Page 71 of Bully Wolf's Nanny
“This is exactly like last time,” Nicolas snarled, throwing Felix’s hand off his shoulder. “I let Daisy get it into her head that she should be scared of me. That she could never tell me about Thea because she was too scared of how I would react. And why shouldn’t she be scared? After everything I did to her, everything I put her through!”
“That’s not fair, your father threatened to send Red Teeth after her—"
“Not before that,” Nicolas snarled, “not the years when I made her life a living hell. That was one hundred percent on me. And now I’m finally getting what I deserve.” He breathed hard through his nose, before shaking his head, teeth bared. “Well, fuck that. I don’t give a shit whatever karmic retribution this is. She’smine, Thea ismine, and I’m going to find them. With or without your blessing.”
“Nicolas—"
“Don’t try and fucking stop me,” Nicolas said, fists clenching. “It won’t end well.”
“No, Nicolas, stop! Listen!”
Nicolas stopped, cocking his head. From the room below came a cacophony, excitable voices mixing with Dane’s booming laughter.
And beneath it all…
Nicolas took off running before he’d even properly had the chance to process his actions. He took the stairs three at a time, skidding across the polished wooden floor into the Club, where a group of pack members stood surrounding someone.
As if sensing his presence, the crowd parted, revealing Daisy and Thea.
“What’s up, Nicky?” Dane hollered from behind them. “I think I found something of yours!”
Nicolas barely heard him. Barely heard any of them. His eyes were locked on Daisy’s face, his expression no doubt mirroring the shock on hers.
He opened his mouth to speak, to say something, to sayanything, and then Daisy released a heavy sob and flew forwards, jumping up into his arms.
“Nicolas!” she wept into his shoulder as he caught her around the waist, lifting her from the ground, crushing her to him.
“I’m here,” he said, burying his face into the crook of her neck, “I’m here.”
She pulled back, her eyes passing over his face, before she leaned forward, pressing her lips against his. He could taste the salt of her tears, but he didn’t care. He didn’t care at all.
Daisy was here. At last, she was here. Safe in his arms. And he would never let her go again.
“You’re such an idiot!” she cried, her beautiful face scrunching up as she wrenched away from him. “Why didn’t you just tell me that your father threatened me? I would have left! I would have waited for you!”
“How could I risk it?” Nicolas replied, breathing in her sweet scent, summer and sunshine. “I can’t lose you, Daisy. Not then, not now, not ever. I had to protect you.”
“Such an idiot,” she said again, kissing him harder, “we’re supposed to protect each other!”
“And we will,” he said fiercely. “I’m never letting you go again.”
She sniffled, sliding down his body as he placed her gently back on the floor, both pointedly ignoring Dane’s exaggerated gagging at their display of affection.
Daisy blushed, tucking a strand of hair nervously behind her ear. “Nicolas, there’s someone I’d like you to meet.”
She turned back and held out her hand, and Thea walked forward, a look of pure apprehension on her face.
“Remember what we discussed in the car, sweetheart?”
Thea nodded with stoic resolution, sticking out her little hand. Instantly, Nicolas was transported back to the first time he’d laid eyes on her.
“HelloFathermynameisThea—it’sverynicetomeetyou.”
This time, he didn’t shake her hand. He swooped down and picked her up, hugging her tight to his chest. Thea paused for half a second before throwing her arms around his neck and squeezing as hard as she could.
“I missed you,” she said, wiping her face on his shoulder, no doubt determined to hide her tears.
“I missed you too, kiddo,” he said, drawing Daisy under his arm. “Both of you.”
