Page 41 of The Wolf's Plus-Size Nanny

—Jack

The drive to the clearing is a blur of winding roads and half-formed thoughts. Reiner’s truck is already parked at the edge of the trees when I pull up. He’s leaning against the hood with his arms crossed, and his expression is as grim as I’ve ever seen it.

“Nice of you to join us,” Reiner comments, pushing off the truck and falling into step beside me.

“Wouldn’t miss it,” I reply, trying to keep my tone light, but there’s no hiding the edge in my voice. Whatever this is, it’s serious enough that they called the alpha in. Evan doesn’t bother with anything less than an SOS.

We walk up the path, and the sound of crunching leaves underfoot breaks the morning quiet. The air is thick with tension, and when we reach the clearing, I spot Evan and Rafe, our alpha and beta, standing by the tree line, deep in conversation. The alpha’s presence is a force of its own, commanding and unyielding. Evan’s broad shoulders are squared, and his gaze is fixed on the distant horizon like he’s already sizing up whatever threat might be out there. Beside him, Rafe stands with his usual calm demeanor. The two brothers are like opposing forces—Evan, all fire and readiness, and Rafe, the steady anchor that keeps him grounded.

Evan turns when he hears us approach, nodding in greeting. “Glad you made it.”

“What’s the story?” I ask, cutting straight to the point. We don’t have time for pleasantries, not when potential enemies are sniffing around our borders.

Evan gestures toward the trees. “We got reports from one of the patrols. Said they spotted a couple of shifters lurking just beyond the perimeter. Didn’t recognize them, and they weren’tshowing any signs of being friendly. Could be passing through, but we can’t take any chances.”

Reiner lets out a low growl, and his hand tightens into a fist at his side. He’s had his fair share of run-ins with rogues, and he doesn’t take kindly to interlopers. “You think it’s the rogues from last year?”

“Possible,” Rafe answers. “But we won’t know until we get eyes on them. We need to find out if they’re just here to cause trouble or if they’ve got some kind of agenda.”

I exchange a glance with Reiner, and I can tell he’s thinking the same thing I am: this isn’t a random run. If rogues are sniffing around, it’s only a matter of time before something goes wrong. We’ve had too many close calls in the past, too many times when one small misstep could’ve cost us everything.

Evan catches my eye and says, “I want you two on point. If things go south, you’re our first line. Get in, assess, and report back. No unnecessary risks.”

“Got it,” I confirm. This isn’t just about protecting Green Lake; it’s about making sure that what I have here, what I’m building with Sonya and Fiona, stays safe.

Reiner claps a hand on my shoulder, a silent promise of backup if things go sideways. “Let’s get this done.”

Evan gives us a sharp nod, dismissing us with a final look that says he’s counting on us to handle this. As Reiner and I head back to get ready, the gravity of the situation settles in my gut like a lead weight. I think of Sonya, of Fiona’s little laugh, and it drives home what’s at stake. I can’t afford to screw this up. Not now. Not ever.

When we reach the trucks, Reiner’s got that focused look in his eyes, the one that means he’s ready for whatever’s coming.He has his own family to protect, and I’m right there with him. No matter what we find out there, we’re going to handle it. We have to.

“Ready?” Reiner asks, sliding into the driver’s seat and firing up the engine.

“Let’s get this done,” I reply, settling in beside him. As we pull away from the clearing, my mind is already running through a dozen scenarios, each one more dangerous than the last. But one thought stays constant, sharper than any threat we might face. I’ve got something worth fighting for, and I’m not letting it slip through my fingers. Not without a damn good fight.

Once we park again, we shift at the edge of the forest. I feel the familiar burn and hear the crackle of bones as muscle and fur take over. The world sharpens around me; scents and sounds amplify in ways they never do when I’m human.

Reiner and I fall into an easy rhythm, paws thudding against the soft earth, each step carrying the weight of the mission ahead. The wind rips through the trees, bringing with it the scent of pine, damp earth, and something else—something off. A tang that makes the fur along my spine bristle.

Reiner picks up on it, too. He lets out a low growl, his eyes scanning the dense foliage as we push forward. My ears perk at the faint sound of voices, muffled and agitated. I signal to Reiner with a short bark, and we slow our pace, creeping forward with calculated stealth.

Through the underbrush, we catch sight of the source. A group of shifters, rogue by the looks of them—scruffy, mismatched clothing torn and dirty, faces hard and unfriendly. There are five of them, and they’ve got three women tied to a tree. The women look scared, one of them with a fresh cut across her cheek, blood trickling down her neck.

My wolf instinct kicks in, and the urge to attack is overwhelming, but I force myself to hold back, to assess. Rushing in blind could get us all killed.

Reiner nudges my shoulder, his eyes narrowing on the leader of the group, a big guy with a thick beard and eyes that burn with a cruel kind of confidence. I’ve seen his type before. Likes to throw his weight around, thinks he’s invincible. He’s barking orders at the others, directing their actions with grunts and one-word sentences. I bare my teeth, a silent promise that I’m ready to tear him apart if he makes the wrong move.

Reiner shifts back to human beside me first, and the transformation is quick and seamless. I follow, letting the human part of me resurface, the chill of the forest air biting at my exposed skin.

“I recognize him,” he tells me. “Name’s Vince. He bounces around from rogue unit to rogue unit, stirring up trouble.”

“Fantastic,” I grumble.

Reiner nods, keeping his eyes fixed on the leader, who finally notices us. He steps forward with a smug grin spreading across his face.

“Well, look who decided to join the party,” he sneers, crossing his arms over his broad chest. “Didn’t think Green Lake would send their puppies out to play so soon.”

“Let the women go,” I demand, keeping my voice steady but lacing it with the kind of warning that I hope cuts through his arrogance.

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