Keeping the Wolf

by E A Price

  “You’re pregnant!” exclaimed Marguerite, her eyes shining.

  “I ah…”

  “She is!” cried Arthur, his handsome face creasing in a grin.

  Crap. That didn’t last long.

  “Congratulations!” everyone cried.

  Marie just smirked triumphantly, not saying a word. Yep, she had her way.

  Christine gave Harold a helpless look; he merely smiled at her in understanding. Well, they had to find out eventually. It became even more helpless as Marguerite spirited her away and Harold Sr. said he wanted a ‘word’ with his son.

  As she found herself alone with Marie and Marguerite, she regretted that Jennifer couldn’t make it. The young she-wolf was summoned home to help move her temperamental grandmother out of her house because it was infested with rats – Christine would have given anything to be there, dealing with those rats at that moment.

  “This is excellent news,” trilled Marguerite. “I already have a nanny lined up.”

  “A what?”

  Christine gaped at her. Of all the things she had been thinking about to do with the pup, a nanny was not one of them.

  “A nanny. You’ll want one in place before the pup arrives. I’ve always had one for my children.” Quite a few over the years according to Harold. “Friends of mine are moving overseas in six months, and their nanny doesn’t want to leave her family, so I think we should snap her up. Our current nanny, Helga is very efficient, and this one comes from the same agency.”

  “Well, uh…”

  “She’s excellent – very hands-on and will live in, just like Helga.”

  “Live in? I don’t think I…”

  “Her only drawback is how pretty she is.” Marguerite gave her a pitying look. “If you’re worried that Harold may stray…”

  “I’m not worried about that,” spluttered Christine, “but I don’t think I’ll need a nanny.”

  “Of course you will,” sniffed Marie, as if a nanny were an absolute given for any child.

  Yes, Christine couldn’t imagine Marie ever changing a dirty diaper.

  “I’ll arrange a meeting between the two of you,” declared Marguerite.

  “There’s no need,” protested Christine.

  “It’s no trouble.”

  “Please don’t,” pleaded Christine.

  “Nonsense, you’re being silly.”

  “If I choose to have a nanny, I will find one myself.”

  Not one recommended by any of Marguerite’s vile friends.

  “Don’t be stubborn. I’ll arrange a get together for the two of you. She’s very prepared to live in – though perhaps it won’t be the best option. As I say, she is rather attractive.”

  Her mother-in-law’s eyes raked up and down her body and clearly found her wanting. Count to ten…

  *

  “Way to go, bro - no idea you had it in you!”

  Harold glared at his brother, Jonathan.

  Arthur gave their younger brother a stern look. “Seriously, Harold, congratulations to both of you. I already texted Jennifer and she says congrats, too.”

  Harold nodded. “Thank you, we are pleased.”

  Christine was happier than he could have hoped. Though he noted in her now and again an underlying tension, particularly when he mentioned the fact that the baby may be a girl.

  “Yes, congratulations,” said his father.

  “Thank you, Alpha,” he said, meeting his father’s gaze.

  His father’s smile turned chillier. “This is certainly good timing.”

  His father fancied the pup would keep Christine occupied, fewer distractions for him. He had no idea. While his father was happy to ignore his wife and children, Harold only found a pregnant Christine even more distracting. He found himself more on edge, more watchful around her. Of course, he always worried, but now, there were two of them to worry about. Anything could happen. What if she slipped walking down the stairs? What if someone rear-ended her car? There were too many things to worry about, and he found himself fretting non-stop. He needed to be around her every second of the day, but he couldn’t be – he had to leave her at times, and he didn’t like it one bit.

  “So when is my grandson due?”

  “My pup,” replied Harold emphasizing each word, “is due in eight months.”

  It was still early days, and there was still the possibility that something could go wrong at this stage. He hoped not – it was a fear that kept him up at night, watching his lovely mate sleep.

  He’d always known he would have children one day – it was part of his responsibility as an alpha, he must carry on his line, blah, blah, blah. Even in his head, his grandmother sounded boring. But knowing that and knowing his mate was pregnant were two different things.

  He wasn’t pandering to Christine when he told her she was precious to him – both her and the pup. He liked having Christine by his side, but knowing there was a piece of him, growing inside her – their child – incited some very strange and frankly territorial feelings.

  It also made him feel more secure. Alphas perhaps should not worry about their mates leaving them – they should be confident. But knowing Christine was having his child, made the possibility of her leaving so much less likely.

  “Whiskey?” offered Harold Sr.

  Harold shook his head. “I’m driving.”

  “One won’t hurt,” he scoffed.

  He ignored his father and had another glass of water.

  “I understand her ex-boyfriend is in jail.”

  Harold froze at his father’s words, flung out so nonchalantly.

  Arthur and Jonathan looked up in confused interest

  “What ex-boyfriend?” asked Arthur.

  Harold knew exactly whom he meant. Roark. He still hadn’t bothered to mention that Roark had paid a little nighttime visit to their house, but judging by the look on his father’s face, he knew about it somehow.

  “Indeed,” said Harold.

  “Interesting that he managed to get into your house.”

