When Kade had suggested that we walk over and get me signed up for my ODI classes before we turned in for the day, it seemed like a good way to end our night. Mr. Keir had been friendly and helpful, assuring me that I was more than welcome to take part in the counseling program I was interested in even if I wasn’t sure I would continue on with the training.
Then, bedlam.
Honestly, even after Mr. Keir had hustled me into an inner room and locked the door, I wasn’t really sure what was going on. Then, when we heard the police sirens – a response, I’d assumed, to Mr. Keir’s 9-1-1 call – and Mr. Keir called me out of the safe room, I was even more confused.
“Clyde? What are you doing here?” I stared and then shook my head. Nope, he was still there.
“You know this man?” Kade asked, raising his brow and rising slowly to his feet.
“Ah, yeah,” I agreed, trying to ignore the blush that was rushing to my cheeks.
Clyde looked just as surprised to see me. No wonder, since the name he knew me by didn’t match the one on the paper he was holding. But, unlike me, he was more than willing to share. “We hooked up a few times before I moved,” he said, his voice calm. “I didn’t recognize the name, though.”
Like I thought.
Not sure how to respond to that, I held my tongue and waited. That was when Mr. Keir re-entered the conversation.
“He has a warrant for a blood sample, Jeremy,” Mr. Keir explained. “Why don’t you take Bella and go stand next to Kade?”
“But..”
Kade gave me a tight smile. “It’ll be okay,” he said softly. “They’re just trying to identify the biological sire. They can’t take her.”
I bit down on my lip, but nodded, slowly walking across the room to my Alpha. Kade took Bella and cradled her in the crook of one arm, wrapping the other around my waist to pull me close.
Clyde motioned for someone who was out of sight on the porch and a slight man in an EMT uniform entered, a small bag in his hand. He smiled hesitantly. “I’m Jason. Are you ready?”
“We are,” Kade responded for me. “Be gentle.”
“Of course.” Jason reached into his bag and pulled out an assortment of supplies. When he pulled a syringe free and uncapped the needle, I turned my face against my Alpha’s side, unable to watch.
Bella gave a small shriek and then it was done. When I turned my face back, Jason was holding a small vial of blood and my baby girl was whimpering, her arm was sporting a tiny flower-print bandage.
We stood silently as the blood was passed over to Clyde. He tucked it into a clear bag and sealed with bright red tape labeled evidence before tucking it into his pocket.
“It was good to see you,” he said, giving me a small smile. “You look good.”
Then, the door was closing behind them and the four of us were alone once again.
“Kade?” I wasn’t sure what I was asking, but my Alpha seemed to understand.
“Yeah.” Kade squeezed me and kissed my cheek, then handed Bella back to me. “Chuck, are we done here? I’ve got a call to make.”
Mr. Keir nodded. “I’ll have his materials brought over and left on the porch,” Mr. Keir said with a sigh before he looked at me. “It’s going to be fine, Jeremy. Kade is absolutely correct that they can’t just take the baby. There’s a legal process, even if the sire does file for custody.”
I nodded, trying to fight back the tears filling my eyes. “Okay.”
Mr. Keir gave me an encouraging smile. “When you get your books and such, there will be a packet of information on how to get started with the online portion. If you have any problem, Kade has my number.”
“Okay,” I mumbled, wishing desperately I could grab my baby and hide.
“Let’s go,” Kade murmured, shifting Bella to a more comfortable position in his arm. Already over the prick of the needle, she was almost asleep, her little cheek rubbing against his pec. “I think the little one is getting hungry and, honestly, I’m pretty sure my nipple is going to be a huge disappointment to her.”
The unexpected joke pulled a watery laugh from me.
Back in the privacy of our cabin, Kade laid our dozing princess in her bassinet and pulled me close, wrapping his arms around me tightly. “It’s going to be okay,” he promised. “You said your sisters bought the semen, right?”
I nodded.
