by Tl Reeve
“Tell me you want it, pumpkin, or else I’ll finish in my hand,” he gritted out.
She didn’t completely understand, but the more she lay there stroking him, he seemingly grew in her hand. The words tumbled out of her. “Yes, please.”
“Thank fuck.” He lowered himself to her. He placed his hand over hers again and guided his dick to her entrance.
“Caden?”
“Shh, remember I’m right here,” he murmured. His grip tightened. “Nothing more than you can take, right?”
“Yes,” she answered.
“It’s about to get intense,” he said. He pushed forward slightly then a low groan passed his lips.
He throbbed in her hand, and the warmth of his release filled her. She gasped, as something inside of her shifted. A part of her soul she thought died when she’d been held against her will, awoke. Yet it was more than that. It was him too. She glanced down at their hands, where a knot had formed…like his wolf counterpart.
“Told you.” He gave her a lopsided grin as he continued to pump the still hard flesh. “Talk to me, Dani…”
What did she say? “I…I don’t know what to say.”
“Did you like it?”
Well, duh. “Yes…you surprised me is all. I didn’t think. I mean I thought, but it’s uh…”
The moment came to an unceremonious end when a squawk of hunger came through the baby monitor on the dresser across from them. Caden pressed his forehead to hers then eased back, taking all of his warmth with him. Before she could say anything, the squawk became a demanding wail of attention needed at the moment.
Danielle slid from the bed and grabbed her robe off the chair she kept by her closet. She didn’t know what else to say, other than it was one of the best, most terrifying moments of her life and she didn’t think saying thank you would be the right thing to do. So, she left it, instead, taking the coward’s way out once more.
****
Seven months ago…
Danielle didn’t even have to look down at the pregnancy test to know she’d been pregnant. Sitting in the bathroom stall at the local gas station, she stared at the two pink lines of the inexpensive test and sighed. Last week, she sensed it. The little being, though a bunch of cells and energy, tapped into her abilities and announced itself to her. She searched it out until she found the small bean nestled within her womb. The bond and connection she built with it grew stronger by the day. She couldn’t say it out loud though because people might think she was crazy, when she was anything but.
What was she going to do?
Last week, Simon came into the sheriff’s department and told one whopper of a lie. She was pregnant with his child and they were married. Since Caden found out, he refused to touch her. Refused to talk to her. He’d taken to sleeping on the couch and more often than not would be gone before she woke in the morning.
How did she fix this? Fear told her not to say a word. Fear told her she should be ready to run, if need be, but Keeley had the same thought, and Danielle had told her not to do it, Kalkin would lose his mind if she ran off. As it stood, they spent the night with Kalkin, so she and Keeley would be protected. Danielle felt anything but.
She wanted to go home. Not her house in Window Rock, but back to Montana. To where they could hide in the woods and never have to worry about anyone finding them.
You can’t. You have duties to attend to, and Simon’s bullshit to end. Suck it up.
She tucked the stick into her back pocket then washed her hands before she exited the bathroom. Later she would try to figure out the best way to explain the situation to Caden. He had to see she’d never lie to him. She exposed her deepest wounds. Showed him the physical reminders of her time with Hazel and Simon. Did he really think so little of her?
“Scuse me,” a woman said, passing her.
“Sorry,” Danielle muttered. She needed to pull her head out of the clouds. Hadn’t Keeley been the one to tell her time and time again to not trust any man who entered their life? Hadn’t she been the one to pull them farther and farther away from civilization. Heck, they came to Arizona, to be out in the middle of nowhere, because…desert.
Danielle pushed out the door of the gas station and headed for the market not far from there. Jace had given her a ride to town when he came to the house looking for Caden. When he saw her alone, a total mess, he helped her pack up Aiden then brought her to town. She left Aiden with Mrs. Martin who’d given her a stern look, then shooed her out of the business, so she could spend time with her runt. Danielle snorted. The boy didn’t have an ounce of runt in him. She loved the moments when he would shift, and she could touch his chubby cheeks or blow raspberries on his tummy.
