The Protector's Heart (Wilde Creek Three)

by R. E. Butler

  “We’ll be home soon, son,” Malachi said, glancing at Nila and seeing her eyes fill with tears. “Did you hear me, sweetheart? Home.”

  “I heard you, Mal. We both did.”

  * * * * *

  Nila wasn’t watching the scenery blur by as Malachi drove them home; she just looked at Jack. She desperately wanted to check him over, but the dim lighting from the dashboard wasn’t enough for her to see anything.

  She was trying not to think of what had happened, how things had gone from bad to worse in a heartbeat. What would happen to her now that Damien was dead and she was the one who had killed him? It probably didn’t matter to Isaiah that Damien had run out of the woods so fast she hadn’t seen him until he was standing in front of her vehicle. Even though she jerked the steering wheel, she’d still hit him.

  The sickening sound of the body thumping under the tire. The way the SUV bobbled a bit as she jerked the wheel the other direction and then spun entirely, until all she could see was another set of bright headlights heading her way.

  “Am I,” her voice caught in her throat and she coughed to clear it. “Is he going to come after me because D-Damien’s dead?” She didn’t want to cry. She felt like she’d been crying for months because of Damien.

  Malachi slipped an arm around her shoulders. “Don’t worry about Isaiah, sweetheart. What happened was an accident, and you can’t be held accountable for that. Regardless, I’m here to keep you and Jack safe.”

  She mulled over his words as they drove back to Wilde Creek. Since he’d told her he wanted her to drive directly to Acksel’s house, she wasn’t surprised when he took her there. They must have been expecting them, because a handful of males were standing on the sidewalk.

  Malachi got out, came around to her side and opened the door. As he helped her and Jack out of the vehicle, he said over his shoulder, “Has Sam apprised you of what’s going on?”

  A male she didn’t recognize said, “Yes, we’re on it. Patrols have been stepped up around town.”

  “Good. Thanks, Robert. I’m going to get my mate inside; it’s been a hell of a night.”

  Another male said, “Let us know if you need anything. Adam and Jeremiah are inside to help.”

  Malachi held her against him as they walked up the now-familiar sidewalk leading to Acksel and Brynn’s home. Jack was awake but silent; her normally talkative son was either too traumatized or too tired to talk. She hugged him a little closer.

  Jeremiah opened the door and Malachi ushered her in, following close behind as the door was shut and locked.

  Brynn and Mia stood a few steps away from them, both looking concerned, and it took only a second for Malachi to step away and the girls to surround her and Jack.

  “We’re so glad you’re okay,” Mia said, sniffling.

  “Are you hurt? Doc is here,” Brynn said.

  She felt Malachi’s hand on her back and he said, “Yes, she needs to see Doc and so does Jack.”

  Doc appeared out of the kitchen and joined them as Brynn and Mia moved out of the way but still stayed close. He took one look at Nila and Jack and said, “Let’s go in the spare bedroom and see what we’re dealing with.”

  Malachi led her to the bedroom they’d stayed in before, and she squinted at the brightness of the overhead light when Doc flipped the switch. Malachi grabbed a towel from the bathroom and laid it on the bed. She laid Jack down on it, stripping him so Doc could look him over. For the first time since he’d been taken, she got a good look at her son. His fingers were still claw-tipped, and when he opened his mouth and yawned, she could see his fangs.

  “I thought I was imagining things,” she said as she rubbed Jack’s shoulder and smiled down at him.

  Malachi said, “I’ve never seen anything like it. Doc?”

  Doc didn’t answer for several minutes as he checked Jack over, testing his limbs and checking him for injuries. After listening to his heart, Doc laid the stethoscope over his neck and gripped the ends, exhaling deeply.

  “Physically, he’s fine. There’s some minor bruising on his arms and chest, probably from being grabbed or held while he struggled. He wasn’t fed, though; I can hear his stomach grumbling.”

  Nila lifted him from the bed and he snuggled into her, resting his head on her shoulder. “Mama,” he cooed, fisting her hair.

  “Hey little man,” she said, relief twining through her.

