Page 69 of Arranged Wolf's Nanny
“Come,” he said gruffly, holding out a hand.
Rosalia hesitated, then slipped her fingers into his. His grip was warm, solid, unyielding. He gathered Eva with his other arm, the child clambering trustingly against his side, and together they left the stifling stench of dominance and fury behind.
***
The limousine door shut, cocooning them in leather and muted city sounds. Rosalia let out a shaky breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.
Eva nestled against Rick’s chest, already drifting back toward sleep, her little fingers curled in the lapel of his jacket.
Rosalia smoothed her skirt with trembling hands, then glanced up at him. His expression was still thunderous, his jaw locked tight, but the hand holding hers had not loosened.
“Thank you,” she whispered, surprising herself with the words.
His eyes flicked to her, dark and unreadable. For a moment, she thought he might brush her thanks aside. But then he said, voice low and rough, “You don’t thank me for that. It’s what I do.”
Rosalia swallowed hard, turning her gaze to the window where city lights blurred into streaks. “We’re not staying at the Willard?”
Rick’s teeth clicked together. “So many packs sleeping under one roof? Not a good idea. We’re in one of Nicolas’s hotels. We’ll head back to Silvermist in the morning. Your father was right about one thing. These talks are over.”
Rosalia nodded, more to herself than to him. It made sense. Shifter hearing, and all. And the natural disposition towards territorial disputes.
She listened to the thrum of Rick’s heart, heat rolling from him. She was desperate to ask what had happened, how the Black Claws had discovered his plans. It had been such an elegant idea. Exploit the charter on their territory claim expiring. Delegitimize them before they can rally support.
But it had been a risk. Rick had known that.
And now there would be war.
Her heart tripped over the thought, bile rising in her throat.
At least, here with Rick, she was safe.
He would protect her. And she would do all she could to protect him.
Chapter 16 - Rick
The suite was quiet, mercifully so. Heavy drapes muffled the noise from the street below, and the lamps glowed soft and golden against the carved mahogany furniture.
Rick carried Eva in his arms, her head tucked into the crook of his neck, her curls spilling across his collar. She was already half-asleep, but she roused just enough when he laid her gently on the hotel bed.
“Papa?” she mumbled, voice drowsy.
“I’m here, sweetheart.” He crouched, tugging the covers up around her shoulders.
Her lashes fluttered, and she blinked owlishly at him. “Was it…was it fighting?”
Rick hesitated. The question struck him harder than any alpha’s barbed words. “It was just arguing,” he said carefully, “No one fought.”
“But everyone was loud.”
“Yes.” He smoothed the blanket over her chest. “Sometimes alphas bark more than they bite.”
Eva considered that, then yawned so wide he caught a glimpse of the little gap where her tooth had been lost. “They sounded like they wanted to bite.”
Rick huffed softly. “Maybe. But I didn’t let them.”
She smiled faintly at that, pride flickering even through her sleepiness, “You’re strong.”
The words landed heavier than they should have. He wasn’t sure if she understood what kind of strength he wielded, how it frightened even his closest allies, how it kept peopleso distant. Yet in her eyes, he was simply Papa. Protector, unmovable, unshakeable. He prayed she would never see the cracks.
