Cole's Redemption (Alpha Pack #5)(40)

“I’m glad.”

He appeared as surprised by that as she did, and he cleared his throat. “Exciting news about the baby, isn’t it?” he said a bit awkwardly.

Seeing him look so unexpectedly vulnerable caught at her heart. “Yes, it sure is. I was there when she went into labor.”

“I’ve never seen Kalen move so fast,” said Ryon. “He dropped all his cards and upended the poker table when he got the call.”

“And I was winning for a change too,” Zan said, making a good-natured face. “Damn.”

Selene chuckled. “That’s what you get for gambling.”

“Hey, we were only playing for quarters. I save the real gambling for Vegas.”

“You go there often?” she asked.

Ryon laughed. “Only to pick up women.” That immediately earned him a smack on the back of the head from his mate as his friends laughed. “Ow!”

“Used to pick up women!”

“Of course, baby! Used to.” He leaned in and kissed her thoroughly.

Selene gave Zan a pointed look, and he raised his hands. “Don’t look at me. My carousing days were over before I met you.”

Aric coughed loudly, and it sounded a lot like bullshit. Zan sent him a sour look that promised retribution, but the redhead just smirked.

Spirits remained high, especially when Kalen came out to update them. “Looks like it’s going to be soon! I just wanted you guys to know.”

That drew some smiles as he rushed back inside. People took seats in the chairs, or simply sat cross-legged on the floor. When Melina at last emerged from the back, dressed in scrubs, she was wearing a wide smile.

“Mom and baby Kai are doing just great.” A cheer met this announcement, and she waited for the celebrating to die down before she continued. “Mac is worn-out, and she and Kalen need time to bond with their son. So, no visitors until tomorrow, but Kalen said he’d text everyone pictures.”

This seemed to satisfy the group, and one by one, people began to say good-bye and drift away. Nick lingered, and Selene struggled with what to say. Finally, she settled for looking him in the eye and keeping it simple.

“Good night.” Daddy. She always used to call him Daddy, but her throat closed on the word. She couldn’t do it yet. Perhaps never again.

Nick cleared his throat. “Good night.” As she left, she could have sworn she heard him whisper, baby girl.

Back in their quarters, Zan held her in his arms as they snuggled in bed. Long into the night, she remained awake, thinking about the events of the evening.

Despite herself, she had started to form a very real bond with the good people at the compound. It felt . . . right. And she found herself wanting to hold on to what she’d found. To let nothing ruin this fledgling peace and warmth.

She drifted to sleep, thinking joyous thoughts of friends, babies, and mates.

And fathers who really loved their children and would never dream of leaving them.

Nick sat behind his desk the next morning, elbows on the top, hands buried in his hair. He glared at the computer screen and read the message again, a slight variation on the first one.

I’m coming for you. I’m going to make you suffer because I want to and because I’ll enjoy it. You will pay for interfering with me, and you’ll wish you were dead.

Not very original, but certainly attention-grabbing. Especially since it appeared the ass**le wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon. He’d dug in and was making it plain he had an agenda—killing Nick. Fantastic. You’ll have to stand in line, f**ker.

Behind his own daughter, no less. Though she didn’t seem quite as quick to go off on him as she had when she’d first arrived. Didn’t mean she wouldn’t kill him given half a chance, but . . .

Last night, she’d seemed different. A bit softer, though she’d hate being called that. There had been something in her eyes when she’d looked at him besides blind hate, and it gave him hope. Without hope, he had nothing. Because he wouldn’t be able to stand having his daughter returned to his life and then have her snatched away again.

His daughter wasn’t his only problem, either. He’d been on the phone all morning, dealing with the proverbial shit that hit the fan, and he had to call a meeting with the Pack, pronto.

Getting on the intercom, he paged the team to the conference room and then sent a group text just to be sure they’d all get the message. Then he walked down there to gather his thoughts and wait for their arrival. They started filing in right away, and within fifteen minutes, they were all assembled, even Kalen.

He addressed the Sorcerer. “You don’t have to be here. In fact, we have to go wheels up, but you’re on leave with your mate and new baby. That’s an order.”

“Understood, sir. But I do want to hear the briefing so I’ll know what’s going on, if that’s okay.”

“That’s fine.” As the group quieted, he got right to the point. “You’re all here for two reasons. The first item of business is we’ve had another rogue attack. This one is bad, so be prepared for what you’ll see when we arrive. It happened last night at a private residence outside of Branson, Missouri. There was some sort of family reunion going on, and the rogues killed more than twenty innocent people.”

“Jesus Christ,” Zan said, appalled. “No survivors?”