Read Online Desired By The Pack: Part Three by Emma Storm - Free Book Online Page A

seat.”
    She could only imagine what a twenty-four hour box store clerk would think of a sixteen-year-old boy loaded up with those items at that hour.
    “You could put her to your breast again. That calmed her yesterday.”
    “She won’t get any milk, Cleo. She doesn’t want comfort, she wants food.” But January stood from the trunk of baby clothes and relieved Cleo of the unhappy child.
    “You could try to induce lactation.” Cleo wiped her hands on her pants and picked up the bag January had packed.
    With the baby crying in her ear, she couldn’t possibly have heard right. Still, her breasts tightened and tingled at the thought, and all the maternal desires she’d suppressed rushed her.
    Goddess, how she wanted to comfort and nourish a child. But this one? She wasn’t equipped to lose the newborn when her family found a better solution.
    “It’s me, you, or Star,” Cleo said, referring to the female alpha of the third Peace River pack. “Star and I have territory responsibilities.”
    “So this is how I earn my keep?” January asked wryly.
    “It’s not like that. She has the alpha sigil. Her place is with us. If she didn’t carry the mark, we would place her with an approved family.” Cleo pursed her lips as she folded a small towel. “I don’t think Mira was prepared for motherhood. Hers was a warrior’s Moon.”
    The baby snuffled pitifully at January’s shoulder. Praying Marcus returned soon, she rubbed the bridge of her nose. Her own early years had been spent among a pack. January barely remembered them, but her pack life came to an end when, innocent and naïve, she had offered her wolf to a witch posing as a little girl.
    She’d only meant to share a treasured thing, to make a friend, because like this little one in her arms, January was the only child among an Earth-bound pack. January had known her mother, but, like Mira, January’s mother was a warrior, not content to remain close to the den and raise young.
    A Blood relative--the woman January came to know as grandmother--had offered January an education. January’s mother took the offer, against the wishes of her pack. January had gone to pre-school, had shown her sigil in show and tell, and less than a month later, lost her wolf.
    An elder werewolf had regained the wolf’s spirit but January had never changed.
    She closed her eyes on a sigh. “It’s too dangerous to place her among humans.”
    “Paxton may want to place her with a different pack,” Cleo said, naming the child’s father, Mira’s bond mate. “You should be prepared for that. He is not fond of Beck. But I don’t know what will happen. He might want to keep her close. He loved Mira deeply, as most bond mates do. Or, he might…”
    Cleo trailed off. January nodded, knowing what Cleo wouldn’t say.
    Paxton might throw his own life after his mate’s. It was not uncommon among bonded shifters.
    “Let’s go,” she said, vowing to protect this child’s spirit and body.
     

    Beck backhanded the blood from his face and turned away from the unmoving body of the hunter.
    “Drop Prince into the pit,” he said, catching Maverick’s eye.
    As Maverick and Jared moved on Prince, who was still alive but unconscious again, Beck gestured for Smoke to follow him. They walked in silence, stopping at a quiet stream to cleanse themselves of the evidence of the past sixteen hours.
    Jared, Maverick and Anders soon joined them. Together, the pack returned to the camp. Cross sat on the step outside January’s cabin. He stood as Beck and the others approached, blocking the entrance.
    Beck narrowed his eyes, but Cross spoke before he did.
    “She’s in there with Mira’s baby. Jan just got her fed and sleeping a little while ago.”
    He relaxed marginally and ran his hands over his face. “We have a situation on our hands.”
    Cross hunkered back down. “I caught some of it. Tell me.”
    “Hunters are dealing a drug that brings on a change. How that’s even possible, I