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He shot her an exasperated look, but didn’t say anything.
“What happened to your pack?” I asked him.
Zed squeezed my hand, and I glanced over at him.
“My mate rejected me. I’m losing my mind to the wolf, slowly. They all want to dance around it,” Ryder scowled, but then looked down at the baby. His face softened when he looked at the squishy little dude.
“Damn.” I suddenly felt really bad for ever wishing my wolf would reject Zed.
Really, really bad.
“It is what it is.” Ryder didn’t move or let go of the baby, and given the shit he was dealing with, I didn’t demand a turn holding the little squish.
I wasn’t losing my mind to my wolf, after all.
“Why did she reject you?” I asked, tugging Zed over to an empty couch. Rocco wasn’t there, which I thought was weird. “Am I allowed to ask that? And where’s Rocco?”
“Sleeping.” Del pointed up at the ceiling. “Lucky bastard. He’s taking the next baby shift.”
“We can stay late, so you can sleep,” I told Del, gesturing to the baby. “I’m sure we’ll survive.
She shot me a sheepish grimace. “I can’t leave Felix unless Rocco has him. I know I should be able to, logically, but if he’s not in the room with me or in Rocco’s arms, it makes my anxiety all haywire. I think it’s postpartum shit. Apparently werewolves don’t heal from every kind of illness.
I shot her a sympathetic grimace. “I’m sorry.”
“Not your fault.” She shrugged, her eyes going back to the baby in Ryder’s arms and lingering. “He’s worth it, and I hope it’ll fade soon. If not, I’ll do what I have to in order to deal with it.”
I nodded. Del and I had always been honest with each other when it came to our mental health. I lied to her about how good my life was, so she didn’t worry about me, and I knew she did the same when we talked. But we didn’t lie about mental health. It just wasn’t worth the risk.
“Your mate?” I checked, looking at Ryder.
He grimaced. “Wasn’t interested in being a werewolf. We never spoke in human form; my wolf only bit her after we got in a car crash, and only to save her life.”
There was a quick knock at the door, and Del hopped up again to go answer it.
“Does everyone have keys to your house?” I asked her.
She snorted as she tugged the door open. “No way. I got all of those back ages ago.”
“I found out about that earlier, when Zed’s mom walked in on us in bed. Luckily, we were just sleeping. Any idea who gave her a key?” I looked from Zed, to Del.
“That would be me,” Elliot admitted from the doorway, as he stepped inside. There were a couple of bags of groceries in his arms. “I made banana bread.”
“You would be the perfect stay-at-home-dad,” Del remarked. “Want to do it for me? I think I’d lose my mind.”
Elliot grinned. “Maybe for my own kids eventually. I’ve still got to put money away for the mate.”
Del sighed dramatically. “All you reasonable men.” She shut the door behind him.
“I’ll get everyone to bring their keys over,” Elliot told me. “Including Zed’s mom.”
“I stole your key back from her already, while we were at her place. No need to text her, I’m sure she’s realized I took it.” Zed’s arm draped over my shoulder.
I glanced over at him, surprised, and his lips tilted upward. “I feel the same way you do about surprise visitors, Beautiful.”
“So what happened with Stewart?” Del checked. “You never filled me in on the drama.”
My entertainment faded a bit as his words flashed through my mind again.
