The ride did not take long. Watertight was a sprawling community of cabins laid out in a rectangle within which was the packhouse. It was lit up by more than moonlight and she had time only to hear the loud beat of popular music and smell corn on the cob before she was hustled to the birthing chamber.
This pack seemed to be making a celebration out of something which could not be guaranteed. She swallowed. What if something went wrong and she couldn’t save either mother or offspring?
“What are you waiting for? Go inside. My aunt is with her and can send for whatever you need.”
“Yes, Alpha Liam,” Nell said, wondering why he was so reluctant to look at her now.
The she-wolf was muscular, as expected, but also filled with compassion in that she offered Nell a hot drink from the outset. They lingered in the small kitchen area.
“You must be perished,” she said. “I’m Deborah, by the way. Have you been doing this long?”
“I’ve done several assists.”
“Please tell me you haven’t lost a pup yet.”
“I can honestly say no. Because I haven’t attended a live werewolf birth before, only seen videos.” She covered her mouth with her hand. Should she have admitted to that? They weren’t generally available.
Deborah didn’t appear to mind. She pressed her hand.
“Well, I like to know what I’m dealing with. Maybe we should have a chat – ?”
She realised she should have introduced herself well before now. “Eleanor,” she supplied. “But I prefer Nell.” She stared up into frank green eyes. “Something’s wrong, isn’t it?”
“That’s why our medic wanted a second opinion. Liam sacked him on the strength of that. Stupid mutt. He’s always been a hothead.”
“I see,” she said, though only to be polite.
His action made no sense.
The hot chocolate went down a treat. She passed a hand across her mouth, wondering about stains.
“Minimal make-up. I approve,” her new friend said. “You certainly don’t need rouge.”
It was weird to meet someone who also used old-fashioned terms.
“Oh,” she said, touching her hot cheek. “Dad has sandy hair and freckles. Guess I just inherited the blushing gene.”
“What’s happening?”
The loud, angry words jolted her from her cosy reverie. The Alpha was certainly light on his feet.
“Patience, Alpha. Martha is sleeping, isn’t she, Nell?”
Unable to verbalise a lie, however well-intentioned, she just nodded. Deborah hadn’t been telling an untruth, she had obviously seen her.
“Remember, whatever you need,” the Alpha muttered before leaving them to it.
Was he talking to her?
Deborah got to her feet, massaging her back briefly before saying, “Come and meet the patient.”
“Now?”
“You need to know what we’re dealing with. The best thing I can do is show you.”
When Nell entered the quiet chamber and saw the hugely distended belly and the partially shifted paws and half-muzzle, she almost turned and ran.
“Is she really asleep?”
It was the only thing she could think of to say.
“Yes, but she won’t ever wake up.”
Nell gaped. “Does the Alpha know?”
“My nephew has chosen to hear only good news where his mother is concerned.”
“I – I don’t understand.”
“Martha is – was – my sister-in-law. Please, Nell, you must help me save at least one pup.”
“Whatever you need,” she pledged, unconsciously echoing Alpha Liam’s words. “Are we attempting a Caesarean?”
“Yes. You’re familiar with the procedure?”
“Among human females.” She had to say it. “And you’re wrong about the Alpha, I’m sure of it. He told me this litter would be the Luna’s last.”
“A victory for the Moon Goddess,” Deborah declared. “I never thought I’d see the day. Shall we get started?”
Only then did she take off her coat.
Less than an hour later they had extracted four pups, one of which was taking shallow breaths.
They named her Fallon. It had apparently been Martha’s wish. Had there been another three possibles? Nell tried her best not to think about that.
Deborah mind linked the Beta, asking him to break the news. Despite the success of sorts, Nell felt like crying.
Jack took one look at the pup and a longer one at Martha’s mangled and partly-shifted corpse.
“A miracle,” he said. “You do realise what this means, Nell?”
“I can go home?” she hazarded.
He shook his head and ran a hand through his shaggy hair, looking troubled.
Alpha Liam arrived just as Deborah was covering the body.
“No!” he cried, making a fist. Nell watched the blood drip beneath his fingers.
“I am sorry for your loss,” she told him.
“You will be,” he vowed.
