Nadia
I inhale sharply and bolt up straight.
Cole laughs and stays in his spot, watching me.
“Okay!” I say, completely freaked out, my voice tight. “Time for bed!”
“You’re already in bed, Nadia. Just curl up –“
I whip my head so hard to glare at him that my ponytail spins around, smacking me in the face.
He grins, clearly feeling wicked, suppressing a laugh.
“Oh, you brat,” I mutter, getting to my feet.
“Seriously, Nadia, you could stay here if you –“
I laugh, whipping out hand up between us, palm flat, and shaking my head at him. “Not a chance! I will sleep in my own bed, thankyouverymuch!”
Cole shrugs, easily appeased as he sits and then stands. “All right,” he says, bending slightly to snatch at the covers of his bed, hauling them up into his arms.
I gape
NadiaI’m about three feet away from my bed, headed for the bathroom with my toothbrush clutched in my hand, thinking that maybe Cole was just carrying his bedding around like some sort of weird wolf security blanket. But my steps falter when I hear the tent flap. I go still, my mouth dropping open when I see Cole stepping inside, his stupid bed bundle in his arm.Livid words stack up on my tongue as Cole walks quickly towards me. But he slips his hand calmly over my mouth, silencing them.“Quietly, Nadia,” he murmurs, perfectly calm. “You don’t want to wake up the whole tent.”“Cole!” I hiss, stepping back and smacking his hand away. “You are not sleeping here!”“Oh yes, I am,” he whispers, closing the distance between us. “I’m not letting you out of my sight until that further military arrives. Grace and S
Nadia I groan, sitting up, shoulders slumping. “You’re seriously going to escort me everywhere?”“Just until reinforcements come.”“You promise?”“Nope.”“Cole!”The Prince laughs at me, shaking his head, hand still held out. “Just let me, Nadia. For heaven’s sake, you’re not the one who had to sleep on the floor.”I scowl even as I slip my hand into his. “No one made you do that.”“Just my natural chivalry,” he murmurs.I scoff and pull my hand away, rolling my eyes as I turn towards my supplies, wanting fresh clothes after my shower.“Here Cole!” Shayne calls, holding her hand up, grinning at him. “I need some chivalry! Help me out of bed!”Cole laughs and steps towards her, getting into a fake argument w
NadiaMy breath starts to come fast as Shayne and I walk with Cole out of the nursing tent. He’s slowing his pace to keep up with us – I’ve seen how fast he can go when it’s just him, or when he’s with one of his wolf boys. But honestly, I feel nothing but grateful for it now.I mean, I know that there’s nothing that’s going to hurt me right now. Still…it’s nice having him around when I’m feeling anxious.A bunch of other nurses and counselors join us as we move in a large group toward the mess tent, where we have our meals and where we met the first day – the only place large enough to house all of us at once. As we go, I glance back at the new nursing tent that was just built next to the one we’ve used since we got here.It looks exactly the same as the first, except perhaps a little bit…newer? Or, I don’t know. Maybe I&
Nadia“As you’re aware, our patient numbers have been down lately. That will change tonight. I need absolutely everyone on their toes this evening, so no…foolery. No distractions. No contraband.”He says this last word with particular care, letting us know that he’s well aware that some amongst us have indeed been indulging a little in these quiet times. I swear his eyes linger for a moment on Shayne, but not enough to truly signal her out. But Shayne just straightens her shoulders and I smile, proud of her. Shayne likes to have fun, but she’s one hell of a worker when she needs to be.“Captain Stanzor will tell you what he can about the reasons for this,” dad continues, his face grave. “There will be no questions, but you should be very grateful for his time.”Dad steps aside and Stanzor steps forward, nodding to us. “Tonight there w
Nadia“Shit, Na-na,” Shayne says, turning to me with a grin. “Look at you, Boss Bitch!”My mouth falls open as I step close, staring at my name written in next to Chief Nursing Officer.“No way,” I whisper, staring at it – thinking that it must be some mistake. But then I blush and step back, knowing that Dr. Arbroth doesn’t make mistakes – not in situations like this. I shrug, glancing at my friends. “Nepotism strikes again, I guess.”“Or you’re just good at this,” Grace says, laughing and putting her arm around me, proud.I don’t even look up at Cole, knowing what his expression will be. Also knowing I’m not going to be able to handle it.“I’m on probation,” I murmur, shaking my head. “It shouldn’t be allowed.”“No r
NadiaI groan, knowing she wouldn’t bluff about this. Then I exhale, pressing my eyes shut, trying to pull myself together, wanting to immediately forbid her from interacting with Nadia at all but knowing that doing so will just put a target on my mate –“Cole,” Rose says, softer now.I open my eyes, lifting my head to look at her.“Could you maybe, just for ten seconds, give me the benefit of the doubt? And realize that I’m not some psycho ex-girlfriend but instead someone who is trying to do something good here? Something to help?”My shoulders slump at that. Because maybe she’s right. Maybe I’m overreacting and being a dick.“Fine,” I say, tossing a hand out towards her tent. “Show me. But keep your fucking shirt on, Rose.”“No promises,” she mutters, turning