As she walked down the sidewalk, beyond the small tchotchke stores, she tried to come up with some semblance of a plan. Of course, she’d never give up Aiden nor the baby she carried, but if things continued down the path they were on, she’d most likely end up raising them alone. She could do it. Keeley would do what she could and well, she’d be left with the rest. In a few years, she’d have a routine in place and they’d be a happy family. Whether or not they’d stay in Arizona depended on whether or not Simon was out of the picture once and for all.
Danielle stepped into the air-conditioned grocery store and sighed. Another thing to not like about the desert…heat. Today, the temp was supposed to hit 105 with 10% humidity. More like the pits of hell. She didn’t know when she started a pro and con list for Arizona, it just happened, and she added another con to the list. She grabbed a small basket then made a circuit around the store, picking up all the things Keeley asked for in a text. While Mrs. Alpha fell into a role made especially for someone like her, Danielle floundered. Her sister did everything she’d told Danielle not to do, and she was happy. Yet, when she tried the same…everything fell to shit.
How was any of this fair?
No, don’t think about it. You’ll only upset yourself and it’s not like anyone will come to your rescue right about now if you broke down.
Ah, yes. Self-pity reared its ugly head. She couldn’t help it. Caden and she did something…incredible. Amazing. Breathtaking. And, they created a life in the process. To know the man might reject his son or daughter because he couldn’t remove his head from his ass, disturbed her.
Danielle checked the list one more time, before heading to the checkout line. When she glanced up, she caught a glimpse of Caden staring at her from a stack of firewood positioned outside. She lowered her gaze. No need in giving him any more fuel to throw on the fire. After placing everything on the conveyor belt, she waited for her things to be rung up, then paid. She felt his presence at her side before she saw him.
Raw rage, and a hint of sadness, tinged his normally intoxicating scent. The fury strangled her, and she had to close down the link between them to save herself the embarrassment of screaming like a loon at Caden. She took her change from the cashier, who’d been eyeing Caden since he took up residence beside her and said, “Don’t worry about him. He’s a pussy cat.”
She grabbed her bags and stepped around him, heading for the exit. Jace promised to meet her at the grocery store. Now, to find him.
“If you’re looking for my brother, he isn’t coming.” The rough edge of Caden’s voice rubbed her the wrong way.
“Not a problem. I’ll call a cab from Mrs. Martin’s.” She started in the direction of the woman’s store.
“I’m your ride,” he said, catching up to her.
The urge to fight with the man sat on the tip of her tongue, waiting to bait him. Rather, she bit back the stinging retort. “Well, my condolences.” Danielle lifted her chin. “Let’s get this over with. I have to pick up Aiden and bring him home for a quick bath then over to see Keeley.”
“Right.” He motioned to where the Sheriff’s Department SUV had been parked in the loading zone.
She opened the door to the backseat before he could, then having placed her bags there, she climbed into the passenger seat. Caden grow
led. He fisted his hands at his sides while staring at her through the window. She didn’t give him the satisfaction of a reaction. He stomped around the front of the vehicle to the driver’s side and climbed in behind the wheel. She could be a bitch when she wanted to be; however, she liked expelling her energy for good.
It was the difference between her and Keeley. Everyone thought Keeley was older due to her temper and shitty attitude when she got a wild hair up her ass. Danielle supposed she gave over to her sister when it came to the “in charge” role, because she didn’t have a confrontational bone in her body. Maybe she’d made a mistake not sticking up for herself enough.
“Why are you in town?” Caden grunted.
“Bags of food should be obvious,” she answered, gazing out the passenger window as Mrs. Martin’s shop grew closer.
“Alone.”
“Well, yes. It would seem I can do all kinds of stuff on my own.” She got out when he stopped the truck along the curb out front of the shop. She didn’t have to wait for him and she knew when she grabbed Aiden, the little stinker would be in his puppy form, ready for play time when they arrived at home. This part of the trip wouldn’t take long.
