Wolf (25 page)

He had a point. She knew he did and she could empathize with it. On the other hand, he
was
being an insensitive asshole and he hadn’t told her he loved
her
! “And maybe you’ll think about the fact that honey catches more flies than vinegar!”

He slid a look at her as he paused at the door. “Shit catches more flies than either one!” he growled.

Sylvie gaped at the door when he slammed it behind him. Indignation swelled within her. “What the hell did he mean by that?”

* * * *

Sylvie supposed it was a sign that she was at least half convinced that Mac wasn’t going to dump her that she felt comfortable enough to get pissed off and let him know it. She wanted
more
reassurance, though, damn it!

True, there was a certain comfort in knowing he still wanted sex with her, but just being horny wasn’t any indication that he had a specific target—her! It left her feeling like none of the things he’d said could be taken to heart.

She extended the anger to the rest of the ‘pack’, as Mac was growing more and more prone to refer to them. If they thought for one minute that it was going to be fine by her if Mac did all the talking, they were wrong!

And he’d referred to the babies as pups! What was up with that? A mental slip because he’d begun to think he was more
than human? Or did he know something?

That was a very unnerving thought. It didn’t matter to her that they were different. She loved them the way they were. She hurt to think of what had happened to them, but she certainly didn’t feel less attracted to them because of it. She didn’t feel any reservations about having their babies—if she was.

Except the pup thing worried her just a little.

Maybe he’d just meant they were half and half? And of course they were—half of their father or fathers and her—she thought they would have to be, anyway. But what did she know?
They
didn’t understand it completely and they were closer to understanding than she was.

She put that from her mind. What ever they were, she loved them and by extension, she couldn’t help but love her babies. If they were the same as their fathers, then she’d be thrilled. She just wanted them to be strong and healthy.

The Cajuns Beau took them to stay with were a little scary, but despite the initial distrust on both sides, they were friendly and courteous and helpful. Sylvie almost had the feeling that one of the reasons they were so nice to them was because it gave them an opportunity to thumb their noses at the authorities they hated and distrusted but, in the end, it didn’t really matter why. And it didn’t matter that they weren’t exactly honest, upstanding citizens.

Actually, it was good that they weren’t because the Cajuns would’ve felt compelled to turn them in instead of helping them and
they
wouldn’t have had any idea
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of how to go about such things as inventing new identities and getting them a car owned by one of those new identities.

Sylvie was almost afraid to go to a doctor after what she’d learned, but Mac insisted and for once, instead of delegating the job to one of the others, he took her to her appointment himself.

He didn’t seem in any rush to get out once they’d parked the car and Sylvie began to worry that he might have sensed that something was wrong. Finally, he dug his hand into his jeans pocket and turned to face her.

She turned to face him, a little uneasy when he took her hand. To her surprise, he slid something cold and metallic onto her finger. She looked at the ring, blank with surprise when he’d finished and held her hand in his.

There was a faint tremor in his hand that made her more uneasy.

He cleared his throat. “I told them you were my wife,” he said finally, his voice sounding strangely roughened.

She shouldn’t have been surprised when she’d posed as Beau’s wife and Cavanaugh’s, but she was. “Oh!”

He closed his fingers around her hand when she started to withdraw it, swallowing audibly when she glanced at him curiously. “In my mind, you are.”

Sylvie felt her face warm with pleasure. “Really?” she asked breathlessly.

He pulled her close, nuzzling his face along her neck. “Really.”

She turned her face for a kiss. His kiss was surprisingly tender. It made her throat close with emotion, made her regret that she’d been so cool with him since he’d told her about the babies. She stroked his hard cheek when he broke the kiss. “I love you … Cole … uh … What’s your name now?”

He drew back, giving her a look. “Damn it, Sylvie! We kept our first names so you could remember them!”

She sent him an apologetic look. “But I’ve always called you the same thing you called each other. I’m used to it.”

