Nella released his arm and pinched the bridge of her nose with a mild shake of her head. Ruby looked off to one side with her jaw tense, and then returned a smile that was not a happy one to him. I’m not as hot as when I drunkardly took your clumsy ass to bed Frankie Monroe, but I am still out of your league. Man, he didn’t even attempt to say I look pretty enough for tips. I look lovely? Really? A poodle wearing a hat ‘looks lovely’. Jerk.

“Well, it’s a good thing I’m a bartender now. I start on Tuesday. Nella? We still have some unpacking to do so finish your tea so we can head on home.” Nella frowned and gave Frankie a sad look.

“Yes Mum.”

Frankie’s wolf was whining and his tail hung between his legs. What? They’re leaving already? Was it because of what I said? That’s not fair.

“Actually I was hoping to take you both-”

“I’ve just said we need to go home and unpack Frankie.” Ruby raised a blonde brow and folded her arms under her bust. “You’ve had Nella to yourself all morning. It’s a good first step, so let’s not push it.” He wanted to argue with her, but saw that Ruby had drawn a line in the sand. Do not cross, or else.

It didn’t feel fair to be limited in how long he was allowed to see his daughter. But at the same time, he understood. She had no idea of knowing that Frankie and his wolf would rather die than let anything happen to Nella. That this right here, was everything Frankie had ever wanted. A family.

Only, he dreamed of Ruby never sneaking off the morning after their night together 18 years ago. He dreamed of them dating, getting married, and having at least one child together. I didn’t know Ruby well enough then to know if we would have made a good couple, and it was just a one-night stand, so I let it go and dated other people. None of them measured up and my wolf wasn’t interested either.

Even now, Frankie didn’t see Ruby as any more than a beautiful woman who happened to be the mother of his child. All he cared about was Nella’s safety and being in her life. If I have to earn that time from Ruby first, then I’ll do it no matter how much it pisses me off to be denied Nella’s time like this. He saw Ruby’s side, but that didn’t mean he didn’t like it.

“Alright.” Frankie cleared his throat and palmed his coffee cup on the table. “I’ve really enjoyed my time with Nella today. More than I can express in words.” He noticed his daughter looking up at him with a tender smile, but continued to speak directly to Ruby. “I would very much like to see her again tomorrow.”

“That would be great, right mum?”

And there it was again. Ruby facing two sets of steely blue eyes and feeling cornered by them. She wanted to shout no at the top of her lungs but knew she didn’t have a valid reason for it. Whatever this feeling was in her gut, she didn’t understand what it was to give it a name. It just felt like something wasn’t quite right with Frankie. But I have no idea what…yet. He hasn’t done anything wrong. He followed my instructions and he is respecting my decision over how much he sees Nella. Baby steps Frankie.

“Sure. What time?” Frankie released the breath he was holding and his smile reached his eyes.

“Tomorrow I can be free in the morning again.” He nodded and turned to look at Nella. “Tuesday I’m going to be quite busy, but since your mother is starting her new job that night, how about I swing around and check on you? I could bring pizza? We could watch one of those rom-com films you said you like?” Ruby’s eyes widened and alarm bells went off. Did he just invite himself over on Tuesday when I’m not in?!

“Hold on-”

“That would be amazing! But let’s do Thai food instead of pizza. Fewer calories.” Nella giggled and sensed her mother’s imminent refusal. She had to act fast before her mother put her foot down. “Mum, please? We’ll eat takeout and watch a film, and then I’ll text you when Frankie’s gone and I’m in bed. The house will be on lockdown, I swear.”

“Nella it’s not that simple.”

“Sure it is. You can tell everyone that I am with Nella, and if anything were to happen, the blame would come straight to me.” Frankie tried to smooth things over. Not only did he want to see Nella as much as he could, but Tuesday was the night of the full moon. He needed an excuse to see and escort her to the forest before moon-up. It’s why Caleb arranged for senior night to be moved to Tuesday. A stroke of genius on the Pack Master’s part, he thought. The elderly were too old to shift and it would be the perfect way to keep Ruby out of the house and away from Nella before she started to shift. The senior GV wolves were happy to oblige, in return for an open bar… Ruby would be busy, let’s put it that way. Deloris had already said she’d be there to test Ruby’s virgin cocktail skills. Alcohol-free, since she was on duty when the other midwives were feral beneath the full moon. “I’ve never had Thai food before. Is it spicy? I’m a bit of a wuss when it comes to spicy food. I barely manage a Tikka Masala when it comes to Indian food.”

“Wow that is bad.” Nella giggled. “I’ll order you some Khao Pat.”

