He felt into a restless sleep and woke a few hours later to whimpering. It took a few seconds to orientate himself—workshop, Sammy, nightmare. That last had him sitting up, leaning over to where Sammy was tossing and turning on his cot.
“Hey, kiddo. It’s just a dream. Time to wake up.”
Sammy didn’t rouse to the sound of his voice but the gentle press of Thorn’s hand to his forehead was enough to have him blinking awake with a sob.
“Shh. It was just a dream, Sammy. You’re safe, I promise.”
He opened his arms, and Sammy pushed into his embrace, clinging tightly to him. Thorn rocked him, running a soothing hand up and down his back. He hoped Sammy would fall back asleep, but the cub was wide awake.
“Can we go out to the woods, Thorny?”
It was that time, and their routine hadn’t changed that much since Daniel’s return.
“Sure, let’s just go check with your dad first.”
Thorn grabbed the cub’s sling while Sammy wiggled out of his clothes and shifted eagerly. They stopped outside the guest room and listened. Thorn could hear the sound of soft, rhythmic breaths.
“Your dad’s sleeping,” he whispered to Sammy. “We won’t wake him.”
He stuck his head through the door just to be sure, confirming to himself that the omega was out for the count. They’d be back before he woke.
“Come on then,” he murmured to Sammy as he carried the cub to the door. “Let’s go on an adventure.”
Chapter Ten
Daniel woke with a start, his heart racing. The nightmare faded quickly once his eyes were open but it wasn’t quite enough to calm his fears. He climbed out of bed, moving slowly, his body stiff and sore. The ache in his ribs was bad but nothing compared to how it had been. He padded to the door and out, in search of the one thing he knew would settle his worries at this late hour—a glimpse of Sammy. Knowing the cub was safe and sound always did the trick.
Thorn had shown him the workshop that they’d been bedding down in at night but when Daniel stole a look through the open door, he found the room empty. Puzzled, he wandered the house, cautiously peering through every door. He found a room he assumed was Thorn’s bedroom, but it was empty and looked like it hadn’t been slept in for a while. Finally, Daniel wound up in the kitchen. The back door was propped open, giving the only hint as to where his cub might have gone. But why would Sammy be out of bed in the middle of the night? Where could Thorn have taken him?
Confused and concerned, Daniel shed his clothes and shifted, catching Sammy’s scent easily and following it outside.
The cool night air made him shiver, and he was once again glad for his thick coat of fur keeping him warm. He tracked Sammy’s trail for a few feet, wondering how far away the cub might be, when he heard a familiar squeal. Drawn by the sound, he hurried forward, not bothering to track Sammy’s scent when the sound of his voice carried so clearly on the air.
A second voice reached him, and Daniel slowed down. Thorn. The alpha didn’t sound angry or tired, but Daniel was still too far away to make out the words. He crept closer, not wanting to be caught listening in. He couldn’t deny that he was curious about Thorn and the alpha’s motivation for taking him and Sammy in. Why would a children’s home leave an omega cub with a single alpha? Surely they had other people there to care for the kids?
“Ready to go again?” Thorn asked.
Daniel slipped under some bushes, hoping to get a better look at what the two of them were doing.
It was a swing, strung up between two trees. The swing itself was like a basket and Sammy sat inside it, in his leopard form.
Thorn gave it a push, sending it flying across the clearing, and Sammy let out a shriek of excitement, crouching down as the swing rocked back and forth.
“Fun, huh?” Thorn asked. “I knew you’d like it. We’ll chase all the nightmares away.”
Daniel felt a pang of sadness at that. It explained why they were out in the woods in the middle of the night. Sammy must have had a nightmare and woken Thorn, who was doing his best to tire him out again.
“What do you think, Daniel?” Thorn asked suddenly. “Do you want a go?”
Caught red-handed, Daniel slinked out from under the bushes and padded toward the alpha, torn between fearfulness and sheepishness.
