of the house.

"What are we doing over here?" she asked as the shadows closed around them and the sounds of the pack were muted.

"I don't want you looking at any other guys."

"Are you serious?"

"Of course I am. The only naked guy I want you ogling is me."

"Did you just say 'ogle'?"

"I did, woman." He growled the words at her, jerking her close until they were pressed together.

"I can't see you in the dark," she pointed out.

He kissed her hard, delving his tongue in her mouth like he was staking a claim, making her toes curl with the intensity. With a grunt, he released his hold on her and took a few steps back until he was out of the shadows and began to strip. She'd seen Damien s.h.i.+ft once, but he'd been showing off. Malachi wasn't showing off for her, he was s.h.i.+fting because he needed to, and keeping it between them because he wanted it that way. This was their time.

She caught his s.h.i.+rt as he tossed it to her. He toed off his boots and stood barefoot in the snow with his fingers at the waistband of his jeans. Warmth snaked through her, and his lip curled up in a snarl.

"If you keep looking at me like that, I'm going to want to stay here." His voice was gruff, and she could see his muscles were bunched and tense.

"You're gorgeous, Mal, and you're mine." She let the word roll around in her mind for a second and smiled at the possessive way it made her feel. He didn't own her, and she didn't own him, but they belonged to each other all the same. "I'll be here when you get back, and then we can go home and celebrate."

He shoved his jeans down and stepped from them, tossing them to her as he straightened. She was tempted to ask for a quickie, or to drop on her knees and lick him like a lollipop, but for one, her son was in the house waiting for her, and for another, Malachi needed to hunt.

"Have fun hunting, Mal," she said, smiling and hugging his still-warm clothes to her chest.

He winked and dropped to his knees, the s.h.i.+ft overtaking him quickly. He shook himself out and she closed the distance between them and knelt next to him. His fur was thick, coa.r.s.e along his back but soft on his belly. He nuzzled her cheek and made a soft sound, a cross between a purr and a growl, and she looped her arm around his neck and gave him a hug and kiss on his muzzle. Wis.h.i.+ng him a good hunt, she walked to the deck, and he followed her to where several wolves were waiting. Nila joined Brynn on the deck, and they watched the wolves head off into the woods.

"I'm jealous of them getting to s.h.i.+ft, but I'm glad that I can't because I don't really have to let Acksel boss me around like I would if I was a wolf."

"I'm sure he bosses you around enough as it is," Nila said as she folded Malachi's clothes and set them on the top step of the porch. She walked into the house with Brynn. Luke was sitting on the couch and Eveny was on the floor with Jack, stacking blocks.

"Acksel tries," Brynn winked. "How is Diane doing? Kammie stopped by while you and Mal were around the corner and said that everything was going well, but I didn't know if you'd talked to her or not."

"I went to see her yesterday, and we talk every few days. She's healing fine, and having fun with Kammie. Malachi said the repairs on Diane's house are finished now, so she can go home as soon as she's able to take care of herself."

"I think it's been good for Kammie to have someone to take care of. She likes to be helpful."

Eveny looked up from the floor. "She told me it's easier to be around humans than wolves because humans don't expect as much from her, not like the pack does."