Sure enough, when she pushed through the door, Aiden’s happy yip greeted her. Her boy knew she was there. Caden appeared behind her seconds later. Danielle rolled her eyes and headed for the back room behind the curtain where Mrs. Martin spent time during the day.
“Where’s my good boy?” She went to her knees to wait for Aiden’s usual greeting.
He came out from under the couch, yipped at her again then sat down in front of her. Danielle picked him up, then rubbed his nose with hers. He smelled of puppy and human baby, and sugar. She eyed the elderly woman, before smiling. “Someone got a treat today.”
Mrs. Martin tsked. “Only a sugar cookie and I promise it was small.” She waved off Danielle’s concern. “Special for puppies and shifter babies. I packed the recipe in the batch I made for him. It’s in his bag.” She lifted her chin toward the blue striped bag Danielle brought in earlier.
“Thank you,” Danielle said, scooping Aiden up into her arms. “I appreciate it. Everything you do for us.”
When she reached for the bag, Caden already had it. After saying goodbye, they walked back out to the front of the store. This time she accepted Caden’s help getting into the vehicle. For the life of her, she couldn’t understand what the fuck was going on with him. One minute he was nice, the next he was a mean asshole. It took a heck of a lot for her to even curse in her thoughts, so she’d been angrier with him than she’d even admit to herself.
Caden pulled away from the curb and made a U-turn in the middle of the road, before heading back to the house. She glanced over at him. If he’d been the least bit concerned about anything, he didn’t show it. Yet, she’d learned he could bury stuff when he didn’t want people to see him or pity him. She’d done the same. It was a game. How far could she push away her feelings before she became empty?
“What is your deal with me?” The question fell from her lips without hesitation.
“There is no deal,” he answered without looking at her.
“Right. So, thanks for letting me be your cum dumpster.” Her heart pounded in her chest. Red-hot agony ripped through her. It was irrational and baffling to her. She promised she wouldn’t get upset. She also promised she’d let it go at some point. Just not today.
“What the fuck are you talking about?” He glanced at her. “Are you serious?”
“Are you? You think this is easy? You think it’s fun having to defend myself with you, because you believe someone who would sooner see me dead than alive told you a fucked up story?” She shook her head. “You know what…never mind. Forget I said anything.”
“You think this is easy on me?” he lobbed back at her. “To know you could be married to an asshole who is also trying to kill you? That you’re carrying his kid. And, I’m supposed to be what?”
“I’m not pregnant with his child,” she snapped. “He only wishes I was.”
“I’m sure he does. Tell me. Is it a boy or a girl? When it’s born are you going to let Simon experiment on it?” Caden snarled, as he pulled into the driveway to the house.
“Fuck you,” Danielle yelled. “Fuck you and fuck your family. How dare you. How fucking dare you!”
She got out of the SUV when the vehicle came to a stop. She then hurried around the vehicle to grab Aiden. Clutching Aiden to her chest, she breathed deep and promised herself she wouldn’t let him see her cry. Instead, Jace came around the corner and spotted her first. He growled then looked at Caden.
“You asshole. What did you say to her to make her cry this time?” Instead of waiting for his brother to answer, Jace wrapped an arm around her shoulder and guided her inside.
She really couldn’t do this anymore. It was time for her to decide what she wanted, and what she didn’t need in her life. The first thing she’d get rid of permanently was Caden. The second, this fucking town…
After Simon was dealt with, Danielle could pack up her shit and never look back. Fuck you, Caden Raferty.
* * * *
Present Day…
Caden Raferty sat in his dingy hotel room and stared at the wall. He hadn’t been allowed in his family home since the day Danielle took a bullet meant for Kalkin. He knew because he counted every day. After Keeley got kidnapped and Danielle subsequently took a bullet meant for his twin—which he still didn’t understand, he’d been banished to this hellhole.
For months, he tried to reconcile what happened between him and Danielle, and he wondered if maybe he could have gotten it wrong. Could it be she told the truth the whole time? Yet, he smelled the pregnancy on her, even though Kal told him she wasn’t pregnant. Even though he realized Simon had been a bad person, how much of his story had been fabricated, and how much had been the truth?
