A Baby Daddy for a Werewolf Silencer

by Anya Byrne

  William pulled away and turned toward Erdi. He didn't say a word, merely nodding in acquiescence of Erdi's presence. When the human doctor left the room, Erdi followed without being told to, giving Jessie and Andreas privacy. William led him to the small living room of the cabin and sat down on the couch.

  "I know the two of us haven't had much contact," William started, "but I do appreciate the fact that you helped save Finn and Parker. I also know you would have never done it without a good reason. You've been a silencer for decades. What made you change your mind?"

  There were a thousand replies Erdi could have given, some of which might have even held truth. He didn't say any of them, largely because, when he looked at William, he had a feeling excuses or misdirection would be useless. "I think you wouldn't be asking if you didn't already know."

  Seconds later, William confirmed his guess. "Jensen. It's Jensen. He's your mate."

  Erdi had expected those words, but it didn't make them easier to hear. "You're perceptive."

  William shrugged. "I've been thinking about it for days now. It makes no sense that you'd start a mission, and then suddenly decide to finish it in an entirely different way—unless something happened that made you change your mind. Seeing you today with Jessie and Andreas confirmed it."

  Erdi didn't appreciate being manipulated, especially not like that. "You would use your son to draw information out of me?"

  William narrowed his eyes at Erdi. "I would do many things to protect Jessie. The thing is, Erdi, the presence of your mate and Gavin's family will draw the eye of the Gathering on us once again. My son isn't doing very well. Him having twins makes an already complicated situation worse. We cannot afford more stress if we want the birth to go as planned. So, I'm relying on you."

  "On me?" Erdi was befuddled. "Why?"

  "Your Jensen is very resourceful, and very creative. I'm fairly certain Mrs. Cook couldn't have found Gavin without his help. As such, once you claim him, you're going to smooth the path for—"

  "I'm not going to claim him," Erdi cut William off. "He doesn't even remember me. Besides, he deserves better."

  William's expression went somewhat soft. "I see. Well then, if that's the case, I must apologize. I don't think I need to point out the necessity of secrecy."

  Erdi rubbed his eyes tiredly. If there was anyone who understood what William meant, it was him—he who had actively worked to preserve that secrecy no matter the cost. Was he paying the price for doing his duty without question, now that his mate faced the threat Erdi had once been for other people just like him? It was staggering to even think about it.

  "I think we should be good for now," he told William, forcing himself to remain calm. "My guild will most likely have someone watching me, but it won't be now." Not now, when his brother needed to get the guild's attention off Erdi, and the fact that he'd been left alive.

  Silence fell, at which point Erdi realized what he'd said. 'My guild', like he was still a silencer, still part of that poisonous world. Then again, that was the cruel, honest truth. The blood on his hands would never wash away, and it was the reason why Erdi couldn't do what William—and Erdi's own wolf—asked.

  "I'll take your word on that one," the human finally said. He smiled slightly and got up. "Believe it or not, you're welcome here, Erdi. If I was abrupt, rest assured that you're not at fault."

  Erdi opened his mouth to explain the apology was unnecessary, but then, William pressed a hand to his shoulder and squeezed. "Just don't make any decisions you'll regret. A mate is something precious. Believe me, I know."

  And William did know, having been separated from his own mate for more than fifty years. Perhaps that was the reason why the tension in Erdi's body drained—the knowledge that this man truly understood how he felt and what he risked, the realization that William and the others had opened the doors to their home to a silencer despite having a son with apparent pre-eclampsia symptoms. That guess was nothing more than that, a suspicion based on the medical knowledge Erdi had accumulated throughout his life. He was no ob-gyn specialist, so he hoped he was simply seeing things, but for some reason, he didn't think that was the case.

  "Thank you, Mr. Orwell," he told the human. "Don't worry about this. Focus on your son. I'll handle the rest. After all, it's what I do."

  William shot Erdi a small weary smile. "What you used to do. Remember that."

