Outlaw (Wolves of Royal Paynes #4) - Kiki Burrelli Page 0,47

of vomit.

I grunted, pushing off the wall to retrieve the empty bottle. "I won't risk leaving you."

"You'll have to eventually. You're Alpha to this pack too."

"I know that, and I will, when I know you're safe."

"Can any of us ever truly be sure that we are safe?"

"Quinlan."

My omega shivered, closing his eyes briefly before lifting his gaze to mine. He blinked away the desire burning there, or tried to. He couldn't make his cheeks stop burning. "What?"

"Finish burping the baby so we can put him down."

Quinlan's spine stiffened. "Why should I be the one to finish the baby tasks? You're just as capable."

He knew I had no problem caring for the babies. I'd assisted often in the nursery in our old pack, which meant he was saying this to get a rise out of me. It had taken some getting used to, but I preferred this version of Quinlan, who didn't only possess a sharp wit and bratty rebellious streak, but showed it. As long as he slept in my arms at the end of the day, I'd accept every new, burgeoning facet of his personality with ease.

"Hand him here, then. He likes me more anyway."

Quinlan glowered, the expression only deepening when Onyx let loose a happy coo when he was passed over. "He just doesn't know me as well yet. That's all."

I was only interested in teasing my mate when his feelings weren't actually being hurt. With Onyx over my shoulder, I patted his back while also dropping to my haunches in front of Quinlan. His lip stuck out, and his arms crossed tightly over his chest.

"You're right, Quin. Soon, he'll wonder why he ever liked me in the first place."

It looked like he was trying to keep his pout but was experiencing difficulty. "No, it's okay, I want him to—" Quinlan stopped speaking the moment the baby made a wet burping sound.

The smell came next, and I knew it wasn't magical bubblegum pregnancy puke I felt soaking into my shirt.

"I'm sorry. I should've given you the towel," Quinlan said between laughs. He got to his feet to walk behind me and started to laugh harder. "He likes you, all right. A whole lot." Quinlan's voice changed, turning higher as he cooed at the baby. "Do you have any milk left in there, little mister?" He grabbed Onyx from my shoulder. "Let's see if you aren't ready for a nap."

"You set me up!" I yelled after him as Quinlan ascended the stairs with the baby. He didn't reply, but I heard his sneaky giggle bouncing all the way to the second floor.

11

Quinlan

My warrior's muscles glistened as his arms bent, bringing his body almost to the ground before pushing back up. I could sketch his body for hours and had asked to repeatedly as a teenager. He'd always refused me, but maybe now he'd reconsider. I'd have a lot of chances to sketch him since he was stubborn as a redheaded mule and refused to leave my sight, despite it being days since the others had returned from their fact-finding mission.

Figuring out which nephilim were being targeted next was going to have to wait until the man was released from jail. While our men had been watching, a half dozen police cars, blaring their alarms, had swarmed around the place. Thankfully, Knox and the others were far enough back they hadn't been discovered, but the man they needed to question had been escorted from the location minutes later in handcuffs and was currently still sitting in jail.

At least that had given the pack extra time to absorb all that we'd found out.

Nephilim were already dead, the blood drained from their bodies and used to open a gate that—if the agent could be believed—was already opening.

The night of my rescue, after I'd fainted, Diesel had said there'd been an earthquake that they hadn't been able to explain at the time.

They had thought the earthquake had been related to me, but we knew the true culprit now.

Which meant we could also be terrifyingly sure of who was responsible for sending the water beast.

Shake all of that together, stir, and you got an alpha who refused to even go downstairs to the gym to work out without his mate near.

"You're making me hot and bothered. I'm going to go find Jazz."

Diesel pushed himself up and continued into a standing position. "Where can you sense him?"

I should've known that the second I'd mentioned leaving the room, his workout would be over. That hadn't been