1. Beatriz

ONE

"Now, Madison, don't chew on your brother's arm like that! Would you like it if he did it to you? No, you wouldn't. I'm trying to get your dinner ready, I promise."

Flustered, Beatriz ran a hand through her hair. It was hectic. Three babies, triplets nonetheless, was more work than even Beatriz anticipated.

Not that it wasn't rewarding. Every moment spent with Michael, Matthew, and Madison was an utter delight. They were fun, happy infants that made everyone around them smile.

Being their nanny gave Beatriz a sense of purpose. She absolutely adored every crazy moment. And there were plenty of them. This trio could already shift into their wolf forms which was unheard of for their age.

The only reason that made any sense was that it was a survival response to the three of them being kidnapped not too long ago. Shifting was their way of protecting themselves. When they weren't in their human forms crying and needing diaper changes or a bottle, they were wolf pups, running circles around her and poking their adorable little noses everywhere.

It was a lot of work, but Beatriz loved every second of it. She enjoyed the challenge of caring for them, nurturing them, loving them, and tending to them when they got hurt. Their parents, Karla and Nate, were wonderful people, and Beatriz expected Nate home at any moment.

Karla, on the other hand, wouldn't be home for hours. Tonight, she was out with friends for their once-a-month ladies' night out. As Beatriz warmed some milk for the triplet's bottles, she thought how nice it was that Karla found time for herself.

It must be hard having three small children at home while owning The Sassy Wolfe, a local pub. It was a great place with great food and a dance floor. Despite loving the babies, Beatriz greatly admired Karla for her savvy business sense and kind-hearted nature.

Just as she was about to feed the babies, a knock on the front door had her setting the bottles on the wooden coffee table. She opened the door to find Tristan and Kel.

Tristan was Nate's father and alpha of the Blue Creek Wolfe Pack. Kel … Karla's brother and the triplet"s uncle … gave Beatriz a big, wolfish smile.

"Hey, Bea."

"Hey, Kel, Alpha." She smiled and stood aside so they could enter the house. "What's going on?"

Before either man could answer, the triplets came flying into the room in their wolf forms. As soon as they reached their grandfather, they shifted into three human infants and held their arms out to him.

Tristan laughed. "I was thinking I could use some time with my grandkids." He scooped the three of them up in his arms and planted kisses on the tops of their heads. "They get bigger every single day, I swear."

"They are growing fast," Beatriz agreed. "Just yesterday, I caught Matthew trying to climb on the counter to get his bottle. Two days before that, he could barely crawl. It's crazy!"

Kel took Madison from Tristan's arms and threw her into the air. She squealed in delight, but it made Beatriz nervous.

"She loves it," Kel said in response to the look on her face. "She's absolutely fine. Look." He tossed her into the air again, and the baby's laughter surrounded them.

Beatriz's heart fell into her stomach. "Don't drop her."

Tristan laughed again before urging Kel to carry Madison into the living room. Noting Tristan's demeanor, Beatriz knew something was wrong. With a frown, she followed both men, wondering what could possibly be on Tristan's mind.

Kel turned to her, Madison still clutched to his chest. He reached for one of the bottles that was still warm.

"Karla called and asked if we would watch the kids tonight. She wants us to relieve you of your nanny duties and send you down to Ellie's new bar so you can participate in a healthy man-bashing night with the girls."

He smiled at the frown on Beatriz's face. She knew exactly what this "man-bashing" night consisted of. It used to be that when Ellie, Jordan, Karla, Emma, and Nic were single, they would get together and eat at the bar, drink really good wine, and bitch and moan about the men they liked.

Nowadays, they sometimes complained about their mates, but mostly, it was just the women having a really good time. This would be the first time Beatriz attended one of these girls' nights, and even though she was officially off the clock, she was hesitant.

"That's all right," she said slowly.

"Beatriz," Tristan interrupted. "Go have fun with the women. Talk about us men, have a couple of drinks, and enjoy yourself. You deserve it."

At the same time, a text message popped up on her phone. Karla's name flashed across the screen, and Beatriz tapped on it.

Are you on your way? Get your ass down here! Ellie wants to show off the bar to more people.

This time, Beatriz laughed. Her brown eyes softened as she read the message out loud. "All right, all right," she muttered. "I'm going. Thank you, Alpha. Kel."

