Babies for Nikki (42 page)

“The Fates have given you the gift of seeing our daughter and son being born,” he reminded her softly. “Alex and I will be with you through it all, especially the conception.”

Nikki laughed despite her worries. “Well, I would hope so!” she told him, smiling.

Butler smiled down at her, glad that his humor lightened her worry. He reached up and brushed her hair back from her face, passing his thumb across her delicately arched eyebrow as she looked up at him so seriously.

“What, honey?”

“I want that with you and Alex so much,” she told him finally.

He smiled and kissed her forehead lightly, taking her in his embrace and holding her tightly against his chest.

“It will happen, Nikki,” he reassured her, knowing that it was going to happen pretty soon. He could smell the scent of her body changing, signifying her fertility. He held her tightly against his chest, rubbing her back tenderly as she wrapped her arms around his waist and settled her head against his chest.

Unable to stop himself, he shared a vision of a very pregnant Nikki lying between him and Alex to his triad partner, careful to keep the vision from Nikki. He could feel the happiness that Alex felt at the sight of their naked mate between them in their bed as they tenderly stroked her belly and felt their cubs moving beneath their hands.

Why are you shielding this from Nikki?
Alex’s voice was concerned as he spoke to him.

I don’t want to overwhelm her, Alex. She’s already worried that we won’t have children with her. Showing her my thoughts may make her worry even more. And a worried woman will not get pregnant.

Since when are you an expert on a woman getting pregnant?
Alex’s voice was filled with humor as he teased him.

Since Laurie told me that Nikki is afraid of disappointing us.

When we love her tonight, she’ll conceive our cubs. She won’t have any doubts ever again.

Butler growled and held Nikki tighter against his chest. Tonight their lives would change. And he and Alex couldn’t be happier about it.

Alex’s black wolf charged through the woods. The white of Butler’s wolf was a blur right beside him. After twenty yards, they separated and circled around their prey. There was no way the bastards were going to get away from them this time.

We should be able to take them down at the edge of the stream.

Alex’s voice was determined and angry. Butler didn’t even attempt a response. None was needed. These invading wolves threatened their pack by their very presence. Their recent history of attack when Nikki was with them at the site of their future home left no room for leniency.

These wolves were a physical threat to the future of every member of Beckett’s pack. They had already trespassed, knowing they were not welcome after being ordered off Beckett land. And they had verbally threatened the safety of all of them—especially their mate. With a burst of speed, both wolves pushed through the foliage into the clearing. Landing on either side of the four smaller wolves, they came to a sliding halt with them trapped between them.

There was a swirl of blue light surrounding Alex’s and Butler’s wolves then the transformation of wolf to man occurred. Their towering forms and massive builds served to intimidate the intruders.

“You have two choices,” Alex told them angrily. “Shift and surrender, or die here and now.”

The four wolves paced nervously between the two enforcers. Butler couldn’t prevent the satisfaction that came to him as he scented the fear of the wolves. He watched them warily, not trusting them to do anything but be the scourge of the wolf world that they were.

He saw the wolf that seemed to be taking the lead nod slightly at the other wolves and knew they were in for a battle. He sensed Alex’s presence in his mind and was thankful for the triad bond.

Get ready, Alex.

I see.

The light brown wolf will take the lead.

Within the space of time it took to send each other their thoughts and warnings, the wolves attacked as one. Two wolves rushed Butler, jumping at him and tearing into his forearms with their teeth, clamping down and holding tight with their powerful jaws.

Butler howled in anger. Twisting his forearms and bringing them up and around the heads of the attacking wolves, he broke their hold, ripping open the skin and tearing the muscles in his arms in the process. He grabbed their necks and squeezed, bringing both wolves down to the ground and kneeling between them while he fought to control his anger. His large hands held them in place, putting pressure on their windpipes in ever-increasing intensity.

It took all his control not to snap their necks and eliminate their threat to all of them. They deserved no mercy. What these wolves and their pack had done to Mitchell throughout his lifetime was beyond reprehensible. The way they had been a part of their alpha’s abuse and interference in the lives of fated triads, preventing Carter, Doc and Mitchell’s sister Susannah from finding a future as a loving triad, deserved swift and ruthless retribution. Instead, he squeezed until the wolves lay limp in his hands, unconscious and useless.

Alex gave little attention to Butler, knowing he was more than capable of taking care of himself. He could feel the anger and determination in his triad partner, and the surge of pride he felt for his best friend was sent through their bond. Facing the two wolves that ran at him, he swung out with his clenched fist, catching the first wolf in his temple and knocking him unconscious.

The other wolf jumped at him, opening its mouth and clamping down on his shoulder, tearing at the skin and muscle as it shook its head furiously to do the most damage. Alex reached up and grabbed the wolf’s muzzle, reaching into its mouth to pry open the jaw to release its teeth from his shoulder. He ignored the way the teeth cut into his fingers, determined to pull the wolf from his body.

In one powerful jerk, he ripped the wolf from his shoulder, feeling the spray of blood splattering his face as it was pulled free. Throwing the wolf to the ground, he followed it down and knelt on its chest and squeezed his hand tightly around its throat. Fighting with the urge to kill it immediately, he took steadying breaths and thought about why he should spare the life of this waste of a shifter.

Without the information they needed from these wolves, they would not be able to locate where their alpha was hiding Mitchell’s sister. Only the thought that his anger could cause Doc and Carter to never find their fated mate called back his rage to a degree that was manageable. Reaching back with his clenched fist, he brought it forth to connect with a resounding crunch against the wolf’s jaw, rendering him unconscious immediately.

