Page 30 of Bully Wolf’s Nanny (Silvermist Wolves #1)

“Nicolas,” Felix said, his voice stony, “you need to calm down.”

Nicolas didn’t reply. He just carried on pacing in front of the enormous stone fireplace of the inner sanctum of the Pine Shadow Club. The flames roared, hissing and spitting, the burning heat fueling his rage.

They still hadn’t found Daisy or Thea. It had been hours.

Night had fallen and brought with it all the dangers of the wilderness.

He had seen the projections sent to him by his analysts.

Unless something had waylaid her, she would be long clear of Iron Walker territory now, adding another layer of complication to tracking her down.

If she had driven west, or south, they could negotiate with the bears and mountain lions. The truce with those various packs was strong enough. He’d already sent word and received assurances that scouts would be on the lookout.

It was the wolves to the north he feared. There was no way they were getting into Black Claw territory, or Rathbones’, or the Triad’s. Wolf shifter packs didn’t play nicely together and would likely use Daisy and Thea as some kind of bargaining chip if they managed to get their hands on them.

He could only pray she’d taken the highway west.

The human police had been alerted too, but it was likely they wouldn’t be able to do anything.

Shifter packs, no matter the target, got angry when humans tried to arrest shifters.

The best the police could do would be alert the local pack who, if they had any sense of integrity, would then contact Felix.

The door opened and Rick waltzed in, deceptively unassuming in a forest green sweater and dark chinos. “We’ve just received word from some outer patrols. A car fitting the description was seen heading north.”

Nicolas’s heart sank. “Fuck, are you sure?”

Rick shrugged elegantly. “I’m sure your guys can confirm it.”

Nicolas snarled, hurling a glass tumbler into the fire, shards of crystal exploding into the flames.

“I’m going after her.”

“You’ll doing nothing of the sort,” Felix said with a warning growl. “If you get anywhere near Black Claw territory, they’ll gut you on sight. They still haven’t forgiven that business with their old enforcers.”

“That was eight years ago!”

“Grudges run deep,” Felix said. “I’m not letting you throw your life away over one sighting.”

“Come on, Felix,” Rick’s voice was smooth as poisoned honey, “why not let him go? It’s been so long since Nicolas saw any real combat. I’ll even go with him.”

Nicolas whirled on Rick with a snarl, stalking over to the other alpha, fists clenched. “Do you think this is a joke, Reinhardt?”

“Far from it,” Rick stood, meeting his eye, “I just don’t think Felix should stop you from going after what rightfully belongs to you.”

“Sometimes, Rick,” Felix said, his voice dangerously soft, “I think you’re not quite as complacent as you pretend to be.”

Rick’s eyes flashed, before the icy walls of cool disinterest slammed back into place. “I bent the knee, Alpha ,” he said, holding Felix’s gaze, “I want what’s best for the pack. For the time being, that’s you.”

“For the time being,” Nicolas repeated, jaw clenching, “you might want to remember that we only keep you in your place of power because you’re useful to us. For the time being .”

Rick raised an eyebrow. “Loyal as ever, Nicolas. It’s one of your best traits. Even when Felix doesn’t tell you everything you ought to know.”

“Rick,” Felix snarled, “now isn’t the time.”

“You could have nipped this in the bud long before dear, sweet Daisy ran away,” Rick continued. “The signs were all there after that nasty business with Francesca. Though I have to admit, I’m impressed she managed to drive your little nanny away quite so quickly.”

“What nasty business?” Nicolas asked, eyes narrowing.

Felix sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger. “Look, Nicolas, I only didn’t tell you because I thought I had it sorted. I thought we had it sorted. Finding a way to get rid of Francesca, that was the plan.”

“Didn’t tell me what?” His voice dropped low and deadly as he walked over to his best friend, to his alpha.

Felix’s jaw worked. “Francesca was flirting with Dane. His latest conquest saw and wasn’t too happy. Threw a drink all over Francesca. Daisy tried to help her clean herself up and…”

“’ I don’t need some fat whore pawing at me ,’” Rick tutted, “jealousy truly is an ugly emotion, don’t you think? So at odds with innocent, pretty, tasty little Daisy.”

Nicolas rounded on him, and it was only Felix grasping his arm that stopped him from swinging his fist into Rick’s face.

Rick, the smug bastard, didn’t even flinch.

Just stood in the hazy glow of the firelight with a smirk on his face.

“Not my words, Accardi. Unlike that ghastly Francesca, I’ve got enough taste to recognize beauty when I see it.

” His gaze lifted to Felix, still actively restraining Nicolas.

“Just thought he had a right to know. Human trash doesn’t belong in pack affairs. ”

“So that’s what this is about?” Nicolas shook free of Felix’s hold. “Your vendetta against humans?”

“It isn’t a vendetta,” Rick replied, a flash of his true self passing over his face.

Violent, cold, utterly ruthless. “It’s not even been thirty years since they tried to take everything from us.

And tensions are growing again. Who says they won’t take another stab at locking us all away in cages?

I’m just trying to protect us. Protect our place in this world.

You should understand that better than anyone.

After all, didn’t Francesca just try and steal from you?

Your money, your daughter, the girl you love? ”

Felix’s snarl ripped through the room and Rick flinched away instinctively, tongue flicking out to probe the scar on his top lip. An echo from a different time.

“My stance on shifter and human relations is clear,” Felix growled. “I won’t have this argument again. Either respect my law, or leave. The choice is yours.”

Rick’s lip curled, the barest hint of a snarl on his face. “I would never abandon my land.”