  Harold stood a little straighter. Never mind how he found out about what happened, he was suggesting that Christine allowed him entrance.

  “What’s going on?” asked Jonathan, a mild, puzzled smile on his face.

  “We’ve started setting the alarm on the house.” Something he really should have been doing all along – it was to his shame that he hadn’t.

  His father’s lips twisted cruelly. “How far along is Christine again?”

  His beast roared inside him before stilling. He tingled with awareness a second before Christine came into the room. She gave him a shy smile and came to his side.

  His father looked like he was about to say something, to say nothing about the smirk on Jonathan’s face.

  “Let’s take a walk in the garden,” Harold said quickly.

  “Okay,” she acquiesced almost as quickly.

  He took her hand and led her away, marching through the garden. It was a lovely garden – his grandmother never did things by halves, but he had no interest in admiring any of her rare flowers that day.

  “Harold,” panted Christine, tugging at his hand.

  “Mmm?”

  “Can we slow down a little?”

  He realized he had been nearly running through the garden and came to a halt.

  “Sorry.”

  He ran a hand through his hair and let out a shuddering breath.

  “Harold?”

  Christine’s small worried face stared up at him.

  “I’m fine.”

  No, he had been about to go for his father’s throat – his alpha’s throat. The bastard was implying the pup was Roark’s – implying his pup belonged to someone else and Harold wanted to kill him for it.

  “Harold,” she murmured wrapping her arms around him.

  He gratefully accepted the hug. “Thank you,” he muttered as his beast calmed

  “It’s more for me than you,” she breathed, nestling into his embrace.

&nb
sp; “Oh?” He chuckled slightly.

  “Yes, your mother s driving me insane. Don’t be surprised if a nanny turns up in a few months – she’s already planning on her moving in with us to help us prepare for when bubs is born.”

  He growled softly.

  “She also suggested I put her in a room with a lock on the door because she’s convinced you won’t be able to keep your paws off her!”

  He growled loudly.

  “Apparently nannies are catnip to married men.”

  “Catnip?”

  She pulled back and frowned at him. “What’s the wolfy equivalent? Wolf nip?”

  “I’m quite partial to steak,” he said thoughtfully.

  She beamed smugly. Yes, despite his initial complaints, the steakhouse was now their favorite place to eat – he had even taken the steakhouse king challenge and come out the victor – he had his picture on the wall and everything.

  His irritation returned. “You don’t have to worry about me trying to maul any nannies.”

  Christine rolled her lovely eyes. “I know that, but your mother just will not listen. She thinks you’re going to jump her bones the minute you meet her. She wants me and her to interview this nanny she’s chosen but thinks it’s better you don’t come along. She thinks you’re like your skanky father…”

  She hushed quickly and smiled a little nervously. He knew his father had indeed seduced many of their nannies when he and his siblings were growing up – which was why they had such a high turnover. But his father had always been quite discreet about his dalliances. Harold had not told Christine about them, so he wondered how she knew.

  “Sorry, didn’t mean to offend.”

  “You didn’t; I am aware of my father’s behavior, I’m just sorry you are.”

  Christine winced. “Well, I saw him feeling up a girl at your office – no one’s more sorry about that than me.”

  Harold snarled. Apparently, his discretion was waning the older he got.

  Christine smoothed her hand over his chest. “Why are you so angry? You looked like you wanted to take your father’s head off. What did he do?”

  He smiled gently. “It does not matter.”

  And it didn’t. He knew his father was talking crap. Perhaps his father even knew it and wanted to rile him. Harold knew the pup was his. He knew Christine was his.

  “Let’s leave.”

  “Before dinner?”

  “Before they get a chance to open their mouths again.”

  “That’s a bit naughty.”

  “I know,” he told her with more than a little relish.

  “Why, Mr. Buchanan, I thought I was the one who was supposed to be leading you astray?” she teased.

  He chuckled. “Mrs. Buchanan you are rubbing off on me.”

  Then he kissed her, and they went home, ignored all phone calls, ate pizza and went to bed.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  “Hey, how’s my favorite niece doing?”

  Christine answered her phone, expecting to hear the voice of her sister, Cissy. Of her family members, she was really only still communicating with her two sisters. Her brothers were of the same opinion that her parents were – that Harold was the devil that walked among them. She had only told Cissy of her pregnancy – swearing her to secrecy. Which apparently, had not lasted long.

  “You’re pregnant?!” howled her father.

  Rats. Clever move using Cissy’s phone.

  “Dad, ah…”

  “How could you not tell us?” he demanded furiously.

  “How could I? I knew you’d just get angry.”

  He made some grunts down the phone. “Are you happy about this?”

  “Yes, of course, I am.” She patted her stomach instinctively.

  “I’m not angry, any baby of my baby will be loved. I just wish you weren’t having a baby with that… that… wolf.”

  “My husband, you mean?” she interjected dryly.

  “This will make it more difficult to absolve the marriage,” he huffed, ignoring her comment.

  “Dad!” she growled as her inner beast stirred. This was not an argument she wanted to have again – which was why she was avoiding their calls. “How did you even find out?”

