Page 7 of Alpha Wolf’s Nanny (Silvermist Wolves #2)

The barbecue was in full swing as they drove towards the grand Victorian manor house at the top of the hill.

The gardens, meticulously sculpted with lush green grass and impressive topiary, were full of members of the pack chatting and laughing.

Towards the edge of an old wall, presumably leading through to further gardens, there was professional catering set up with several grills and plenty of tables laden with food and drink.

The boys were off in an instant as Cassie stepped out of the car, racing towards a group of children with battle-like cries.

Cassie moved to catch them, but Felix put a hand on her shoulder and gave her a half-smile that made her stomach swoop.

“They’re fine, they know not to go beyond the boundaries of Rick’s estate.

A couple of the alphas will keep an eye on them. ”

“Okay,” said Cassie, rubbing her sweaty palms on her jeans. “Sorry, still have a lot to learn about…all this.”

“You’re doing great,” he said, dropping his voice low and leaning in. “I know it’s a lot, but I’m here to help. You won’t be learning it all alone.”

Cassie swallowed as their eyes met, her breath hitching in her throat. Felix’s eyes dropped to her throat as it bobbed, his jaw tightening, the hand on her shoulder flexing.

“Alpha,” a cool, slightly detached voice broke her from her reverie, and she leapt back, smoothing her hair guiltily.

“Rick,” Felix grasped the other male’s forearm, giving it a firm shake. “I see you pulled out all the stops.”

“Naturally,” Rick replied, his voice silky, “only the best for the Iron Walkers.” His gaze flickered to Cassie, an eyebrow rising. “Who’s this?”

“This is Cassie.” Felix placed a hand on the small of her back, a hard note entering his tone. “She’s my new nanny.”

“Lovely to meet you,” Rick held his hand out. “How are you settling in?”

Although his words were friendly, Cassie couldn’t help the slight shudder that ran down her spine. It was something in his eyes, she decided. He was testing her.

“Wonderfully,” she said, shaking his hand.

“The boys are certainly very energetic, it’s lovely getting to know them.

And Silvermist is beautiful. So is your house.

” She was stammering, she knew, but she couldn’t help it.

Rick’s gaze pierced right through her, and she felt inexplicably like every one of her secrets was being laid bare.

“You’re too kind,” he purred. “The house has been in the family for generations. We were some of the first shifter settlers coming over from Europe, you know.”

She didn’t know. “How nice,” she replied with a nervous smile. “You…you must really love it here!”

Rick hummed, his gaze lifting back to Felix, his brow raised in silent question. Cassie’s cheeks heated, and she fought the urge to scowl. Who did he think he was? What, just because she was a human, she was automatically untrustworthy? What a load of—

“Felix,” a woman skipped over, pulling him into a hug, a difficult feat given her swollen belly, “so lovely to see you, I didn’t realize you were coming!”

“Of course I’m here,” he grinned, and Cassie chewed her lip. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

“And you must be Cassie,” the woman said, surprising her by pulling her into a hug. “I’ve heard all about you!”

Felix stiffened, and Cassie glanced at him, but he studiously avoided her gaze.

Had he told some of the pack about their night together?

God, that would be so humiliating. She could imagine the rumors swirling now, the disapproving looks, the judgment.

She appreciated that Felix was free to tell whoever he wanted, but still…

at least give her some sort of fighting chance.

Embarrassment stung, and she forced a smile on her face as she realized they were all looking at her. She cleared her throat.

“Yeah, I’m Cassie. N-nice to meet you.”

“I’m Daisy,” the woman said with a warm smile, tucking her fluffy blonde curls behind her ears. “Come on, let’s leave the guys to their beers, I want to introduce you to everyone!”

As she was dragged away, Cassie threw a desperate look over her shoulder at Felix. He grinned back, raising his beer, and she rolled her eyes. So much for him being there to help.

Daisy’s smile, however, was gentle as she glanced back, her round face open and inviting, like she’d known Cassie all her life.

It was disarming, that much was certain, and unfamiliar.

Cassie swallowed down the anxiety rolling in her gut.

Cassie had never really had any proper female friends, though it wasn’t for lack of trying, and she found herself suddenly terrified that she was going to do or say something wrong.

A few people looked over with mild curiosity as Daisy weaved them through various groups towards a shaded area at the bottom of the garden, smiling and greeting people as she went.

Cassie realized with a start that they must mostly be shifters.

Apart from a few males and the odd female who looked like they’d stepped straight out of some powerlifting competition, they all looked… fairly normal.

