“My son.”
“Yeah.”
He closed his eyes and nodded.
“I’ll go check us out,” Taylor offered.
I pulled out my key and tossed it to her as she gathered up the others’ and then left.
With eight of us in the SUV it was going to be a very uncomfortable ride back, but my heart felt lighter knowing I’d have my girls in my arms again soon.
Painter and Grant helped Pike to the car. Grant, Taylor, and Tarron took the back seat. Painter volunteered to drive before I could. He winked at me as he slid into the front. Silas took the front passenger seat leaving me crammed into the middle with Pike and Ben.
Pike’s clarity was increasing quickly as we hit the road. Finally, he turned and looked at me.
“You’re not a ghost here to haunt me, are you?”
There was snickering from behind me as I sighed. “No, sir. Just doing my job.”
He nodded. “How are you Baine?”
“I’m good, actually.” I started to hesitate wanting to unleash all my frustrations and anger of the past onto this man that had harnessed it all, but I couldn’t. When I thought of my life now, I couldn’t be happier and it dulled the pain I’d been carrying since the last time I’d seen this man.
“I’m glad to hear it.” As he spoke it looked like a boulder had been lifted from his shoulders.
I fell silent as he asked more questions but ones related to our mission. Silas jumped in and answered. As they settled into conversation, I was relieved to see my leader back to his normal, gruff, but authoritative self.
I could no longer sense his gorilla on edge and knew that whatever he had gone through back at that building was now behind him.
I stared quietly out the window as the miles passed by. My phone buzzed and I dug it out of my pocket to check it.
OLIVIA – Miss you. Call me if you can.
ME – Miss you more. Can’t talk now.
OLIVIA – Hey Baine, don’t forget to bring me back something. That’s what the good dad’s do when they go away.
OLIVIA – this is Macie.
I chuckled while I responded.
ME – Really? I only brought something back for your mom.
OLIVIA – You’re back?
ME – that didn’t go as I’d thought it would. And no, not yet.
OLIVIA – But you’re coming back?
ME – Of course I am, short stuff.
OLIVIA – Like right now?
ME – On my way
OLIVIA – deleting this message now. Let’s surprise mom.
ME – see you soon.
There was an undeniable smile on my face as I put my phone away. I hadn’t realized Pike had stopped talking and was watching me closely.
“You’re happy,” he said, as a statement, not a question.
“Yeah, I guess I am.”
“I’m glad.”
“Kano already approved me to be in Clan territory. He also retracted my abolishment. You can’t change that now,” I told him momentarily panicking at the idea of him trying to keep me away from Olivia and Macie. I feared his reaction when he found out the truth and wished I had sealed our bond before rescuing him.
He gave me a surprised look. “Really?”
I nodded.
“It’s true,” Silas confirmed. I wasn’t surprised to find him observing us closely, probably afraid I’d lose my cool or something.
“Have you seen my daughter?”
I sighed. There was no point in lying to him, but before I could answer, Silas interrupted.
“I’ve spoken to Kano and he has accommodations arranged for your recovery. Your Clan physician will be onsite upon your arrival. I can give you today to recover, but then we’ll need to start your debrief. My team has been away longer than expected as it is.”
He looked surprised and then looked around, finally landing on me. “What have you gotten yourself into, Baine?”
I gulped, but Silas again answered in my place.
“We’re part of an elite shifter team overseen by Kyle Westin’s wolf Pack.”
I noted the recognition in his eyes. He knew exactly who Kyle was.
“You’re with Westin Force?”
“Bravo Company. He sent in only the best,” Silas assured him.
“And you, you’re working with them or just here because of me?” Pike asked me.
“Baine’s the best of the best. He rightly earned his place on the Force years ago,” Silas said proudly.
I shot him an appreciative smile and nodded.
“I wasn’t exactly thrilled with this mission,” I admitted.
“But you came anyway?”
I looked Pike over, no longer intimidated by this magnanimous man.
“I did what was necessary.” I couldn’t regret the decision since it brought me back to Olivia.
“You didn’t answer my earlier question. Have you seen her?”
I silently nodded.
“And my boys.”
“Yup.”
“Well, you’re still alive and if Kano truly pardoned you, then I imagine that went okay.”
“No permanent damage done,” I said with a cocky smirk as I remembered Killian’s black eye.
“I’m glad,” he surprised me by saying.
I didn’t tell him about mating Olivia. I didn’t confess to being Macie’s father. For the rest of the drive, there remained an awkward silence between us.
The second we pulled up in front of the Alpha house that I had largely been raised in, I jumped out and took off for Olivia’s. Silas nodded his approval as I walked by him. They would take care of Pike and the debriefing. None of them could possibly expect me to be present or handle that part. It wasn’t exactly my area of expertise anyway unless some heat was required to get someone talking. None of us expected that to be the case. Pike had seemed grateful for our involvement in his rescue, even mine.
Olivia
Chapter 22
I was enjoying some peace and quiet with a hot shower when I heard a scream followed by loud commotion coming from the living room. My heart nearly leapt from my chest. My heart raced and my bear roared in my head. I abandoned my shower with shampoo still in my hair and without even turning off the water. I skidded across the tile on my wet feet tripping and slamming my knee into the floor. A sharp pain shot through my leg, but my adrenaline was too high to slow me down. I jumped back up and ran out of the room, then out of my bedroom and came to a screeching halt in my living room.
Two pairs of gray eyes stared back at me. One in humor at the sight I must have been, and the other filled with lust.
My chest rose and fell hard as I tried to piece together what was happening. Warmth started in my toes and blushed my body all the way to my cheeks.
“Are you two trying to give me a heart attack?” I finally asked.
Macie clung to her father’s neck. The coat rack was knocked over behind them.
“Sorry, Mom, but look, Baine’s back,” Macie said sweetly.
My heart was still racing and my head was spinning. Without a word I turned and limped back towards the shower.
“I’d say we definitely surprised her.”
“She’s hurt,” I heard Baine growl.