Ryleigh came back into the room much quieter than she’d left, Emma could tell she’d been crying. She felt horrible that she was the cause, she didn’t want to add to the stress Ryleigh was already under.
“Listen, I’m sorry, that was a bit harsh, I didn’t mean to…” Ryleigh started to say.
“No, Ryleigh,” Emma interrupted her, “you said what I needed to hear, thank you. And you’re right, I was acting like a spoiled brat, and that’s not me. I need help, I can’t process all these feeling on my own. I know my emotions are out of control, it’s all becoming a jumbled mess in my mind. But Rye, I also want to say that I’m sorry for what I said. I know you have a lot going on, I shouldn’t have said those things to you. I owe you and everyone else an apology.
“I let myself get caught up in my own head and wouldn’t let myself see what was going on around me. I’m not going to do that anymore, and I think you need to do the same. Please contact Ava for me. I know none of this is a quick fix, but I need something; therapy drugs, shoot, I don’t know all what I need. All I really do know is I can’t keep going like this.”
“Oh, Emma that’s wonderful. I’ll call Ava today, she’s been so worried.”
“Dang, we surely must be sisters, we definitely deal with the shit life gives us in the same way,” Emma grunted. “Ryleigh, I promise you, from now on I’ll do my best to stay out of my head, and I want to you do the same. Can you promise me that? You and that little baby you’re carrying should be your focus, not everything else.” Emma held her hand out to her sister for the first time. She really meant it, she would help Ryleigh and her niece or nephew, and she would definitely get her own shit together.
Ryleigh looked uncomfortable; typical Ryleigh, she started to fidget when she didn’t know what else to do. Something else Emma had noticed, but hadn’t paid much attention to in the last couple of weeks.
“Well, okay then, I’m happy to see you up and around. I’ll leave you two alone for a bit to make that call. Emma, please know you made the right choice. Ava will help, we all will.”
Emma wanted to cry again. These were good people, but she’d been so blinded by her own confused feelings. Hearing about the symptoms of postpartum depression was nothing compared to experiencing the effects first-hand. Taking a moment to let the good feelings in, Emma realized something, she was loved. The Alpha Team, especially Ryleigh and Dalton, had all shown it in various ways all along.
Emma stopped her before she could leave the room, “Ryleigh, can you call Dalton and ask him to come here, and would you mind coming back with him?”
“Ah, sure. Is everything okay?” Ryleigh asked.
“Yeah everything is great, I finally got my head out of my ass!” Emma said with a giggle. “I’ve decided on a name for my daughter. I want you and Dalton to be the first ones to know, it would mean a lot to me.”
“Well, okay,” Ryleigh said sheepishly, “I know he was headed to the kitchen; give me a minute and I’ll go get him.” When Ryleigh started to make her way towards the door, Emma stopped her again, motioning her to come closer, and with her free arm, she hugged her sister close. “Thanks, Rye. I need you to know that you’re important to me, and that even though that scene was bad, I appreciate you calling me out on my shit.”
“Yeah?” Ryleigh said with a smile and practically sprinted from the room.
Dalton was frustrated and annoyed. He knew Emma needed time and patience, and he was trying his damnedest to give her those things, but the last couple of weeks had been sheer hell. Emma had turned from a sweet, strong woman to something less than, and it broke his heart. He didn’t know what had happened, but figured she was dealing with all that had happened to her. He was willing to give her whatever she needed, even if that made him a pussy-whipped motherfucker. Shit, right now, he was thinking about going back just to be with her. She calmed him in so many ways, yet revved him up in so many others. The guys had been starting to give him shit because of his actions. He would take the ribbing as long as in the end, he got the prize, but the last couple of weeks proved he might be holding out hope for nothing. She was cold and distant to everyone, including him. She didn’t even look at her child like she had before; that scared him the most.