Deborah tsked. “Alpha, your mother had no chance. It isn’t this girl’s fault.”
“One of her kind raped our Luna. How am I supposed to feel?” Nell’s mouth fell open. So the pup was a hybrid. The Alpha seized hold of her by the hair. “See to it she lives, or face the consequences.”
“But what about my father?”
“Do a good job here and I will consider releasing you for a visit.”
Nell glanced at Deborah who was busy making the newborn comfortable and obviously wasn’t about to leap to her defence. Why would she?
Jack seemed equally reluctant to remonstrate with his Alpha, except that she heard him say, low-voiced, “Treating the girl like this might make her cruel to the pup.”
She bridled. “I would never do such a thing. And, for your information, I’ll be twenty-one soon enough. A woman grown.”
Alpha Liam gave her that look again, the appraising one which affected her in an all-too familiar way. But what would the likes of him want with someone like her?
“Is the nursery ready?” he asked.
“Yes, Alpha,” Deborah replied. “The room opposite yours, just as you requested.”
“And the pup can be moved?”
“I reckon so.”
“Then that’s where she’ll be staying for the foreseeable. Arrange it.”
She had to speak up. “The name’s Nell, Alpha.”
“Whatever. Just make sure you take good care of Fallon. She’s the pack’s heir until I find my mate.”
"You're treating me no better than a slave," she protested.
Alpha Liam came very close to her and lifted her chin. "Don't tempt me, woman," he said, his seductive tone reminding her of Josh.
A week passed. Deborah’s daughter, Holly, was petite like her and snuck her in some clothes. The Beta turned a blind eye when he showed up, though she knew the yellow dress didn’t suit her. She made them both a pot of coffee and they sat on the couch for a chat. Because it had been on her mind a lot, she blurted out what had been eating at her resentful heart since day one. “Why did you come to our house in the first place? Deborah’s more than competent.” Jack blew on his drink to cool it before replying. “She’s like you,” he said. “Unappreciated.” “I’m glad someone thinks so.” Nell hesitated. “Why doesn’t the Alpha come and see his half-sister? Is he too busy?” “That’s only part of the reason,” the Beta said, avoiding her eyes now. Nell waited, but it seemed he wasn’t about to say any more. “Do you have pups of your own?” “Not yet, but Louisa’s still hopeful. We’ve been mated a year now.” “Then there’s plenty of time,” she assured him, hoping that was the case. Alpha Liam s
Being Alpha wasn’t something he had been raised to do and the eighteen hour days felt like a curse. Yet, ever since a rogue killed Simon, his elder brother, there was no alternative. Liam knew he was prone to blaming people for what he believed to be his inadequacies but he couldn’t help himself. The fact that he hadn't yet found his mate was another failing on his part. If she was anything like Pamela, the pack slut, who these days filled him with revulsion then he would have no alternative but to reject her. In some ways he envied his Beta. Jack was settled with Louisa, though there was no sign of her becoming pregnant yet. After a long day wading through paperwork and a tedious meeting about an impending shortage of gas, the Alpha decided to go for a much-needed run. He checked his watch. Nell would be back soon. He couldn’t help imagining the look on her face when he suggested a trip to the forest another time. One thought led to another and he found himself standing outside th
“What do you mean, I won’t be Fallon’s main carer from now on?” “Olivia’s here now. Aunt Deborah thinks she’s more than competent.” Nell was sure her anxiety must show on her face. “Please, Alpha,” she begged. “Let me check her over at least.” “No,” he said. “Would you punish your own half-sister, too?” “You flatter yourself, human. Very well. But I’ll be there the whole time,” he warned. “Thank you, Alpha. You won’t regret it.” “Hurry up. You have seventy suppers to prepare.” At first she thought she had misheard him. Had he said “seventeen”? Yes, that must be it. Fallon was sleeping when they arrived. Nell didn’t miss the knowing smirk on her sister’s face. What on earth was she wearing? Those shorts were far too tight. She must have packed her own bag. Was she staying, too? How would her mom cope, living on her own after all this time? Well, that was the least of her worries now. Stooping to plant a kiss on Fallon’s chubby cheek, Nell turned to the Alpha. “I suppose you
