Chapter Four - Revealing Too Much

Byron’s POV

When Mo sent me that mind link in a panic I knew I couldn’t just leave her to it. Yet I didn’t trust my ‘collateral’ not to run. Sending my guards after her would only lead to unpleasantness – for her. She wasn’t ready for the kind of punishment I usually dished out, healthy or not.

On the point of stuffing her panties into an empty drawer I reconsidered and dumped them in my laundry basket instead. I’m not that much of a pervert, though degradation is one of my sweeter pastimes when I’m not actually hands on.

The beauty in the next bedroom intrigued me. Maybe having Ricky owe me wasn’t such a bad thing.

Currently Alpha Bell was not in my good books, failing to answer my texts. Seizing Liz with his blessing was my way of ensuring he returned to take care of his pack rather than do a runner. The alternative reason for him being incommunicado was something I didn’t want to dwell on.

My sister rolled her eyes at my interference, liking none of this. She was often moody and shouted at the servants constantly. They forgave her, as did I, though for very different reasons.

Having a choice made me feel good about my magnanimity. Dad sure wouldn’t have tolerated her tantrums for long. I have to say she was on borrowed time with me. Perhaps I could kill two birds with the one stone.

All females had a nurturing instinct, didn’t they?

Seeing the woman who was virtually a stranger to me admiring her reflection in the full length mirror, I smirked. Because she didn’t know I was there.

Her flushed cheeks signalled I had her at a disadvantage and I could tell she was mortified when I announced my presence. That nightgown was extremely short. Yet still she was obedient, going in search of mom’s wrapper. Those cute mules only made me smile. It told me there was a fun side to her, one I wanted to explore more fully.

I made a mystery tour out of our journey to the underground room, even enquiring after her mood. Though I wasn’t so churlish as to allow her to fall once we were on the last leg, holding out my arm to assist her.

The sudden commotion made her start.

“Ssh,” a woman’s voice said soon after.

“It’s okay,” I told her. “All will shortly be revealed.”

Suddenly the game I’d been playing wasn’t so amusing any more. I was uncertain myself.

Mom would have caved in at once. She was a sucker for a sob story. Yet I couldn’t force Liz to do this, it had to be of her own free will or not at all.

When we reached the playroom at the bottom of the stairs her mouth formed a perfect O.

“I wasn’t expecting this,” she said.

Mo looked up from her position on the floor with heartbreak in her eyes. Then her face turned hostile.

“What’s she doing here?”

My sister could be such a bitch.

“Coming to our rescue. I hope,” I said.

Liz turned to me.

“I didn’t know you had pups.”

“I don’t, Lizzy.”

“Then who do they belong to? Where’s their mom?” She narrowed her eyes as if she were about to say something derogatory.

Mo beat me to it.

“You’re looking at her,” she said. “Except we haven’t bonded. I just – can’t.”

The pup asleep on her lap seemed to contradict that. Zane was normally hyperactive and aggressive, unlike his sibling, Zoe.

“Is this what you wanted me for, Alpha?” Liz asked.

I made a joke of it, causing her to colour up.

“Dressed like that?”

“Stop it, By. This isn’t either the time or the place.”

I took the rebuke on the chin. Sometimes an Alpha has to think about the bigger picture.

My hostage surprised me by kneeling beside the array of fluffy bunnies. Zoe was particular about colours so they were mainly purple or yellow.

“Hello, my name’s Lizzy. What’s yours?” she asked my adorably shy niece.

I hid a grin. Was that a Freudian slip, or what?

The toddler took a few steps towards the playpen, losing her pacifier in the process. She shrieked as if it were the end of the world.

Soon she was being cuddled by a total stranger who rocked her gently and smoothed her auburn curls away from her forehead.

This was far better than I could have possibly imagined.

“How would you like to be their chief nursemaid, Lizzy?” I asked.

*

Liz’s POV

My heart plummeted when I saw Mo. Soon I was feeling sorry for her. An auntie of mine had gone through something similar with her firstborn.

I had to do something even though pups were outside my comfort zone. Was it because I wanted to impress the Alpha?

Recalling past visits to our pack’s collective nursery, I couldn’t help but wonder why these two were hidden away. On those occasions I had been glad of the Omegas’ presence and ashamed of my tokenism. I wished I could do more.

When Alpha Byron made his stunning proposition I really didn’t know what to say.

“I’m not the most experienced nanny,” I told him, with a glance at Mo. “But I’m willing to give it a go, with help.”

“My sister will be your friend for life, won’t you?” he prompted.

“I wouldn’t go that far,” the woman said.

There was vomit all down her front and one of her dangly earrings was missing. I took pity on her.

“Let’s get you cleaned up.”

She didn’t resist, even ribbing the Alpha about his newfound duties.

“Beneath you, much?”

Before we made our way back up to the kitchen area, she deposited the male pup in the playpen. He was still soundly asleep while his sibling was now holding onto the bars even though I’d laid her down.

“You’ll have to show me where to go,” I said, unsure how to address her and not wanting to cause offence.

“Don’t tempt me, girl.”

“Hey, I’m doing you a favour,” I protested.

She sighed, heavily.

“Take no notice, I’m just up to here,” – she raised a hand to her forehead – "with everything.”

“I know how that feels.”

“No, you don’t. But thanks, Lizzy. I’m grateful.”

“It’s Liz,” I told her.

She gave me a puzzled frown, fiddling with her earring and letting out a squeal when she realised her loss.

“Shit. Trevor gave them to me.”

“First things first,” I said. “Where’s the nearest washroom?”

We ended up in her bedroom on the first floor. I should have known she would have an en suite.

That was when I learned about her missing mate.

“He didn’t even know I was pregnant,” she sobbed.

I felt awkward about comforting someone so prickly yet it had to be done.

There was a tap at the door, which startled me but not Mo. It was the Alpha, who had obviously mind linked her.

“Sal’s with them now,” he said. “Get some rest, sis. You look awful.”

I told her goodnight before following him upstairs.

“Alpha, have you thought about having a crèche?” I asked.

“What a brilliant idea.”

His sarcasm was wounding, but I was used to the like from Ricky.

“You mean someone objected?”

“Mo herself.”

“But that’s – ”

I stopped myself just in time. It wasn’t my place to criticise, especially when my status here was uncertain at best.

“Crazy? I know. Maybe she’ll listen to you.”

I took a deep breath.

“Alpha, I don’t think I should take this on. I mean, if the twins bond with me and then I go back to Moon Tides, they could be irreparably damaged.”

That was when he was brutally honest with me.

“Face facts, Lizzy,” he said, smoothing a stray tendril of hair behind my ear. “With the amount of money Ricky owes me you’re going nowhere for a while.”