  With those parting words, William left Erdi in the living room. Erdi watched him go, already knowing the human most likely wanted to spend some time with his mate while their son slumbered. He wondered if he'd ever get over the unavoidable jealousy he felt whenever he saw the bonds these people shared.

  That question was unexpectedly answered when the rest of the pack returned. For the most part, they were all quiet and seemed unsettled. Saul and Gavin acknowledged Erdi's presence with silent nods, and then headed out to their room, busy with their son. Parker and Finn stayed behind, but Erdi almost wished they hadn't.

  When Parker sat down by his side, Erdi could smell Jensen on him. His wolf rose up inside him, possessiveness, jealousy and need mixing in a cocktail that threatened to choke him.

  He couldn't have said how he managed to keep his head and not react to the maddening impulses. Perhaps it was only his experience with torture that made him able to withstand it. "How did it go?" he asked instead.

  "As well as could be expected, I suppose," Finn replied. "They're great people. It's just... such a bad time."

  "I've missed them," Parker admitted, "but I'm worried about what this will mean for us."

  His hand settled on his slightly swollen stomach in an obvious show of concern. Erdi didn't know what to say. This was a very difficult situation, and had been from the very beginning. The humans should have never been able to track Saul to his new location. But Jensen had done it, and if the guilds found out about it... That made him a real threat.

  Something inside Erdi went cold at that realization. Jensen had already messed with something bigger than he realized. It might not be too late to save him, though. There might still be a chance that Jensen could go on to live happily, without being aware of the dangerous world hovering in the background of his existence.

  Erdi couldn't afford to be a coward now. He shot to his feet and gave Finn a serious look. "I'm going to do some investigating of my own. Be careful."

  Finn gaped at him, and would have probably protested this decision—perhaps summoned Saul or tried to reason with Erdi—but Erdi didn't give him the chance. Before Finn could say anything at all, Erdi left the cabin, already making plans.

  He no longer had his guild's support to figure out the answers to all his questions, but he didn't need it. This time, Erdi had the most important mission in his life—to keep his mate safe.

  ****

  Jensen had an analytical and restless mind. It was what helped him learn more computer science than was good for him, what caused him to stay up at nights and wiggle his way through the strongest of firewalls to find secrets better left alone. It had gotten him in a lot of trouble, while also providing him means to escape. Today, it simply would not let him sleep.

  He fidgeted under the covers, trying to calm his mind, but failing so utterly it wasn't even funny. In a way, he wasn't surprised. He could never sleep unless he completely exhausted himself. His mind just kept going, coming up with a thousand different ideas and scenarios. That focus was currently on Parker, on interpreting Parker's reactions and those of Parker's new friends.

  He was missing something, and he knew it, knew it at a level that had him more unsettled than ever before. And it wasn't just about Parker. It never had been.

  When they'd first arrived here, Jensen had been able to distract himself by dealing with the immediate problems and confrontations. Once that was over, however, he'd fallen back on his previous pattern, and he kept dwelling on that yearning, a yearning for something he couldn't identify. Yes, Jensen had an analytical mind, but this time around, his mind kept precious info
rmation from him—and it hurt.

  He didn't know how much time passed while he mused over his predicament and what to do next. Naturally, they wouldn't be able to stay long. Two days, at most, since Alicia had to go back to work, and the children had school. Hell, even Jensen had a life back at the Amaretto, one he'd painstakingly built and didn't want to give up on.

  But if they left before finding out what had truly happened... Jensen didn't know if he could live with himself. It was crazy and it didn't make any sense, but this time around, Jensen's heart had the proverbial upper hand, and it screamed at him that he needed to get to the bottom of this.

  With a frustrated sigh, Jensen slid out of bed. He couldn't sleep, so perhaps he could do some research instead. He liked Willow Cove, but he had a feeling this town was more than it seemed.

  He reached for his bag and retrieved his laptop from inside. He had every intention to boot it, but suddenly, looking at the screen just made that feeling that wouldn't leave him alone worse. Or maybe it was something else. Maybe his work had nothing to do with it. Either way, Jensen needed some air, and he needed it desperately.

