I buried my nose in the leather of Levi's jacket, watching him possessively through the window. I wasn't sure why I needed the alpha so near, but his scent calmed me. I closed my eyes, inhaling the scent that permeated his jacket. It smelled like home, but it took me a moment to place the actual scent—pipe tobacco. A warm scent that was somehow both sweet and spicy, with that hint of smoke. It was the one thing my mom didn't fuss about when my dad smoked. A weight on my leg made me look up, breaking that train of thought.

Amy was staring at something on the jacket, using my leg as a boost to try and pull herself closer. I followed her line of sight to the zipper.

"Do you like this?" I asked, pulling the metal tab up and down. Her eyes followed the motion and she giggled. I picked her back up, holding her close so she could reach it. Her hands grabbed at it and tugged. She had a good grip, but not the strength or the coordination to make it move. She was too cute for words.

Her adorableness could only distract me for a few seconds, though, before I had to look back up to assure myself Levi was still just outside the door. He was true to his word, staying where I could see him.

A shiver tickled my spine. Had I actually demanded his jacket? And he'd handed it over obediently, as if it was a completely reasonable request... as if I had the right. I wasn't sure what had made me say such a thing—the words had popped out of my mouth before my brain had time to think of it. I just knew that if Levi left the room, I needed his jacket.

"Do you want something to eat?" Papa P asked softly. He'd taken a seat on a nearby couch after putting the blocks back in their basket.

I shook my head. The protein bar had alleviated the worst of my hunger, but my nausea had returned. The only thing that really sounded good was fruit. Maybe vegetables. But I didn't want to be picky. Could I be picky? I hadn't been allowed much choice in anything for the last six years.

Papa P leaned over and lifted my chin with a finger. I hadn't even realized I'd tucked my head down, staring at Amy's face without seeing her.

"It would be good if you could eat something. Not just for you." His eyes glanced down.

Even though he didn't say it, I could tell he knew about the pregnancy. The urge to deny, to curl up and protect myself nearly overwhelmed me, but Amy was in my arms. I took several deep breaths. This wasn't like... back there.

Amy wasn't in any danger, which meant that the baby inside me... was safe. Probably.

It was hard to believe, but the comforting weight of Levi's jacket kept me grounded, reminding me this wasn't a dream—I was really, truly free.

"What sounds good to you?" Papa P asked. "These boys eat a lot of food, so chances are, if you want it, we’ve got it. And I remember how particular I was with Noah. There was one week, everything except tuna noodle casserole made me run to the bathroom.”

I gagged, pressing my fingers to my mouth, embarrassed, but Papa P laughed sympathetically.

“So not tuna noodle casserole then. What sounds good?”

Still hesitant to seem like a burden, I tried to think of something that sounded good that they would probably have on hand. “Maybe… an apple?”

Papa P didn't judge or push me to eat something more substantial, he just nodded. He stood and started for the hallway, but Cindy was faster and closer to the kitchen than he was. She met him halfway with a couple of apples, a bowl, and a knife. I stole another glance out the window, but Levi was still there.

"Thanks."

Papa P made quick work of slicing an apple while Cindy sat beside me and Amy.

"Is she so friendly with everyone?" I asked. "She just doesn't have any fear!"

"She is pretty fearless," Preston agreed. "But everyone keeps telling me the stranger danger sense is coming, and I won't be able to hand her off to save my life. So we're trying to get her used to as many of our friends as possible before that happens."

I felt honored that they trusted me enough with her, though I knew I couldn't be counted as a friend. They barely knew me.

"Here," Papa P said, handing me the bowl.

I settled Amy on the floor between my legs and set the bowl of apple slices on my thigh.

The crisp, bright flavor on my tongue nearly overwhelmed me. It was exactly what I needed, and it had been so long since I'd had a good apple. Any fruit I'd had access to was generally overripe or mealy. Life had basically been an endless round of fast food meals. That alone had been my thirteen-year-old self's dream. Now, I'd be more than happy if I never saw a fast food burger again in my life.

Amy grabbed the edge of the bowl and tried to pull it toward herself.

"Can she have any?" I asked, looking to the others. They all shook their heads.

"She's still too little," Cindy said, gently disengaging Amy's fists, pulling her over to her lap and distracting her with a toy. "Doesn't even have any teeth yet, do you, sweetheart? But you will soon. I swear," she said to me, "she's been teething for a month straight, driving her poor daddies practically crazy with lack of sleep. But any day now, right sweetie?"

"Mom, you can't say stuff like that!" Preston protested. "You'll jinx us!"

"Your daddy's become superstitious in his old age," Cindy stage-whispered, looking down at Amy.

Amy smiled up at her, but my stomach dropped. I was going to have a baby, but I didn't have the first clue about taking care of one. When did they get teeth? When did they start eating real food? How did you change a diaper? I had no idea how to be a dad.

Reality started piling on me all at once. Shit. What about my dad? My mom? I'd done my best to avoid thinking about them for years. Were they still looking for me? How had my disappearance affected them? Did they blame me? Did they miss me? Would they accept my baby, no matter how he or she had been brought into the world?

My mouth opened and closed as I tried to find words, but something in my throat blocked me from speaking. Cindy wrapped her free arm around me.

"It's okay, sweetie. Just let it all out. You're safe here."

That only made me cry harder. I needed to express myself, but the harder I tried, the more difficult it became. Papa P joined us on the floor, then Preston, Amy's dad—a non-threatening presence who’d just been playing with the baby until now. They all wrapped their arms around me. I wanted to fight and push them away, but I also wanted the comfort they were giving me.

Finally, I was able to gasp out, "I need to call my parents."

The sudden stillness told me something, but it was when Papa P said, "Oh, honey..." that I knew for sure.

"When?" I asked.

"Not too long after you went missing. We can talk about the details later, but they kept looking for you. They loved you."

That let loose a full torrent of emotion. So many complicated emotions. Relief that they hadn't blamed me. Loss. The realization that I was completely alone in this world. I had no family.

No... not completely alone. I had my baby.

I'd told myself just days ago that this baby was going to be my salvation—the reason I finally figured out how to get out of my hellish situation. I hadn't realized he or she was going to save me in more ways than that.

"It's okay to be upset," Papa P assured me.

If I could have laughed through my tears, I would have. I wasn't necessarily upset... I was just feeling too much. But I'd used up my ability to speak with my one question. But what a broken mess I was. I had nowhere to live. No way to make money. No education. All I'd been able to think about was getting free, but now that I was, I felt more lost than ever.

Suddenly, I was in Levi's arms once more, and I was able to breathe again. What was it about this alpha? It hadn't been only humans who'd abused me, but shifters, too. Shifters hadn’t appeared as often the humans though, and honestly, not in a long time. Yet I didn't associate this man with any of those terrible memories. The others in his team made me feel a little wary, but not fearful. But with Levi, it was even more than that: I felt safe. I hid in his arms like they were a shelter in the storm.