Chapter 4

Chapter Four

brIGGS

Present Day

He tapped out a nervous rhythm on his thigh as Brine paced the room. First time fathers were always a wreck. They were more dramatic than the mothers most of the time.

“Where in the blazes is Nyx?” Brine growled, stalking back to the large fireplace. He grabbed hold of the mantel and braced himself, blowing out a hard breath. “They should be here.”

“Don’t worry,” Briggs soothed from his plush chair. “I’m sure she’ll be here soon.”

Brine glared over his shoulder at him. “Not fast enough. Scarlet won’t let me back in until Nyx arrives.”

Briggs stifled his smile. Brine’s mate had banished him from their room no more than twenty minutes prior and the wolf was about to lose his ever-loving mind. “Scarlet is fine, Brine.”

His friend growled and spun around, crossing his arms. “She is not fine. I can smell her stress from here.”

“Because you’re stressing her out. Your pup will come when it’s ready. Some time with Ari and a nap will do her good. This is just the beginning. It will be some time before the hard labor begins.”

“And this is why I asked you to come,” Brine muttered. “Because Nyx never tells me anything. She just tells me to stop worrying and to get out of her way.”

That sounded like Nyx. She was a force to be reckoned with.

And you hurt her.

He grimaced and ran a hand over his face. Nyx was his best friend. There wasn’t anything they couldn’t weather together. At least he hoped. The door creaked as it swung open, and Briggs found himself on his feet waiting to catch sight of the woman he’d secretly loved for years but could never have.

Until now.

A smile bloomed on his face as Marche held open the door and Nyx stepped inside. The sight and scent of her nearly dropped Briggs to his knees. He took one step in her direction. Blackcurrant, burnt sugar, vanilla, and… sage mixed with Marche’s male musk. He froze, eyes snagging on how the hare held Nyx’s hand, their fingers laced together like they belonged that way.

A growl rumbled in his chest that he couldn’t contain.

Nyx stumbled to a stop, her smile dropping as she spotted him. There was a flash of emotion in her eyes before she buried it beneath a placid expression he knew well. The one she used when she didn’t want anyone to see the pain that bubbled just beneath the surface.

She squeezed Marche’s fingers and released his hand.

Another growl escaped him as Briggs got another whiff of Marche’s and Nyx’s blended scent. They reeked of each other. His stomach curled in on itself as his mate dismissed him and focused instead on Brine.

“How’s Scarlet?” she asked briskly.

“Stressed. Where have you been?”

Her eyes narrowed at Brine’s sharp tone. “I’ll let you off the hook this time because you’re worried about your mate, but don’t think to snipe at me again.” She chucked her chin toward Briggs but didn’t meet his eye. “It seems you already have a healer here to help.” The last part was an accusation.

“I sent for him two weeks ago,” Brine grumbled. “These last few months of Scarlet’s pregnancy haven’t been easy on her. I thought you could use the help.”

Briggs grimaced. That was the wrong bloody thing to say.

Nyx gritted her teeth. “If I needed the help, I would have sent for another healer.”

Not Briggs. Another healer. Her message was obvious. She didn’t want him here.

Well too bad. They were going to talk.

She peered over her shoulder at Marche. “Did you know?”

The hare shook his head. “I didn’t not, princess.”

Briggs bristled at the nickname and the way Marche shared a knowing look with Nyx. Had she moved on so fast? Briggs swallowed hard as blackcurrant and burnt sugar mingled on his palate.

Nyx spun around and pressed a kiss to Marche’s cheek. “Thanks for today.”

Briggs grounded his molars together and tried not to lunge for the other male.

The hare smiled at Briggs’ mate and pushed a strand of her dark brown behind one ear. “My pleasure. Same time tomorrow?”

“Sure.”

It was one light word, but it felt like the rug had been pulled from beneath Briggs. Just what had she agreed to? He needed the truth of the matter now before he lost his mind and tore about the whole bloody room in a mating rage. He inhaled deeply.

“Stop that,” she barked, locking eyes with Briggs.

“I can’t help it,” he replied softly, dragging in another deep breath. He arched a brow but otherwise said nothing as he sorted through their scents. Briggs nearly sagged when he didn’t decipher any scents that spoke of sex.

“Find what you’re looking for?” she practically snarled as she stormed by him toward the bedroom.

“No.” He twisted, unwilling to let her from his sight quite yet.

Nyx opened the bedroom door and stepped inside, Brine hot on her heels. She held up a hand and the wolf trembled.

“Get out of my way,” he hissed, his claws lengthening.

Briggs took a step toward his friend, feeling his own claws extend. No one threatened her like that.

“I’m not scared of you,” Nyx spat back, one hand on a hip, the other on the door. “Scarlet, you want your bastard of a mate in here yet?”

“No,” Scarlet moaned. “I just need a nap and he won’t leave me alone.”

Nyx arched a brow. “You heard it from the lady. Kindly piss off until she wants you.” With that, she slammed the door in Brine’s face.

Pride and humor bubbled in Briggs’ chest. That was his girl. No one cowed Nyx. It was part of the reason he loved her.

Brine slowly turned around; his expression black. He scowled at Briggs. “What the devil are you smiling about? My wife just banned me from the birth of my child,” he practically yelled.

“Not true,” Scarlet bellowed, her voice muffled from the bedroom. “I want to bloody nap. Have a drink with your friends or brawl for all I care. Love you!”

The wolf huffed. “Bloody woman.”

“She’s in good hands, my friend. Why don’t we get something to eat at Ari’s pub and then come back?”

“Nyx will take good care of Scarlet,” Marche piped in, making Briggs want to punch him in the face.

Brine ran a hand through his hair and sighed. “I suppose there’s nothing for it. I want my mate to get rest.” He trudged through the open door and Briggs followed his friend, Marche not far behind. He barely restrained himself from baring his fangs at the hare as Marche skipped on by. Briggs closed the door and flexed his hands, willing his claws to retract. He was acting like a territorial fool. Nyx would never speak to him if he couldn’t get himself under control.

Sucking in a deep breath, he stole a glance at the front door of Brine and Scarlet’s home. Soon he’d be able to make things right. Until then, he’d help Brine and pray that he didn’t accidentally eat the hare in jealousy.