Page 78 of Retribution

“Then you know how lucky you are,” she says. “You still should have told me. Sit on the porch and don’t freeze. You’re in time out.”

“Lucas is safe from your wrath?” he asks, grinning. I think this is how they flirt.

“I need him to hold Leila so I can shower,” she says.

It’s now that I can see the shadows under her eyes and I decide my nap can fuck itself for now.

“Let me make myself some coffee, darlin’, and I’m your guy,” I say with a smile. “Grant only told me on the drive home.”

Isolde scowls at him in her leggings and a large sweatshirt.Hmm, she needs one of mine too so she’ll wear it instead…

That’s the last thought I have before she throws the bat at him. Grant barely ducks in time, because it was headed for his head. Instead it hits the ground harmlessly.

“I’ll be here guarding the house with my new weapon, Little Nightmare,” he smirks. “Thanks for caring.”

“You twisted what I asked on me,” she snarls, turning and walking back inside. “Coffee, Lucas?”

“Don’t mind if I do,” I murmur, following her in as I close the door firmly on Grant.

Chapter Eighteen

Isolde

Having Lucas in what’s essentially my home makes me fidgety as I pick Leila up from the pack and play that I placed her in, hoping she’d stay asleep. That didn’t happen, and my eyes feel as if they’re burning with exhaustion.

This is normal as a new mom, right? I’ll be fine. A shower would be really nice though…

“You’re not sleeping,” Lucas states, making himself a cup of coffee.

“She doesn’t like to be put down, not unless she’s in the car,” I say around a yawn. “I don’t need a lot of sleep so I’m fine. I’m just trying to keep us both alive.”

“Is this your way of telling me that you haven’t eaten?” he teases me.

“Today? No. But it’s still early,” I say. “The guys fed me last night before I left.”

“I see,” he says, fixing his coffee and taking a sip. “Come share my coffee with me, darlin’.”

My lips open to tell him I couldn’t possibly, but I shut them as he gives me a measured stare. I guess a little caffeine could help.

“Tell me about Leila,” he says as I move closer to him. He puts the mug at my lips and tips it slightly so I can chase the flow of merciful bean juice.

“Mmm,” I moan, swallowing before he carefully moves the mug so he can take a sip. “She sleeps a lot, but only if she’s on top of me. I read that I’m not supposed to fall asleep with her, which is why I’m so tired. Every time I go to put her down, she wakes up and cries. Leila is really easy to keep happy otherwise. As long as I feed, change, and snuggle her, she’s good to go.”

“I see,” he says. “You know, we have a lot of extra hands at the pack house.”

“Is that what we’re calling it now?” I ask, watching as he opens the fridge.

“It is. How do you feel about fruit and yogurt right now?” he asks.

Thinking, I shrug. “Favorably,” I decide, just as my stomach complains that it’s hungry.

“Granola?” he asks, pulling things out of the fridge.

“I just bought some I think,” I admit.

I watch as he begins cutting fruit. He came over immediately to feed me and check on me. This alpha is amazing. Speaking of…

“I can’t sleep at the mansion,” I say. “You know it’s too big for me.”