Cole I sit in General Amir’s chair as he stands behind me, my body tense, arms folded. My father’s image appears on the computer screen, his face more serious than it usually is, while a second black box loads. I lean forward as it flashes to color, Jude’s image taking shape.“Sorry,” dad says, nodding to us. “Took a minute to get him.”“Bath time,” Jude murmurs, dry, running a hand through his damp hair.“You guys are aware of this?” I snap, kind of livid that they didn’t inform me immediately.“I’m not,” Jude says, frowning at the screen and glancing at dad. “What’s up?”I flick my eyes to dad, who nods. “We’ve come into possession of some images,” dad says, starting to bring them up on screen. “And we’d like your perspective, Jude – ““Should Iris be in on this?” Jude says, looking toward what must be his bedroom door. “If this is a family affair and all –“ “It’s not necessary that she be in on this conversation, Jude,” dad says, putting a hand on his arm. “But we could use persp
ColeI cover my face with my hand, shaking my head. “I don’t know what to do with you, Jude.”“What’s the problem?” Jude asks, looking between all of us with a smirk. “Why is everyone so upset?”“I think the issue of child labor in a military operation is putting Cole over the edge,” dad murmurs. “Though the true question I have is – what are the risks of this? Are those kids dangerous?”I drop my hand, paying attention again and glaring at my uncle for kind of dismissing the issue of child military labor.“I mean, I wouldn’t get close to them,” Jude murmurs, shrugging, typing rapidly on his phone as his informant gives him more information, his eyes flashing over the screen. “My guys says that they’re small but at this age they can use a knife and they’re trained to be sneaky. Plus, they’re motivated. If they got a chance to hurt you, they’d do it.”I curse lightly under my breath.“Motivated by what?” dad asks.“Food,” Jude says, nodding, his phone’s screen flashing as new messages
Nadia“Hey,” Cole snaps, his hands tightening on my waist. I blink and look up at him, focusing on his face as he frowns down at me. And then I look around, realizing that we’re in the nurse’s bunk tent.When the hell did we get here?“Are you all right?” he asks, all stern.I frown at him again. “I’m fine.”Cole narrows his eyes. “You’re not fine. But you will be. Okay? I need you to trust me on that.”I blink up at him, hope and clarity coming to me as I realize that…dad was right. I do have a royal connection. Cole took that phone for a reason. He’s – he’s going to make some phone calls – he’s going to fix this –I straighten my shoulders, nodding to him. Cole’s eyes move over me and he nods too, buying it. “Go and wash up, okay?” he says, lifting his
Nadia“Dad wants a meeting,” I say, gesturing to my father with my thumb.“That’s unnecessary,” dad says, pitching his voice higher so Cole can hear. “My meeting is with you, Nadia.”I slowly turn to him with a frown, narrowing my eyes. What on earth is going on here?Cole murmurs to Tommy and another of his guards for a moment, clearly ordering them to take the same command with the boy pups that Shayne and Grace just took with the girls. He moves quickly towards us.“What’s going on?” Cole asks, slipping his hands into his pockets.“It’s not your concern, Captain Kincaid,” dad snaps, glaring at Cole.Cole just looks evenly at dad, his expression turning cold, clearly implying that if dad’s meeting has to do with me then it damn well does concern him too.Dad glares between us. &ld
NadiaCole laughs, quite pleased with himself, and I straighten up, my hand clasped in my towel over my chest. “If you please, sir,” I snap, eyes still closed. “I’d like my privacy while I dress.”“Back into your dirty clothes?” My eyes snap open in time to see Cole raise an eyebrow at me. I realize that he’s right – all my clean stuff is at my bunk.“Oh, shut up,” I mutter, stooping to gather up my dirty outfit.“Come on,” he says, reaching for me, aiming to put his arm over my shoulders again.I squeak, darting past him so he can’t touch and fucking ensorcel me with his stupid body – which is probably all warm -“Get back here!” Cole calls, laughing as I dash past him out of the shower room.“No!”“Do it!” he shouts after me, laughing
NadiaI scowl as I blush, which feels appropriate when one is stripping down in a little cubicle with Cole Kincaid naked on the other side of a very thin wall. There are four little showers here, all in a row, and each not only has a curtained shower stall but also this little dry cell next to it with its own curtain to block out the rest of the room. But luckily, we have the shower room all to ourselves for now, which is rarely the case.“You good over there?” Cole calls.I stop with my shirt pulled halfway over my head. “Why would I not be good?” I snap.He laughs, low and pleased. “I can just hear you seething.”“Oh, shut up.” I finish pulling my shirt and bra off in one go, throwing them on the floor.“Was that your shirt?”“Cole!”“Wait, so, are you topless?”