“Well, you need to get used to the new ones.” He shook his head. “At least get used to the first names. We’ll work on the rest. It’s Cole Tyler. And you’re Sylvie Tyler. Don’t write Sylvie Stone when you fill out the forms!”

She repeated the name under her breath in a chant when they got out of the car and Cole led her inside, switching the chant to thought once he opened the door. In spite of the attempt to keep her mind focused on it, though, her mind kept flickering to the ring and the sweet things Mac—Cole!—had said. She came so close to signing in as Sylvia Stone, she felt cold wash over her.

She smiled a little weakly at Cole when she’d finished and went to sit beside him.

She could tell from the look on his face that he was sure she’d screwed up. “It’s fine,”

she said.

He didn’t look particularly relieved. Deciding to pretend she didn’t notice he was looking perturbed with her, she focused on admiring her ring in her lap, twisting it around her finger to study the design. It was a beautiful band. Tiny rosebuds sprinkled a vine that twined all the way around it. It was a little loose and that worried her.

She smiled at Cole warmly and leaned close. “It’s beautiful! I love it!”

He flushed, but some of the tension eased from his shoulders. He looked as if he started to say something, but she was called to the back just then by a woman with a
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clipboard. Fortunately, she reacted to her first name, rising immediately.

She leaned down to kiss him before she left. “Don’t you be looking at any other woman while I’m gone!” she said teasingly. “You’re mine!”

He chuckled when she straightened and gave him a sassy look.

It was twice the ordeal that she’d expected. Memories of her past haunted her as she went through the routine of being measured and weighed, giving up samples for tests, and then climbing onto the miserable examination table. She focused on the ring Cole had given her, though, and finally took it off to study it, wondering if she could get it resized without ruining the design.

That was when she saw the inscription inside of it.
All my love, forever—Cole.

Her heart fisted in her chest. Tears filled her eyes, blinding her.

She thought she might’ve burst into tears if the door hadn’t opened suddenly and the doctor breezed in. He studied her chart for several moments and then did a physical examination while his nurse looked on. When he’d finished, he sent the nurse to call Mr.

Tyler in so that he could talk with both of them.

Frightened when she hadn’t expected anything of the sort, Sylvie stared at him uneasily. “Is something wrong?”

She could tell he was angry despite his effort to maintain a front of cold professionalism. “Let’s just wait for Mr. Tyler.”

Cole looked as confused as she was when he came in, and alarmed.

The doctor shook his hand, but he wasn’t particularly friendly. “I don’t see anything on your history here to indicate that you’ve been taking fertility treatments.”

Sylvie blinked at him. “I haven’t.”

He looked like he wanted to call her a liar. Actually, he
did
call her a liar.

“You’re sure?”

“I think we’d know if she had,” Cole said tightly.

The doctor divided a look between the two of them. “Mrs. Tyler?”

She couldn’t believe he’d think she’d lie about it. “NO!”

He shook his head. “We’ve got a … situation here that isn’t the best. I’d like to sugar coat it, but I want to be sure both of you understand the seriousness of this. I’m not sure that it’s anything I feel comfortable dealing with. I counted four heartbeats and, frankly, Sylvie shouldn’t be pregnant at all. Without wanting to sound insulting, she’s too old and she’s never had a child at all. One would be risky. We’re pushing the line here, but I’d suggest terminating the pregnancy—we still have time if we schedule the procedure right away. Alternately, if she’s just determined to go through with it, we could attempt to terminate at least two of them and see if we can manage to deliver the other two.”

Sylvie was so shocked she couldn’t even find her voice.

Cole was shocked, as well, but his reaction was a lot swifter than hers. “You cold blooded son-of-a-bitch!” he growled.

Sylvie burst into tears. She tried her best to stifle the sobs, but between her fear that Cole was going to throttle the doctor and the things the doctor had said, she felt like a dam had burst. Stiff with fury, Cole put his arms around her. “It’s alright, baby! This stupid fuck doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Get dressed. We’re going home.”