Maybe it was sleep deprivation or the stress of his bear riding him, but he couldn’t keep his mind too far away from Emma. His dreams were consumed by her, he envisioned what her face would look like as she climaxed, wanted to see her now unblemished body wriggling under his, wanted… shit, he wanted everything. He wanted her lips wrapped around his cock, he wanted to feel her tightness on his fingers, and most of all he wanted to taste the honey he often got a whiff of when they were together. She might be mad and distant, but her body knew what it wanted and that was him.
He was so consumed with need for her, he’d even started sleeping in the chair in her room, attempting to regain the feeling of some type of normalcy. Waiting to come in until after she fell asleep. Being close to her calmed one need, but ignited another. Most mornings he would leave right before she woke, so she wouldn’t see the state his cock was in. He had never felt this out of control in his life, his need for her was so strong. Emma had the ability to make him so hard, it hurt. The simplest sound coming from her lips as she slept, set him off. He knew she wasn’t having nightmares, as he’d first thought, she was having the type of dreams which caused a person to be sweaty and wet. Dalton prayed he had the starring role in those dreams of hers. Picking up her scent, he could sense her arousal. He longed for a sign from her that she was ready to move on from simple touches and kisses.
Even he had to admit his actions were a bit creepy, but damn the woman stirred thoughts and feelings in him he’d never experienced. He needed to get to the bottom of what was going on with her. He knew deep down the person he’d first met was the real Emma, not the mean-spirited shrew she was coming off as now.
Dalton turned when he heard someone running into the room; thinking something was wrong, he instinctively reached for the knife he’d strapped to his belt. He was relieved to see it was Ryleigh and the huge smile on her face brought him some hope. Maybe today wouldn’t be such a bad day after all.
Chapter 34
“Whoa, sweetheart, where’s the fire?”
“Dalton, you need to come quick, Emma wants to tell us something, she asked me to come and find you. Dalton!” Ryleigh practically screamed “She finally asked for help. The Emma we met is coming back. Things are going to be ok!”
Dalton was relieved, they had all been telling him he only had to wait. That Emma would deal with everything in her own time when she was ready, but it had been so hard. He’d wanted to insist she continue to speak with Ava, even force-feed her the medications Ava recommended, but everyone kept telling him that wasn’t the way. He knew it, he just didn’t like it. Every day, Emma was pulling further and further away, and he’d been in a panic.
“Come on, Dalton, it’s really important!” Ryleigh was jumping from foot to foot. Thinking the worst. Dalton took off at a dead run.
“Is everything okay, Emma? I only left you a bit ago, did something happen?” Emma startled when Dalton came rushing into the room, panicked.
Emma didn’t like the guarded look Dalton was giving her, she’d treated him so badly, she had a lot of making up to do. She knew deep down that Dalton wasn’t with her out of obligation or duty to his team. She also knew her feelings ran deeper than friendship for the man and hoped he felt even the smallest portion of that back. Before overhearing Jacks and Cash, she’d been hopeful they were on the way to a relationship. Longed for his touches and small kisses, and yet, wanted more at the same time. Trying to reassure him, she put her hand out hoping he would take it, wanting the connection for the first time in weeks.
“I’m fine, Dalton, I wanted to introduce you and Ryleigh to McKenna Shea Connors.” All of their eyes were drawn to the sleeping baby. Emma saw Ryleigh gasp, putting her hand over her mouth, tears in her eyes.
When Dalton had
rushed into the room, he was stood right in front of her. After her announcement, he stood there, not saying anything, looking stunned, but he still held her hand. Emma was starting to doubt her decision when Dalton asked, “You named this sweet baby girl after your Dad and me?” Emma knew he would figure McKenna’s name out right away. She’d relayed every story Ryleigh had ever told her about her dad.
Feeling a bit self-conscious, Emma pulled her hand back and snuggled her daughter a little closer. She started to ramble to dispel the quiet in the room, “Yeah, if that’s okay, I mean. It came to me like you said it would. I really liked it, and it felt right, but if you don’t want me to, or Ryleigh, I’m sorry I didn’t think to ask you if you want me to use the part of her name after our Dad, I mean I just found out and you have first…”
“I think her name is perfect,” Ryleigh cut her off, “a perfect name, for a perfect little girl,” moving closer to rub McKenna’s soft hair. “What do you think Dalton?” Emma prodded.
