Page 28 of Nanny's Mate

Mike was quick to agree.

“Yes. There was an air of secrecy. Though they were pretty candid about being users themselves. A lot of shame there.”

Tristan nodded solemnly. The hospital was quiet, murmurs at a fair distance, calamities averted for the time being.

“So now we know that Wallis is a traitor,” he began, rubbing his chin. “She is a member of the Rahound pack. It’s obvious now that she’s been getting close to Ellie to somehow get these drugs up and running again."

He looked lost in his musings, a wise thinker and leader wandering into the abyss of imagination. Mike knew that it was a practiced tool, but something in him looked pained. Perhaps age was finally catching up with the wolf.

“And Beatriz said she didn’t recognize the second person. This man who was called Franky,” Mike said.

“Yes,” Tristan said softly, continuing to stroke the small stubble gathering around his chin. “He must have known Rocco. Ever since Caleb took out the ex-alpha, Wallis and the Rahound pack have been getting closer. Now we see that it has all been a ploy."

Mike scowled, his knuckles turning pale with rage.

“We have to tell Caleb. He needs to know that there could be men who are still loyal to Rocco on the inside."

Tristan agreed, but he paused, stating they needed to re-think the approach with Ellie.

“We don’t want to upset her so late in her pregnancy. This kind of upset has been known to trigger early labor.”

They decided they would tell Caleb and encourage Caleb to tell Ellie that something was going on but to be vague. Mike couldn’t imagine having to live with someone like Ellie and keep a secret. She was like a dog with a bone when it came to details. Eventually, you gave in because she was so damn tenacious.

“That’ll be Caleb’s problem to deal with,” Tristan said as he dialed the number. “He has been running the pack for some time now. He can deal with his persistent wife.”

Tristan told Caleb over the phone everything they’d found out since Beatriz was attacked. He was tending to Ellie, who was beside herself with worry.

“Tell her we are dealing with it and be blunt. We don’t need her going into labor just yet.”

Caleb agreed, and Tristan hung up the phone. Next, they had to inform Aric and Nate. Mike rose from the seat to leave the hospital when his alpha laid his hands on him once again. The look on his face was eager but solid.

Mike didn’t know why he was stalling.

“You have to stay,” Tristan said, raising an eyebrow. “You have your mate to look after now. She is your duty."

Mike grumbled, every cell in his body telling him to go, to protect his people, to not wait another moment. But those same cells ached to be near Beatriz; every second apart was a thunderous blow to his weary heart.

And beneath all of that turmoil, there was the thirst for violence and punishment. They had gravely hurt his mate, after all. They deserved to have their limbs separated one by one.

“Tristan, she’s okay now,” he said, the words like splinters on his tongue. “I can take care of this with you and then get back to her. I can do both.”

Tristan smiled. He looked astronomically younger again. When he spoke, he tilted his head the way a father does when he is teaching his son a precious lesson.

“Do you remember what I told you earlier?” he said, a smile tickling the edges of his mouth. “Finding your mate changes everything. Everything. And I know you are not a man who is accustomed to change, especially this drastically. But you are going to have to get used to it."

Mike hated how right his alpha was.

“Also,” Tristan went on, his tone more lighthearted. “You are still going to be a very capable enforcer. It's the balance that you have to figure out next. The push and pull of duty, the longing for your beloved. I understand, trust me.”

Tristan slid his hands down Mike’s arms and took a step back. It was his way of letting him make the final decision.

Tristan then smiled broadly, the years of trauma disappearing in his face.

“I am going to decree that it is your job to protect the Wolfe nanny. She is a part of our family, and she is of the utmost importance."

Mike smiled. It was a rare and beautiful sight.

Then, a nasty thought crept into Mike’s mind and settled there like a stubborn leech.

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