She settled into his arms and rested her eyes. Her body sank into his, and he pulled the sheet over them. She didn’t even move when he shifted to turn off the light, and they both fell asleep, content and together.
Chapter 6
It was official. Maddox would never be a father. There was no way he could do it. Though he’d offered to watch Finn for Kade and Melanie because Kade had actually asked, it wasn’t until now he truly understood only a fraction of what parents went through on a day-to-day basis.
The little bundle of terror, also known as Finn Jamenson, made Maddox want to go out and ensure he’d never have kids. Ever.
Well, it wasn’t as bad as that. But it was close. He still loved the little guy. After all, he was family. He had Kade’s dark brown hair, but Mel’s blue eyes. It was nice to look at something other than green anyway. Finn was actually a pretty good kid, just full of energy. Maddox didn’t mind watching and playing with him. But he was fucking exhausted.
And Mel and Kade had only been gone for six hours. He still had about twenty-four to go.
Dear. God.
Finn waddled past him on two chubby legs, his gaze intent on the bookshelf and the books that weren’t meant for his grubby little hands.
Oh yeah, that was another thing. He hadn’t known the little guy could walk when he agreed to this. Didn’t it seem prudent to mention that to potential babysitters? Yeah, Mel had mentioned it had just happened the night before. But really? Coincidence? Maddox didn’t believe in those. No, the little tyke must have had a gut feeling it was Uncle Maddox’s turn to take care of him and wanted to get every ounce of enjoyment he could out of the deal.
Damn kid.
Maddox took two giant steps and lifted Finn above his head. His nephew squealed and pumped his legs in the air, as if he were still running. Finn wiggled and twisted until his face was in front of Maddox’s. The little guy smiled and patted sticky fingers against Maddox’s cheeks. He shuddered at the thought of where those hands had been and what would now be on his skin.
Wait. He’d just cleaned him up. Where the hell had he found something sticky?
Oh. My. God.
What was on him? And how the hell did kids always manage to be sticky? It was like they had secret radar for gooey things and made sure they spread it around. Like all over the couch, the floor, and Maddox.
Finn wiggled his butt and let out a scream before pumping his legs again, his intent evident. Oh yes, he wanted to made Uncle Maddox’s life hell.
Damn it.
Maddox didn’t want to think about the amount of energy this kid would have once he got his wolf. How on earth had his own parents done this seven times?
Six little baby-boy wolves in less than a decade. Thank God Cailin was so much younger. If she had been the same age as the rest of them, his parents might have turned tail and run.
And Maddox didn’t think he’d have blamed them.
Finn squirmed, and Maddox lowered him to the floor before he fell out of his arms. The tyke ran—well as much as an almost-one-year-old could run—across the room and dove head first into a pile of stuffed animals. Maddox winced when Finn let out a piercing cry and then shook it off.
Was that progress?
Maddox watched as Finn put all of his stuffed animals back where they were before going to his blocks and organizing them.
Huh. Maddox ran a hand through his hair. So the kid made messes but cleaned them up? Except for the endless crying, the kid was actually pretty good. Maybe he just needed to start talking. Like now. Maddox didn’t feel any pain or sadness from whenever Finn cried. It was as if that was the only way Finn knew how to communicate, something that would have to change. Soon.
Finn accidentally knocked down his tower and screamed.
Maddox winced. “How about we have quiet time?”
Dear God, Uncle Maddox needed it. The exuberant emotions flooding him from this kid just about weighed him down to the floor. Usually he could block most of the emotions surrounding him so it was just a dull hum, but not with children. They were too good, too full of everything sweet and pure and didn’t have a way to funnel that. They showed all their emotions with each facial expression, each cry, each grin. Every emotion wound its way around Maddox and threatened to suffocate him. He didn’t want those. He needed to breathe.
Hence the reason why he usually stayed away from them until they learned to control themselves a bit more. So at least until after the teenage years.
Oh God, Finn as a teenager. Maddox closed his eyes and groaned. He might have to be far, far away for that part of his nephew’s life.
Finn tilted his head and looked at him with blue eyes too full of knowledge. What did babies think of? He could feel them, but he couldn’t sense thoughts. He wasn’t aware of any wolves that could for that matter.
His nephew squirmed then smiled widely. A pungent order hit Maddox’s nose, and he gagged.
Oh. God.
“Finn. You suck. I’m just saying that now. Wipe that grin off your face.”
Finn just smiled and then froze before he broke out into gut-wrenching sobs.
“Hey now, stop it.” Maddox panicked and carried Finn to his room to change him. “You need to stop crying like the world is caving in every time you don’t get your way. You will be Alpha one day. And despite popular belief, you won’t get what you want. Just the opposite in fact.” Maddox peeled the offending diaper off and put it in the Diaper Genie that Mel promised would keep the smell at bay before it went to the disposal area.
“You’re going to have to learn to control your emotions better, buddy.” He wiped Finns bottom, powdered him, and somehow got the sticky straps on the diaper to work. He’d changed Cailin’s diaper when she was a baby, but that had been a couple of decades before and he was out of practice.
Finn looked up at him, contentment at getting what he wanted flowing from him and into Maddox.
“Now, don’t do that. You didn’t get what you wanted because you screamed. You stank and it would have been unsanitary had I left you in that. But you are the Heir’s first son. You need to learn some responsibility and let your parents be individuals as well as parents. They can’t do that if you keep acting like a butt.”
Finn’s lower lip wobbled, but he didn’t cry.
That seemed to be progress.
“Yelling at babies now, are you?” Ellie asked from the doorway.