The doctor wrestled with his own temper. “I think it would be wise for you to take her to someone else,” he said angrily, “but you need to take her to someone. She’s
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pushing forty. I wouldn’t advise any patient to take this kind of risk at her age.”

Sylvie did her best to get her emotions under control while she dressed and not just for the doctor’s sake, or Cole’s. She didn’t want to humiliate herself by weeping in front of everyone from the nurses to the other expectant mothers. She managed to choke back the sobs and wipe her face, but she knew anyone that saw her would know she’d been crying.

Cole hustled her out with one arm around her waist. When he’d helped her into the car, though, he crouched down and looked at her. “You trust me, don’t you, baby?”

Sniffing, Sylvie nodded.

“He doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Alright? In the first damned place, you aren’t too old. You’re just right. You couldn’t be more perfect. You got that?”

Sylvie felt her chin wobble, but she nodded again.

“In the second place, you and I both know the babies you’re carrying aren’t anything he’s used to. They’re
our
babies, Sylvie. They’re going to take care of you so you can take care of them.”

She wasn’t sure if she could, or should, believe him, but she loved him. She knew she couldn’t give up his baby—she couldn’t give up any of them. She managed to dry up the waterworks. She even managed to smile at him tentatively.

He rewarded her with a smile of his own. “That’s my, baby! We’re going to be alright!”

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Cole startled Sylvie so badly when he crept up behind her and grabbed her waist that she nearly burned herself with the wax she’d been carefully dripping inside the wedding band he’d given her.

“That was a guilty start. What are you up to?” he murmured, nuzzling her neck.

Sylvie smiled. “It was not a guilty start! You just keep sneaking up on me.”

“Why are you dripping wax in the ring? Trying to hex me or something, witch?”

She sent him a mock frown. “The ring’s a little loose. I was afraid I might lose it.”

Cole lifted his head to examine it. “Shit! Why didn’t you tell me? We can have it resized.”

“But I don’t want it resized.”

He went back to nuzzling her neck. “Why?”

“You know why! I don’t want to mess up the engraving.”

She felt him smile against her neck. “There’s an engraving inside?”

Sylvie turned to gape at him. It took her a moment to realize his eyes were dancing with amusement. She pursed her lips. “You know there is! It’s got your name right there.”

Cole studied it frowningly. “Oh yeah! I remember now. I discovered it had my name in it and I figured it was like … fate! Here I was looking for a ring and this already had my name inside of it with a really gushy kind of sentiment. And, of course, I know the ladies like that sort of thing ….”

Sylvie studied him a little doubtfully.

He captured her face between his palms and kissed her, almost playfully at first, but then with more heat. Sylvie’s blood was humming in her veins when he finally drew away. It took an effort to open her eyes.

“Always and forever, Sylvie,” Cole murmured. Pulling away, he took the ring from her and slipped it back onto her finger. “Want to take a walk and look our place over?”

Sylvie smiled at him, feeling a surge of excitement, but flicked a glance around at the boxes piled in the living room. “There’s so much to do,” she said hesitantly.

“It’ll be here tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after that.”

She chuckled. “That’s what I’m afraid of. What’re we going to do about supper?

Everything is still in boxes.”

“Hawk’s been dying to cook something on that fancy grill he bought. We’ll tell him we’re cooking out.”

He stopped her before they went out. Grabbing his jacket, he draped it over her shoulders. “It’s a little cool, I think, for you. It’s sunset.”

A chilling breeze wafted across them as they crossed the wide front porch of the log cabin they’d bought and Sylvie was glad for the jacket. Cole ran a hand over her belly as they went down the steps. “How’re the little guys?”

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Sylvie looked down a little doubtfully at the mound that led the way wherever she went now. “Oh, sleeping. They played a game of soccer a little while ago with my left kidney and they’re all tuckered out.”