“Then I guess you’ll have to respect my law.”

Rick’s chin tilted upwards, eyes glittering, “For the time being.”

“Enough of this,” Felix’s tone was final, and after a moment, Rick bowed his head in acquiescence to the alpha.

“I’ll continue monitoring the situation at the border,” Rick said. “We will find her, Nicolas. One way or another.”

“Both of them,” Nicolas replied. “Daisy and Thea. I want them both back with me. I don’t care what it takes. Do whatever you have to do.”

A dangerous smile curled over Rick’s mouth. “Understood, brother .”

The door swung shut behind him, and Nicolas released a breath. “Sooner or later, we may have to do something about him.”

“He won’t challenge me. Not when he knows you and Dane are loyal. The four of us are the most powerful shifters in the pack. Lose even one of us, and the Iron Walkers become weak. Rick knows that, and he would never do anything to endanger the safety and strength of our people.”

“Are you certain?”

Felix considered the question for a moment, before giving Nicolas a single, sharp nod.

“He’s loyal. If he actually was plotting against us, he wouldn’t be nearly so obvious about it.

He’s just frustrated about the Accords, about the humans, and to be honest with you, I don’t always disagree with him.

But that’s a problem for another time. For now, we need to focus on getting Daisy and Thea safely home. ”

Nicolas braced against the mantelpiece, the overwhelming heat from the flames licking at his skin.

“She’s my daughter.”

“What?”

“Thea. She’s my daughter. Mine and Daisy’s.”

Felix was silent for a while, processing the information, before his hand fell heavily down on Nicolas’ shoulder. “It makes sense.”

“Of course it makes sense,” said Nicolas with a strangled laugh, “it makes perfect fucking sense. And I didn’t see it! She was living with me, my own daughter, and I didn’t know it! And now…now I’ve lost her. I’ve lost both of them. Again .”

“Nicolas,” Felix said, his voice hesitant, “this isn’t like last time. We’ll find them. I’m sure we’ll sort it out—"

“This is exactly like last time,” Nicolas snarled, throwing Felix’s hand off his shoulder.

“I let Daisy get it into her head that she should be scared of me. That she could never tell me about Thea because she was too scared of how I would react. And why shouldn’t she be scared?

After everything I did to her, everything I put her through! ”

“That’s not fair, your father threatened to send Red Teeth after her—"

“Not before that,” Nicolas snarled, “not the years when I made her life a living hell. That was one hundred percent on me. And now I’m finally getting what I deserve.

” He breathed hard through his nose, before shaking his head, teeth bared.

“Well, fuck that. I don’t give a shit whatever karmic retribution this is.

She’s mine , Thea is mine , and I’m going to find them. With or without your blessing.”

“Nicolas—"

“Don’t try and fucking stop me,” Nicolas said, fists clenching. “It won’t end well.”

“No, Nicolas, stop! Listen!”

Nicolas stopped, cocking his head. From the room below came a cacophony, excitable voices mixing with Dane’s booming laughter.

And beneath it all…

Nicolas took off running before he’d even properly had the chance to process his actions. He took the stairs three at a time, skidding across the polished wooden floor into the Club, where a group of pack members stood surrounding someone.

As if sensing his presence, the crowd parted, revealing Daisy and Thea.

“What’s up, Nicky?” Dane hollered from behind them. “I think I found something of yours!”

Nicolas barely heard him. Barely heard any of them. His eyes were locked on Daisy’s face, his expression no doubt mirroring the shock on hers.

He opened his mouth to speak, to say something, to say anything , and then Daisy released a heavy sob and flew forwards, jumping up into his arms.

“Nicolas!” she wept into his shoulder as he caught her around the waist, lifting her from the ground, crushing her to him.

“I’m here,” he said, burying his face into the crook of her neck, “I’m here.”

She pulled back, her eyes passing over his face, before she leaned forward, pressing her lips against his. He could taste the salt of her tears, but he didn’t care. He didn’t care at all.

Daisy was here. At last, she was here. Safe in his arms. And he would never let her go again.

“You’re such an idiot!” she cried, her beautiful face scrunching up as she wrenched away from him. “Why didn’t you just tell me that your father threatened me? I would have left! I would have waited for you!”

“How could I risk it?” Nicolas replied, breathing in her sweet scent, summer and sunshine. “I can’t lose you, Daisy. Not then, not now, not ever. I had to protect you.”

“Such an idiot,” she said again, kissing him harder, “we’re supposed to protect each other!”

“And we will,” he said fiercely. “I’m never letting you go again.”

She sniffled, sliding down his body as he placed her gently back on the floor, both pointedly ignoring Dane’s exaggerated gagging at their display of affection.

Daisy blushed, tucking a strand of hair nervously behind her ear. “Nicolas, there’s someone I’d like you to meet.”

She turned back and held out her hand, and Thea walked forward, a look of pure apprehension on her face.

“Remember what we discussed in the car, sweetheart?”

Thea nodded with stoic resolution, sticking out her little hand. Instantly, Nicolas was transported back to the first time he’d laid eyes on her.

“HelloFathermynameisThea—it’sverynicetomeetyou.”

This time, he didn’t shake her hand. He swooped down and picked her up, hugging her tight to his chest. Thea paused for half a second before throwing her arms around his neck and squeezing as hard as she could.

“I missed you,” she said, wiping her face on his shoulder, no doubt determined to hide her tears.

“I missed you too, kiddo,” he said, drawing Daisy under his arm. “Both of you.”