Page 17 of Nanny's Mate

“You okay, Ellie?” she asked.

Ellie nodded as Beatriz helped her sit, the pained countenance slowly fading.

“It’s just a cramp. I’m okay.”

Wallis sighed and shook her head vehemently.

“It’s no wonder. You are so close to your damn due date, and you won’t just sit down.”

Beatriz sat next to Ellie, who was starting to look defeated. She ran her fingers through her hair as she spoke soothingly.

“What more needs to be done here? It looks like you’re ready to open.”

Ellie shot a look at Wallis, who spoke for her boss.

“It is ready to open. We just need to set a date.”

Ellie grunted, sending a rumble through the floor. She shifted in the booth, then let the truth finally free. She kept her head hung low, shame penetrating every word.

“I know I act like I have everything under control, but really, I don’t,” she said, looking down at her belly. “I can’t wait for this little guy to be born, but I really don’t know what the hell I’m doing … Plus, this place …”

When she trailed off, Beatriz jumped in while Wallis sat down next to them.

“Ellie, you are going to be an incredible mom! Also, you know that you have some of the best people around you to help. Your damn family, for one, then there’s Jordan and Wallis!”

Wallis nodded in agreement, placing her hand on Ellie’s back, too.

“And you can always ask me. The only reason I haven’t offered is because I figured you already have so much help. I will be there, though, at the drop of a hat.”

Ellie’s eyes glassed over. The blues were deep and cobalt.

“I appreciate that, I really do. I think I miss Emma. She used to run things like Dad, and though it was annoying, it always calmed me.”

“Maybe you and Caleb can take a trip out of town to visit,” Wallis said, tilting her head. “She’s got a bun in the oven too. It’s good to share your concerns with someone who gets it, ya know?”

Ellie was calming down. Beatriz hated to see someone so confident feeling so low. Pregnancy didn't seem to be a difficult experience for her, but she realized then that a lot of it was Ellie pushing through without stopping … out of fear.

“No one has everything figured out, Ellie,” Beatriz said. “We all like to think we do. But you have so many people around you who are going to make sure everything is okay. Trust them, trust us.”

Ellie began to smile. Wallis stood, clearly excited, clapping her hands together.

“So let’s flip that sign over then. And then we can go from there.”

The women agreed, ready to take on the responsibilities together as one. That was what a pack did best.

TEN

MIKE

Mike started the investigation into the designer drug the moment he left Tristan and Barbara’s estate. He was razor-focused, shoving away any and every tempting and seductive thought of Beatriz and their sexual escapades with a valiant effort. His conviction was solid, his meaning ironclad. He had wolves to save, and time was running out.

Over the next three days, Mike scoured the community and town for anyone who was willing to talk. He found a sketchy bar on the edge of the forest where he spoke to two other wolves who had tried the drug and knew about Alex and his tragic loss.

“That’s a cautionary tale that serves as a warning,” a shifter with long, stringy blonde hair said, shaking his head. “It can take you over. But Alex was doing far too much of it. That’s why it sent him over the edge. A really sad story, honestly.”

“Is that why you two stopped?”

Their names were Doris and Danny … not lovers or siblings, just friendly users who were susceptible to manipulation. They ran around with Alex before the fateful day when he ingested far more than was necessary.

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