Thorn, crouched next to the swing, caught hold and steadied it. Sammy spotted Daniel and, with a cry of happiness, threw himself from the swing and raced to him, curling close to Daniel’s leopard form. Daniel nuzzled his cub, purring loudly. He’d been so worried he’d never get to see or cuddle his cub again that every moment they were together felt precious.
“Sorry, Daniel,” Thorn murmured quietly. “I should have left a note or something. You must have been worried sick when you couldn’t find us.”
The alpha sounded so genuinely remorseful that Daniel couldn’t be anything but grateful. He leaned over and nudged the alpha’s hand with his nose, letting out a low rumble of thanks.
He wasn’t sure Thorn understood at first, but the alpha reached out slowly and patted Daniel’s head. “You’re welcome.”
The next morning, aware of the doctor’s recommendation that he move around more, Daniel forced himself to leave his room in search of breakfast instead of letting breakfast come to him. It wasn’t just about what the doctor said, either. He was starting to worry that Sammy was more of a burden and a bother on Thorn than he’d realized. If the cub was waking Thorn up at night and causing trouble with meals, the alpha would soon get tired of them both. Daniel didn’t want to get kicked out, not while his ribs were still healing.
“Morning,” he called quietly as he stood in the kitchen doorway.
Thorn was standing there in silence, staring with bleary eyes at the coffee pot.
“Hey,” the alpha said, glancing his way. “Want some cereal? I was just getting some for Sammy, he’s up and about.”
“I’ll get it,” Daniel said, stepping into the room. “I’m sure you have better things to do.”
Thorn abandoned his study of the coffee pot to give Daniel his full attention.
“Not really. You two are sort of my full-time job this week.”
“I thought you were a firefighter?”
Daniel hoped to keep Thorn distracted while he got the cereal sorted. Then he’d sneak out and get Sammy fed and work out how to keep the cub entertained and out from under the alpha’s feet for the morning.
“I am.” Thorn leaned back against the counter with a yawn. “Part-time. But I’m off shift until next week.”
Daniel snuck a look in a cupboard. No cereal.
“Here.” Thorn reached into the cupboard next to him and set a box of cereal on the table. Then he crossed the room and pulled out some bowls. Daniel was just about to check drawers for the cutlery when Thorn got there ahead of him.
“Milk’s in the fridge,” the alpha said, pouring cereal into the bowls.
Daniel went and retrieved the carton, setting it down on the table.
“I’ll go get Sammy,” Thorn said suddenly. “We’ve been eating on our laps in my workshop, forming all sorts of bad habits. Let’s have breakfast at the table like civilized people today.”
He was gone before Daniel could respond, and he found himself giggling at the idea of Thorn and Sammy living like two bachelors in this little house.
“What’s so funny?” Thorn asked, returning with a sleepy Sammy in his arms.
Daniel bit his lip. “Nothing. Morning, Sammy.”
“Hi, Daddy.”
Sammy reached for him, and Daniel took him into his arms, being mindful of his ribs.
“Want some breakfast?” he asked.
Sammy nodded, and Daniel settled him into a chair, dragging his chair right next to it. Thorn set a bowl of cereal in front of them both and handed Daniel the milk. Daniel poured some into Sammy’s first, knowing the cub liked his cereal soft while Daniel preferred his crunchy.
Thorn took a seat opposite them, settling a cup o
f coffee down beside his own bowl.
“If you want something else, I think there are bagels in the cupboard,” the alpha offered.
“Cereal’s fine,” Daniel assured him, helping Sammy take a few bites before starting on his own.
The cub was distracted, far too interested in watching everything in the kitchen than eating. Daniel abandoned his own breakfast in favor of coaxing the cub to eat but Sammy became more stubborn by the minute. Daniel tried not to let his frustration show when the cub steadfastly refused to open his mouth for another spoonful.
“I’m sorry,” Daniel told Thorn. “He’s usually a really good eater.”
“I don’t think it’s the food,” the alpha said. “Though cereal isn’t the most exciting breakfast. There’s been a lot going on. Here, let me try.”
