Page 22 of Hayes (Alpha Daddies #7)

Chapter Eighteen

As soon as Hayes settled his girl in her highchair late in the morning, he opened the back door several inches.

He’d already opened all of the windows an inch before they’d finally gone to sleep.

He would probably keep them that way most of the time.

It rarely got too hot or too cold. If it did, he could stick to whatever window was in the room they were occupying and block all but a few inches.

She didn’t need much. She just needed an opening to the outside.

Rylee’s ability to scent the world around them could prove to be life or death one day. He wasn’t going to take any chances.

“I didn’t know I could smell elements or colors, Daddy,” she murmured as she ate the cereal he’d placed on her tray.

He’d decided to gradually introduce her to mild foods until she had at least enough variety to be interested in eating solids a few times a day.

He didn’t care if all she ate was several bites. He just wanted her to chew and swallow.

“I didn’t either, Little one, but I had a suspicion.

You’ve mentioned some odd scents on occasion.

Like wood or dried leaves. Many of those things do have a smell, even if it’s not something most people notice, but I wondered if other items not ordinarily associated with scent might have one for you. ”

“Like glass or plastic. But colors… That’s weird.”

“Not really. Colors definitely have a feel. Orange is warm, for example.”

She kicked her feet, thinking so hard her brows were furrowed. “Yeah, but it smells like…sunshine to me.”

He chuckled. “So now sunshine has a smell, too,” he teased as he sat next to her with his own plate.

He glanced at her to make sure she wasn’t scrunching up her nose.

Sometimes she did when she didn’t like the scent of his food.

She’d gradually become either less affected or better at hiding her discomfort.

He pointed at his plate. “The sausage isn’t bothering you?”

She cocked her head to one side and then looked at him.

“I don’t think nearly as many foods annoy me as I used to believe.

I think what bothered me was knowing that my parents were going to ask me to eat them.

They weren’t pushy about it, but I always grew stiff when I smelled something I really didn’t like coming from the kitchen. ”

“Like steak.” He knew she wasn’t a fan of roast or steak.

She nodded. “The taste is so strong to me, but also it gags me to try and chew it.”

“So you feel more relaxed now that you know Daddy won’t make you eat the things you really detest, and the scent doesn’t bother you as badly?”

“Yes, Daddy.” She picked up another piece of cereal and popped it in her mouth. “These are good.”

He chuckled. “Those are horribly boring.”

She giggled. “I like boring foods. They don’t overwhelm my senses.”

He grabbed her hand and kissed her knuckles. “Then you shall eat boring foods.”

They ate in silence for a while. His mate was lighter this morning.

She kept swinging her legs, plus she was smiling.

She had on a peach-colored cotton dress and panties.

He’d given her a choice this morning: panties or a diaper.

He wouldn’t always give her options, but she knew that.

She also knew she was expected to accept his decision when he made one and not question him if she wanted to continue to be given choices at other times.

They were just finishing eating when she turned her head toward the door and inhaled deeply. Her eyes glazed over in that way he’d noticed a few times yesterday.

He went on alert but didn’t say a word as he waited for her to process whatever she was smelling. It could be anything from Isaac’s waffles to a pride of lions.

Hayes wasn’t surprised when his phone buzzed. The sound jerked Rylee out of her semi-trance. “Surge and Thorn. They’re on their way.”

He nodded and glanced down at the group text. Felix had started it by stating Khloe had visualized the bears’ movements. Gavin added to it saying that Molly could hear them. Damon was next, saying that he and Olivia were on their way. Everyone else was, too.

The six wolves arrived first. They all shifted and came into the house. Molly made a beeline for the back door and stood in the open space with Rylee.

The entire scenario was growing more and more surreal as they added mates with so many odd powers.

Rylee stood with her eyes closed, breathing in and out.

Molly gave a play-by-play of what she was hearing. “They’re discussing the upcoming meeting… They haven’t seen the lions again yet… They have been granted permission from their elders to arrange an alliance with us… They’re wondering if they need to reach out to other neighboring wolf packs…”

Rylee suddenly added, “They’re nervous.”

Everyone jerked their attention to her.

“Can you hear them?” Gavin asked.

She shook her head. “No. I smell it. I smell their fear.”

Several of them glanced at Hayes. He nodded. “She can smell some very strange things. I haven’t had a chance to tell you yet. I’ve tested her. Trust me. Never doubt whatever odd thing she scents. Fear is not the weirdest.”

