Page 47 of The Chosen One Universe: Volume One

“Pinky promise, Ollie. Sams can’t break pinky promises.”

Vaughn helped Ollie hook his little finger around Sam’s, giggling when Sam shook their fingers and wiggled his eyebrows.

“Okay, Sam. Pinky promise.”

Vaughn sat Ollie down, and then pulled out his phone to set a timer five minutes shorter than the one on Sam’s phone.

“Good thinking,” Sam said.

The kids trailed out after Joanne and Nana Jean, and Vaughn moved a chair over next to William’s bed for Sam to sit in.

“Mated to an alpha werewolf. Your mama would be flipping her lid about now.”

Sam leaned forward and took his dad’s hand again. “How do you know about this stuff, Dad? I just found out and had to basically swear on my life I wouldn’t say anything.”

“Not really my story to tell, Sammy, but I’ll say that your mom and I saw something a long time ago we weren’t supposed to see and got a visit from… well, let’s just say we promised we wouldn’t say a word. And we haven’t. But your mom, she was sharp as a tack and figured out pretty quick that the Jerricks were something else, something like what we’d seen. We never said a word, though.”

It made sense. After taking one look at Meshaq, Sam would never have broken his promise either. He wondered if the alpha himself had extracted the promise from his parents.

“I’m glad you know. I wasn’t sure how I was going to keep all this from you, so I’m really glad I don’t have to.”

“Now tell me about those kids.”

So Sam did. When he got through, his dad tried to push himself up, and only Vaughn’s quick reflexes kept his patient lying in bed. “If I get my hands on that woman…”

Vaughn laughed even as he encouraged William to settle back against the mattress. “That’s exactly what your son said.”

“Course he did. You know my boy’s the best thing that’ll ever happen to you, right?”

“I do,” Vaughn said.

“Good. Treat him right. And treat those kids like the precious gifts they are, or you’ll have me to deal with.”

“Yessir.”

“Now go on and let me close my eyes. That shot you gave me really did the trick. I need a nap.”

Sam chuckled and pulled the blanket up farther over his dad. “Don’t be so bossy.”

William arched a brow.

“Someone will be here all the time,” Vaughn said. “My dad’s on shift now, and he won’t leave you alone. Okay?”

“Son, I’ve managed on my own for years.”

“That was before you had a pack. You and Sam will never be on your own again.”

Neither of the Baker men knew what to say to that. Sam reached for Vaughn’s hand and threaded their fingers together.

“Lord, your mama would be tickled to death to see a guy so far gone on you, Sammy. Now get out of here before I get misty-eyed.”

“We’re going. I’ll be back later to check on you.”

William huffed and closed his eyes.

Vaughn stopped to chat with his dad who was behind the desk in the main room, so Sam went outside to wait. He took a deep breath and let it out, the anxiety of his dad’s injury easing a bit.

He’d have to figure something out officially now, especially since with the kids and his commitment to trying to build something more with Vaughn, he’d have less time than normal to spend helping his dad keep the house up. His quiet thoughts were interrupted by the roar of a motorcycle heading their way.

Teague appeared out of thin air at the end of the driveway. The motorcycle stopped within inches of his toes. Sam almost swallowed his tongue at the close call. Vaughn came out of the clinic seconds later and stood beside Sam.

“What’s going on?” Sam asked. “Who is that?”

“I do believe that is the ward builder Meshaq promised us.”

“Do you know him?” Sam asked as the black-leather clad figure climbed off the bike and unstrapped their helmet.

“I know her.”

When the helmet came off, a riot of dark curls appeared that hit the woman in the middle of her back. She unzipped her leather jacket, revealing a skintight tank top that showed a whole lot of cleavage. Sam nearly swallowed his tongue again.

“Meshaq wasn’t kidding when he said he was bringing out the big guns,” Vaughn added. “Come on.”