Alex’s chest rose and fell with every breath he heaved. The anger consumed him, making his eyes glow golden as his wolf fought to be free to complete the justified punishment. He would not give in to the need. He had to remain in his human form. The struggle was intense, but it was one he was determined to win. He felt Butler’s grounding presence as he settled his hand on his shoulder and reached out to draw the calming influence of his triad partner into himself. The sudden vision of Nikki reaching out to take both men into her embrace calmed him immediately, and he turned to face Butler, smiling at the same serene expression on his face.

“Even when she’s not here, she’s here,” Alex told him seriously.

Butler nodded, smiling softly. “She’s not going to be happy when she sees how messed up we are.”

Alex reached down and hefted two of the wolves up by the scruff of their necks. “Let’s put these prisoners in the detention cabin, and then we can shift and take care of these wounds.”

“We can shift now and heal ourselves before we bring these wolves back to Jace,” Butler pointed out, wondering why Alex wouldn’t just do that automatically.

A slow smile crossed Alex’s face. “And miss out on Nikki taking care of us and fussing over us. Not on your life.”

Turning, he walked back toward the cabin that was dedicated to pack security, dragging the unconscious carcasses of the two wolves. Butler couldn’t prevent the low growl of need he felt surge through him at the thought of Nikki nursing them back to health. Reaching down, he grabbed the remaining two unconscious wolves by their front legs and dragged them along behind him.

* * * *

Nikki walked out onto the back deck of the ranch house, taking in a deep breath and enjoying the clean air and the smells of the surrounding forest. There was a light breeze, and she smiled at the feel of it caressing her cheeks and blowing her hair back from her face.

She wasn’t afraid to admit that she had finally found the place that she felt most at home. Maybe it was because she was sharing it with Alex and Butler. Maybe it was because she felt like she was finally part of a loving extended family. Maybe it was because the land was so beautiful and untouched. Whatever the reason, she was thankful to be here, and she never wanted to leave either the land or the men she had come to love so much.

Stepping down the stairs carefully, she walked toward the playground that had been built for the children of the pack. It was a beautifully designed playground with swings, a slide, an obstacle course, a small pool, and a large grassy area with comfortable chairs and freestanding porch swings that hung on metal forms with brightly colored awnings protecting those partaking of the lazy relaxation from the strong mid-morning sun.

As she walked toward one of the swings, she realized that Julia’s four-year-old daughter Tammy was sitting with someone. It wasn’t until she was standing a few feet from them that she realized it was Janine.

Nikki bristled immediately. She had not particularly liked Alex’s sister. Janine had been cutting and cruel to both Alex and Butler, and Nikki was not so forgiving when anyone hurt the people that she loved. She was about ready to walk away rather than have a confrontation with her when she heard Tammy giggling.

“I like playing with you, Auntie Nina,” she said sweetly, leaning against Janine and patting her arm happily.

“I like playing with you, too, sweetie,” Janine told her happily, not one trace of meanness in her voice. “Let’s make two bracelets so you can wear one and I can wear one,” she suggested, handing Tammy a section of pink yarn and placing the big container of plastic beads that held an assortment of wild neon colors and soft pastels between them on the swing seat.

Tammy took the yarn from her quickly and began looking through the odd assortment of beads in the plastic bucket. “I just want the pink and the purple beads. What colors do you want, Auntie Nina?”

Janine laughed as she watched her niece concentrating as she tried to push the yarn through the holes of the beads, her little tongue sticking out at the corner of her mouth as she worked.

“I think I’ll pick red and pink. Those are good colors.”

“Yes, those are good colors,” Tammy parroted.

Janine laughed and leaned down to kiss the top of her niece’s head quickly. “You’re the best niece in the world, little girl,” she told her happily.

Tammy looked up at her aunt and gave her the most dazzling smile. Janine couldn’t help but feel warmth rush through her. How she loved this cub!

Nikki was stunned into silence. Who was this woman and where was the alien pod that was housing the real Janine?

Janine looked up at that moment and was just as stunned to see Nikki standing there. She realized that the subtle breeze had been blowing toward the ranch house, carrying Nikki’s scent away from her. She would have never allowed Nikki to catch her playing with Tammy if she had scented her sooner.

The embarrassing blush that filled Janine’s cheeks told Nikki that she hadn’t expected anyone to witness her kindness. Nikki wasn’t sure what to make of that.

“Want to make a bracelet with us, Auntie Nikki?” Tammy asked her sweetly, drawing her attention back to the sweet child.

“Sure,” Nikki answered, stepping forward and carefully sitting on the swing beside Tammy. She took the length of yarn that Janine silently offered her and nodded her thanks.

“What colors do you like?” Tammy asked her sweetly.

Nikki looked at the bucket of beads and thought about her choice. A vision of her daughter and son flashed through her mind, making her heart squeeze with emotion.

“I think I’ll take light pink and light blue,” Nikki decided finally, going with the clichéd colors for baby girls and baby boys.

They worked silently, creating their beautiful treasures. Nikki was surprised by how relaxed she felt with Janine. Something just didn’t add up with this girl. She certainly didn’t appear to be as heartless as she made herself out to be.

“I’m sorry about what I said to Alex and Butler,” Janine told her softly, breaking the silence.

Nikki looked up at her in shock. There was real agony in Janine’s soft blue eyes. There was no doubt in Nikki’s mind that this girl was a troubled girl, but she believed there was a basic goodness within her.

“Please don’t hurt them again,” Nikki whispered, looking at her with pleading eyes.

“I won’t,” Janine said quietly. “I promise.”

They worked silently for a few minutes before Tammy squealed delightedly when she finished making her bracelet out of the length of beads. Janine helped her knot the ends so the beads wouldn’t fall off then tied it around her small wrist with a loose bow so she could slip it off later.