Chapter 5 #2
I change into my wolf form, and I snarl and grab his ankle, dragging him away from Brantley. He screams loudly, trying to kick me in the face, and I only bite down harder. Stupid fucker. What kind of man hits a woman when she is looking the other way? No honor.
Something butts against my side. I look over and Damon is standing next to me.
He is in his human form, and boy is he pissed.
I ease my mouth open, even though every instinct is telling me to stay and bite down harder.
The moment I let go of the guy, Damon picks him up off the ground like he weighs nothing.
I change back into human form, leaving me fully naked. My brother walks over to Brantley and takes the clothes that he tried to offer me. He hands them to me, and I pull the shirt and sweatpants on.
My face is stinging really badly from the punch. I hold my face, trying not to make any noise.
Damon snarls, and I hear a crunching sound, then a scream. Damon is stepping on the hand that hit me. His eyes are completely gold, blackened around the edges. He has lost almost all control.
“Hurt?” he asks in a voice so deep it’s almost a growl.
“I will be fine.”
His face darkens more. The wolf shifter on the ground screams at the sight of his face, and I don’t blame him one bit. Damon stomps down harder, and I hear crack after crack until his hand is completely mutilated. “Why did you attack?” Damon asks him.
“The boy has been sold.”
Fuck me, I knew it—but to hear it? Still sucks.
“You will run to your alpha and warn him to stay the fuck away or face the consequences.” Damon steps off of his hand, and the guy scrambles to his feet and runs into the woods. Damon walks over to me and touches the mark where the guy hit me.
“I should have killed him.” Damon gently strokes the mark, and it feels better instantly.
I lay my head on his chest; I can’t believe all of that happened. I knew that there was a possibly we would run into trouble, but I didn’t expect anything like this.
Damon walks me to the SUV, and I sit in the back seat beside Brantley, who is still holding the baby. Maverick gets in the passenger seat in front of me. “Thank you, Alpha,” Brantley says.
Damon smiles for the first time since this morning. “You are welcome. This baby is the start of the next generation, and his life is very important.”
I just love my mate. He has so many sides to him. He is fiercely protective and merciless with enemies, kind and generous to his packmates, and a sweet and considerate mate to me. I love all these aspects of him, even though his possessiveness gets on my nerves a bit—but I also kind of love it.
The baby starts crying. “I think he’s hungry,” Brantley tells me and I dig into the diaper bag, finding formula and a bottle.
“I know it’s safer in the car seat, but I don’t think it’s a good idea, considering everything that just happened, in case we have to run.
” I nod. I look at the measurements on the back of the can of formula and fix the bottle.
I shake it up and hand it to Brantley, and he puts it in the baby’s mouth.
He latches on like he hasn’t eaten in a while.
“I believe he was hungry.” I laugh, and Brantley’s face lights up in a smile.
Once again, I am so happy for him. I am glad that he is getting this opportunity to be a father, and watching him with the baby is an ovary explosion—there’s nothing like seeing a handsome guy caring for a baby.
“What are you going to name him?” I ask.
Brantley looks at me then back at him, touching his cheek. “I think I am going to name him Aiden.”
“I love it.” I lean back in my seat, watching the two of them being so happy together. I want that. I look into the mirror, and I see Damon staring at me.
I hope that I am pregnant. I want a pup.
When we get home, everyone is waiting at the gate. Brantley gets out, and they come over to welcome the new member of the family. I think I want to change the title from “pack” to “family,” because that is a better way to describe us.
Damon tells everyone what happened, and all the guys are pissed and ready for whatever comes next. I am too. This baby-selling business needs to end.
I follow Brantley to his new home. Damon moved him into a new house, closer to ours, in case he needs help. Brantley’s clothes and other personal items have already been moved. We walk into the nursery. Olive has done an amazing job with the furniture and necessities.
A baby bathtub is resting on top of the chest; I think a bath is in order first. “Want me to take him until you get everything ready?” He hands him over, and I snuggle him up against my chest. “You’re never alone, Brantley.
I will help you with anything you need until you can figure everything out yourself. ”
He gives me a side hug. “Thank you very much, I am kind of clueless.” He chuckles.
“I am here to help. I plan on having one of these as soon as I can.” I kiss the top of Aiden’s head.
Brantley carries the tub into the bathroom and fills it with warm water. He takes the baby from me and gently lays him inside the bathtub while I lean against the wall. He acts like he has done this many times. It’s like he was made to do this.
“Tomorrow, let me know what time you want my help to go shopping.”