Molly and Rylee both gasped at the same time. “Another bear,” they said simultaneously.

Hayes glanced at Damon. Fuck . Judging from Molly’s frown, it wasn’t a kind bear.

Rylee grabbed her new friend’s elbow. “What…?”

“It’s Drow,” Molly told them. “I only know because he’s talking to himself in his head. Firat is not with him.”

“What can you scent?” Hayes asked his mate.

She swallowed hard before turning to face the forest behind the house. She gripped the door frame and Molly’s elbow equally. “Evil.”

That didn’t shock Hayes or anyone else, but they all gasped collectively. It was ominous no matter that it was probably accurate.

Thorn and Surge arrived first. When they entered the clearing, Molly commented that they were about five minutes ahead of Drow. Rylee nodded, though she was still learning distances.

Hayes opened the front door and stood back. They didn’t ordinarily invite the bears into their homes, but it was time to increase their hospitality when it came to friends. The same would not be extended to foes.

The bears breathed heavily as they entered. They’d come at a fast speed.

“Thank you,” Surge said as they entered. “Drow is on our heels.”

Hayes nodded as they all moved into the open space. No one bothered sitting. They were all on high alert.

“What has he done?” Damon asked.

“We don’t know. Perhaps nothing, yet,” Thorn said, “but he’s pissed. He and Firat were informed by the council this morning that one wrong move and they will both be excommunicated. They think we’re to blame for sticking our asses out for wolf shifters.”

Hayes rubbed the back of his neck as he glanced at his packmates. Excommunicated didn’t feel helpful. It sounded like it would only cause trouble. He’d rather hear that the two rogue bears would be confined. They had been in the past. Now was a good time to do so again.

“Why is he following you?” Olivia asked. She had a hold on Damon’s arm. She did a good job of facing whoever she spoke to even though she couldn’t see them.

Thorn paced, hands on his hips. “He probably wants to snoop on us.”

Surge nodded. “Most likely, he’s thinking he can report back to the council that we did something wrong.”

“Would he lie about it?” Rylee asked. “Make something up?”

Thorn faced her. “It’s possible, but it won’t do him any good. We’re trusted members of society. He is not.”

Rylee came toward Hayes. “We could also back you up if need be.” She was so smart and thoughtful, considering how much had been thrown at her in such a short time. It would seem she was going to have an important role in her new community. Hayes would be in denial if he thought otherwise.

“He’s here,” Olivia stated. She leaned into her Daddy and tipped her head down. She wasn’t the only one who could hear any loud thoughts inside Drow’s head, but the other two bears didn’t yet know that Molly could also.

It was time to share more details with Thorn and Surge. Trust needed to go both ways, and there was no way for anyone among the bears to lie or keep secrets anyway.

Surge snorted. “Asshole is grumbling to himself. His thoughts aren’t fit for Olivia’s ears, but there’s no way to stop them.”

Olivia chuckled. “I’ve heard worse. No need to worry.”

Molly winced and pressed the side of her face against Gavin. She was trying hard not to give anything away, but blocking one ear probably wasn’t enough.

Hayes pointed toward the sofa and various chairs as he headed for the kitchen table to grab more chairs and bring them into the circle.

Thorn and Surge joined him, each lifting a chair and then using it when they returned to the living space.

Everyone else took seats on the couch and various chairs. The four men held their mates close.

Surge began. “We met with the council of elders this morning. They support an alliance and any meetings we’d like to set up with your people.

They suggest we put together a joint task force to patrol the area in every direction to see if we can learn where the lions are living and what their goals are. ”

Felix nodded. “We had the same thinking. I spoke with our elders this morning also.”

Thorn glanced around at the women. “For as powerful as bears are—both in size and abilities—it would seem your newly mated females have skills that surpass any of us.”

Hayes glanced at Gavin, acknowledging his subtle nod. He turned his attention back to the bears. “Can Drow hear us?”

Surge shook his head. “We’ve blocked him. If he could hear us, he wouldn’t be grumbling to himself. He’d be listening.”

Olivia snickered. “He’s like a toddler.”

Thorn laughed. “Excellent observation.”

Gavin gave Molly a squeeze. “We need to share some things with you.”

Thorn and Surge nodded and turned their attention to Gavin.