“A what now?”

“Basically stir-friend rice, with egg, garlic, onions, and whatever meat you want. I like it with beef.”

“Oh well, that sounds good.”

“It is. I’m more of a Pad Thai sort of girl.”

Ruby listened to the two of them seamlessly turn toward each other and become engrossed in conversation. Oddly, it wasn’t that they had lots of similarities that made them click. It was their differences. Ruby bit her lips together and listened to the two of them making plans for Tuesday night and laugh over the silliest of things. I’m already a third wheel. Look at those two? Anyone looking at them can see they are father and daughter. How did they get so close after one morning?

Ruby sighed. I didn’t want to agree to them spending time today without me present, but I ended up giving in and it’s gone really well. “So?” Ruby blinked and realised she’d been addressed. Nella reached over and held her hand in her left one. “Can we? Tuesday? Please?” Ruby turned her worried green eyes to look at Frankie and saw he was looking at her with hope too. The blonde sighed and nodded.

“Okay. But, you are to be gone by 8pm.”

“Yes mam.” Frankie resisted the urge to fist pump the air in victory.

“And you, young lady, are to text me once he has gone, and are to be in bed by 10pm.”

“Yes mum.” Nella giggled and shared an excited look with Frankie that was the final nail in the coffin. These two were going to be as thick as thieves. Ruby could already tell.

“Thank you.” Frankie reached his right hand over to touch Ruby’s shoulder, surprising her. “I can’t imagine this is easy for you, trusting Nella with me when it’s been just the two of you for so long. I’m trying not to push for too much too soon, but this is hard for me too. Thank you for finding a middle ground with me.”

You smooth SOB. Ruby raised a blonde brow at him and her smile was not heart-felt. I don’t care how charming you are or that you unknowingly donated half of Nella’s DNA. Fuck this up, just once, and we are out of here. The dream job, new house, and fresh start can kiss my ass. You’re damn right it’s been me and Nella for all this time, and it can be again the second you screw up. Ruby politely nodded and sid from her seat. She mobalised Nella into sharing out her shopping bags and preparing to walk home.

Frankie insisted on driving them…so Ruby wasn’t free of the fire chief until they were back home. A locked door between them and Frankie. Ruby felt she could breathe easily again once it was just her and Nella. Though, her daughter proceeded to bounce around the house and tell her every wonderful detail about her time with her father. It grated on her that she was calling him Dad already, but she didn’t point that out. It’s okay. Tomorrow is Sunday and I’ll be with them as they spend the morning together this time. I was pressured by both of them into agreeing to Tuesday evening when I’m at work, but Nella is at school from Wednesday onward so he won’t have the option of monopolising her time. Her studies will come first and he’ll have to keep it to picking her up from school and seeing her at the weekends. Once I get my rota from work I’ll let him know which day he can have, as I want quality time with Nella without Frankie there. 

As Frankie walked away from their house he got into the sedan and exhaled deeply. It didn’t feel right his pup not living under the same roof as him, but there was nothing he could do about that. Not when Ruby seemed to like him as much as muck on her shoe. It’s fine. This is all going according to plan. I’m getting to know Nella so she’ll trust me once she’s shifted Tuesday night. She’ll need me more than ever then to help her learn how to be a werewolf. If anything she’ll be onboard with persuading Ruby into letting her spend more time with me as she transitions. Not to mention she’s got school from Wednesday, so that will keep her away from her mother for most days whilst her pelt settles. The last thing we need is for her to go feral and bite her mother. A newly shifted wolf wouldn’t be able to handle being a sire. To her mother no less. He started the engine and drove to the packhouse to give Caleb his report on their progress. He wouldn’t discuss personal details he and Nella had learned about each other. Just the plan for Tuesday night. Emma is insisting I can’t drug Nella and sneak her out of the house in time for moon-up. How do I convince her, then, to come with me? To text her mother that I had to leave early, leave her cell behind, and come with me into the woods?

He had 48 hours to figure that out. Either way, the full moon was coming, and so was Nella’s first shift. If his suspicions were correct, she would be an omega wolf and would need more guidance than if she was a Beta wolf. Life would be so much easier for her if she was a Beta like me. No heats or ruts. No heightened sense of smell and the onslaught of pheromones even when the wolves around her are calm. She would be calmer too. Instead, I’m going to have to learn quickly how to raise an Omega…better get me a refresher course in Omega biology. And polish off my shotgun. I don’t secrete anywhere like an Alpha or an Omega can, but buckshot is a universal language every werewolf can understand. Touch my girl, feel my bullets.