Reality and memories of another time long ago blurred. Hadn’t he been through this before? Been put in this position before? Who believed him then? Who helped him reconcile what he’d been through? No one, that’s who. He buried that shit like it was all a nightmare. No one mentioned her name. No one spoke a word of it. So why did his memory vault decide to open now?
None of those inquiries would be answered until he got up off his ass and started asking questions. But, was he worthy of asking them? He made an asshole of himself when he demanded to know if Danielle would allow Simon to experiment on her child. Been even more so when she struggled to keep her shit together after Keeley was taken.
He’d never forget the look on Danielle’s face when she told him she’d kill him. In those moments, he knew she could too. She’d do it. She hated him, and he couldn’t blame her. So, where did he go from here? Nowhere. No one wants you around, asshole. Pretty much. His family, his blood, had given up on him—like they’d done all those years ago. The minute Kalkin whisked her away was the minute he lost his position in the family, despite what Kalkin said and later did.
He took another swallow from the bottle of whiskey in his hand and hissed as it burned on the way down. He should be sleeping. Getting ready for work in the morning. Instead, he drank away his sorrows, as if the bottom of the bottle would give him the answers he sought. He took another drink and placed the container on the nightstand.
Caden picked up his phone to call out of work again, like he’d done several times over the last few months when a knock came at the door. He hadn’t been expecting anyone. No one came to see him anyway. Kalkin warned them all away from him. “Go away!”
The knock turned to pounding. “Open the fuck up!”
Kalkin. Caden stumbled from bed and went to the door. He opened it a crack. His brother’s pissed off expression greeted him. He’d been alone, which surprised him. Wherever Kalkin went, Keeley wasn’t far behind him.
“What?”
His brother shoved into the room. Rage rolled off him in suffocating waves. He held his phone in his hand as he shoved Caden into the chair ne
ar the small table in the corner of the room. “I have tried to wait you out. I have tried to tell myself you’ll wake the fuck up and see the truth, but that’s not fucking happening. I knew we were fucking stubborn, but not this damn thickheaded.”
What the hell was his brother going on about? It didn’t make any sense at all. “What are you talking about?”
Kalkin shoved the phone in his face. “Say hello to your premature son, Nicolas!”
He stared at the screen. The boy had been hooked up to all kinds of machines. His face was all squished and his body was a little on the small side, yet he looked almost normal too. “He’s not mine.”
“He’s got the Raferty stubborn chin and blond fucking hair. He screams like a banshee when he can and he sure as fuck is yours.” Kalkin sat across from him. “Did you enjoy your night of fun with Danielle? Or did you forget you jerked off in her pussy?”
He blinked at his brother.
“She told us everything, you fucking idiot. She told you she wasn’t sure. You saw all the fucking scars. You guys messed around and at the big moment, you stuck just the tip in and now, here we are thirty-five weeks and five days later, Nic is born.”
Caden slid the phone back to Kalkin. “He’s not mine. She was already pregnant when we messed around.”
“Lie to yourself, asshole.” Kalkin’s lip curled. “Did you think if you hid this from us, I wouldn’t know any better? Or were you so fucking afraid I’d take him away, like I did her all those years ago, to save your life?”
Caden growled and lunged at his brother, grabbing him by the shirt. “The kid isn’t mine.” His sight went fuzzy. His heart pounded. He didn’t want to talk about her or it. He didn’t want the memories of what once happened to an inexperienced wolf to spill over into the present. He’d done well all those years. He’d kept his shit on lockdown.
Kalkin cold cocked him. His world spun momentarily before righting itself as he rubbed his jaw. His brother had a mean right hook and Caden hadn’t even seen it coming. The boy couldn’t be his. He smelled her pregnancy almost immediately after they messed around the second night of the full moon. It wasn’t much past then Simon announced she was pregnant with his kid. Caden could put two and two together.