Before Daniel could tell him no, Thorn had swooped Sammy into his arms and set him down in his lap. The cub giggled and squirmed, settling down with a happy smile.
“You and I are adventurers, right, Sammy?” Thorn asked.
“Uh-huh. Go ‘sploring,” Sammy said sweetly.
“Exactly. But we can’t go exploring with empty tummies, can we?”
Sammy lifted his head and peered at Thorn curiously.
Thorn lowered his voice to a whisper. “Because they’ll growl so loudly, they’ll scare all the animals away.”
He tickled Sammy’s tummy as he said it and the cub dissolved into giggles, wriggling as he laughed. Daniel laughed too, his heart almost bursting with happiness to see his little cub so full of joy.
When Thorn offered Sammy another spoonful, the cub almost bit the spoon in his haste to eat.
“That’s my best buddy,” Thorn praised, giving Daniel a conspiratorial wink.
After breakfast, Daniel tried to do the dishes, but Thorn shooed him and Sammy out of the kitchen. Daniel’s plan to keep Sammy busy and out from underfoot went awry almost immediately. The only place Sammy wanted to play was the workshop. And where else would Thorn plan to spend a day at home if not in his workshop?
Daniel watched anxiously, trying to keep Sammy out of trouble while Thorn wandered in and out, working on this and that, and bringing in tools or pieces of equipment.
It culminated in Sammy knocking over a box of small tools that crashed onto the floor with such a loud bang that it scared the cub and brought Thorn running. Daniel moved Sammy out of the way of the mess, shielding the cub with his body.
“I’m sorry,” he told the alpha. “It was my fault; I should have been watching him better. Maybe if we played outside or in the guest room…”
Thorn made as if to take a step toward them then changed his mind. Instead, he raised his hands slowly, his palms out.
“No harm done,” he said quietly. “There’s nothing in this room that can’t be fixed or replaced if it gets broken.”
“But Sammy’s in your way and underfoot when you’re trying to work. I can keep him out of sight, so you’re not disturbed.”
The more he did that, the less chance the alpha would lose his temper with them.
“He’s not underfoot. And neither are you. I don’t believe in keeping kids out of sight. This is a house, and my workshop is the center of it. That’s why Sammy likes being in here. That’s why I like being in here. You’re very welcome in here too. But you don’t have to… guard Sammy. A little chaos is a good thing. I won’t be angry at either of you for making a mess.”
“We can tidy up,” Sammy interjected loudly.
“Exactly,” Thorn said. “We make messes, and we tidy them up.”
Harrison hated mess. Daniel had always been careful to make sure nothing was out of place when the alpha was around. The idea that Thorn just wasn’t bothered by it was such a strange one.
“I—”
“How about a snack?” Thorn suggested instead. “Kira sent over some crackers and cheese.”
Sammy ran to him with a happy shout, following the alpha out to the kitchen. Daniel watched them leave, feeling like he wasn’t quite sure what was going on. He crouched down to pick up the bits and pieces that had fallen on the floor, scooping them back into the box.
“You shouldn’t be doing that, you’ll strain your ribs.” Thorn’s quiet voice carried across the room as the alpha approached.
“You’re good with him,” Daniel said quietly. “He’s not scared of you.”
“And so he shouldn’t be,” Thorn said firmly. “Neither should you. Sammy’s safe with me, Daniel, I promise. He’s not a bother or a burden. You don’t need to protect him from me, I give you my word.”
The alpha reached out a hand, and Daniel took it, letting himself be tugged to his feet.
“Now, how about a snack? Sammy’s not the only one who could do with a few extra meals.”
“That’d be nice,” Daniel said quietly.
He knew he was staring at the alpha but he couldn’t help it. Thorn was nothing like what Daniel expected and everything he’d ever wanted in an alpha: patient, kind, handsome, strong. Maybe, if he could show Thorn just how well he could take care of him, could show him that there was an omega-shaped hole in his life that Daniel could fill, the two of them—the three of them—might have something more.