Cole chuckled dutifully and lifted his head, looking around with pride and pleasure at their front yard. Even though it was badly in need of some clean up, Sylvie felt much the same. She wasn’t certain if she loved the land the most or the beautiful chalet style log cabin … or the view. She’d had no idea Montana was such a breathtakingly beautiful state.

“It’s just … magnificent!”

Cole dragged in a deep breath, filling his lungs appreciatively with the fresh mountain air. “Let’s walk this way. There’s something I wanted to show you.”

Smiling, Sylvie allowed him to guide her around the house. The sound of metal striking wood grew louder as they rounded the house. She discovered that Gabriel, Remy, and Maurice—formerly known to her as Hawk, Cavanaugh, and Beau, in that order—seemed to be having a contest to see which of them could cut the most wood the fastest. Shirtless and with all kinds of lovely muscles straining with their task and gleaming with the sweat they’d worked up, Sylvie admired the view as Cole paused to inform them a cookout was in the game program for the night.

Gabriel wiped his brow with one forearm, studied them a moment and dropped his ax. “I should get the grill ready!”

“Get the steaks ready, too!” Cole advised him. “If Maurice gets his hands on them they’ll be too hot to eat!”

Maurice shot him a bird. Without glancing at him, Cole returned the salute and urged Sylvie onward.

Sylvie frowned. “You think it was a good idea for us all to have the same last name? I mean, they act like your brothers, but there’s really no resemblance.”

Cole shrugged. “So—we’re half brothers, same father, different mothers.”

Sylvie thought it over. “That would work.”

“The beauty of this place is that it’s convenient enough to everything and we won’t have anyone right under us watching every move and taking notes when and if we screw up.”

“Hmm,” Sylvie commented.

Cole flicked a questioning look at her. “You said you loved this place. It was perfect.”

“I do and it is.” She sighed. “It’s almost an hour’s drive from the hospital, though. That’s the only thing that worries me.”

“Thirty minutes. Tops,” Cole disputed.

“You are NOT making that drive with me in labor in thirty minutes, Cole Tyler!”

He studied her expression for a moment. “I meant to the city limits. Maybe fifteen to the hospital from there.”

She knew better, but she left it at that. He guided her to a huge rock outcropping after they’d walked across the back yard and through a thicket of woods. Sylvie felt her stomach go weightless as she stared out over the valley. The sun was setting as he’d said and it was spectacular. “It’s beautiful!” she breathed.

They settled down to watch the sky change colors, cuddling companionably.

“You don’t think you’re going to miss being a soldier?” Sylvie asked after a little bit.

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Cole sent her a look of surprise and snorted. “I didn’t like it
that
much! No. I think my new life is going to be exciting enough. The boys are bound to be a handful.”

Sylvie sent him a reproachful look. “Maybe they’re girls?”

“You going to be upset when it’s turns out I’m right?”

She thought about it and finally smiled. “No. I’ll love cuddling a baby Cole and watching him grow up.”

He grinned. “You say that now. I have it on authority, though—from my mother—that I was a hellion. Ditto Gabe, Remy, and Maury.”

“You didn’t know them then,” she pointed out.

“No, but I’ve heard the tales.”

“Well, I’m not worried about it. I’ll have you, Gabe, Remy, and Maury to help me with our little hellions.”

He grinned. “I’ve been thinking about naming mine Angus.”

Sylvie gaped at him. “You’re not serious?”

He laughed. “Sure I am! It’s a nice manly name.”

She shook her head at him. She never knew, for sure, when Cole was teasing.

“We’re not naming him Angus! The kids will all tease him and call him bull or something like that.”

“Bull’s a good name ….”

She punched his arm playfully.

Rising, he pulled her to her feet. “We should get back. I smell steak.”

Sylvie chuckled. The guys obviously had a super metabolism to go with their super everything else. Food was never far from their minds and they wanted lots of it!

Fortunately, they didn’t mind helping out in the kitchen, especially when it meant getting to the food faster.

