Page 75 of Baby and the Beast

"This is outrageous," Alik spluttered, his authority crumbling. "You have no right—"

"I have every right," Regina interrupted coolly. "The council has sanctioned my intervention. Your treatment of male omegas violates our laws. Your threats against an innocent shifter child violate our most sacred principles."

She stepped closer to Alik, her presence somehow making her seem taller than her actual height. "Your time as den fatheris over, Alik Renard. The council has voted. Your position is forfeit."

Alik's face contorted with rage. "You can't—"

"It's already done." Regina's voice was implacable. "Your eldest son has been notified and made Den Father. Your possessions are being packed as we speak."

The hired wolves began backing away, clearly wanting no part of this conflict now that payment was assured and their employer's power was crumbling.

Nash broke free of Ryker's hold and ran to Casimir, dropping to his knees beside the injured man. Blood trickled from a cut on Casimir's temple and his lip was split, but his eyes were clear and focused as they locked onto Nash's face.

"You shouldn't have come out," Casimir rasped, his voice rough with pain.

Nash touched his face gently, fingers skating around the bruises. "I couldn't let them hurt you."

"Copper—"

"Is safe," Nash assured him. "The pack is protecting her."

Behind them, Regina continued dismantling Alik's world piece by piece, her cool voice detailing exactly how thoroughly she had destroyed his power base. The remaining wolves melted away into the forest, abandoning their former employer to his fate.

Ryker appeared at Nash's side, crouching to examine Casimir's injuries. "Let's get him inside. Marco will want to check him over."

Together, they helped Casimir to his feet. He swayed slightly but remained upright, one arm draped across Nash's shoulders.

"I'm fine," he insisted, though his wincing suggested otherwise.

"Sure you are," Nash muttered, tightening his hold around Casimir's waist.

As they slowly made their way toward the lodge, Nash heard his father's desperate voice rising behind them.

"Nash! You can't do this! You belong with your own kind!"

Nash paused, turning to look back at the man who had controlled his life for so long. Alik stood alone now, abandoned by his hired muscle, surrounded by Ryker's pack and Regina's panthers.

"I am with my kind," Nash said simply. "People who understand what family really means."

Without waiting for a response, he turned away, continuing toward the lodge with Casimir leaning against him.

Baby and the Beast

Chapter Nine

Marco insisted on examining Casimir thoroughly, despite his protests that he was "barely scratched." Nash hovered anxiously nearby while the medic cleaned and bandaged the knife wound on Casimir's neck, applied butterfly strips to the gash on his temple, and checked his ribs for fractures.

"You're lucky," Marco announced finally. "Nothing broken, but those bruises are going to hurt for a while. Take these for the pain." He handed Casimir two pills and a cup of water.

Casimir swallowed them without argument, his eyes never leaving Nash, who stood cradling a freshly fed Copper against his shoulder.

"I'll give you two some privacy," Marco said, gathering his supplies. "Try not to get beaten up again," he added dryly to Casimir before slipping from the room.

Silence settled between them, broken only by Copper's soft breathing.

"You were going to go with him," Casimir said finally, his voice rough with disbelief. "You were going to trade yourself for me."

Nash moved closer, perching carefully on the edge of the examination table beside Casimir. "Of course I was."

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