Dalton went to his knees in front of her; Emma saw the sheen of tears in his eyes and produced a few of her own.
“It’s an honor to have a very special little girl carry my name.”
Emma almost second- guessed her decision again when Dalton stood, turned around, and left the room. She looked to Ryleigh but her sister looked as confused as she was.
“Remember what I said about guys?” Ryleigh shrugged her shoulders. “Actions without thought.” Ryleigh came closer and rubbed McKenna’s little cheek with her finger. “I think my Dad and Seamus would be proud to have such a special little girl carry on the family name Emma.”
“Thank you, Ryleigh,” Emma reached out and gripped Ryleigh’s hand, “for all the kindness and patience you’ve shown McKenna and me over the last couple of months. I know I haven’t been the easiest to be around the last couple of weeks.”
Ryleigh started to comment but Dalton came back into the room towing the Alpha Team behind him, Asking Emma if he could take the sleeping little angel in her arms. When she placed the baby in the cradle of his arms, Emma knew nothing else looked as perfect. Dalton loved her little girl as much as she did she also detected a bit of pride welling in his eyes.
“Everyone I would like to introduce you to McKenna Shae Connors.” And then like out of a storybook or perhaps a science fiction movie was more appropriate, her tiny daughter made a purrlike chuffing noise. It sounded like a motor rolling through her chest. Everyone was in a state of shock when they heard the sound. Dalton just smiled, holding McKenna a little closer.
“She’s happy,” he explained. “Baby bears make this noise in the wild.” He acted like a proud Dad should, and Emma couldn’t hold the tears back any longer. Her baby or anyone child would be lucky to have Dalton as a dad. If nothing ever happened between the two of them, Emma would cherish this moment forever. Dalton looked so happy and so proud.
Dalton hoped he didn’t let it show, but Emma had floored him by naming her daughter after him. The noises McKenna made also shocked him to his bones; he had only heard those noises in wild bear cubs. Since Shifters only changed after puberty, none of them had ever made noises like that, only proving McKenna was indeed a very special girl.
Emma had been so distant for the last couple of weeks, he was afraid that he couldn’t get through to her anymore. he’d tried everything to show her how much he cared, and she laid in the bed and ignored him or pushed him away. He’d been at his wit's end that day and stormed out of the room. He didn’t know what happened, but whatever it was, he was thankful. Maybe now they could all get on with their lives.
He wanted more than anything for both Emma and McKenna to be his family, his wife, and daughter. The last couple of weeks had been hell trying to be supportive without pushing too hard for something more, and her pushing away from him just as hard. He wasn’t happy with her attitude and considered putting her over his knee on more than one occasion.
Her scent was everywhere, and as much as he loved it, he also cursed it because it meant he’d been walking around with a perpetual hard on for weeks now; his only solace was that he knew he’d been getting to her as well. He had jacked off so many times he was sure his dick had burns from the friction his hands created, he didn’t know if his balls would ever recover. Emma was his mate, both he and his bear knew it. Dalton was willing to give her the time she needed, his bear not so much; the beast was an animal through and through, it wanted what it wanted. Dalton had been pushing him back for a while now and hoped Emma’s recovery was taking a turn for the better and now that she asked for the help she needed, it seemed that things were on an upswing.
He would still be patient, no matter how much it hurt. Dalton felt he needed to take things slow but maybe he didn’t need to take things as slowly as he had been, letting Ava work with Emma to get her better and stronger. Emma felt the connection now, he knew it for sure. At least now he had some hope, whereas twenty minutes ago, he didn’t have anything but wants and wishes.
After her meltdown with Ryleigh, Emma’s attitude did a complete one-eighty. She started to do little cleaning and cooking around the base, but she wore out easily. She had to take the time to rest, but she was starting to feel more and more like herself. She was now taking care of McKenna mostly on her own, but the guys and Ryleigh still helped, which she was grateful for. Mia was gone, but she was coming back, and things were starting to feel like normal. Ava wrote her a prescription for some meds to help with her depression and they talked frequently.