  “And the claws and fangs?” Malachi asked.

  Doc sat down on the edge of the bed and rubbed his temple. “I have to tell you that I’m stumped. Wolf shifters, even full blooded ones, don’t shift until their teens. Partially shifting is very unusual for wolves, even close to the time they’re ready to shift. Occasionally in a time of high stress, a teenager might partially shift, but not a baby.”

  She lifted one of Jack’s hands and looked at the dark claws. They looked like tiny, curved needles.

  “Is he stuck like this?” she asked.

  “What happened before he partially shifted?”

  Nila looked at Malachi and he moved closer, lending her his strength. She told them what happened, starting with getting Jack away from Maura, Tanner’s attack, and Jack’s sudden shifting.

  “I think he took off one of Tanner’s fingers, but I…I don’t want to think he actually ate it.”

  Doc’s nose wrinkled in disgust. “That’s probably unlikely considering how small Jack is. You’d have noticed him chewing on a finger. It most likely dropped away during the struggle. I think what we have here is a case of high stress causing the partial shift. Jack was already traumatized from being taken and kept away from you for several hours. Then he sees you being hurt and someone trying to take you away. He might be a baby, but babies can be intuitive about danger, especially shifter children. He’s enough of a wolf that he was able to summon the ability to protect you.”

  She repeated herself. “Is he stuck like this?”

  Doc smiled gently. “I doubt it. After you get him cleaned up and he eats a good meal and gets a good night’s sleep, I expect he’ll wake up perfectly normal.”

  “Is this something we’re going to need to worry about in the future, like him getting worked up and partially shifting?” Malachi asked.

  “I don’t know. I want to say no, because I think this was an extraordinary circumstance, but the truth is I’ve never known such a young child to grow claws and fangs. I would suggest being cautious in the future, and as he grows older to make sure you teach him how to handle himself in stressful situations.”

  She lifted Jack into her arms and carried him into the bathroom. Malachi drew a bath while Nila tried not to look at herself in the mirror. She was certain she looked like she’d been to hell and back. As she knelt next to the tub and settled Jack into the water, she realized there was a bottle of baby soap on the edge of the tub and a washcloth decorated with yellow ducks was folded next to it.

  “These are Jack’s,” she said as she dunked the washcloth in the water and opened the bottle.

  “Adam took Mia to the house and she packed an overnight bag for the three of us.”

  She fought the tears that stung her eyes at the sweet gesture. Malachi’s family and pack treated her and Jack like they were one of them. She soaped Jack’s skin, noticing that the bruises were fading quickly.

  “He’ll shift when he’s older, won’t he? He’s more wolf than human,” she said as Jack grabbed a small cup from her hand and dumped the water over his head, babbling as it rinsed off the soap.

  “Most likely,” Malachi answered.

  When he was clean, she pulled the plug to drain the water and lifted him from the tub. Malachi wrapped a towel around him, patting his skin gently. Within a few minutes, he was dressed in footy pajamas and hugging his favorite stuffed wolf.

  Malachi picked Jack up and turned away slightly when she reached for him. “It’s your turn, sweetheart.”

  “Turn?”

  “To get checked out. I know I appear to be calm, but seeing your in
juries and the blood on your skin, knowing what you went through without me — I need you to get fixed up and cleaned up. Now.”

  She looked down at herself. Washing Jack had cleaned some of the blood from her hands, but Malachi’s reminder of her injuries suddenly made everything hurt.

  “Ouch.” She looked at the gouges in the top of her hand.

  Malachi snorted and said to Jack, “How about some dinner, big guy?”

  “Carrot?”

  “I’m right here, buddy.”

  She smiled as he carried her son out of the bathroom and then looked at Doc, who was watching her with a serious expression. “I’m sure you’re anxious to get back to your son, so why don’t you grab a quick shower and then I’ll examine you.”

  She nodded and he slipped out of the bathroom, shutting the door. She stripped and turned to face the mirror. Her eyes widened as she took in the injuries to her body. She was glad that Malachi wasn’t there to see her right now, he’d probably flip out. As it was, she felt like she was just hanging on by a thread.