The men shooed her out the door, and she smoothed down her shoulder-length brown hair before getting in the car. She fixed her makeup, added some mascara and lipstick, and pulled out of the driveway.

It didn't take long for her to arrive at Indulge, a wine and tapas bar. It was a modern brick building with large arched windows that allowed passersby to see in. The interior decor had red brick walls and black shelves that displayed all the fine wines available.

A long white bar sharply contrasted against the rest of the inside and provided a sleek, modern look. Beatriz walked past flower arrangements of lilies and immediately complimented Ellie on the look and feel of the bar.

"This place came out fantastic!"

Ellie smiled. "Thank you. I designed the whole place as a result of my pregnancy. If I ever give birth, I'm going to indulge in as much wine and soft cheese as I want."

With a laugh, Beatriz took a seat beside the rest of the women. Ellie, Barbara, Jordan, and Karla were joined by the local vampire coven leader, Aria. Lael, a witch with a vibrant display of colorful hair, was there too. She used to bartend at the Horney Wolfe but was currently managing it for Mason.

"Where's Emma?" Beatriz asked.

"She's a few hours away running the Central Wolf Pack with Mason. She's due soon," Ellie said with a pat on her own belly. "I think she's a month or two behind me, but it's nice having another pregnant mom in the group."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Karla said with a wave of her hand. She tipped back a shot glass filled with a clear liquid. "Trust me, it's nice to not be pregnant anymore."

Beatriz, for the first time, felt like one of the girls. It was a nice feeling to belong somewhere, to have friends. She ordered a drink and sat back to enjoy the gossip around her.

Aria and Lael were engaged in quiet conversation. Beatriz continued to look around the new bar. She was impressed at the amount of work Ellie lavished on her business, especially considering she was pregnant.

The place had a warm, inviting feel. It was nicely decorated. The black bar stools against the white bar were a nice touch. It really brought the whole place together. The flowers added a feminine flair.

Ellie even had the foresight to add a game of darts in the far corner. Beatriz could picture a group of men gathered around, tossing darts and hollering every time there was a bull's-eye. There was a pool table in the back where you could pay a few bucks for a game.

Beatriz wanted to play. She loved to play pool, and it had been a long time since she played. She tossed the idea around of coming back once the bar officially opened and playing a game or two. She returned her attention to Ellie.

"I just love it, Ellie. I really do. What do you plan on doing when you have the baby?"

Ellie's eyes moved from Beatriz's face to something behind her. "Speak of the devil," she said with a grin. "Beatriz, I want to introduce you to Wallis Long. She's a member of the Rahound Pack, and she's been a huge help to me. Wallis is going to be managing the bar when it officially opens."

Beatriz turned and smiled up at Wallis. She was a nice-looking woman with blue eyes and one of those ear-to-ear smiles.

"Nice to meet you, Beatriz."

"It's nice to meet you, too, Wallis. This place will keep you on your toes."

"God, I hope so. I like being busy."

Beatriz knew that feeling. Being busy passed the time. She watched Wallis walk away.

"Nice girl," she said, turning back to Ellie.

Ellie nodded. "Yeah, she is."

"Drink your drink, Bea!" Karla ordered with a grin. "You need some you-time."

With a laugh, Beatriz took a long sip of her margarita. It was strong, and she felt the burn in her throat as it made its way to her stomach. Karla ordered fries, some burgers, and a few other appetizers.

"If you want something else, order it. Get whatever you want," she told Beatriz.

"I'm good with a burger, Karla. Thank you. And thanks for inviting me. This is great."

Karla dismissed her thanks with a wave of her hand. "You earned it. Herding the Wolfe triplets all the time keeps you busy. I just want you to know we appreciate all you do for us."

Beatriz smiled. "Thanks."

She was far more appreciative than Karla knew. Being new in town meant she didn't have many friends. Barbara, Tristan's wife, turned to Beatriz. Her short, blonde hair was styled in a bob, and her blue eyes twinkled.

"You're not just a worker, Bea. You are family. So go ahead, eat, drink, be merry."

Beatriz's heart swelled at the thought of belonging to this pack. She had friends and a wonderful job she loved, and for the first time in her life, she really felt like she belonged.