Cole stiffened as they passed the backyard. Since his arm was still around her, Sylvie sensed it immediately. “Go inside—around the back,” he said curtly, releasing her and walking briskly toward the front.

Sylvie heard it then, the sound of an engine. Her heart fluttered uncomfortably and dismay assailed her. They hadn’t even had the chance to settle in!

Gabriel passed her. “Get inside, baby.”

Frowning at his back, she turned and headed around to the back of the house, passing Remy and Maury, both headed toward the front. Grabbing the railing, she mounted the steps as quickly as she could, crossed the wide back porch and went inside.

She didn’t stop there, however, she crossed the great room and found a position at a front window to peer out through a crack in the curtains.

She couldn’t see anyone but Cole and wondered where the others had gotten off to. Dismissing it after a moment, she shifted to look down the drive. A truck appeared within a few moments. The light was already failing, but she could see three people.

The truck pulled up to the front and the driver turned off the engine.

He studied Cole a moment and finally opened the door and got out. “Name’s Bowie … Bain Bowie,” he said in a deep voice. “We’re your neighbors. My wife thought we should drive down and introduce ourselves and welcome you.”

Cole felt his hackles rise the moment the man stepped out of the truck. After staring at him a long moment, however, he flicked a speculative glance at the interior of the truck at the man and woman still inside.

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The woman was pregnant.

He relaxed fractionally.

“Cole Tyler.”

Bowie studied him hard for several moments. “You aren’t
were
and you sure as hell aren’t
en
. What are you?”

Cole felt his pulse race. He hadn’t been able to entirely identify the scent, but the question was as much as a confirmation that the wild thoughts that had run through his mind weren’t wild at all. “
.”

Bowie frowned. “That still puts you in the brotherhood—if that’s where you want to be.”

And if he didn’t?

Almost as if the man had read his mind, he spoke again. “It’s a hard life …

outside tribal law. Before you decide, you might want to speak to the council.”

Cole nodded. “I suppose you’re head of the council.”

For the first time, the man smiled. “Nope—not even a member. I belong to the brotherhood, though.”

Again, Cole nodded. “Guess there’s always somebody that wants to be in charge,” he said grimly.

Bowie shrugged. “They don’t breathe down your neck, if that’s what you’re thinking. They keep order. You might say they enforce the code of conduct considered acceptable. I’m pack alpha. That’s my woman, Marie, and my pack brother, Louis,” he said, using the French pronunciation ‘Louie’. “We’re
en.”

Cole relaxed. Turning, he looked at the house, frowned, and motioned for Sylvie to come out. Unnerved that he seemed to realize she’d been at the window, Sylvie straightened, but she was relieved that the neighbors didn’t seem to be a threat. Opening the door, she crossed the porch. Cole met her at the foot of the stairs with a chiding look, but he merely slipped an arm around her and led her closer.

“My woman, Sylvie.”

The woman in the truck smiled in delight and wiggled across the seat to get out the driver’s door. “I’m Marie. Isn’t this great? We’re both expecting! How far along are you?”

Sylvie glanced a question at Cole. He nodded slightly. “Why don’t y’all come in so we can visit?”

Sylvie didn’t know what delighted her more—having a woman to talk to, discovering they were ‘neighbors’, or the discovery that the men with Marie—her men—

were like her own and Marie was as human as she was.

It got better. They were close to the same age and Marie had a doctor who was also
en—whatever that was.

The men weren’t quite as enthusiastic about the visit. Sylvie didn’t think any of them really relaxed the entire time they visited, but they seemed willing enough to be peaceable. They stayed to dine with them. Marie offered to take Sylvie with her when she went for her next doctor’s visit and Bain invited Cole and the others to a local meeting of the brotherhood.

All in all, Sylvie was thrilled. They’d found a new home and discovered there were families just like their own—at least similar—people she could interact with without worrying that she would say something she ought not.

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