Page 17 of Hayes (Alpha Daddies #7)

Chapter Fifteen

Rylee sat in her highchair during dinner. She didn’t mind sitting with him while he ate. None of the foods he ate were yucky and stinky and therefore didn’t bother her. She liked that he didn’t make her eat, but tonight he carried a plate over to her and sat facing her as he put it on her tray.

“I’d like you to try eating a few things every day, Little one. I won’t ask you to eat anything you don’t like. Your formula has all the vitamins and minerals you need. But I’m worried about you not using your teeth and swallowing solids. Can you do that for me, Baby girl?”

“Yes, Daddy.” She smiled as she looked at the plate. He’d given her two triangles of peanut butter sandwich and diced apples. It wasn’t a lot of food, but it was enough to exercise her mouth as he was suggesting. He was probably right. Not eating solids at all wasn’t the best idea forever and ever.

After she took a bite, she slowly chewed and swallowed. “Do you think it’s true that maybe I’ll be able to smell a lie?”

Daddy sat next to her, ready to eat his dinner. “I suspect so. It worked in your trial, didn’t it?”

“Yeah, but that was just three silly things the girls said. What if it was a serious lie from one of the bears?”

“Well, you won’t likely be needing to solve a mystery like that on your own. I bet it would be a group effort. There are four of you with unusual powers now. Together, you’re going to be a force no one would want to face. The bears won’t know what’s hit them.”

“Do you think they can smell a lie, too, though?”

“Maybe, but here’s the thing. They can’t even have a conversation from a great distance without Molly listening in on them.

When they get close, their telepathic communication even between themselves isn’t sacred from Olivia.

Khloe will most likely know when they’re coming.

If you’re able to scent even the most subtle of things, the rest of the girls will be able to corroborate. ”

Rylee took another bite of her sandwich, mulling over his words. He was right. She could work together with the other women to make sure the bears didn’t pose a threat to the wolf pack.

She had more questions. “Do you think it’s true that the reason so many of us suddenly have weird powers is because the universe knows there’s something coming? Something that will require the help of not just the Alpha Protectors but your mates?”

Daddy smiled at her. “I believe that’s probably the case, Little one.”

“Are you scared?”

He chewed his next bite and swallowed, probably pondering his response before answering.

“I’m not pleased with recent developments.

I don’t like that bears have moved into the area, but that in and of itself shouldn’t be a threat to our way of life.

It would seem that the vast majority of the bears want harmony and peace.

They’ve made that clear many times. The two that often come to us as spokesmen for their people—Surge and Thorn—have never given us any reason to doubt them.

I’m heartened by the fact that on their latest visit they did not lie to us.

Even though they don’t realize the extent of Molly’s ability to listen in on them, everything they said matched what she’d overheard. ”

“That’s good, right?”

“Yes. However, that doesn’t mean I’m not concerned. I’m very concerned. Mostly I’m worried about any threat to you or any of the other mates. When Suzette was kidnapped, it shook our foundation to the core. The bear who took her did so as a signal to us that he has the capability of doing so.”

“But you’re more careful now, right?”

“Yes, Little one. We never left any of our mates alone in the first place. When I return to patrolling in a few weeks, you will always be in the care of another Alpha while I’m working.

Besides the fact that it will give me peace of mind, you’ll be with the other mates.

Your combined abilities will make you stronger than most Alphas themselves.

Plus, we’ve started self-defense lessons.

Every time the girls are together, they spend some time learning to protect themselves. ”

Rylee smiled. “That’s a good idea. I’m not sure how well any of us could protect ourselves against a bear, though, no matter how strong we got.”

Hayes tapped her nose. “It’s not all about strength, Baby girl. Stealth is sometimes even more important. Oftentimes, knowing your opponent’s weaknesses can get you out of a tight spot.”

“Like how to duck and run away?”

“Exactly.”

“Can we knee a bear in the balls?” she teased.

“Probably not, Little one. I suspect their balls are practically at the level of your head, and I don’t want your head anywhere near a bear’s scrotum.”

She shuddered. “Me neither.”

Daddy finished eating and turned to more fully face her. “I want you to pay close attention to your lessons when you’re with one of the Daddies learning to defend yourself, understood?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Good girl. I don’t want you to worry about the bears, though, Little one.

Either I or one of the other Daddies will always be with you.

It’s okay to get into naughty shenanigans with the other girls when you’re together.

Silly things like sneaking cookies or hiding in the closet, but never ever go outside without permission.

Never open the front door of any house without a Daddy with you.

Though it would seem that you can scent a lot of unusual things, the truth is the bears can block their scent.

I wouldn’t put it past them to use that to their benefit.

We won’t reveal your powers to them initially, but that doesn’t mean you should ever let your guard down. ”

“I won’t, Daddy. I promise.”

He leaned in and kissed her forehead.

“I think there will be other things I can scent that will prove to be important, though. They may be able to block their own pheromones, but perhaps not what they ate for lunch. Plus, lies aren’t the only type of nontangible thing I might be able to discern.”

“You’re right, Baby girl. I’m so very proud of you for thinking things through.

You’re a very smart Little girl. We won’t be able to test your abilities until the next time nefarious shifters visit us, but when they do, I bet they will be unable to mask more than just lies. You’ll know it when you smell it.”

She grinned and nodded. “I think so, too.” She tried not to show her own fear.

Bears were huge. Gigantic. Even though Khloe was a very large wolf for a shifter, she still wasn’t anywhere near as big as a bear.

No one knew why she was so huge or what good it was going to do for her, but most likely there would come a day when her size would prove invaluable to her or all of them.

What Rylee couldn’t begin to understand was how that would ever be useful when faced with a bear.

Suddenly she had a bone chilling thought. “Daddy? Do you think there might be other shifters who pose a threat to our way of life?”

Daddy wiped her hands clean with a washcloth, removed her tray, and lifted her into his arms before he spoke.

“I don’t know, Little one. It’s possible.

” His voice was serious, and she didn’t like the tinge of fear she smelled coming from him.

Apparently fear was something she could scent, but she wouldn’t point that out right now.

She didn’t want her Daddy to know she smelled his dread.

She’d tuck that piece of information in the back of her mind for later.

Alpha Daddies were the most powerful members of the wolf pack.

They existed and lived in the mountains surrounding the valley for the express purpose of protection.

They weren’t meant to experience real fear, of that she was certain.

But they were still human beings with human emotions.

They experienced a host of emotions. One of those would occasionally be fear.

Another emotion was love, and Rylee had come to realize that she could definitely scent love. It wafted off her Daddy in droves.

She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tighter than ever. She was scared about the future, too, but she was one very lucky girl.