Page 47 of Taken By The Wolves

Their secret is out now; our world has shifted, and none of us can pretend otherwise.

“I think we should go home,” he says.

Home?

Funny how their cabin in the woods is already starting to feel that way to me.

22

REED

On the journey back to the cabin, the baby wakes, and her soft whimpers grow into a full cry that rattles through my chest. I wince at the unfamiliar sound, as Scarlet tries and fails to calm the infant with nothing but her arms and her voice.

“Nixon, we have nothing to care for this baby. None of us has experience with children.”

“We should call Hunter,” Finn suggests. “Ask Goldie to help?”

“Who’s Goldie?” Scarlet asks as the baby cries even harder, and panic tugs at her cheeks. She grips the baby tighter.

That’s a whole other conversation. Until a year ago, the idea of calling on a rival shifter species would have been laughable. But now?

Nixon scrunches his jaw but nods. He fishes his phone from his pocket and dials as the world blurs past the window, leaving the life we knew far behind.

***

When we arrive home, Scarlet’s in full mama mode, asking for old shirts and towels and a pair of scissors. In a few minutes, she’s fashioned a chunky diaper and a soft garment for the baby to wear until help arrives. I watch with fascination at her resourcefulness.

“You have experience with kids?” I ask.

She shakes her head. “No, but they’re little humans, right? They need the same things as we do.”

Despite having some creature comforts, the baby’s still whining, most likely for food.

When there’s a brisk bang on the front door, Nixon practically sprints to open it.

The cabin door swings open, and Hunter steps in with Robert and Evan, their bearish frames filling the doorway as they pass through. Hunter’s carrying a large bag, Robert, a small boy, Evan, another small boy, and Goldie follows with a stack of blankets.

Hunter lowers the bag. “Formula, diapers, bottles. Some neutral baby clothes… hand-me-downs, if that works.”

“It works,” Scarlet says, already rummaging. “Thank you so much.”

Robert, Evan, and Hunter all stare at Scarlet, then at us, their brains working. Is she our mate? Unlike wolves, bear shifters can’t tell, and we’re not about to have that conversation in front of her, so I hope to the goddess they don’t ask.

Robert glances at the baby as Scarlet switches the cloth diaper for a disposable one, and his eyes bug out of his head. “Is that a…?”

“Girl,” Nixon says. “Yeah.”

“But how?”

“It’s rare, but not unheard of.”

“Where did you find her?”

Finn, who’s pulling bottles from the bag and studying them, looks up at Robert. “In the forest near here. She was abandoned.”

“That’s so sad,” Goldie says. She approaches the baby, her eyes wide and almost wary. Then she smiles at Scarlet. “I’m Goldie, by the way. Six men, and no one can manage an introduction.”

Scarlet snorts. “I’m Scarlet. Thank you so much for rushing over to the rescue.”