  “Cissy told me.” He sounded pretty pompous about that fact in Christine’s opinion. “She’s a good daughter.”

  “Meaning I’m not?” snapped Christine.

  He hesitated for just a shade too long, and Christine really did snap.

  “How dare you?! First of all, you ask me to give up my whole life and marry someone I don’t know. Then when I do, I’m a bad daughter for trying to make the marriage work?”

  “Button nose, come on now,” he entreated in frankly a whiny voice.

  “You know what, don’t call me or try to contact me again unless you can treat my husband and me with the respect we deserve!”

  She ended the phone call and slammed the phone down on her desk. She hadn’t realized she had been shouting until she noticed everyone gaping at her.

  Sure enough, moments later, the elevator beeped, and Harold was storming in her direction, sending everyone around him into a torrent of hard work and making them all stand up a little straighter.

  Someone obviously called him. She glared at the project team. Tattletales. She couldn’t sneeze without one of them reporting it to Harold and him stalking down there to make sure she wasn’t dying at her desk.

  Not that she minded much, but sometimes a gal just wanted to sneeze in peace.

  He made his way into her office and shut the door behind him. She could see all her coworkers watching them through the glass wall. Harold glowered at them before closing the blinds.

  “What’s happening?”

  “Why Harry, whatever can you mean?” she asked innocently.

  He raised an eyebrow.

  Christine sighed. “Which one of them squealed on me?”

  “Christine,” he said in a warning voice.

  She shrugged. “My father called. He used Cissy’s phone, so I’d answer.”

  His jaw ticked. Harold felt about her father the way her father felt about him, but the difference was that Harold wasn’t trying to tear her apart from her family. “I see. What did he say?”

  “He wanted to know why I didn’t tell him I was having a pup.”

  Harold grunted.

  “But other than that he was just his usual beastly self.”

  “You should go home,” he growled. That was his answer when she sneezed too. Quick, go home, lie down. If Harold were able to come with her, she might actually be willing to go.

  “Harold, it’s 10.30, I haven’t even had my third breakfast yet.” Pregnancy was awesome.

  “You’re going home, I’m calling a car for you.”

  “Harold!” she breathed in exasperation.

  If she thought he was high handed before she got pregnant, then it was nothing compared to how he was now. It was frustrating, though she found it increasingly endearing, but still frustrating, but endearing… Yeah, she was in two minds about it.

  He watched her for a moment before putting his phone away and moving to sit on her desk. He took her hand and tried a different tack.

  “I don’t want you stressed. It’s not good for you or the pup.”

  He raised her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. Well, if he was going to be all logical and sweet about it.

  “You’re right,” she breathed.

  “I will drive you home.”

  She brightened. “You will? Aren’t you busy?”

  “I can take some work home with me, and I’m sure Linda can handle anything that comes up.”

  She brightened. “Okay.”

  “Perhaps before we go home we could do some shopping.”

  She placed her hand on his thigh. “I thought you hated shopping.”

  He hated even stopping to get a bottle of milk – he complained about the fact that the small store didn’t have enough change for his hundred dollar bill
for days. All of his shopping was done by Esther or his assistants - Thomas had complete control over Harold’s wardrobe.

  “We do need to think about the nursery. Perhaps we could look at buying a crib.”

  Christine grinned excitedly. “I’d like that.”

  “Perhaps we could grab an early lunch after.”

  “Ooh, I’d really like that.” Even better!

  He cupped her head and kissed her, and her worries about her family fluttered away.

  *

  Harold waited until Christine was asleep before he made the call.

  His father-in-law answered on the second ring, hoping it would be Christine – well, he was about to be bitterly disappointed.

  “Cole,” hissed Harold.

  His father-in-law growled in response.

  “Do not call or speak to my wife again unless you can be civilized.”

  “Humph. She’s my daughter!”

  “She’s my wife,” ground out Harold in the politest tone he could muster.

  The last thing Christine needed was pressure from her own family – those who claimed to care for her. She was carrying Harold’s pup, and he was determined that her pregnancy would be nice and stress-free. Hmmm, perhaps they should move away from his grandmother for the duration of the pregnancy.

  “Because you forced her to marry you!” accused Cole.

  “Because you asked her to marry me,” argued Harold.

  “That was a mistake,” he snorted.

  “You did not think it was a mistake when you were taking my pack’s money.”

  “It always boils down to money with assholes like you!”

  Harold controlled his temper. “Right now I’m more concerned about my pregnant wife.”

  “Yeah, right. How much?”

  “I beg your pardon?” asked Harold coldly.

  “How much for you to divorce Christine?”

  Harold almost choked down the phone. “Are you proposing to pay me to break up my marriage?”

  “Come on; you didn’t want to marry her either. We met that Sabrina woman. We know you wanted to mate her.”

  He let out a sound of amusement. “You do not know what you are talking about.”

  “Breaking up the marriage will benefit both of you. Don’t worry; we’ll take care of Christine and the pup. Now, how much?”

  Harold breathed deeply for a few moments. “There isn’t enough money in the world.”