Page 30 of Arranged Wolf's Nanny

Nicolas and Rick were tigers. Crouching, ambushing predators fully aware of their sheer power and only too willing to use it to utterly obliterate their enemies.

Felix was aware of it, too.

“No,” he said, his voice offering no space for argument, “you stay out of it. Let Dane handle things. Nicolas, you ensure our weaponry and surveillance are uncompromised. Rick, you carry on working on whatever political web you’re weaving. We do not engage until we have no other choice.”

Rick’s jaw tightened, his grin turning into a baring of teeth. “Though the work I’m doing is certainly elegant, Alpha, it won’t be enough. Not on its own. And if the Black Claws find out I’ve discovered a loophole in their land charter…”

“They won’t find out,” Felix said, rising to his feet, eyes blazing. “Will they, Rick?”

Rick didn’t answer, resisting the urge to run his tongue along the scar on his upper lip. A bad habit, really, but one he’d picked up whenever Felix usedthattone of voice. Theunflinching, uncompromising command of a pack alpha. One he’d bent the knee to after needing some…convincing.

A different time.

“They won’t hear a word,” Rick said, his blood heating, “certainly not from me.”

Felix nodded once, turning from him. Rick’s fists clenched.

It was not in his nature to bow. And some days, it took more control than he would like to remember why he remained loyal.Whyhe accepted Felix as alpha.

Dane, always the best at sensing his ire, clapped his hands together and rose. “Come on, Rick, let’s leave these housewives to their gossiping. Do you fancy a drink?”

“Don’t you have to attend to Lola?”

“She’s still around Nicolas’s with Daisy and the others, she’ll text when she’s heading back.”

“Speaking of,” Felix said, “have you talked to her any more about my proposal?”

Dane winced, rubbing the back of his neck, “Yeah, I have, but…you know how she can be. Utterly obsessed with her books. Stressed about the pregnancy. Absolutely horrified at the idea of a public-facing role.”

“It doesn’t have to be public-facing,” Felix said, “but nobody knows as much about our history as she does. Not even Rick.”

Rick huffed, “Though I would argue my library was instrumental in getting her there.”

Felix ignored him. “Her insights are always invaluable. I want her in the inner circle, Dane. And not just as your mate. As one of our leaders.”

Dane chewed his lip. “Between the two of us, I think she’s absolutely terrified she’ll mess up.”

“More than you do on a regular basis?” Nicolas said, earning himself a growl.

Rick rolled his eyes. “Why don’t I talk to her?”

Dane’s head whipped around, his mouth falling slightly open, “Are you…sure that’s a good plan?”

At the same time, Nicolas’s eye twitched. “Perhaps that’s not the wisest idea.”

Rick blinked, looking between them. “Are all your mates really that scared of me?”

“Not scared,” Nicolas said, “wary.”

“Wary?”

Felix and Nicolas exchanged a look, one that had Rick’s hackles raised.

“Okay, what aren’t you saying?”

Felix hesitated, hand bracing on the back of a chair. “Aside from your general lack of warmth and good humor—”

“For God’s sake, are we twelve?”