“I hope Rick didn’t scare you,” Daisy said as they dodged two small kids chasing each other with wooden swords. “He can be kind of intense. Very intense. But he means well, most of the time.”

“He was definitely…a lot,” Cassie said carefully. The last thing she wanted to do was insult the host of this particular gathering.

Daisy giggled. “That’s his default setting. Just wait until someone brings up politics. Once, over dinner, I suggested that shifters should work more closely with human police. The look he gave me. I’m amazed I didn’t turn to ice.”

Cassie laughed hesitantly, relaxing into Daisy’s sunny presence. “I’ll be sure to keep my political opinions to myself then.”

“Oh, no, don’t do that,” Daisy said with a wink, “he needs challenging every now and then. A reminder that just because he’s ridiculously over-educated, it doesn’t mean he’s always right.”

Cassie smiled as they moved toward a quieter patch of lawn near a pergola strung with fairy lights.

Several women were already gathered there, sipping lemonade, their voices rising and falling in easy rhythm.

Children darted between chairs and legs, sticky fingers reaching for cookies, shouting and yelling at each other.

Daisy cleared her throat. “Everyone, this is Cassie, Felix’s new nanny.”

Cassie raised an awkward hand in greeting, and the group made space instantly with lively introductions. A drink landed in Cassie’s hand, a buttery-yellow lemonade that smelled slightly spicy.

“Margarita,” Daisy whispered conspiratorially. “Sophie’s secret recipe. They’re lethal.”

“Nonsense,” a woman—Sophie, presumably—said with a roll of her eyes. “You just can’t hold your drink.”

Daisy gestured to the pregnant swell of her belly with mock outrage. “And how am I supposed to defend myself in this state?”

“Maybe Cassie can do it for you,” another woman purred, leaning forward, dark eyes flashing slightly, “so we can see what she’s made of.”

“Oh, I don’t really drink that much,” Cassie said, heat flooding her cheeks. “I mean, I do , just not…a lot.”

The woman arched a brow, and Daisy tutted.

“Trust you to play dirty, Marsha. She’s a human. You know their tolerance works differently.”

Marsha gave a catlike smile. “Then why doesn’t she go up against Poppy?”

“Because Poppy ,” a redhead balancing a blubbering toddler said, “has her hands full.”

“You’re a human?” Cassie asked, wincing at how eager she seemed. With a steadying breath, she raised the margarita to her lips, hoping to hide the flush on her cheeks.

“Yep,” said Poppy with a smile, “have been all my life.”

“And how do you…find it?” Cassie asked.

Poppy shrugged. “Well, I grew up here, and was friends with some of the pack girls, so by the time I met Charlie and we got together, it seemed right, you know?”

“Yeah,” Cassie said, trying to hide her disappointment. “That’s…nice for you.”

“What about you?” Daisy asked with a bright smile, instantly smoothing over the awkwardness of Cassie’s questioning. “Whereabouts do you come from?”

“Me? Oh, well, originally California, but I’ve moved around a lot.”

“Military family?” asked Sophie. “I knew a couple of military kids at college; they moved around a lot.”

“Not exactly,” said Cassie. “I just…like traveling, I guess.”

The women exchanged a look, and Cassie groaned inwardly. She hated questions like that. Where do you come from or where’s your family, or, worst of all, so who are you running from?

The latter one was almost always said in jest, accompanied with a cheeky wink or a good-natured elbow to the ribs, but it always struck Cassie to the bone. A bleak reminder of everything she was, in fact, running away from.

How close they had gotten to catching up with her.

She shook her head. She was safe here. There was no reason they would suspect she’d be in Maine; she’d gotten on a random bus with no idea about its destination. Traveled halfway across the country. Got a job in a shifter town outside of Portland. You couldn’t make it up.

They wouldn’t find her. And even if they did, Cassie didn’t think Felix would take too kindly to bounty hunters in his territory. For now, at least, she was safe.

“Well, what about the nanny job?” Daisy asked after a slightly loaded pause. “How are you finding it?”

“It’s lovely,” Cassie said with a rush of air. “I mean, it’s a lot, don’t get me wrong. And I’ve only been doing it for a few days, but the boys are wonderful.”

“They’re great, aren’t they?’ Daisy replied, her eyes tracking the slightly older kids, the twins among them, as they ducked and weaved through the tree line.

“A handful, but great. I’m glad Felix finally decided to get a nanny for them, though having been there myself, it’s not always the easiest! ”

“Wait a minute,” Cassie said, turning to her. “You were a nanny?”