Page 62 of Baby and the Beast

Nash stared at him, questions burning in his eyes, but he took Liam's cue and returned to his pancakes.

"Thank you," Casimir said quietly once the officers were clearly gone. "How'd you know—"

"Not here," he murmured. "Finish up. We'll talk when we get going."

They ate quickly, paid, and followed Liam to a black SUV with tinted windows. The officers watched from their cruiser as Liam helped Nash into the back seat with Copper, and even fastened her in the infant seat, then loaded their packs into the trunk. Casimir hesitated briefly before climbing into the passenger seat.

Only when they were on the highway, well clear of the truck stop, did Liam finally speak. “So where you folks headed?”

“Look,” Casimir said. “I’m real grateful, but how’d you know our names?”

Liam glanced at Nash and Nash understood immediately. “Cas is aware. He helped me give birth.” Liam immediately relaxed.

“I heard you call each other by name and scented Nash and the little one as soon as you entered.”

“Shifter hearing,” Nash offered when Casimir didn’t look convinced. He glanced back to Liam. “I heard there was a place around here that would take in shifters if they were stuck. Cas brought us.” Nash glanced at Casimir. “We wouldn’t have made it if he hadn’t.” Sat in the front, Casimir’s eyes met Nash’s and not for the first time he wished he’d met the Casimir he'd been before his life had changed so much.

"So you're heading to Emmett and Ryker's place," he said, not a question. "The Shifter Rescue Center."

Nash inhaled sharply from the back seat. "You know it? It's real?"

Liam glanced at him in the rearview mirror, his expression softening. "Very real. I've been working with them for about two years now."

"Working with them?" Casimir asked, watching Liam carefully.

"I'm part of their network," Liam explained. "We keep an eye out for shifters in trouble, help them get to safety." He changed lanes smoothly, passing a slow-moving truck. "You was lucky I’d stopped for breakfast." He grinned. "Fox, right?"

"Yes," Nash confirmed. "And you're wolf?"

"Born and raised in Tennessee." Liam's expression darkened slightly. "Left after some... disagreements with leadership. Found Emmett and Ryker by accident, actually. Been helping them ever since."

Casimir remained silent, processing this information. Nash leaned forward, hope evident in his voice.

"So the Center really helps any shifter? No matter what kind?"

"Any shifter in need," Liam confirmed. "And sometimes humans, too. It's more than just a shelter—it's a community. Ryker's an alpha wolf shifter, built like a mountain. His mate Emmett is a non-shifting omega. It’s been going about ten years now. Got a real community up there."

"And my daughter will be safe there?" Nash asked, the question barely above a whisper.

Liam's eyes met his in the mirror. "You both will be."

Nash sat back and let the relief wash over him. He could easily have cried.

"What about you?" Liam asked, glancing at Casimir. "You're human, right?"

Casimir nodded once.

"But you know about shifters," Liam continued. "And you're helping a fox omega and his mixed-breed kit reach safety." He raised an eyebrow. "That's not exactly common."

"He saved our lives," Nash interjected. "We got caught in the storm. I went into labor in a cave."

Liam whistled. "That's quite a story." He looked at Casimir again. "You planning to stay with them at the Center?"

"No," Casimir said firmly. "I'm just making sure they get there okay.”

Nash tried not to let Casimir’s words hurt. He’d always said he wasn’t going to stay. Didn’t stop him from wishing things were different.

Baby and the Beast

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