Nadia“All right,” Cole says, nodding to the pups. “I want everyone to remain in wolf form, and young ladies, I’d like you in two even lines on either side of the boys, please.”Janine looks up at me. “What’s a young lady?” she whispers.I laugh, tapping her on the nose and whispering that she is, quickly giving her an explanation that makes her smile.When all the kids have lined up Cole holds his hand out to me. I take it and together we move to the front. “You ready for this?” he murmurs, glancing down at me.I shrug, looking up at him. “I was born for this.”Cole smiles, exhausted but terribly pleased with me, and together we walk into the camp with one little wolf girl in my arms and twenty-five pups following neatly behind. Tommy’s mouth falls open as he sees us approach. He quickly radios for backup,
NadiaCole frowns down at the boys. “No, I’m not going to kill you,” he says, steady and strong. “I don’t come from a world where we kill children. We raise them and educate them in warm and happy homes. If you obey, you will be given food and warm clothing, you’ll be sent to school. You’ll be safe and protected – and you won’t have to work until you’re much older and can decide what jobs you’d like.”A confused little hum starts in the children, the girls looking at me, clearly wondering if this promise extends to them as well. I slowly nod, dedicating myself inwardly to ensuring that that promise is kept.“But it all starts with you all falling into my command,” Cole says, steady and unyielding. “Can you do that?”Most of the little boys immediately nod, great smiles breaking out on their faces. Only the
Nadia“Fine,” I say, turning my hand over and nodding towards the backpack which I can’t reach anymore. “You handle that, I need to bandage this,” I say, nodding down to the little girl’s cut arm. It’s not deep, thank god.Cole nods and quickly grabs the backpack, passing it to the closest girl, who hands it to me. I concentrate on being a nurse as Cole turns back to the boys.“Who sent you?” Cole asks, voice rough and displeased. He crosses his arms, glaring down at the little ragged crew, some of whom sniff and look miserable. Others just stare at Cole, fully awed.“No one sent us,” the head boy says, his head hanging. I note for the first time that he’s a handsome little boy, larger than the rest, with brown hair and freckles over his cheeks and nose. “Or, well, we’re scouts, so our Superior sent us. But we attacked you because
Nadia“Wake up!” A voice snarls. “You are our captives now!”I lurch out of sleep, my eyes flashing open. They widen at the sight in front of me.But I barely have time to process the sight of the little boy baring his teeth at us, a sharp knife clutched in his hand, a whole pack of other little boys gathered behind him before a vicious snarl erupts from Cole, whose arms tighten around me.I gasp – but then the whole world goes to shit.Chaos reigns as all of our little girls seem to leap to their little puppy feet at once, yelping and barking and snarling, some lunging at the boys who shout and wave knives, or shift and attack. Other girls dash behind behind rocks or tuck themselves into the shadows. Janine cries out, pressing herself closer to me as Cole launches to his feet, pushing me behind him as he shifts into his wolfI shout, clutching Janine to me
NadiaWe run for about thirty minutes, I think – but even after that relatively short time, I can see that the pups are flagging – weak, exhausted, starving. Cole barks twice and slows, allowing the pups to catch up as he moves into the shadows of a cliffside, well protected from sight. When we’re all tucked in he lowers himself to the ground. I help Janine climb down and then follow after her, looking curiously up at Cole as he shifts back.“Think we’re far enough away?” I whisper.“As far as we’re going to get,” he murmurs. “They’re flagging. They need food and water.” He looks carefully around, sniffing the air. “I think we’re okay for now. I haven’t sensed anyone near all night.”I nod, trusting him to know far better than me.“Let’s get the sandwiches out,” he murmurs, lifting his head towards the ba