Page 20 of Bully Wolf’s Nanny (Silvermist Wolves #1)

Daisy hadn’t heard Nicolas get back the previous night, and she hadn’t heard him leave this morning. The only evidence that he had been there at all was the smashed remains of a glass that had been hurled against the wall and now lay in sparkling shards against the marble floor of the kitchen.

With a long sigh, she got to work clearing up the mess before anybody else got up.

Two weeks. Two long, awful, horrible, terrible weeks alone with Francesca and the girls, with no Nicolas around to run interference when the other woman got too spiteful.

She honestly didn’t know how she was going to cope.

It wasn’t that Francesca was all bad. Sometimes she had it in her to be quite sweet, especially with Gracie.

It was just with Daisy that she was…well…

not as nice as she could be. It didn’t take a genius to work out why.

Every time Nicolas paid her the slightest amount of attention, Francesca’s scent would flare with irritation, even underneath the bizarre pheromone perfume she wore.

Daisy was competition, no matter how professional and polite she tried to be.

At least she seemed to really be trying with Gracie. Sure, she didn’t change her diapers, or prepare her food, or help keep her clean and presentable, but she’d learn how to do those things with time. Hopefully, it would be sooner rather than later, because Daisy was running out of strength.

Nicolas was ruthless when he wanted something. And no matter how many times she’d told him it was better for Gracie that they not continue their relationship, he seemed adamant that she was wrong.

She scoffed to herself. Chances were, the only reason he was so persistent was because she was saying no. If she relented and let him have her, he would get bored within a week. Especially with Francesca around, throwing her charm at him with relentless zeal.

Daisy didn’t have the energy for any of it.

She didn’t want to compete, she didn’t want to try and keep Nicolas for herself, she didn’t know how.

The only option was to gracefully bow out at the soonest opportunity.

Sure, Thea would be upset, but she would recover.

She’d made lots of friends with other shifter kids in the pack, and Daisy was already looking for a house or apartment relatively close to Silvermist so that they could stay in Iron Walker territory.

When the time came, Thea could join the pack. They didn’t need Nicolas for that.

And she could…

She wasn’t actually sure what she would do. Perhaps she could request a new family and carry on as a nanny. She enjoyed it much more than she had previously thought she would. Sure, she might not get a great reference from Nicolas, but…

Well. She would see.

Her phone buzzed just as Francesca floated into the room wrapped in some tiny silk robe, her hair artfully thrown into a perfect messy bun.

“Did you drop a glass, Daisy?” Francesca tutted, mincing over the area of the floor with slightly more drama than Daisy thought was strictly necessary. “How clumsy of you. I do hope you’ll let Nicolas know, he’ll want to replace the glass. Actually, never mind, I’ll text him now.”

Daisy’s lips pressed together, but she didn’t say anything. If she was lucky, today would be one of the days Francesca would simply ignore her presence altogether.

Her phone buzzed again, and Francesca raised an immaculate brow. “Can you get that? It’s annoying. I get headaches in the morning.”

She reached for her phone, frowning as she saw Felix’s name. Nicolas had insisted she have his number in case of any emergencies, but he had never messaged her before.

“Hey Daisy, it’s Felix here. I just wanted to let you know that we’re having a little get together down the Pine Shadow Club tonight. You should bring Thea and Gracie along. It starts at seven. Look forward to seeing you!”

Francesca must have seen the shock on her face because she leaned over Daisy’s arm to look at her screen. “What, what is it?”

Daisy didn’t try to hide the message from her, instead turning the phone so the other woman could read it. Surely Felix had meant to invite Francesca too? Perhaps he just forgot.

“Oh, how proper of Felix to message the staff,” Francesca cooed after a beat. “I never took him as one to follow etiquette like that.”

“Have you even met Felix?” Daisy asked before she could think better of it.

Francesca’s eyes narrowed into slits. “Yes, of course I’ve met him. Nicolas introduced us.”

“Right, of course, my mistake,” Daisy muttered, shoving her phone in her pocket.

Francesa folded her arms, her nose wrinkling as if she smelled something bad as she looked Daisy up and down several times.

“You know, Daisy, I really don’t appreciate these little comments of yours.

It’s hardly professional, and it doesn’t set a very good example for the girls.

I’ll expect you to be on your best behavior at the Club later. ”

“Wait, you want to go to that?”

“Well, of course I do.” She tossed her blonde hair over one shoulder. “Make sure Gracie’s packed up and ready to go by half past six. Oh, and I suppose Thea can come too, if she has to.”