  One thing at a time, she reminded herself.

  She gave herself a once-over. There were bruises around her waist from where Tanner had grabbed her. Her wrists were raw and red from the rope. She had light bruises up and down her legs and arms. The worst damage seemed to be her hand, where Tanner had curled his claws into her flesh.

  Inhaling slowly and deeply, she let out the breath and met her own eyes in the mirror. She’d survived. No matter what scars she retained, they were badges of honor now. Jack was safe now because of her actions and Malachi and the pack members who had come to their aid.

  She showered, using Jack’s soap because it was mild and wouldn’t irritate her wounds, and then she dried herself off carefully, once more cataloging her injuries so she could tell Doc everything.

  A large duffel was on the counter, and she found her clothes on top and dressed in a pair of soft lounge pants and a tank top. She slipped socks on her feet and grabbed a sweater to cover up with after Doc examined her.

  After he finished examining her, he bandaged her hand and wrists and put his supplies away. He gave her a silver mesh ball that dangled from a thin chain with a hook on the end. She could smell herbs, and looked at it curiously.

  “It’s a tea ball, an infuser. It’s filled with healing herbs that have been magically enhanced. Boil two cups of water and steep the herbs in it for three minutes, then remove it. Give Jack one quarter cup of the cooled tea and drink the rest yourself. For Jack it’s more of a calmative than for healing, but it will promote a restful sleep for you both and help your body’s natural healing ability to work even better.”

  She didn’t have to ask Doc if it was safe for Jack, because she knew he’d never give anything to her or her son that would harm them. “Thank you, Doc.”

  He smiled, and she walked out of the bedroom with him. She found Jack on Malachi’s lap in the kitchen. Malachi was feeding him cut-up chicken nuggets from a large plate that also contained cheese cubes, halved grapes, and carrot coins.

  “Mama,” Jack said, grinning around a mouthful of chicken.

  “Hi, baby.” She bent and kissed his forehead.

  “What’s the diagnosis, Doc?” Malachi asked. He was smiling, but his words were serious.

  “She should wear the bandages until tomorrow, and if they’re healed over, which they should be, then she can remove them. Ibuprofen for pain, and it wouldn’t hurt if someone let her rest tomorrow and kept an eye on Jack.”

  Mia and Brynn both said, “I’ll do it.”

  They laughed and agreed to watch him while she took it easy. Adam took the infuser from her, and Nila watched him go to the stove and turn a burner on under a teapot as he listened to Doc’s instructions for the tea.

  Adam was handsome — tall and muscular with dark hair and piercing blue eyes, the color of faded denim. As he turned from the stove to open a nearby cabinet, she noticed he had a scar on his neck that traveled up his jaw and curled over his cheek. She’d seen enough injuries as a nursing assistant to recognize a burn scar when she saw one, and her heart went out to him. He’d clearly been burned severely, and if he was scarred then it must mean that he was young when it happened and hadn’t been able to shift to help heal himself. Although she could admit she didn’t really know that much about wolves and their physiology.

  “I’ll check in tomorrow evening,” Doc said, and Brynn walked him to the door, speaking quietly.

  “Sit, sweetheart,” Malachi said, pushing a nearby chair out with his foot.

  The tea kettle whistled and as she looked at Malachi while he fed her son in his alpha’s kitchen, and the only thing she could think of was that she’d finally found a place she could call home. It wasn’t about the walls or the roof or the furnishings, it was about the people. She’d found a home with Malachi and his pack, and she didn’t ever want to be anywhere else.

  Chapter 15

  Malachi waited for Nila to fall asleep on the guest bed before he slipped away and shut the door. She and Jack had passed out after drinking Doc’s special tea, and although she’d walked into the bedroom while he carried Jack, she hadn’t stayed awake very long. Jack slept soundly in the playpen next to the bed, and Nila had curled up next to Malachi. She stayed awake long enough to bare her soul to him, crying softly and breaking his heart a thousand times as she struggled with the guilt over her actions. When she’d told him everything, she seemed to relax. Whether it was from the tea or from her heartfelt confession, he didn’t know, but he was glad she finally found some peace.