He’d known she and North had walked into the house; he had just chosen to ignore them. Well, at least as much as he could ignore his twin and…her.
“Finn and I are just having a talk, right?” He looked down at Finn, and Maddox could have sworn the little guy winked.
“At eleven months, he can understand you, Maddox,” North chimed in, the ever-helpful doctor.
“I would hope so,” Maddox grunted. “But the reason I’m here is because, between the Pack and this little guy, Mel and Kade can’t breathe. So I thought I’d try and talk a little sense into him. Whatever it takes.”
A shadow passed over Ellie’s face and raw pain washed into the room. Maddox inwardly cursed. Her brother had used a different method of
talking
sense into her. Damn it. But he wouldn’t say anything. That wouldn’t do either of them any good.
North cleared his throat, a scowl on his face. “Ellie and I were just stopping by on our way from dinner to see if you needed anything.”
Anger swept through Maddox. He tried to gauge North’s emotions, but his twin had always been the best at shielding him.
“We’re great. Nothing to worry about.”
Ellie raised a brow and took Finn from Maddox’s arms. Their skin brushed, and he held back a growl.
Her face didn’t betray her reaction, and she bent to inhale Finn’s baby scent.
Maddox clenched his jaw and stepped toward her, his arms outstretched. “Go back to your date.” He bit out the last word. “I can handle Finn. Go.”
Ellie frowned but gave Finn back. His nephew rested his head on Maddox’s shoulder, seeming to know that Maddox needed a hug. Though he wouldn’t have admitted that to anyone. Not even to himself.
North led Ellie out of the room by placing his hand in the small of her back, and Maddox’s wolf growled. His wolf didn’t speak much. If ever. Maddox guessed it was just another way he was fucked up.
He let out a breath and bounced Finn up and down in his arms.
“Okay, we’re going to go get something to eat. Your job is to make sure it doesn’t land on me. Got it? I don’t care if you’re going to be my Alpha in the distant future; I’m the Omega. I win right now.”
Finn gave him an amused expression, and Maddox scowled. Damn kid.
He carried Finn into the kitchen and set him up in his highchair. Maddox fed him and ended up coated in strained peas and carrots. Apparently Finn didn’t like veggies too much. Well, he was a werewolf after all.
He gave Finn a bath, ended up wet to the skin himself, then re-diapered him. Finally, he got a bottle of breast milk ready for Finn and fed him while sitting in the arm chair. Maddox looked down at the blue-eyed kid noisily sucking on the bottle.
“How on earth do your parents do this every day?”
Finn didn’t answer, and Maddox shook his head.
“I can see why they needed a break.”
Finn let go of the nipple and looked like he was about ready to cry again.
“That’s not what I mean, Finn. You know they love you. I was just saying they needed some Mommy and Daddy time.”
Finn reached up and traced the long, jagged scar on Maddox’s cheek. He froze. No one had touched it before. They were all too afraid. They’d deny it, but they couldn’t hide their emotions from him.
Finn looked into his eyes and patted his cheek before blinking and letting his hand fall. He latched onto the bottle again and closed his eyes.
What was that about?
His body relaxed marginally, and Maddox patted Finn’s bottom and rocked him. Finn’s mouth went lax, and the nipple fell from his mouth, a little dribble of milk running down his chin. Maddox quickly cleaned him up, burped him, and held him close, liking the heavy weight in his arms.
When Finn slept, his emotions were muted, sort of like in a dreamy haze. Maddox relished it. He could feel the whole Pack as it was. The frustration running through his father’s veins at the thought of the Centrals, the lust and love running through Reed’s body during Hannah’s…um…time, the contentment running through Kade, the happiness running through Jasper.
The quiet despair and desperation running through Adam. The fragile strength running through Ellie.
Everyone but North.
But the little bundle of Kade and Mel in his arms calmed him. Something that hadn’t happened in…well…ever.
Hmm…
Maddox closed his eyes and sank into the dark, lush armchair. Only twenty-one hours to go, and then they’d be back.
Thank God.
Chapter 7
Kade woke up with a soft bottom pressed against his erection, and he closed his eyes again, sinking into his bliss. They’d made love two more times in the night. He felt sated, content, and oddly rested.
Though they hadn’t slept too much, it was as if the idea of peace made him peaceful. What a novel concept.
Mel moaned in her sleep and shifted so his cock lay nestled in the crease of her ass. His hips flexed, and she pushed back.
His little wolf wanted more.
Kade smiled and beneath the sheet, ran his hand up her naked thigh, over her soft belly, and cupped her heavy breast. She arched into him and turned her head so he could reach her lips, though her eyes were still closed. He lowered his head and kissed her, his tongue darting into her mouth, tangling with hers.
Her sweet honey-vanilla taste burst on his tongue, making his already hard erection even harder. He ground against her and tweaked her nipple. She moved back and swiveled her hips, teasing.
Without saying a word, he lowered his hand and lifted her leg. She shifted, and he entered her from behind, oh so slowly. They gasped together, their heartbeats and breaths synchronized. When his thighs lay flush against hers, his cock surrounded by her warmth, he stayed there for a moment, letting peace and their mating bond wash over him. One hand wrapped around Mel, cupping her breast, and the other one lay between her legs, circling her clit. He pulled back and then entered her again and then again. They rocked together slowly, leisurely, restfully. Kade closed his eyes and rested his head against the back of hers and came when she did, their bodies sweaty and loose-limbed.
“Good morning,” he whispered.
Mel laughed softly and turned in his arms. “I’d say.”
He kissed her lips and jaw, nibbling along his way. “I think this is my favorite way to wake up.”