  With hasty, jerky motions, he shoved the laptop back in its case and quickly got dressed. He grabbed the bag—he never went anywhere without it—and left the room, not really knowing where he was going, but desperate for answers he would, for once, not be able to find on the World Wide Web, or on private servers.

  Outside, the town was quiet. It was pretty late, so the inhabitants of the town had all retreated to their respective homes, at least in this area. The diner where Jensen and his companions had eaten was closed now, and if there were any other places where Jensen could go for fun, he didn't know them. He hadn't exactly looked up clubs when he'd searched for details on Willow Cove.

  Either way, it didn't matter. It wasn't clubbing that Jensen needed. He walked through the empty street, his mind still working furiously over all the facts he knew, processing each individual variable, trying to slide the pieces of the puzzle to create a coherent image.

  It shouldn't be that hard. The Simmons family was obviously involved in something suspicious, perhaps mafia-type dealings. By now, Jensen knew appearances were deceiving when it came to criminals. But how did Parker fit in all of this? Was he being forced to stay with Finn Simmons? The evidence seemed to point to something along that line, when it came to Parker's sudden departure, at least. And yet, while in Willow Cove, Jensen had seen no sign of ill intentions. The most confusing thing was that, despite acknowledging the fact that the Simmonses were dangerous, Jensen liked them.

  He was so lost in thought he didn't see the vehicle behind him, or hear its approach, at least not until it was too late. The squeal of tires snapped him out of his trance, and he pivoted on his heel. A car was barreling straight toward him, so close now that Jensen had no way to escape.

  ****

  Erdi had come to Willow Cove with the intention of keeping his distance from his mate and watching him from afar. In his opinion, Baqir wouldn't intervene anytime soon, and with Erdi here, other guilds were unlikely to step in themselves.

  Still, the moment he saw Jensen step out of the small hotel, his heart started racing—and not solely because of how much he'd craved the beautiful human's presence. Even from the distance, and with the shadows cloaking a great deal about Jensen, Erdi could still distinguish the almost delicate features of his face, the clever curl of his lips, the stubborn jaw that spoke volumes of the human's determination. But Erdi was also determined, and he'd already decided he would give Jensen the chance to live a normal life without him.

  And so, it wasn't just the natural yearning for his mate that set him on the edge. Something else was going on. Erdi's instincts were screaming, and a sort of dark miasma seemed to be invading the air. It wasn't anything someone else could have sensed, but Erdi wasn't just anyone.

  He frantically looked around, trying to find the source of the threat. His instincts guided him in the right direction, and he soon saw it, the waiting car. There were several men inside, and despite the darkness, Erdi could clearly distinguish the way their focus was completely on Jensen.

  Everything happened so fast. The driver started the car and headed straight toward Jensen, tires squealing. Erdi cursed and launched himself forward.

  If he'd had more time, Erdi would have tried shouting a warning or taking out the vehicle itself. A gunshot to the wheels would have probably sufficed. But the car was too close to Jensen now, and that canceled most of Erdi's options.

  In the end, he didn't even have to think about his actions too much. He just followed his instincts, moving faster than he ever had in his life. He managed to reach Jensen just in time, and he pushed his mate out of the way of the coming car.

  The action put him right where Jensen had been before, in the vehicle's path. A heartbeat later, pain exploded over Erdi as the car hit him. Not even Erdi's werewolf strength could protect him from its momentum, but he managed to twist around at the last moment, keeping himself from being launched over the windshield or ending up under the vehicles wheels.

  Distantly, through the haze of adrenaline, Erdi heard someone curse from inside the car. "You missed Moore!"

  It was the only thing he managed to catch before he was thrown a good distance away from where he'd previously been. He wanted nothing more than to to get up and track those men down, but instead, he let his healing abilities did their job. His priority was making sure his mate was safe. Once he made sure Jensen was in a secure location, he could track the attackers down.