  He walked out to the family room and found Acksel and the other pack members who had joined him in getting Jack back. He paused next to the couch, too damn overwhelmed by the events of the evening to really say much of anything, but he did manage a heartfelt, “Thanks.”

  Acksel was letting Brynn fuss over his injuries, although Malachi didn’t think he’d been hurt too much. He glanced at everyone and noticed that none of his friends had been gravely injured. He was thankful for small miracles.

  Malachi sat down on the couch next to Mia and said, “Is there anything I need to know?”

  Adam and Jeremiah brought the kitchen chairs into the family room and everyone sat down. They left and returned with beer and a tray of roast beef sandwiches.

  “Thanks guys,” Brynn said as she reached for two sandwiches, giving one to Acksel.

  Malachi twisted the top off a beer and took a long drink. Acksel watched Brynn devour the sandwich, shaking his head with an amused grin. Turning serious, he said, “Isaiah showed up after the fight was over. He said he didn’t know what Damien was planning to do and didn’t condone it. He ordered his people back to their homes, and then he seemed to realize that Damien wasn’t there. Ren showed up with the body and took the blame.”

  Malachi’s eyes widened as he looked at his beta. Ren shrugged. “I wasn’t sure what would happen to Nila if Isaiah knew that she’d killed Damien, regardless of whether it was an accident or not. If he wanted physical retribution, I figured I could handle it better than she could anyway.”

  “I don’t know what to say, except thank you,” Malachi said, feeling completely humbled by his pack member’s actions.

  Ren smiled. “Someday you can repay the favor and take the fall for me, okay?”

  “You got it.”

  Acksel cleared his throat. “I’m sure it’s no hardship, but Isaiah said that he doesn’t want our pack to step foot in Dorlan again, even if the zombie apocalypse has come and the world is ending. He never wants to see Nila or Jack again and, in front of his pack members, he renounced his genetic tie to Jack.”

  Brynn swallowed a large bite of her second sandwich and said, “What does that mean?”

  Dade scrubbed his fingers across his stubble-laden jaw. “It means that he no longer claims Jack as his flesh and blood.”

  “Um, he can’t just make a statement like that; it’s a scientific fact that they’re related.”

  “Not accordi
ng to pack law. It’s an old-school thing, love,” Acksel said. “If he hadn’t renounced his claim on Jack, then Jack could have possibly shown up at his pack some day and asked for sanctuary.”

  “Like at a church?” Brynn gave another confused look.

  “Yes, like at a church. A relative is required to offer sanctuary if it’s asked for, unless the relative has publically renounced their relation, which Isaiah did. Now, Jack is on his own, severed from contact with that side of his family. Nila never has to worry about Isaiah or anyone else from Damien’s pack or family members coming for Jack.”

  “That’s good news,” she said.

  “It’s the best damn news I’ve heard all day,” Malachi said.

  Ren said, “By the way, I found that asshole’s finger on the floorboard.”

  Mia made a gagging sound and Malachi chuckled. “I think Nila will be glad to hear that Jack didn’t eat it. Did you give it back to him?”

  “Hell, no. He tried to hurt your mate. I stomped on it and then kicked it into the gutter.”

  “Thanks, man.”

  Ren chuckled and took another swig of beer.

  The conversation switched to lighter topics, including the upcoming full moon. In a week, Malachi would have to leave Nila and Jack and go hunting. He wasn’t crazy about it, especially when he knew that she harbored bad memories from many full moons waiting for Damien to come back and knowing he’d been unfaithful to her.

  When the tray of sandwiches was gone and beer bottles littered the top of the coffee table, Acksel sent the pack members home to rest, save for those protectors who were on schedule to patrol. Adam and Jeremiah began to clean up while Acksel and Brynn argued about her ability to help clean. In the end, Acksel won, because Brynn kept yawning and making his point.

  “See you guys in the morning,” she groused.

  “I think I can head home, right? I don’t need to stay here?” Mia asked.