Page 15 of Broken Wolf

“So he was right?” Reagan whispered, his voice near panic.

I hit the elevator button harder than needed, getting on when the doors immediately opened. I turned to face him and decided to take the cart down instead of leaving it there.

“Yeah, I’m so messed up and disconnected from my wolf that she doesn’t trust herself to sense lies after she was so wrong about my birth family and blamed me. So why don’t you go worry about Eddie some more?” I felt petty for landing that dig when he flinched, but he still hadn’t apologized for the way he’d ganged up on me with Brian.

Whereas Brian had the next morning realizing it was his wolf that had been riding him to be loyal to family. Reagan simply hadn’t brought it up.

Nor come to see me alone.

Or tried to be intimate with me.

Nothing. Not even a damn text.

We’d made all of this progress but… Men.

Seriously, fucking men were too much sometimes.

He gave chase though, finding me in the kitchen. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry I was a jerk. I’ve tried to come talk to you and—”

“Here and now isn’t the place,” I cut in, nodding to everyone in the kitchen pretending not to listen in. “And Topher is super excited for what is coming up. He worked his baby brain on overdrive to get this right understanding it was to show how much he loved you guys.” I turned to walk away, but he tried to hug me and I shoved him.

He couldn’t hide his shock, but I thought it was fair.

“I understood Carter catching it. He’s always up my everything as the head of security and—I understood that. It hurt Noah did when I see him the least, but he’s known me the longest, and he’s really my best friend too, not just tied to me,” I rasped, quickly wiping my eyes. “But now Freddie and Jessica caught it. Jessica? And you guys didn’t? I…”

I walked off shaking my head. It hurt.

I thought I was valid in feeling hurt on this.

I didn’t go right back to the party, heading up to the roof instead to let the wind up there clear my head a bit. It took a few minutes, but then I had myself under control and rejoined the party. It was wrapping up by then and Topher was basically ready to explode with the surprise.

Smiling as I took him from Gail, I lowered my forehead to his. “Yeah, it’s time, baby boy. Let’s go show your dads your present.”

“It must be good,” Gail chuckled.

“Topher knows how to spoil and show his love already,” I told her. “He focused really hard and changed his mind like ten times at least.” I winked at her since she knew he was special and advanced for a baby.

The boys were excited too since they’d helped and given insight into what they knew.

We led Dain, Hagan, Reagan, and Brian out to the back of the club. Axel and Eugene tagged along, but we cut it off after that. I really didn’t want others to be made to feel guilty.

“Just so we’re clear, Topher picked for each of you and with reason so keep that in mind,” I warned, making it clear with my eyes I would flatten them if they messed this up even as I thought about dancing animals since I was touching Topher. They all nodded but were sharing looks. I turned around and Topher let out a huge squeal. “Happy Father’s Day!”

The boys echoed me and Topher kept going, looking like he was ready to pass out he was so happy.

I nodded at the images from him and handed him off to Hagan first, realizing I would need to interpret for him. “Apparently, you have thought about your time in the Marines too much around your son. You love your truck but miss driving the Hummers. And you love getting to drive around with him and he loves it too. He also picked the color.”

Tommy jumped in to make sure they knew that Topher’s brain had developed enough to see color as we did and he knew what Hagan liked. Also, the car seat that was right for him was already installed inside and it was ready for them to have fun.

Topher stopped squealing and his lower lip quivered as he gave Hagan a hurt look.

“I love it, buddy,” Hagan whispered, kissing his head. “I-I’m just shocked. I didn’t—I love our drives too. I love sharing car stuff with you. Tophie, I love it! It’s perfect.” He assured Topher a few more times and then Topher seemed happy again.

“He wants you to get in and get him in his seat,” I told Hagan. “But you have to give the other presents and they’re all in a bit of shock.” I sent him images to help with what I was saying.

My heart melted when that lower lip quivered again and tears filled his eyes.

“He’s worried that you don’t know how much he loves you if you’re all so shocked,” I warned them.

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