Chapter Eleven
Thorn wasn’t sure he believed Daniel’s story of how he and Sammy had been separated. There was truth to it, but he didn’t think it was the truth. Still, there was no doubt Sammy was happy to have his father there. And the look on Daniel’s face when he’d first seen his little boy… Thorn had felt that, right down to his bones. He’d seen relief like that on other people’s faces, long ago and far away.
For the first week after Daniel’s arrival, Thorn stuck close to home. He had the feeling that the omega might take Sammy and run. But after a few days passed, the tension in Daniel seemed to ease a little. He no longer had that strained, hunted look in his eyes. And he stopped jumping every time a door opened. He still flinched whenever Thorn moved too fast and backed away when he got too close. Thorn kept his distance from the omega, but there was no way to keep that same space between him and Sammy. The cub didn’t have the same fears his father had and wanted to spend as much time with Thorn as he did with his dad.
The cub was sitting on his lap in the workshop a week after Daniel’s arrival when the omega took a few cautious steps inside the room. He still slept a lot but never failed to come looking for Sammy the moment he woke. Almost as if he feared the cub wouldn’t be there.
“Daddy, look!”
Sammy showed Daniel the little wooden spinning top that Thorn had carved for him.
“Wow,” Daniel said. “That’s a very special toy. Can you show me?”
A giggling Sammy tried to set the toy spinning. It rolled off the edge of the table and across the floor. Laughing, the cub squirmed off Thorn’s lap and ran after it.
Daniel watched him with a small smile before turning his attention to Thorn. “He likes you.”
“That surprises you?”
The omega shrugged. “He’s never really taken to an alpha before.”
Thorn could easily believe it.
“I’ve got a shift at the firehouse today. It’s only eight hours, so I’ll be home before nine. Do you think you two will be okay? I can ask someone from the house to come sit with you.”
He didn’t know why he said house and not pack. It wasn’t that he was hiding it, just that Daniel was already spooked. Learning Thorn was part of a pack wasn’t going to make him any less anxious.
“We’ll be okay,” Daniel promised.
“There’s food in the kitchen, help yourself. Stuff to make sandwiches or that you can heat up. I’ll leave a phone on the counter. My number’s in it, and so is the number for Brax up at the house. Any problems, you call me or him, okay?”
Daniel nodded readily. “Okay. Do you want me to make you a sandwich to take with you?”
Thorn was surprised at the offer. “You’re supposed to be resting and recovering, not cooking.”
H
e checked his watch. It was almost time to go.
“I need to get ready. Sammy will probably want to go down for a nap soon. He still prefers his little nest or his cot in the den, but if you want to try him with the guest bed…”
Daniel shook his head. “This is where he feels safest. I don’t want to rush him.”
That was the first clear sign Thorn had seen that Daniel wasn’t going to take Sammy and run for it. It was a relief to hear it.
“Then feel free to crash on the couch. You need as much rest as he does right now.”
That got him the ghost of a grin from the omega, that turned into a full, beaming smile when Sammy ran up to him with his spinning top.
“Play, Daddy?”
“Have fun,” Thorn told them.
He yawned as he drove home almost nine hours later. It had been a long shift. Only two callouts, both of them for accidents, but it had taken time to get everything squared away. There was something nice about driving home, knowing that there was someone there waiting for him. Two someones, in fact. He parked outside and went in, surprised to catch a delicious smell wafting through the house. He hung his jacket up and followed the scent to the kitchen. There was no sign of Sammy, but Daniel was at the sink, scrubbing hard at a pan.
“You’re supposed to be resting.”
The omega jumped at the sound of his voice, the pot slipping from his hands and crashing into the water. He turned around slowly, his hands shaking as he reached for a dishcloth.
“You’re home. I… um… I made you dinner.” He gestured to the oven, dropping the cloth. “It’s not much. Just pasta bake. You didn’t have a lot to work with in your cupboards.”
Sentinel (The Lost Pack Book 3) Page 5