Nell reflected that it was just her luck that the music had changed to a slow ballad. She knew all the excuses in the world wouldn’t save her now. This was bound to upset a lot of people. Well, it couldn’t be helped. Alpha Liam was the last person she wanted to antagonise. He looked good in his charcoal grey suit and was actually clean-shaven for the occasion in contrast to the majority of his male pack members. Was that a new aftershave or a scent wafting in from the garden? It was unseasonably warm which was why the windows were open. Accepting his outstretched hand, Nell told him, “I’m flattered, but you really ought to know I have two left feet.” The Alpha leaned down a long way to whisper in her ear, “That makes two of us. The difference is, I’m paying people not to notice.” She wanted to giggle but didn’t dare. He was so hard to read most of the time. Then she was being pulled in close for an unnerving slow dance. The top of her head barely reached to his chest and he was st
Liam stood people watching from the open doorway, reluctant to re-join the crowd at his own party. Turning twenty-five without a mate was sending him down the feral route. He sometimes believed he would end up as crazy as his mother.Aunt Deborah was trying to catch his eye. She seldom used the mind link with him, even though he had encouraged it. Now would be a good time to make her see sense and he continued to ignore her, knowing only too well what she wanted.Uncle Alan sauntered over. These days he was the pack’s accountant, but for once he didn’t want to talk shop, thankfully.“What did Nell do to upset you?” he asked, offering him a drink.“That’s my business,” Liam said.Accepting the cup of punch, he scanned the crowd, wondering who was babysitting Fallon. The Beta was absent though he could see Louisa by the French windows deep in conversation with three other she-wolves.Was Nell now alone with Jack? Well, that was one pack member who wouldn’t dream of trespassing on his te
Nell really couldn’t believe his audacity. “Will this take long, Alpha?” she countered. “I’m kinda busy right now,” he told her. When he moved aside and she saw the half-naked she-wolf lounging on his couch, the blush was inevitable. Yet she couldn’t understand why she was so angry. “I thought you were partial to redheads.” “Did you now?” “You’re impossible,” she stormed, resisting the temptation to stamp her foot. “Don’t tell me you’re jealous? You are, aren’t you?” She turned on her heel and was about to march off in the wrong direction when his voice stopped her in her tracks. “Henry was right. He said you had a little crush on me. Well, as you can see, you’re not the only one. You can go now, Selina,” he added. Sulking, the beauty slunk away without even bothering to retrieve her top. If Nell didn’t know better she would have thought it had been staged for her benefit. “Is that all, Alpha? If so, I’ll bid you goodnight.” “Not so fast.” Relieved not to be within his gras
Liam didn’t get much sleep. He’d hated the whole idea of a party and taken his resentment out on the one person who deserved it least. Over-indulging had been a way of avoiding the consequences but he didn’t have the headache which would have alleviated some of his guilt. He doubted Nell had noticed his inebriation; she probably couldn’t tell the difference. Though he seemed to recall foolishly telling her about Simon.Give these females an inch and they wanted the whole fucking mile. Like the one who’d emerged from his en suite unexpectedly wearing little more than a grin. It wasn’t the first time that had happened to him and he doubted it would be the last. Nell had been shocked, bewildered and ultimately, disbelieving when she saw Selina lounging on his couch. He could see it in her face, she suspected him of setting out to trap her into something offensive to her sensibilities. A very moral woman, Nell, unlike her slut of a sister. Even he could see that much.Sometimes, in her co
It was a difficult task now to pick up Fallon to soothe her. Nell managed it by sitting on a chair close to the window. Perhaps she should have held out for surgery, make the Alpha pay. Occasionally, her eyes strained to see the forest in the distance, and not because of her employer’s inexplicable behaviour. For her, it held its own pull, which was odd because a much scarier version figured in her nightmare, the recurring one which seemed to have banished all others.A dwelling was on fire and, because of its hidden nature, no-one came to help. She could see a girl straining to give birth and couldn’t understand the significance of the filigree chain and symbol which graced her forehead. Her clothing was ragged, a mixture of sage and purple in hue, and she was all alone in her travail.Sometimes, a man’s face convulsed in grief appeared. At others, she fancied she heard the cry of a baby. The most bizarre of all was when she saw people with light hair gathered in a semi-circle chanti