Chapter 135

“Promise me you will never approach my father,” Neil says. His eyes hold mine prisoner, the intensity in his so captivating, I can’t look away. “Never speak to him. Even if you are summoned, do not go.”

This all seems a bit extreme. I know he’s a major asshole, but…

“I’m pretty sure it’s illegal for me to ignore a summons from the Alpha King,” I say.

Neil frowns. “If that ever happens, stay here within the Pyramid. My brothers and I will protect you.”

I can tell he is being serious, and while I don’t doubt his sincerity in the moment, I do have some question as to whether he would stick to his word if his father actually came calling. Neil has always been complacent to his father. Why would that suddenly change now?

Although… If he is truly complacent about everything, I would be fired and Neil wouldn’t be walking around with a stick of silver in his chest.

Maybe this is a warning I should adhere to. Though, damn, I would love to give that asshole Alpha King a real piece of my mind. Anyone who treats their children like how he treats Neil deserves a thrashing.

“Would you really stand up for me against your father?” I ask, because… it still seems like a fantasy.

He motions toward his chest. Okay, fair point.

“Would your brothers?” I ask, because that seems messier. Neil has proved his dedication to keeping me close. Archer, Beau, and Steven? I want to believe they would at least think to protect me from their father’s wrath, if only to honor the sacrifice Neil’s making, but truthfully, I just don’t know.

Neil’s voice softens a little. His face isn’t so grim. “It’s different when it’s you.”

“What does that mean?” I ask.

He doesn’t answer. He just looks at me. Am I supposed to be able to read his mind?

Ug, why don’t these brothers ever just come out and say how they really feel? It’s like pulling teeth around here.

“Fine,” I grumble. “Keep your secrets.”

My knees are starting to hurt so I stand. I glance at the door. I should really leave and let Neil rest.

Instead, he scooches over in the bed to make room for me. “Come on.”

I give him a flat look. “We are not doing anything.”

“I’m not suggesting that.” Neil rolls his eyes. “I’m saying come lie down with me for a minute.”

“That sounds like a proposition,” I say, though I go anyway. I sit on the bed, and then lie down in the spot he made. The sheet is still warm from his body heat.

He holds out his arm and I roll into his side. Then he closes that arm around the back of my shoulder.

It’s comforting to feel the rise and fall of his chest, and to feel his steady heartbeat under the palm I place there. He looks so terrible, so exhausted. But when I close my eyes I can truly feel how strong he is.

Archer said Neil has the toughest wolf. I wonder if that was borne from genetics or necessity. How many beatings has Neil endured over the years? How long has his wolf tried to protect him?

I wish I had a wolf of my own again, but this time, I want one so that I could feel Neil’s wolf and comfort it. Holding onto Neil will have to do.

Neil turns his face toward mine, so that his lips rest against my forehead. “You’re warm,” he says.

“So are you,” I reply.

He hums.

Without meaning to, my eyes drift closed.

When I awake again, it’s to the distant sound of Mia crying.

The room, by now, is dark. I have no idea how long we’ve been asleep but long enough for the day to slip into evening.

Neil is still sound asleep beside me, gently snoring. I’m hesitant to leave his side. He looks so peaceful in sleep.

But then I hear Mia again and my mind is made up.

Carefully, I extract my limbs from around Neil, and roll out of bed. I wait a moment as I stand, half expecting Neil to rouse, but he doesn’t. Instead, he rolls into the empty spot I made and continues to snore.

He must be truly out of it, then.

Slowly, so as not to wake him, I tiptoe toward his door and then sneak out. Once the door is safely shut behind me, with Neil sound asleep within it, I let out a heavy sigh of relief.

Until I hear Mia crying again.

My body stiffens, suddenly tense, and I follow the sound of her sobs straight to Beau’s room.

Ah. Right. Steven had her most of the day, but then in the late afternoon, it shifted to Beau’s turn. Was he having trouble with her? It wouldn’t hurt to help.

I lift my hand and knock.

“Nanny? Is that you? Come in, already,” says Beau from inside.

I open the door and walk in.

Beau looks… incredible. He’s wearing tight dark pants and a black button-down shirt with too-many buttons undone. His hair is styled wild. He looks like a devil ready to steal some souls tonight. Or some hearts.

And right now, he’s trying to gently wrestle Mia into a stroller. Mia, however, looks tired and fussy and is not cooperating even slightly. She’s gone entirely wriggling, kicking and punching and squirming.

Just when Beau thinks he has her in the stroller, she wriggles her way right back out of it and he has to catch her before she falls.

“What are you doing?” I ask. I come forward after his last failed attempt, and snatch the baby right out of his arms.

Beau looks affronted. “Mia and I are going out.”

I glance at the clock near his bed. “It’s 7pm.”

“So?”

“You can’t take a baby out this late,” I snap. “Where were you even going? Dressed like that.”

He looks down at his outfit. “Like what?”

“Like you have a date.” I’m not jealous. At all. It’s only the baby I’m concerned with.

So what if he wants to take another woman up to the scenic overlook where we almost kissed? It’s not like that bothers me!

“I do have a date,” Beau says with a mischievous little smirk.

Gods, I hate him. I hate how hot he is. I hate how there is a tiny bit of jealousy coiling in my stomach. It has no right to be there.

Beau is a playboy, heart. Get it together.

I shake away the hurt and whatever else. The bigger issue here, is that Beau is planning on taking a baby to one of his dates.

Beau checks his clock. “Listen, Nanny. I’d rather not break this date. I know, with the new schedule, it’s my turn to watch Mia. Why not kill two birds with one stone? Help me get her in the stroller, and we’ll both be out of your hair tonight.”

I am not about to agree to subjecting Mia to Beau’s moral depravity. He can do whatever the hell he wants, but to drag Mia along? No.

“Where are you even going?” I ask. What places would be appropriate for a child? A late night zoo walk. The botanical gardens, maybe? I doubt they are going to sit through a G-rated movie.

“Larry’s,” Beau says.

“Larry’s,” I repeat. Beau nods. “The bar.” Beau nods again.

I look from Beau to the stroller to Mia, and I make an unequivocal decision.

“Absolutely not.”