***

That evening, Daisy stood outside the imposing building of the Pine Shadow Club, gnawing her lip. Francesca had stopped them to check her makeup in a little compact, and when she was satisfied with the perfect line of her red lipstick, she shut it with an audible snap and waved her arm at Daisy.

“Give Gracie to me.” She didn’t wait for Daisy to hand her over before practically snatching the baby out of her arms. Gracie fussed, but mercifully didn’t start crying, and Daisy fought against the maternal instincts that rose in her chest at Francesca’s mishandling of the little girl.

Gracie wasn’t her daughter. It wasn’t her place. But still, her protective drive was hard to ignore.

Francesca shook out her hair and pasted a glamorous smile on her face before waltzing into the Pine Shadow Club, Gracie bouncing on her hip.

“Come on then,” Daisy said to Thea, who was eager to run off and find her friends, “let’s get this over with.”

The Pine Shadow Club was much busier than normal, with pack members and their families mingling in the intimate space, holding elegant glasses of champagne and nibbling on hors d'oeuvres.

Thea immediately disappeared into the crowd, and Daisy watched her go with an amused smile.

She had long since stopped being nervous about her daughter running wild with the other kids in the pack, so long as they stayed in the Club.

Nothing would happen to any of the children with so many alphas standing guard.

Francesca wavered slightly, pausing in front of her, her eyes jumping from one family to the next. She was out of her element, and clearly feeling it.

Daisy couldn’t help but take pity on her. “The bar is over there, they do a good selection of cocktails. Usually, the mothers sit over there by the fireplace, they’re a lovely group. Human and shifter.”

Francesca nodded imperiously, as if she knew all that information already, and cleared her throat. “Where’s Felix? I’m sure he’ll want to say hello.”

“Oh,” Daisy scanned the crowd, looking for a head of dirty-blond curls. “If he’s not here, he might be upstairs in his office with some of the higher-ranking pack members. Although usually he sits over by the…ah! Yes, he’s over there.”

“Excellent,” Francesca said before pushing her way through the crowd.

“Francesca,” Daisy yelped, rushing after her, “that’s not how things are done! You wait for the alpha to come and find you, you don’t—"

But it was too late. Francesca came to a halt in front of the table nestled at the back, cocking one hip and tapping her fingernails against the table to get the attention of the alphas sitting and laughing together over drinks. “Felix,” Francesca purred, “how wonderful to see you.”

Francesca turned and shoved Gracie into Daisy’s arms with far less care than Daisy liked, and she quickly readjusted the baby and stroked soothing circles across her back to stop her crying.

The table of alphas went silent, turning to Francesca with raised eyebrows and irritated looks.

Felix’s expression, normally so easy-going and approachable, had hardened, his jaw tightening.

Daisy knew him well enough to know that while he was a tolerant man, he was still an alpha.

The Alpha. He demanded respect. Especially in his seat of power.

“Alpha,” Daisy elbowed past Francesca, dipping into a half-curtsy, her eyes downcast in submission, “apologies, Francesca only wanted to thank you for your kind invitation tonight.”

“Daisy!” Felix’s stern expression broke into a wide grin, and he held his hands out for Gracie, who burbled happily at the sight of her godfather. “So good to see you! How is this little tyke?”

Daisy carefully handed Gracie over with a nervous smile. “She’s very well! Enjoying more and more solid foods, and she’s obsessed with the toy piano you got her.”

“Ah, we’ll make a maestro of you yet,” Felix said, tickling Gracie’s stomach, “especially when you have such a talented teacher!”

Daisy looked down again and blushed.

“Where’s Thea got to? Raising hell with my boys, I take it?”

“I’m afraid so,” Daisy replied, “although she’s still cross she can’t run as fast as them.”

“She’ll get there. She’s a spirited one, your daughter. Clever too, if Nicolas is to be believed.”

“Nicolas is never wrong,” Francesca interjected with a false laugh, “and Thea certainly is a…precocious little girl. Always tracking mud into the house. Such fun!”

Felix’s eyes flashed in irritation, and he handed Gracie back to Daisy. “Francesca, I take it.”

“Oh, Felix, don’t be silly, we’ve met before!”

“Hmm,” Felix nodded, his gaze sharp. He glanced to his side, where Dane was lounging back in his chair, a shit-eating grin on his face. Dane caught his eye and stood, stretching his muscled arms over his head before extending his hand.