  As it turned out, Jensen had a few plans of his own. Just as Erdi started to get up, the beautiful human rushed to his side. "Are you okay?"

  ****

  The pain Jensen had expected didn't come, as the car never hit him. It did, however, hit the brave soul who'd pushed Jensen out of the way. The very distinctive thud snapped Jensen out of his trance, and he scrambled to his feet, doing his best to control the shakiness in his legs.

  He'd have tried to see the license plate, but he had more pressing concerns, namely whoever had saved him. His rescuer lay on the road, a few feet away from Jensen, and he wasn't moving. Jensen had seen enough to realize the car had been going really fast, and for all he knew, the man who'd pushed him out of danger might have paid with his life for his good deed. Ignoring the pain in his side, Jensen stumbled forward, hoping he wouldn't be too late.

  Much to his shock, his rescuer stirred and got to his feet just as Jensen reached him. "Are you okay?" Jensen asked, half-wondering if he'd fallen in some sort of peculiar dream.

  "I'm fine," the man said. "The car just grazed me."

  Jensen blinked, unable to believe his eyes and ears. True, it was dark and he hadn't seen the moment his rescuer had been hit, but... that didn't seem right. If the man had only been grazed, he wouldn't have landed where he had. And yet, he seemed for the most part unhurt, so maybe Jensen was just seeing things... again. After all, he'd probably hit his head when he'd fallen.

  He must have said at least part of that out loud, because a gentle arm wrapped around his waist. "It's all right," his rescuer said. "You're safe now. Come. We should get you some medical assistance."

  Oddly, the words and the kindness seemed familiar to Jensen. He allowed himself to be led, and they finally stepped into the light. That was when some of the puzzle that had been torturing Jensen finally stopped being an incoherent image. "I remember you," he said with a gasp. "You... You were at the Amaretto. You saved me before."

  His rescuer was the same handsome, dark-skinned man who'd once come for Jensen when his bed and breakfast had been attacked. It was all so clear to him now. Jensen didn't know how he could have forgotten. Concussion or no, the memory of this stranger should have never left him.

  With the recollection of his previous rescue, many others came back. The man in front of him had been covered in blood, carrying weapons—both swords and guns. Odder still, Jensen's then-captor had... claws. Jensen clearly remembered them nudgin
g his neck. When he'd seen the scratches throughout his recovery, he'd thought they must have come from a serrated knife of sorts, but no... It had been claws.

  It was too much, and between the avalanche of memories and his own confused emotions, Jensen found himself swaying. His rescuer caught him before he could hit the ground. "I'm sorry," the man whispered. "So sorry."

  Jensen wanted to ask what the man was sorry for. He'd saved Jensen's life twice now. If anything, Jensen was the one who should apologize, for getting the stranger involved in his messes. Although, to be fair, the guy might have already been involved in some way, since his presence in the area seemed awfully convenient.

  "Who are you?" he asked, desperately needing some sort of truth to cling to in this huge mess. "You never told me."

  "No, I didn't." His rescuer released a soft, breathless laugh. "I suppose I didn't tell you a lot of things. But don't worry about that now. Don't worry about anything. I'm here."

  He picked Jensen up in his arms with an ease that humbled him. In fact, it should have made him uncomfortable, but given that the guy had saved his life twice... Well, Jensen was willing to forgo his regular distrust against people.

  Still, he sort of surprised himself when he dropped his head on the other man's shoulder. He wondered if he should be worried about feeling so comfortable with a stranger, especially one who had so many secrets. Probably. But for all his awareness of danger, Jensen had never been all that good with avoiding it, not when there were secrets goading him to be revealed.

  "Why did I come here?" he whispered sharply. "What are you all keeping from us?"

  The man didn't answer, not that Jensen expected him to. He carried Jensen back the way he'd come, remembering to pick up Jensen's fallen bag. Idly, Jensen made a mental note to check on his laptop later, although he knew the device would be fine. Thank God for shock resistant cases.