Well, it was a new normal for Emma. She was a mom now, McKenna meant everything to her, but she was also a woman, and Dalton was always in her thoughts and dreams. She wanted a life with him, she wanted more than a platonic relationship. It almost scared her to hope for anything more, but she had decided to turn over a new leaf, and Dalton was part of that.
Dalton watched Emma and liked the changes he was seeing. She was no longer cutting herself off from everyone, and she’d even started doing little chores around the lodge. He didn’t want her to and no one expected her to do it, but she seemed so happy about little accomplishments she made that he only offered encouragement along the way. Kenna, that little girl had everyone’s heart. It scared him was how fast she was developing and how strong the little girl was. He was afraid she would shift before they knew it. She was displaying signs of being a true Shifter well before any of them had. Her eyes would brighten and glow, and the little tyke was strong. She also displayed behaviors only seen wild bears, like the motor sound she continued to make after her naming. It was almost like she’d been waiting for everything to be right in her world. They still didn’t have any of the answers they needed though and going back to where Emma was held was the only place they could think of to look for those answers. Kenna was a true shifter, but enhanced.
Emma was speaking with Ava, again, and Dalton was enjoying how much things had changed for the better. She opened herself up to him and told him she’d been ashamed to admit what had been going through her mind. It burned him that she’d felt as if she could not fully trust any of them; he had been doing everything to prove himself worthy to her, but that was his cross to bear, not hers. Her thoughts were understandable considering everything she’d been through. She wasn’t a Shifter, she didn’t have the instincts they did.
She no longer moved away from his touch, and she’d even started touching him without any encouragement. At first, it was a hand on his shoulder or a squeeze of his hand, but lately she was getting bolder. He longed for her touch and couldn’t wait for the day he could have her completely. Just watching her hips sway when she walked down the hall caused his aching dick to twitch. She’d put on some weight and was filling her out in all the right places. Those curves turned him inside out.
The other day, when he brought her a cup of coffee, she kissed his cheek. Most importantly she was talking to him and the others. They all spent time with her and Kenna helping when needed, but Emma was finally taking care of Kenna, showing her the love only a mother
could.
He loved the time they spent together. He also liked that his beast seemed to be allowing him the lead on this one. It still raged and wanted to claim Emma, but Dalton was still fully in control. Dalton wanted them to build a relationship on trust and the love, not lust and need, even though his resolve at times weakened. Emma was human, she didn’t understand what he was going through, and he really didn’t want her to.
Emma was his mate; all the bear within him wanted was to make her happy and safe, it was instinctual. It also wanted to rut like the animal it was. Dalton was used to sharing his psyche with the beast. Generally, it wasn’t a pleasant experience, but he was used to it. For most shifters, their beast stayed in a state of hibernation only waking to add to the senses or when danger was around. Dalton’s beast was different, he was always there, clawing to be set free. The calming effect Emma had on his beast only lasted for a couple of weeks. Once the bastard sensed she was on the mend, it started making Dalton’s live a living hell, again. Every touch, smile, or gesture woke his bear. Even the snarkiness she displayed before she and Ryleigh fought turned the fucker on. The beast wanted what was his and wanted it now. The man was willing to wait until she healed both physically and mentally, something his bear didn’t understand.
Dalton had to shift often, always with one of his brothers or the beast would try to seek out his mate. Dalton put up with this only because he knew that Emma needed time, and he would do anything in his power to give that to her.
His time consisted of too many cold showers to count, meditation, and self-pleasure sessions that came more frequently than anyone would deem normal. None of it helped, nothing would help until Emma was ready to accept his claim. His dreams were all of Emma. In them he would taste, touch, and caress every part of her body. He knew their life together would be amazing and couldn’t wait for the time he could do everything he dreamed of to his little mate. There was one dream that he couldn’t wait to try.
NAC & The Holly Group - Box set: Alpha Team Page 50
